Expressjet Striking

[shinydiscoballs]

What would happen if XJET pilots decided to strike?

 

[SkyBoy1981]

WTF

 

[ubpilot]

Simple, Mesa takes all. How can you compete with the pilot group who are willing to work for nothing?

 

[CRJ puppy]

Strike about what? What "self-help" are they going to be released to? Do you even understand how a strike works?

 

[ratherbeflyen]

Future Former XJT Pilot

Simple, Mesa takes all. How can you compete with the pilot group who are willing to work for nothing?

Do you really think mesa could hire 2400 pilots to replace everyone at XJT? They cant staff their airline now. If XJT is hiring people at 600/100, how many pilots are left in the pool to take these > $25,000 a year jobs? I wouldnt work for mesa if it was the last airline on the planet. A good portion of the people who do go to mesa leave for another regional carrier. It's all about the market system. If management can find "qualified" people to do your job for less money, you might be getting familar with your resume builder.

Right now there are too many pilots for too few jobs. Thats driving our wages down. The general public knows about the airline's problems and new pilots are getting to be smaller in numbers. I visited my ole flight school this year and they have the smallest new student body in 35+ years. Add to that all the pilots who went back to what ever their other job was... Eventually it will be a pilots market again, when management cant find qualified people to staff the planes.

All I'm saying is that, I dont believe this airline recession can last forever.

 

[8AF]

Correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think Mesa is the only one, I suspect Colgan may be another player. They are hiring like crazy.

 

[Caveman]

"What would happen if XJET pilots decided to strike?"

The leadership would probably go to jail and the fines would bankrupt the local council.

 

[ATLplt]

Correct me if I'm wrong, I don't think Mesa is the only one, I suspect Colgan may be another player. They are hiring like crazy.

Sure, they'll replace each 145 with a 20 year old Saab that barely holds 30 pax and their bags on a good day. Not to mention the fact that Colgan doesn't want anything to do with jets.

Good luck to the xjet folks. There's a lot of good people there.

 

[ubpilot]

All I'm saying is that, I dont believe this airline recession can last forever.

I have good friends, they jumped ship to express from comair not long ago, really I feel bad. Ratherbeflyen I am sure you are right about this, but the question is how long the recession is gonna last? Will the recession be few years or maybe 10, 15, 20 years?

 

[Ben Dover]

but the question is how long the recession is gonna last? Will the recession be few years or maybe 10, 15, 20 years?

Seven years. Seven fat followed by seven lean. We are five years into the seven year cycle. Two more and things will be back on track.

Don't ask me how I know,
BD

 

[MINIME]

I'd say one way for us to help turn the tide a little is by informing people on not going to airlines such as Mesa, TSA, GJ, and any other airline you might feel is not paying thier employees par wages. NOW....before anyone here that flies for these carriers jump on me let me tell you truly and honestly, I have no ill will or disrespect or otherwise towards ANY current Mesa pilot or TSA pilot.

It is my belief that Mesa pilots took the contract they currently have to do away with Freedom. Great thing....Pretty bad contract on soft issues especially. But nevertheless got rid of a what could be a devestating cancer with the potential of keeping 80% of the regional pilots at the regionals forever at Slave wages.

TSA guys appear to be fighting their way through. They rejected a first crappy offer on their GJ saga and told their management to stick it. Good for them, they seem to have the will to take on their management. Despite massive firings of every union leader and anyone who gives a GJ guy as much as a dirty look. These guys, like XJT need our support because the outcome could and will affect everyone eventually.

These in turn are the reasons why I would encourage any youth out there not to apply at these carriers just yet. I believe that with less applicants, the manangements at these places might start thinking about treating pilots like pilots and not sweat shop workers.

Again, I mean no disrespect toward these pilot groups whatsoever. I happen to have buddies at both just like many others on this board I'm sure. Less pilots at these places can only help their situation and eventually all of us.

 

[Apache 5]

What are we going to strike for? We work for ExpressJet which in turn services CAL. We dont work for CAL, we're not CAL pilots, we dont have a contract with CAL, they're separate companies which, I thought, had a good, close relationship. Nope, as much as it sucks, we need to continue doing a good job for xjt (and in turn cal) and hope that the two sides are able to work something out to keep the airplanes and extend the relationship. Only been here a little while, but xjt runs a class operation and hopefully cal will change their minds and put some value to that. If not, a cheaper carrier will take our flying and eventually cal will hurt in the long run.

 

[blackbox]

i think its a bit premature for anyone to get their panties in a bunch because of the recent announcenment.

Caveman,

I understand the fines, but under what charges would a union leadership go to jail?

 

[COOPERVANE]

BEN DOVER

How do you know?

 

[PCL_128]

I understand the fines, but under what charges would a union leadership go to jail?

A judge can send the the MEC members and officers to jail if they support, advocate, or simply don't discourage an illegal self-help action.

 

[Drill Sgt. Dad]

Colgan hires like crazy due to high turnover. I had an interview there. My Grandmother died and the funeral was day of the interview. They wouldn't let me reschedule the interview. They treat people like crap and they try to run you off after a few years. I know three this has happened to.
As for Mesa, Nobody stuck a gun to thier heads to sign that contract. The NMB already rulled any agreement would have to include the Freedom Pilots and the CCAIR pilots under one CBA. Meanwhile ALPA president Duane Woerthless signed off on the agreement willingly and knowingly this would set back the regional industry 10-15 years. This was the only way around scope clauses the legacies instilled in the 1990's. Meanwhile, I have a few friends at Mesa and they tell me the new hires have to work on thier days off deliviering pizzas just to make ends meet.
Why is it like this? Because these starry eyed young 22 and 23 year olds come out of school and are willing to work for these wages in hopes to get on at a legacy carrier. The legacy cairrer jobs are drying up and fast. Many will make the regionals thier final stop, Like myself, because I didn't go to college to become a pilot, this is my third career. Trust me, if new hires would refuse to work for $20K a year, mgt would be forced to raise the pay, just like when the industry was Pay for training, mgt had to abolish that practice when they couldn't hire qualified pilots. It works the same way. Beleive me, it does.
JMHO

 

[Ben Dover]

BEN DOVER

How do you know?

I said not to ask!!

But since you did, three reasons:
1. Seven year cycles show up everywhere. (i.e. seven year itch, el nino, karma)
2. It's Biblical
3. Jim Cramer said so