Comair to XJ...

[wmuflyguy]

WMU - I know what's going on at Comair. But between 2001-2007 Mesaba shrank while practically every other airline out there grew and prospered, hence why you have ex-XJers on your list.

Everyone seems to be "angry" at Mesaba for "growing" and "taking our planes" while everyone furloughs, but nobody remembers the past.

Well I'm not mad, I was out drinking with some of my Mesaba buddies last night, unfortunately work was talked about...

the idiots on this thread sure don't speak for the majority of us.

 

[DX Rick]

I agree with you that it stinks that one ALPA carrier is growing at the expense of another ALPA carrier. This is good for no pilot. However, what can ALPA, at this stage of the game, do about it? A little foresight, a long time ago, could have changed this situation, but at the present, I just don't see that there is much that ALPA can do about it.

Right here is a growing problem of ALPA cheerleaders. We hear people saying "ALPA should get involved" for what ever reason.
But then you have ALPA chest thumpers sit there say "Well, ALPA can't help us on that".....Then WTF are we paying our dues towards?

 

[flyboyike]

But then you have ALPA chest thumpers sit there say "Well, ALPA can't help us on that".....Then WTF are we paying our dues towards?

Well, that magazine ain't cheap. The last issue has excellent coverage of the BOD pow-wow in Vegas. BTW, why would an organization headquartered in Herndon, VA, have its BOD meeting in Vegas? Is it because Vegas is so centrally located?

 

[CFI2766]

Right here is a growing problem of ALPA cheerleaders. We hear people saying "ALPA should get involved" for what ever reason.
But then you have ALPA chest thumpers sit there say "Well, ALPA can't help us on that".....Then WTF are we paying our dues towards?

Man, I'm just not sure what point you are trying to make here...

FWIW, I wouldn't exactly call myself an ALPA 'cheerleader', but I do support the existence of ALPA as ultimately being a net positive for my career. Therefore, I have an opinion. I would rather have ALPA around, warts and all.

Another opinion I have is that the people who work for Comair are getting screwed, primarily by their corporate parent. The return on investment, in terms of percentages of the number of years that you are allowed to work, for the people at Comair appears to be relatively smaller than at other carriers. I can only hope that good will come around for Comair's people.

 

[DX Rick]

Man, I'm just not sure what point you are trying to make here....

What I am saying, is that there are many people on here who are saying ALPA should stand up to the plate when they are needed.
After these people say that, you have the Pro-ALPA guys saying "Well, you see, ALPA really doesn't have anything to do with that" when clearly they do.
You have ALPA pilots losing their jobs that are going to another ALPA carrier, they should have something to do with it. But they don't.
So since ALPA doesn't really get involved with anything, other than publishing a magazine and nifty flight bag stickers....what do they do?

And then if ALPA does get involved, they need more money because....well, your dues just don't cover that.

 

[DX Rick]

Well, that magazine ain't cheap. The last issue has excellent coverage of the BOD pow-wow in Vegas. BTW, why would an organization headquartered in Herndon, VA, have its BOD meeting in Vegas? Is it because Vegas is so centrally located?

The fishing cabin in Canada must have been booked this year.

 

[el diablo126]

How many of you unfortunate Comair folks are taking the pref interview and job at Mesaba? Just curious...good luck to all of you whatever road you choose....

not to get off subject here. but i'm not even to sure why mr snap145 should even care. according to yours posts you are at pinnacle now, and from the looks of your previous posts you have been at tsa, chq, and maybe another regional or two in there (comair/psa?) do you just like stirring the pot and turning others against one another or have you decided its been a few months at pinnacle and time to move on again. just curious.

 

[drift diamond]

By the way, doing their best to give everyone a shot at a new career?

A NEW CAREER? What kind of stuff are you smoking thinking anyone wants to make a career at Mesaba?

Ahahahahahahaahha! You are only getting all of those planes because your company does it CHEAPER! THAT'S IT, no other reason, everything else is bullshat. The goons that run Mesaba are the biggest whoes.[/QUOTE]



Little bitter fella? Seriously, are you for real? Take a timeout in the corner and chime in another day. You lack ANY understanding or perspective.

Ahahaha?? Now that's smart.

 

[DX Rick]

deleted

 

[Metro752]

I would like to clarify that I am in agreement with everything DX Rick said, I am a regional pilot, and I am not your most experienced pilot. The little time I have spent in this business, I have seen ALPA preachers talk about a brotherhood, and when it came time to see ALPA in action, I saw nothing. Too many times. I just wish the Comair pilots were treated better, these guys are just like everyone else, and there jobs are being threatened just like so many others, while another companies management makes gains, and some people in the company making gains pilot group are drinking the kool-aid, talking crap, and ALPA hasn't done anything to help!

 

[Metro752]

How hard would it have been for ALPA at Mesaba to say to managment.

We will take all the furloughed Comair pilots before anyone else? Why shouldn't they, is my question. Why didn't they?

Where is Rez O Gheyshun


edit: ( I am not a comair pilot, just someone looking inside)

 

[DX Rick]

How hard would it have been for ALPA at Mesaba to say to managment.

We will take all the furloughed Comair pilots before anyone else? Why shouldn't they, is my question. Why didn't they?

Where is Rez O Gheyshun

Because ALPA doesn't hire pilots.
Doesn't seem like there is much ALPA does do.
The only thing they claim is that "The company signs the pay check, ALPA fills out the ammount!"

 

[CopilotDoug]

"The company signs the pay check, ALPA fills out the ammount!"

Has it been brought to ALPA's attention that they left a few zeroes out?

 

[xjhawk]

get a clue

The absolute worst thing possible- chase growth, from one regional to another. Just look at the folks that left ASA to go to SkyWest. Look how many times we thought ASA was in the crapper a year and a half ago- it's been on the ups and downs since I got here nearly five years ago.

You can't play chess with this stuff, and you certainly can't outguess the system. Things change so fast, so often, it's impossible. Just ride it out.

On another note- I'm deeply disappointed in ALPA for standing by and watching this happen. They should be fighting a hell of a lot harder to prevent one ALPA carrier (Mesaba) from growing at anothers (Comair) expense. Especially given that the two are wholy owneds.

Thats been going on for years and guess what, ALPA can do nothing about it! Seriously man, ALPA is not as well organized as other NAtionally organized Unions. Just hope your MEC has good people who can do what they can to make your little world better. Now I also must say that do not blame Mesaba pilots for the "Whip Saw" that we all know so well. When every other regional was getting aircraft from their majors we were getting aircraft taken away. Not to mention the government forced pay cuts and other loses brought on by what should have been an illegal bankruptcy. I cannot wait to have all everyone making those of us at XJ the bad guys. If it were up to me, Alpa would be fighting the good fight. More on that later.

 

[cessnamann]

Because we need to weed out people with attitudes like yours. Why should we hire Comair guys with no interview? As a courtesy our ALPA has worked out preferential (read not guaranteed) interviews to extend an opportunity to fellow ALPA members.

Bottom line our company has always had high-standards, a great pilot group and safety record without equal, and would like to continue to do so. With no control, and being forced to hire everyone how do yo think that would work out? Every carrier has a few "tools" working for them, and you can usually pick them out of a crowd without much difficulty.

Too bad your airline's pay scale dosn't match up to your "high standards" and your safety record that has no equal as you say. I hope when your contract negotiations start you'll remember to bring that up. I'm sure the hundreds of furloghed comair pilots or ASA pilots who see the propect of a furlough just over the horizon who fought for years to get what they have love hearing you gloat how your airline with substandard pay is better than everyone else's airline. Who are the tools again?

 

[Regul8r]

Because we need to weed out people with attitudes like yours. Why should we hire Comair guys with no interview? As a courtesy our ALPA has worked out preferential (read not guaranteed) interviews to extend an opportunity to fellow ALPA members.

Bottom line our company has always had high-standards, a great pilot group and safety record without equal, and would like to continue to do so. With no control, and being forced to hire everyone how do yo think that would work out? Every carrier has a few "tools" working for them, and you can usually pick them out of a crowd without much difficulty.

As a courtesy, this is what ALPA has done? You are a Class "A" Power Tool.

And all that cute bull ******************** about great pilot group and high standards...you're at a sub-par regional you moron! You think it's great that you're floating kind of near the top in the septic tank that is the regionals. Go ******************** yourself sideways

:uzi: XJCaptain

 

[Metro752]

hey man, they have to stay competitive with that low pay


read: lower the bar

 

[snap145]

not to get off subject here. but i'm not even to sure why mr snap145 should even care. according to yours posts you are at pinnacle now, and from the looks of your previous posts you have been at tsa, chq, and maybe another regional or two in there (comair/psa?) do you just like stirring the pot and turning others against one another or have you decided its been a few months at pinnacle and time to move on again. just curious.

diablo...you sir are the king of duesche bags....I dont have to rectify to you where ive worked...this is my second regional (not that it matters or I give half a sh%t what you think..) not my fourth or fifth according to you....secondly I was simply asking if the furloughed Comair guys were accepting interviews at Mesaba, as according to one of my friends a few of them were given interviews....nice try though drag queen....so stick your head back down your sisters pants...

 

[big shacks]

All this pissing and moaning is a joke, don't blame XJ for any of this. You just happen to be the b_tch we were 2 years ago. Enjoy the ride!

 

[CptMurf]

Too bad your airline's pay scale dosn't match up to your "high standards" and your safety record that has no equal as you say.

Just did a little comparison on pay for you (based on APC payscales. XJ's reflect DOS +2 bump Dec 1st 2008)...
Comair
1st year $22
5 yr 700 CA $66
10 yr 700 CA $78
ASA
1st year $23
5 yr 700 CA $69
10 yr 700 CA $81
9E
1st year $21
5 yr 70 seat CA $69
10 yr 70 seat CA $81
XJ
1st year $24
5 yr 70 seat CA $71
10 yr 70 seat CA $82

I don't see how we are substandard here. Is it what we should make.... NO.... But below our peers, not really.

I hope when your contract negotiations start you'll remember to bring that up. I'm sure the hundreds of furloghed comair pilots or ASA pilots who see the propect of a furlough just over the horizon who fought for years to get what they have love hearing you gloat how your airline with substandard pay is better than everyone else's airline.

I hope you are not implying that XJ has not fought to improve/preserve our contract through our contract '04 or Concessionary contract '06 (which is currently snapping back to '04 rates). I was here for Comair's strike and we (XJ pilots) walked with them on their picket line then, we (XJ) were one of a select few airlines that let them jumpseat during the strike, and they (Comair) were walking with us during the contract and BK informational picketing. Comair helped many of our pilots with preferential hiring during our MULTIPLE furloughs between '01-'06. And guess what, not all were hired. We got no beef between us, union to union. If you have a problem, I think it is your own.

Who are the tools again?

I think one individual Comair 700 FO.