.
GEX, tsk, tsk....
I can't help but notice the inconsistency in your post (it doesn't add up..
) in regards to Flt Ops. You tell Hogprint that there's no way
he can know that Management never intended to give the pilots a raise (reality speaks for itself, had they wanted to they would have
already) and then turn around and announce to the board--"
Flight Options - they're already toast". As both opinions are based to a degree on guess work, it seems rather hypocritical for yours to be stated as a fact while you tell others there is no way they can know what seems self-evident. Actually, summing up past events is
easier than predicting the future.
Nice
attempt at dialectic, but I suggest you take a logic review before you try again.
It was apparent to even the casual observer that Flight Options management was trying to give their pilots a comparability raise in late January 2006, but this effort was stopped dead by the pilots organizing under the tutelege and encouragement of the Teamsters.
There was another group of pilots that were trying to form a FLOPs only group of pilots called FOPA to be constructed under the model of Southwest Airlines pilot group - SWAPA. In true Teamster thug fashion, these pilots were shouted down.
My FLOPs "is already toast" comment comes from quarter after quarter of reviewing Raytheon's Security and Exchange Commission 10Q quarterly reports. I do this because Raytheon and GD constitute the defense portion of my stock portfolio. During second quarter 2006, Flight Options lost $10 million. Their third quarter conference call will be on October 26, but the street is not forecasting a sudden surge to profitability for Flight Options.
Again, I was not suggesting any course of action to FLOPs pilots, their goose is already cooked. I was only suggesting that the Flex pilots do as I have done, observe the Flight Options pilots around the FBOs, talk to a few of them and see if that is really what they want. Even some of the union true believers (all due apologies to Eric Hoffer) at FLOPs are beginning to lose heart. Many FLOPS pilots are trying to go elsewhere.
Flex on the other hand, appears to be a cohesive group that is making some good market penetration and has begun a swing toward profitability, they actually have something to lose.
What puts you in the position of knowing how long it will take? When the NJ pilots woke up and took charge--voting in new leadership and digging in their heels--their contract was ratified by 11 months.
Absolutely nothing. What I said was, "even though it might take 4 years to get a contract like it did at NJA", which is speculation not an attempt at establishing a definitive time line. Even you have to admit that this is a possibility.
Note Bene: It has already been nearly 11 months in FLOP's attempt to get a contract and the clock is still running...
Actually, NJW if you listen to some of your own pilots they're not that happy. Seven days is a long time to be away when you have kids - you're missing half their lives. They don't like commuting, some have told me they could have just as easily been in the back on Comair at Lexington-Bluegrass. The new guys think the old guys threw them under the bus with the new domicile policy and a lot of guys are gripping about the repetitive extended duty days. It seems that your own organization could benefit from your tender mercies.