Comair Vote Results ???

[zonker]

Release #06.002
January 20, 2006
Delta Connection ALPA Pilots Approve Concessions to Help Save Airline
CINCINNATI, OH – The pilots of Comair, as represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, Int'l. (ALPA), today ratified a concessionary labor agreement, by a narrow 50.57 percent in favor, which will provide an annual savings of $17.3 million to bankrupt Comair Airlines, a wholly owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines. Despite pilot approval, the bankruptcy court must sanction this deal before it becomes official.
“This was not an easy decision, as evidenced by the slim margin of passage,” said the Master Executive Council Chairman Capt. J.C. Lawson. “We hope that this considerable commitment from our membership will help Comair improve its financial position.”
The pilot/management settlement, known as Letter of Agreement 01-06, reduces pay rates and retirement benefit levels, and provides other contract relief for the company. It also extends the current contract by four years from the date of signing.
Negotiations between the pilots and management began in early November 2005, following Delta’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, which took place two months earlier. In February of that year, the pilots provided some preliminary contract relief in exchange for fleet guarantees and a commitment from the company for no furloughs.
ALPA represents nearly 1,900 Comair pilots at bases located at Cincinnati, New York, Greensboro, N.C., and Orlando, Fla. ALPA International represents 62,000 airline pilots at 39 airlines in the U.S. and Canada. Its website is www.alpa.org.

 

[ReportCanoa]

Stay tuned...

...MEC Chairmen, NC Chairmen, and Captain Woerth, ALPA advisors from various small jet MEC's met on a conference call today as a follow-up to a previous conference call as well as multi-day small jet bargaining conference that occurred several months ago.

-Neal

So, can we expect a follow-up call to discuss the conference that ocurred after the follow-up, but before the actual conference?

 

[BluDevAv8r]

So, can we expect a follow-up call to discuss the conference that ocurred after the follow-up, but before the actual conference?

Sorry, to clear up the confusing wording, there was a conference held in Herndon several months ago (outlined in this month's ALPA magazine) and then 2 calls since then...the second of which occurred today. And more will be coming out shortly.

-Neal

 

[ReportCanoa]

Sorry, to clear up the confusing wording, there was a conference held in Herndon several months ago (outlined in this month's ALPA magazine) and then 2 calls since then...the second of which occurred today. And more will be coming out shortly.

-Neal

Well, I hope they will be discussing a strategy to stop the death spiral. Knowing ALPA, it's probably just a way to look busy. Thanks though...

 

[BluDevAv8r]

Well, I hope they will be discussing a strategy to stop the death spiral. Knowing ALPA, it's probably just a way to look busy. Thanks though...

Not a way to look busy and yes we will.

-Neal

 

[davessn763]

Well, we could have voted NO and won the battle; while losing the war.

When U went bakrupt, the pilots voted over and over again to cut their wages and benefits in an effort to save their airline. They undercut the pay of regional airlines by as much as 35% without batting an eye. In turn that resulted in Jet Blue establishing a new low in wages for 100-seat aircraft and undercutting regional pay for 70-seat aircraft by a wide margin.Results = YTD for U now absorbed by AWA, already a low wage carrier, that is now matching Jet Blue wages for 100-seat aircraft..

When AA was about to go bankrupt the pilots voted for major pay cuts to save the airline. Massive furloughs relieved somewhat by taking jobs from Eagle pilots. Results = favorable.

When UAL went bankrupt the pilots voted for major concessions to save the airline. Results = YTD

When DAL went bankrupt the pilots voted for major concessions to save the airline. Results = YTD

When Hawaiian went bakrupt the pilots voted for major concessions to save the airline. Results = favorable

When Aloha went bankrupt the pilots voted for major concessions to save the airline. Results = YTD

ATA pilots took major concessions and still lost half their company. Results = YTD

NWA pilots have given up 24% of their pay and it's still not settled. They are bankrupt. If they don't give more they can strike ... and go the way of EAL and TWA -- out of business. Results = YTD

When TWA went bankrupt the pilots voted for major concessions to save the airline. Results = failure; out of business; fire sale to AA.

When forced into bankruptcy by DAL, the Comair pilots have voted for major concessions to save the airline. Results = YTD

CAL pilots gave up the idea of an industry leading contract. They're doing ok, so far.

Now let's compare that to some others.

MESA pilots - Agreed to a substandard contract supposedly to fight Freedom; undercutting everyone. They happilly now have Comair's flying in part. They accepted J4J and gave their seniority to mainline pilots.

PSA, PDT and ALG all took major concessions. PSA got more flying, the others little or nothing. All gave up their seniority to U pilots in J4J.

SKYW pilots - Voted to fly 99-seat airplanes for 50 seat pay to get more flying from bankrupt United. They happily took it and they got more from DAL too. Company promised wage increase in 18 months. Company lied. SKYW pilots got the growth they voted for and are happy with it to the point of gloating.

CHQ pilots - Voted for substandard pay supposedly to stop Republic. They accepted J4J and gave their seniority to mainline pilots. They got major growth in exchange, including much of Comairs logical growth. They are happy with it and in love with their E-170's.

AWAC pilots voted for concessions - to keep flying from United They lost it anyway to MESA and CHQ. Then their company had to "buy" their flying from USAir.

ACA pilots took concessions to help their company get away from United. The effort failed; they're out of business.

TSA pilots extended their contract for 2 years and accepted J4J. Their company got more flying, but it went to GoJ and not to them.

MSA accepted a mediocre contract. NWA took away their airplanes and they are now bankrupt. Results = YTD

ASA = lucked out of the DAL bankruptcy by the SKYW acquisition. No contract and none in sight.

At this point there is no one in a position to critique Comair pilots. We have been forced into this by the very people that are now clamoring for us to "hold the line" so that they can take our flying, which not one of them would refuse. When we did hold the line and raise the bar, not one of them followed us.

This vote may not result in anything good for Comair pilots but there is little doubt that a NO vote would have resulted in good things for the same people that are now calling us names.

We live in interesting times. Let him that is without sin cast the first stone.

You forgot "XJT pilots voted in, a then better than average, now industry leading contract, only to be threatend a year later with the loss of 25% of current aircraft."
Our CEO told us to our faces at a stockholders meeting that we would never be the highest paid regional pilots, I guess we pulled a fast one on him.

Not a way to look busy and yes we will.

-Neal

I hope that means XJT's Contract 04 is gonna be the line in the sand.

 

[davessn763]

.....

 

[mrnolmts]

Eh, I think it is both of you who are incorrect. Check out Air Wisconsin's Section 31.A from their pre-concessionary agreement.

Eh, I never stated we were the last I simply pointed to the fact that Comair were not the last ones prior to 9/11 to get a contract. Just setting the record straight! :beer:

 

[BluDevAv8r]

You forgot "XJT pilots voted in a then better than average contract, only to be threatend a year later with the loss of 25% of current aircraft."

40% of us voted NO, hoping for Comair or better.

Dave, are you happy with your "NO" vote now? Looking back...did it make sense?

I hope that means XJT's Contract 04 is gonna be the line in the sand.

Everyone wants a sacrificial lamb...as long as it isn't them. Ultimately that will be up to XJT management and the XJT pilots.

-Neal

 

[surplus1]

Everyone wants a sacrificial lamb...as long as it isn't them. Ultimately that will be up to XJT management and the XJT pilots.
-Neal

You're right Neal, but a little off on the designators. It will be up to CAL management and the XJT pilots. As long as your eggs are all in one basket the owner of that basket will call the shots.

Prepare to repel boarders and do not expect Herndon to save the day. You'll have to do this one on your own. It's coming.

The one thing in your favor is that CAL is not in Chapter 11, at least not yet.