BTW: These are the Terms Being Imposed on XJ Pilots

[OttoPilot]

Apparently they don't have the balls to impose them... They announced last night that negotiations were continuing and they were NOT imposing terms at this time.

 

[copcar1988]

So which do you think would be worse: management imposing or labor giving in and reaching an agreement?

 

[climb2slow]

Sadly, it still looks better than Mesa.

 

[Terry Hunter]

Negotiations Update –
Talks continued during the evening and are planned throughout the day today. As stated last night, as a result of the negotiations, management has decided to delay the imposition of new contract terms. As of now, our current contract remains in full force and effect.
Next status report this afternoon.
.

So, let me figure this out - will many XJers feel "better" about a consensual agreement knowing the bitter alternative? Seems like XJ mgmt has you by the short hairs. By dangling the proverbial "stick", are you conceeding to a concessionary agreement and subcumbing to a little "stockholm syndrome"?

 

[mynameisjim]

I think I would have a lot of fun "flying the book".

What are all the things that are sometimes not done to the book? What could be done differently?

Getting extra approaches
bringing all faults to the attention to maintenance control
(and where they occur, not at a hub all the time)
taxiing at walking speed
configure as early and safely as necessary


What else?

 

[xjlifer]

1.Do not use cell phone to call dickscratch
2.Do not call ops to inform them there is no jet bridge driver
3.Do not call ops to ask for marshaller's
4. When plane is late wait for them to come find you in the crew room. DO not go look to see if it is at gate.

And lots more

 

[oiltycoon]

So, let me figure this out - will many XJers feel "better" about a consensual agreement knowing the bitter alternative? Seems like XJ mgmt has you by the short hairs. By dangling the proverbial "stick", are you conceeding to a concessionary agreement and subcumbing to a little "stockholm syndrome"?

Sadly I'd say most are or will. The atmosphere in the flightdeck is poor and people have this "lets just get this over" attitude. We're either taking a 17.5% cut or no better than 14-15% (at least that is what our negotiating team is reporting, a difference around 2% at the table). So either way it's going to be sh!t. But I suppose we get to vote on a TA. Time for another "CA vs. FO" or "Lifers vs. FOs that will be working at Home depot" vote

 

[ILOVEBEER]

I can't stand this part. It is just plain wrong. Even the DOL has set a minimum of 3 hrs if you get called into work. Thanks to having a Union the DOL rules don't count!

Having a union has nothing to do with it. The transportation industry has many labor law exemptions and I'm sure this is one of them. That's why you don't get mandated breaks like everyone else.

 

[Mr Wu]

Having a union has nothing to do with it. The transportation industry has many labor law exemptions and I'm sure this is one of them. That's why you don't get mandated breaks like everyone else.

Yes. The Railway Labor Act has been fukcing us for years.

 

[filejw]

Mr Wu you are so right .RLA was set up in the late 1890's to protect small towns from being left with no service if there was a RR strike. At the time no competion existed in the form of say trucks. The RLA has to go big time and we need to work on that as much as anything.

 

[Turtlesfly]

On your phone bills every year you have been paying an "excise tax" that has helped to Fund the Spanish American War. Fortunately, they just recinded that this year and now you won't pay the 60-cent tax or whatever it was.

Looks like the RLA should be next on Congress' schedule.

BTW, we apparently lost the Spanish American War in the long run. Great use of money.

 

[Terry Hunter]

...Time for another "CA vs. FO" or "Lifers vs. FOs that will be working at Home depot" vote

That is the worst part - the FO's are going to be the ones who really take the hit - I didn't see that any of the forced concessions were seat specific, right?

And the worst part of all of this - XJ mgmt is using this bankrupcy advantage to get a free contract for the next 5.5 years. A good management team would be willing to say, "help us through this; when we get back on our feet, we'll rip this POS contract up, and get you paid appropriately." But not so here, eh? Like Kmox said, it'll be another 2.5 years on top of the 5.5 to even get back to something worthy.

 

[neflier]

And the worst part of all of this - XJ mgmt is using this bankrupcy advantage to get a free contract for the next 5.5 years. A good management team would be willing to say, "help us through this; when we get back on our feet, we'll rip this POS contract up, and get you paid appropriately." But not so here, eh? Like Kmox said, it'll be another 2.5 years on top of the 5.5 to even get back to something worthy.

Historically, when new contracts are negotiated, the increases are based upon the contract in hand. So, in 5.5 years, the starting point will be the concessionary contract.

 

[flyby]

You DUMB F***! What about the people that have spent years here and are now getting their arms twisted into this new contract? I wouldn't use the terms "willing to work for this" becuase NO ONE at XJ was willing to do this, it was forced upon them. Now, they have to chose between hoping they will grow or trading in their chips and starting over, rock bottom at some other horrible regional. It's not as clear cut as you candidly state. Think before you speak, F***er

I am sorry for your circumstance, I hope it improves. Your point can be made about any regional airline. Mesaba is using bankruptcy to impose pay cuts that would not necessarily be seen had standard market dynamics been used to determine compensation.

They (Mesaba Management) are playing with fire. In this case the 'fire' is supply and demand of pilots. They will find it impossible to staff your airline and have no choice but to reduce the fleet. When they do that how will your quality of life change?

I contend imposing these terms means the end of the airline. They say if they don't get the cuts it's the end of the airline. Either way the outcome is the same.

Best of luck to you, honestly, I know where you're coming from.

 

[XJohXJ]

........

 

[No Delay]

Someone mentioned unemployment benefits...

I may be wrong...but I thought if the job changed or the environment in which you worked had changed and created a situation in which you could not work- you may be eligible for unemployment.

I am sure I am not wording it correctly but I think there is some type of clause like that. May be worth checking into. Could be a good use of union money to hire a lawyer who specializes in unemployment benefits.

Just a thought.....

 

[Napoleon TNT]

Sadly, it still looks better than Mesa.

Granted, MESA is not a good deal.

But, in this example, I'd have to say that MESA is a better choice than Mesaba.

At least at Mesa, they have the very real possibility of upgrade.

Mesaba, you do not have even that.

 

[mesaba2425]

I bet the union agrees to a contract that has almost all of those changes. The union has proven in the past that it lacks a backbone.

 

[Avi8tor2000]

Make sure you don't taxi any faster than you deem is safe over there in MSP, DTW, and anywhere else now... Safety first.

And if you suspect anything that shouldn't be on the runway, a go-around is only prudent.

I like it when its nice and quiet when I jumpseat on you guys, so if you could keep the power back, that would be great.

Also, if there's no jetway driver, there should have been. Using the radio just adds to frequency congestion.

Never fly with anything broken either. I heard those older Saabs tend to break after taxiing for a bit and have to return to the gate a lot. That's unfortunate, too...

 

[gnx99]

It's getting colder too, so it's more likely that things will break.