ExpressJet Strike Vote

[Ex737Driver]

Now that the CALALPA MEC, which represented both ExpressJet and Continental, has slipt into two MEC's, the new ExpressJet MEC has now authorized the distribution of a strike ballot. Not that the slipt had anything to do with this since this was 26 months in the making, but you decide. Now all that remains is how the pilot group votes and when/if the NMB will allow a cooling off period. Normally a MEC won't ask for the stike vote unless there is evidence that talks and mediated negotiations have come to an utter stop, which in our case is close. All we can do now is vote our "YES" and wait for the presidential elections to end........

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[MJG]

To my fellow XJET Pilots

The time has finally come. Many of you have been asking for this for a long time now. A vote to authorize a strike will be presented to us all very soon. Many of you have remained quietly in the shadows trying to stay off the company's radar screen. Many of you have continued to make excuses for not attending important MEC events such as picketing and local rallies and meetings. Some of you have continued to run your mouths on this and other internet forums, to the embarrassment of us all. That is now all in the past. We finally have a SCAB free MEC. We control our own destiny for the first time in the history of our airline. Now is indeed the time to put up or shut up. Many of our fellow pilots in this pitiful industry have already faced the decision that we're about to make. They did so based on their own merits and their own set of circumstances.

Now it's our turn. Only a unanimous vote to authorize a strike will send the appropriate message not only to the company but to the National Mediation Board as well. The percentage of voters who cast a vote is as important as the percentage of yes votes. Abstaining from voting is the same as voting against a strike. We must now decide.

The outcome of this vote is not in doubt. I hope that all my fellow pilots have used the past 26 months to prepare yourselves mentally, physically, emotionally and financially for the road we may be heading down. As has happened to our fellow pilots at Mesa, Chautauqua, and Mesaba, the post 9/11 environment has made SCOPE the main issue. While pay rates, retro pay, retirement and benefits as well as work rules are extremely important, they mean nothing without ironclad job security. We have seen far too much whipsawing as of late. Many of my fellow XJet pilots have blamed their fellow pilots for allowing this to happen. It is not their doing.

Now it has come down to us. We have a chance to further not only our careers but the careers of our fellow airline pilots. Everyone is now staring squarely at us wondering what we're going to do.

None of us want to strike. It is the ultimate poker game. However the management team at XJet will make the final call. It's ultimately their choice to make. They have proven themselves a capable and formidable team when it comes to positioning our company to grow and prosper in these difficult times. They have promised much, delivered on some, but fallen short on many others. I can only hope that on this call they make the right decision.

Now is the time to start asking yourselves the tough questions. The time to start making the tough decisions. It may not be a Merry Christmas this year.

Luckily there are 66,000 other pilots out there who hopefully will support us in our efforts. That's a very reassuring number. But we must do the lion’s share of the work. They can only watch from the sidelines.

So here it comes. The time many have been waiting for. Time to put up or shut up. I hope that all my fellow pilots are prepared. This will be the scariest solo flight any of us has ever taken.

 

[TEXAN AVIATOR]

GIT-R-DONE guys!

 

[AviatorTx]

Now that the CALALPA MEC, which represented both ExpressJet and Continental, has slipt into two MEC's, the new ExpressJet MEC has now authorized the distribution of a strike ballot.

Cool. Bring it on!

 

[Prop Trash]

Great post MJG, you put that on CalForums.

 

[nonstop]

Luckily there are 66,000 other pilots out there who hopefully will support us in our efforts. That's a very reassuring number. But we must do the lion’s share of the work. They can only watch from the sidelines.

Most are, except for the scabs and young naive ones that don't understand undercutting each other does not benefit anyone in the long term. A fine example from that stellar group over at CHQ:

Not intenended to piss anybody off... but I'm sure it will, last round of upgrades most junior was 2/20/03 hire. I just upgraded last month, I was an 11/02 hire. This will come to an end soon, with 1000 pilots on the property now a new hire today needs a lot of airplanes to make captain. I'm sure some Xjet or Comair FO is dying to call us all whores, becuase I make 59 per hour as opposed to 64 and upgrade in <2 years. Trust me though I could give a F*CK you can keep your five dollars an hour and the right seat.

Apparently this ASS is willing and proud to undercut other groups that are trying to raise the bar and isn't even ashamed to advertise it. Total ignorance, total stupidity, or a scab mentality. Not sure which is worse if any. I'd like to think this thought processes only exists in the extreme minoirty but it exists in at least the majority over at CHQ as evident by their contract.

 

[BoilerUP]

MJG,

Excellent post, Sir. I wish only the best for the pilots at Expressjet. Its a shame nonstop has chosen to ignore your post aimed at uniting everybody in your struggle and has once again turned it into a bashfest.

I wish you all the best in getting the contract you feel you deserve, and I hope it is the contract you can negotiate. I don't know your timeline, but if there are any XJT crews in LEX around the holidays, the beer is on me...as long as there isn't any CHQ bashing

Respectfully,
BoilerUP

 

[I.P. Freley]

nonstop...

Nice use of an out-of-context quote to make the CHQ pilot group look like a bunch of flying-stealing bar-lowering out-to-gitcha guys. I'm very proud of you.

Have you considered leaving flying to go work for one of the presidential campaigns? They could use someone with your skills.

 

[ASH]

NONSTOP- you could not be further from the truth. Do not speak of what you do not know. We pulled out a contract with some significant improvements, given that MGMT walked in to the neg. table, threw down the Mesa contract on the table, and said " that's what we've got to compete with boys.

CHQ is a quality outfit that offers a great product, go hunt somewhere else.

 

[john Adams]

Chq is probably correct,


At least their pilot group didnt vote in a quitter, I LEFT FOR PERSONAL REASONS, oh now can I be Sec Treas. PLEASE

 

[ERJDRVR]

Most are, except for the scabs and young naive ones that don't understand undercutting each other does not benefit anyone in the long term. A fine example from that stellar group over at CHQ:

Apparently this ASS is willing and proud to undercut other groups that are trying to raise the bar and isn't even ashamed to advertise it. Total ignorance, total stupidity, or a scab mentality. Not sure which is worse if any. I'd like to think this thought processes only exists in the extreme minoirty but it exists in at least the majority over at CHQ as evident by their contract.

Lighten up there Francis...
P.S look up the def of scab before you start slinging it around.

 

[nimtz]

The word I'm hearing is that we probably will not match Comair's pay rates, but somehow our "W-2's will be more." So guess we should all plan on working more often and count on that profit sharing as part as our pay. If I were an outsider I would not call that raising the bar. BTW, I never was one of those 100/hour dopes. My strike fund is ready either way.

 

[Nova]

The word I'm hearing is that we probably will not match Comair's pay rates, but somehow our "W-2's will be more." So guess we should all plan on working more often and count on that profit sharing as part as our pay. If I were an outsider I would not call that raising the bar. BTW, I never was one of those 100/hour dopes. My strike fund is ready either way.

They've already ticked off the MX, why not add pilots to that list. I have my McD's app.....oops, I mean strike fund ready.

 

[flap operator]

Food for thought... a good and strong strike vote... like, I dunno, 98% certainly doesn't mean that if and when your 30 day cooling off period ends you'll actually go on strike! Perhaps you'll just bargain past the STRIKE deadline your MEC vowed to not give up on, and hammer out a deal 48 hours later. Then only to learn as a line pilot several days later what the deal was all about. Of course, not from the MEC, but from the media. And then to have the deal announced in the papers to be vastly different than the real deal.

Good luck to you all at Coex!


Just thinking out loud,

FO

 

[Sam Fisher]

The word I'm hearing is that we probably will not match Comair's pay rates, but somehow our "W-2's will be more." So guess we should all plan on working more often and count on that profit sharing as part as our pay. If I were an outsider I would not call that raising the bar. BTW, I never was one of those 100/hour dopes. My strike fund is ready either way.

How many airlines since 9/11 have raised the bar beyond Comair levels?

Sam

 

[nimtz]

How many airlines since 9/11 have raised the bar beyond Comair levels?

Sam

And what other pilot group has had members talking more sh*t including on this board about how we were going to blow away the contracts of Comair, CHQ, Mesa, Mesaba, etc... From what I'm hearing our people are of the opinon that Comair will defintely take concessions due to Delta's current state. I think that is a horesh*t way to think cause there is alot to play out until DAL hits Comair hard to cut pilot pay. In the meantime all those chest thumpers who claimed we would revolutionize the industry are going to have to explain themselves if we elect in what appears to be the TA they are setting us up for. I'm not accussing you of this Sam, but I fear we have alot of talkers and not necessairly alot of doers in our house.

 

[Sam Fisher]

And what other pilot group has had members talking more sh*t including on this board about how we were going to blow away the contracts of Comair, CHQ, Mesa, Mesaba, etc... From what I'm hearing our people are of the opinon that Comair will defintely take concessions due to Delta's current state. I think that is a horesh*t way to think cause there is alot to play out until DAL hits Comair hard to cut pilot pay. In the meantime all those chest thumpers who claimed we would revolutionize the industry are going to have to explain themselves if we elect in what appears to be the TA they are setting us up for. I'm not accussing you of this Sam, but I fear we have alot of talkers and not necessairly alot of doers in our house.

nimtz,

You are right. We do have a lot of talkers. Lot of hot air. And those who beatr their chests on here and on the crackpipe are immature at best and absolutely idiotic at worst, despite their flying experience and age. I like to deal in reality. The reality is that nobody has pushed the bar since before 9/11. The bar has been reset, whether anyone likes it or not. Had 9/11 never happened, I'm sure many more contracts would have raised the bar and $80/hour for 5 year captains might have been achievable. But the fact is that too many other airlines (and their pilot groups) are willing to do the very same job we do for less. It is simple economics and many of our pilots refuse to acknowledge this truism. I know this pilot group won't accept management's current offer of 9.08% but for those who think it will be Comair +5%, they are in for quite a rude awakening.

Reality blows dude.

Sam

 

[Sam Fisher]

Chq is probably correct,


At least their pilot group didnt vote in a quitter, I LEFT FOR PERSONAL REASONS, oh now can I be Sec Treas. PLEASE

That is a chicken-snit comment bud. Personal attacks like that are below board and clearly the result of someone who has never done any sort of union work. I'm glad we have people like MW and others who are willing to step up to the plate and deal with people like you on a daily basis. If I remember correctly, MW left the NC around 10/02. It is now 10/04. 2 years has gone by. Perhaps he missed being a line pilot. Isn't that why we got involved in this business to begin with? To be a pilot?

You should delete your post.

Sam

 

[nimtz]

nimtz,

Reality blows dude.

I've know that since our friends at Mesa bent over for Johnny O. That has not stopped me from being at a picket line. One can only hope that the uneducated can see somehow see the purges in benefits/salary at the major level and realize one is better suited worrying about their current company rather then the benefits at an airline they think they will work for in the near term. Be it SWA, JB, or even AMR in the years ahead. Different time, different age. Real airline pilot work, continued lackluster pay...

 

[john Adams]

That is a chicken-snit comment bud. Personal attacks like that are below board and clearly the result of someone who has never done any sort of union work. I'm glad we have people like MW and others who are willing to step up to the plate and deal with people like you on a daily basis. If I remember correctly, MW left the NC around 10/02. It is now 10/04. 2 years has gone by. Perhaps he missed being a line pilot. Isn't that why we got involved in this business to begin with? To be a pilot?

You should delete your post.

Sam

Poor Sam,

Did I hurt your feelings? To bad dood.

Oh lets address the chicken Snit comments: if the truth is Chicken snit then so be it.

Good luck with Neg.