ASA Negotiations Play-by-Play

[Texx]

There is an update to the VARS 1-800-MEC-ATIS and the MEC should be in the ATL lounge the next couple of days. Also check the ALPA site for updates.
Pretty much status quo on the part of the company..............Nothing being proposed by the company!

And the Company is asking us to take down our posting on our website about today.

 

[ohplease!]

Just wait, I'm sure you will hear ASA's version of everything in a few days....or you could just call Bill Hiers or Terry Hayes and ask them. I'm sure you are buddy buddy with them anyway!

can you read? or are really that retarded?

 

[Plug]

what I'd like to see is the printed transcripts of today's session. Someone's bending the truth (at the very least). My guess is it isn't just one side. things that are this important should be viewable on closed circuit t.v. or tape or something. 8 or 10 guy's in a room with closed doors, especially when any of them is a lawyer, are not to be trusted to tell us regular folk the whole truth.

You are right and that is why there is a mediator.

 

[ohplease!]

You are right and that is why there is a mediator.

so far, I have not seen the mediator in the crew lounge with his version nor heard a taped phone message or a CD/DVD.

 

[ASADriver]

"We must stick to the road map...", at least that is what Bill Hiers and Terry Hayes are trying to sell.

Fact is we didn't ask to be put in to a "cost box". That was a management decision and for all we know it could be made up. Afterall the company wanted the MEC to sign a confidentiality agreement that had language like"the company will not be held responsible or liable for the information presented." Pretty much they can lie and go to the crew lounge saying the MEC won't agree to what the company presented. The company wants to be able to pin as much as possible on the MEC and the CNC. I say, f*ck them. This job ain't worth it.

If it "ain't worth it", why don't you leave? You are free to make that decision for yourself, but you had better not make that decision for me. The "cost box" as you call it, while unpleasant, is a reality. Have you seen what happened to Coex today? They got out of the "cost box". So did CMR.

 

[SFR]

Doesn't anyone care if I like it here and that I am hung!!!!!!

 

[ohplease!]

Doesn't anyone care if I like it here and that I am hung!!!!!!

I care. Really I do.:beer:

 

[ASADriver]

It appears that ASA "Mis Management" would rather spend a Million dollar to fight ALPA in order to save $20.00

More rhetoric - somehow I doubt we are only asking for "$20.00".

 

[Plug]

If it "ain't worth it", why don't you leave? You are free to make that decision for yourself, but you had better not make that decision for me. The "cost box" as you call it, while unpleasant, is a reality. Have you seen what happened to Coex today? They got out of the "cost box". So did CMR.

Yeah, that's it, when pissed just up and leave!! Don't stand up for yourself and for what is right. What kind of crap is that?

There is a point when this job is just not worth it. For me, I have some opportunities to possible go elsewhere and am aggressively pursueing them but this is the job I have right now. More importantly, what we are asking for is not unreasonable and not far off from industry standard. Not to mention the fact the Skywest continues to record record profits. Why should we except a contract that only adds to the race to the bottom. As a matter of fact a lot of the things we are asking for not only add to QOL but also add efficiencies to the company. I dare say a lot of it is a "Win Win".

If you want to buy management's junk then go for it, but I am quite sure an extremely strong majority of our pilots are not afraid to walk away if management won't be reasonable. And if you don't know what we are asking for simply pick up a copy of the negotiators notepad.

 

[ArtVandalay]

If all the 400 hour jerks will quit accepting $18k a year so they can fly a "cool jet", you guys probably wouldn't be in this mess. Problem is, ASA will continue to hire these idiots because they will fly for less. Why don't you guys put a stop to them hiring people with less than 1200TT???

 

[FlyinT]

What's not being said...

Ever notice 'when' BLB started his rhetoric about the "cost" box, and "we have to get this done". Well it was just after a meeting in ATL with our Skywest owners. A fly on the wall said the conversation went along these lines:

JA(skywest) - You assured me that you could get this job done.
BLB: I am sure I can get the pilot's contract finished pretty quickly.
JA - Seeing how confident you are, you have 90 days. At the end of that time you can have the contract done or go work with Skip again.
BLB - I will have those pilot's eating out of my hand and get them in the box, Sir.

So you see, Mr. Labarbeque(spelling intentional) has his a** on the cooker to get this done. Of course, the negotiators present today in MCO didn't get their MEMO and conducted business( read delay and stall) as usual.

The fun continues,

Fly Safe

 

[Plug]

Ever notice 'when' BLB started his rhetoric about the "cost" box, and "we have to get this done". Well it was just after a meeting in ATL with our Skywest owners. A fly on the wall said the conversation went along these lines:

JA(skywest) - You assured me that you could get this job done.
BLB: I am sure I can get the pilot's contract finished pretty quickly.
JA - Seeing how confident you are, you have 90 days. At the end of that time you can have the contract done or go work with Skip again.
BLB - I will have those pilot's eating out of my hand and get them in the box, Sir.

So you see, Mr. Labarbeque(spelling intentional) has his a** on the cooker to get this done. Of course, the negotiators present today in MCO didn't get their MEMO and conducted business( read delay and stall) as usual.

The fun continues,

Fly Safe

Yeah, I heard the same thing too. We shall see!

 

[AVoiceOfReason]

Yes ASA can afford what we are asking for. Yes our negotiators and MEC are trying their best. The problem is that having the "best contract" results in the mainline parent taking it's business elsewhere. I support our MEC, but I'm not sure I want the "best contract" anymore. What good is an industry leading contract if we start shrinking as Delta shops elsewhere for feed?

 

[Sinca3]

If it "ain't worth it", why don't you leave? You are free to make that decision for yourself, but you had better not make that decision for me. The "cost box" as you call it, while unpleasant, is a reality. Have you seen what happened to Coex today? They got out of the "cost box". So did CMR.

ASADriver,
I don't know you or OHPlease, but you both seem to see things opposite from everyone else.
What you are blaming on the industries whoa's are really managments abuse of them. CoEx has been profitable since well before 911, but b/c their mgmt wants to lower cost they have thrown this in the pilots face.
I honestly don't believe this is a necessary act by Continental, but an attempt at getting cost reduced. This is the same thing all companies are doing at all levels.........squeezing every dime out of labor. Do I fault them? Not at all, it is there job! I do disagree with the tactics they are using though.
Bottom line is we have to draw a line in the sand somewhere and I have foun it at my current agreement + considerable work rule improvements and other additions and securities to our working agreement.
I really don't believe this is too much to ask.....or if need be DEMAND!

 

[~~~^~~~]

Much of what is needed to make ASA a decent place to work is non economic. For example we have a 3 hour block trip to BTR that is a t h r e e ----- d a y ! While that is indicative of a scheduling department too lazy to separate a crew from an airplane and find something else for them to do (like BTR DCA BTR) it is also a waste of money. After Hurricane Katrina hotel rooms in BTR are nearly $200 a night. So the Company spends $1,200 on hotel rooms, $216 on needless perdiem and the crews waste 3 days of their time. How about saving nearly $2,000 and let us have some time with our families?

ASA Management is still caught up in "control." They demand respect and fear from flight crews. Anything like a positive working environment is seen as a loss of control and management can not stand it. They want to control you life 18 hours a day, 21 days a month and anything less is anarchy.

LaBreque raised expectations that the Company was going to put a proposal on the table. He has not motivated anyone to take a pay cut. In fact, I'm more entrenched after this last showing of bad faith.

The contract must be quid pro quo.

As long as they pretend to pay us, we should pretend to work. Lets vote, lets shut it down if we have to. Don't Tread on Me!