Confessions of a Union Buster

[pilotyip]

The company can't just decide to change the payrates, ya idiot.

Sure they can, the owner says I am going out of business, parks his airplanes. Then says to a desperate pilot group, who are not as cool, smart, or good looking as guys who work for NJ, if you ever want a pay check again, modify your contact and I will hire 10 of you back to operate my 2 airplanes I am going to keep flying. Out of a pilot force of 150, 10 elected that this was a good idea. 36K/yr base for an Electra Captain, four days off per month, but they still paid union dues.

I don't have favorite airplanes, or dream of flying into the wild blue yonder in my DC-3.. I want to get paid and treated correctly. I don't want to kick the tires, light the fires and smoke with a bunch of guys on the ramp.

Ha ha, too bad, I guess you and I look at the world differently. But that is the beauty of being an American. I fly because I like to, live near an airport, hang around the airport on my days off with a bunch guys like me who think the sound of a C-47 or B-17 engine starting as one of the most beautiful sound in the world.

If I didn’t like airplanes or flying, I don’t think I would ever be happy in this business.

 

[imacdog]

Sounds like 140 of those Zantop pilots made the right move. Of course, pilots these days are a bit brighter - we realize that flying airplanes costs money and we will not subsidize a bad business with piss poor wages. We are professionals and deserve to be paid accordingly. If management can't pay professional wages for professional work then it's time to close shop or get new management.

 

[pilotyip]

Sounds like 140 of those Zantop pilots made the right move. Of course, pilots these days are a bit brighter - we realize that flying airplanes costs money and we will not subsidize a bad business with piss poor wages. We are professionals and deserve to be paid accordingly. If management can't pay professional wages for professional work then it's time to close shop or get new management.

yea a lot of them went to a better place JUS, and most of them voted against the IBT when they tired to get into JUS.

 

[BentOver]

Ha ha, too bad, I guess you and I look at the world differently. But that is the beauty of being an American. I fly because I like to, live near an airport, hang around the airport on my days off with a bunch guys like me who think the sound of a C-47 or B-17 engine starting as one of the most beautiful sound in the world.

If I didn’t like airplanes or flying, I don’t think I would ever be happy in this business.

And that explains your position. This is not a hobby for me. It's a career and I expect to be treated fairly and financially correct. You'll do anything to sit in a cockpit (of some old C-47) I will not.

 

[pilotyip]

And that explains your position. This is not a hobby for me. It's a career and I expect to be treated fairly and financially correct. You'll do anything to sit in a cockpit (of some old C-47) I will not.

Are you judging me? I have never judged you.

The fact that I am happy every time I get into an airplane and it makes getting up in the morning and working fun, that is the reason I do it. Is there something wrong with that? am I not a professional? I know little of you.

I have had a great career and would change little.

I am living the dream of a 5 year old. I have been real lucky and it has been an adventure and I would do it all over again, particularly the military flying. I wanted to fly from the first time in 1947, I saw a P-51 Mustang buzz the National Guard Armory. I built the models, took flight lessons and pursued getting a slot in the military from my first day of college. Joined the Navy, in 1965, flew all over the world, did neat things, landed on boats, flew in Vietnam.

Married a great gal who supported me, raised the family, put up with deployments, unemployment, and moves every 3 years and never threatened to bail out. She can pack up a household in one day to move to the next job.

We are all hostages to fortune (thank you E Gann), and do not have the control over our lives we would like to think we do. The guys who make it to the FedEx, SWA, NJ level are very fortunate to be where they are, but there is an element of luck and timing that has nothing to do with their skill or desire.

 

[CA1900]

Additionally, we aren't flying night cargo -- we're flying private jets. I enjoy flying too, but I will not have my family's finances sabotaged to subsidize it. As it is, we're still underpaid for the amount of work we do. I won't do this job for any less.

 

[BentOver]

I am judging your stance on Unions and your comparing some small outfit in YIP with a company like NJA (or any other large airline).

Sorry you had a bad experience with the IBT with a company most have never heard of back in the day. But to compare some mom-and-pop fly by night cargo carrier, (and their apparent lack of a sustainable business) to a pilot group the size of NJA (and the need for a solid contract) is apples to oranges. Your company did not go out of business because of the Union or contract. They went out of business most certainly because of a business decision or two made by the people running the airline or at worst the economy at that time.

Glad you love it like a 5 year old. Can't put that down. I would rather fly than work ALMOST any other job. But won't do it for substandard wages or working conditions. Even my small time job now pays really well, and offers a great QOL. But if that weren't the case I'd be attempting to leave.

Hell, MLB players love to play baseball, and they have a Union..Because if they didn't they'd still be stuck in the 1950's wages while the owners make hundreds of millions off their players hard work.

 

[pilotyip]

I am judging your stance on Unions and your comparing some small outfit in YIP with a company like NJA (or any other large airline). ........wages while the owners make hundreds of millions off their players hard work.

Agreed lets leave it at that, MerryChristmas

 

[Hogprint]

Long after Hansell is gone, I, and many many pilots, will be still working under a fine set of work rules that weren't fuc%ed by some kid barely able to wipe his own nose.

That could have read..."long after Hart, Moisture, Hansell are gone"...but you get the point!

 

[HalinTexas]

Few students of history here. Fewer that have been laid off or flew a BK carrier down. Almost none have ever started a business or spent much time in the non-flying world. It's all about luck, timing, networking, and interviewing. It's less and less about aviating.

I've left the country 3 times in as many years to fly, because there are no job here in the US. ALPA did (does) nothing to help me out. My pilot friends have been the only ones to help. Got a call today, even. I've started two businesses, neither are doing too well. Capitalization is key. I'm living on my retirement. I was a "driver's helper" for UPS last month at $8.50 an hour. College degree which is meaningless after 20 years if you've done nothing with it.

I know who Zantop is. I know who Braniff, Pan Am and Eastern were. I count many friends and associates that have flown at those carriers. I had instructors at ATA that came from those places and they've forgotten more about aviation and airlines than many of you will ever learn. I've ridden in just about every jumpseat out there more than once. You're all about the same as far as piloting goes. If they were ex-military, that's their story. If they were "hippy-civilians" like me, and survived this industry via those defunct carries, that's their story. If they were just commuter/RJ pilots that's theirs. Of the three, the most interesting and most deserving of my personal respect as aviators are the second group. No offense to those that have served, and I appreciate your service.

Walk a mile in a man's shoes......