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CommutAir Pilots Lose 2 Days Off

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I totally agree, and that's why a lot of us voted for one. It would have prevented exactly this kind of unilateral change in working conditions without negotiating with the pilot group.
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I disagree with your statement about most pilots having voted for a union and that is why the drive failed. If people had actually voted 4 years ago they would have had a contract by now. Unfortunately most pilots including the XJT people who were hired as a result of the CLE flying and ALPA’s work did not vote for the union. The amount of hate and disdain for a union was incredible. Majority of pilots bought the company's and the company moles BS about going union. The company and their moles did a great job of dividing and conquering. Now most of those guys including the XJT guys have moved on. I can write a book about everything that happened then but that’s all water under the bridge now and most have moved on to bigger and better things.

I personally don’t know if a union drive at commutair will work. This is because the pilot group is mostly comprised of very senior pilots or very junior guys. The people in between don’t last very long as they move on to other regionals.
The junior guys are happy to have a flying job and want to move on so they don’t want to rock the boat. The senior guys have a close bond with management and get special treatment and positions so they do not have an interest in going Union.

If the commutair guys decide to get a union, ALPA pilots will be behind them and wish them luck. For now your best bet would probably be to make that so called lateral movement as pay, benefits, upgrades, and quality of life would be far superior to what you have now.

Best of luck
 
Quote:
I totally agree, and that's why a lot of us voted for one. It would have prevented exactly this kind of unilateral change in working conditions without negotiating with the pilot group.
I disagree with your statement about most pilots having voted for a union and that is why the drive failed. If people had actually voted 4 years ago they would have had a contract by now.
Click to expand...

He didn't say "most", he said "a lot", very big difference. When I called the NMB right after the vote ended, they told me it failed by seven votes. I have heard a slightly different number thrown out there as well. But the point is it was a very close vote regardless of who you talk to. There were a lot of the Coex guys who chose not to vote because "it wasn't their fight". You can't abstain from a union vote, not voting is counted as a no vote. If you discount all of the Coex guys and their votes, I bet you'd find an overwhelming majority of "real" CommutAir pilots voted for the union.

About a year and a half ago, before I left, there began to be a murmer of a movement again. Management was smart this time, they promoted the percieved leader of the movement (and clear leader of the '03 campaign) to management. I am guessing that killed it right there. The multiple changes in the sick leave policy didn't get generate support. The major increase in health insurance premiums didn't generate support. The loss of the performance bonus didn't generate any support. The crappy pay rates for the Dash-8 have not seemed to generate any support. I somehow doubt that losing two days off will generate enough support either.
 
That's not good. The fact is that being an airline pilot isn't worth it unless you get 13-15 days off or more. You need that much time off in order to compensate for all the days away from home. You can't have a life AND a job with 10-12 days off even if you live at your domicile. You guys aren't alone; this is becoming a big problem at all the regionals, especially the smaller ones with lower pay and less opportunity. Pilots are leaving rapidly and the airlines just don't have the ability to attract, train and maintain enough new-hires to meet staffing levels. Many airlines are working at "skeleton crew" levels and pushing the remaining pilots harder which just creates more attrition. I'm guessing that the pilot shortage at the regional level will eventually put some of the smaller carriers out of business and force the larger regionals to compete for new-hires. This is good if you are looking for a job but not so good if you are senior at one of the smaller carriers and plan on staying......the good senior schedules may be a thing of the past.
 
I did some capt ioe with him about 8 years ago and he was a blast. I've heard thru the grapevine that he turned to the dark side.
 
That sounds more or less accurate. Still a fun guy to fly with, but there's something about spending too much time in PLB headquarters that seems to have that effect. I hate it when they get to the good ones. :(


In Other News...

Health insurance premiums have gone up again, while pay stays where it is. Premiums for single just went up 25-40% depending on the plan, while family costs went up 42-62%!

Pay is still at 2000 levels (before subtracting the $1900 the company's now passing along to us), while inflation has pushed the cost of living over 20% higher.


It just gets better and better... Living the dream... updating the resume....
 
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Hey, he puts his pants on like the rest of you - one leg at a time. Except, once his pants are on, he makes gold records. :D


I'm sorry I'm missing all the excitement at CA. I've never seen a company work so hard to drive good people away, honestly.
 
chimichanga said:
That sounds more or less accurate. Still a fun guy to fly with, but there's something about spending too much time in PLB headquarters that seems to have that effect. I hate it when they get to the good ones. :(


In Other News...

Health insurance premiums have gone up again, while pay stays where it is. Premiums for single just went up 25-40% depending on the plan, while family costs went up 42-62%!

Pay is still at 2000 levels (before subtracting the $1900 the company's now passing along to us), while inflation has pushed the cost of living over 20% higher.


It just gets better and better... Living the dream... updating the resume....
Click to expand...

Sounds like it's past time to LEAVE, Why are guys hanging around?
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brae123
With or without a union, the company can do what it pleases. Union may slow things down, but if they want to break the contract they can and will with or without the union approval.

Yeah right....thats why everyone else in the world gets more than 10 days off.
__________________
If ignorance is bliss why isn't FlightInfo full of happy pilots?
Click to expand...

Doin Time,
You're guaranteed more than ten days off?
 
CA1900 said:
Hey, he puts his pants on like the rest of you - one leg at a time. Except, once his pants are on, he makes gold records. :D
I'm sorry I'm missing all the excitement at CA. I've never seen a company work so hard to drive good people away, honestly.
Click to expand...

Oh be quiet you glorified baggage handler. :)

Sounds like Terry and Joel are up to their old tricks.
Guys, get your time and leave. When you quit show them the same respect they have shown you. Easy.
 
They had to make the extra 2 days mandatory. Once people saw the trips on the new bid for the 1900's at Commutair there is no way anyone would have to taken extra trips voluntarily. It seems like they are actively trying to drive everyone away from the company.
 
Beech_boy said:
They had to make the extra 2 days mandatory. Once people saw the trips on the new bid for the 1900's at Commutair there is no way anyone would have to taken extra trips voluntarily. It seems like they are actively trying to drive everyone away from the company.
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I don't think they are trying to drive pilots away... they just don't have skills set as managers to run the airline win-win...

So instead of being good managers/leaders they just dump their problems onto the labor group...

Same circus....different clowns..
 
don't think they are trying to drive pilots away... they just don't have skills set as managers to run the airline win-win...

So instead of being good managers/leaders they just dump their problems onto the labor group...

Same circus....different clowns..
Click to expand...

You could apply that description to just about every person in management at every airline.

Funny, the two most successful airline CEOs since deregulation (Kelleher and Bethune) put a lot of emphasis on taking care of employees. I wonder if there is a correlation and why nobody else has figured it out yet?
 
As an owner of CommutAir, I am disgusted by this horrible treatment of the pilots. But seeing my stock is worth $.02 (serious) I don't have much pull.

Guys, ComodeAir is not worth the breath. Vote with your feet. My biggest mistake is waiting as long as I did.

I want you all to drive the price of my shares to $.00!!!:uzi:
 
NEDude said:
You could apply that description to just about every person in management at every airline.

Funny, the two most successful airline CEOs since deregulation (Kelleher and Bethune) put a lot of emphasis on taking care of employees. I wonder if there is a correlation and why nobody else has figured it out yet?
Click to expand...

you need to understand this company is a place to get your time and Move-On! Your wasting time complaining or trying to change this pig of an operation. What, is flying a Beech or Dash your career goal? Yes, it sucks! But you have a choice, you can and should leave! Your not going to change the company!

The guys have been running a POS operation for years, the glory days of commutair were brief and are LONG GONE. A lot of us stayed too long, but in the end we figured out that we needed to leave!

Commutair is for the low time, young and single pilot, it's not a career (unless you have some kind of record) if your stayed past 1000 turbine PIC you stayed too long.
 
you need to understand this company is a place to get your time and Move-On! Your wasting time complaining or trying to change this pig of an operation. What, is flying a Beech or Dash your career goal? Yes, it sucks! But you have a choice, you can and should leave! Your not going to change the company!

The guys have been running a POS operation for years, the glory days of commutair were brief and are LONG GONE. A lot of us stayed too long, but in the end we figured out that we needed to leave!

Commutair is for the low time, young and single pilot, it's not a career (unless you have some kind of record) if your stayed past 1000 turbine PIC you stayed too long.
Click to expand...

Already did my time and moved on over a year ago. Well said though.
 

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