PilotSkydiver said:I'll let you guys know what the reply is...
Dear Mr. P#######,
My name is ##########, a UND Graduate and a former member of SAMA. It has come to my attention that you have invited Go-Jet Airlines, (A Division of Trans-States Holdings) to this years SAMA conference. I would like to inform you of some details about this airline of which you may not be aware.
In 2003-2004 the Trans-States airlines MEC was in negotiations with management over possible new flying with EMB-170 aircraft for the United Airlines codeshare, which ultimately fell through and the aircraft went to Chautauqua Airlines. Chautauqua and Trans-States both fly for American Airlines as American Connection. After Chautauqua started receiving aircraft it was brought to their attention they were in violation of the American Pilots (APA) scope clause of their contract, which states (paraphrasing) no subsidiary of AA or codeshare Partner of AA shall operate aircraft larger than 50 seats. After they were made aware of this they decided to create another airline for the EMB-170's and Republic Airlines was born. Chautauqua worked closely with their pilot group and through tough but fair negotiations they were successful in reaching a deal which would allow the pilot seniority list to be integrated with this new airline (and also subsequent airlines such as Shuttle America and Mid Atlantic). Having seen the problems at Chautauqua the Management at Trans-States Airlines decided to be proactive and Go-Jet Airlines was born.
Instead of working with the pilot group at Trans-States Airlines to come to a mutual agreement over seniority rights at this new airline the management team at Trans-States airlines decided that since this was a "totally separate" airline it did not have any obligation to honor our contract. (Our Contract Says in Section 1 in the section on scope "The Company shall not create an Alter-Ego to circumvent any section of this contract.") I am not a lawyer but the word company was weak and the NMB decided that the company was not Trans-States Holdings, but Trans-States Airlines. Trans-States Holdings continues to be a holding company only with no real offices and actually the business certificate was revoked by the state of Missouri in 2003 for not re-filing paperwork. Trans-States did make one offer to the pilot group in the form of concessions and a contract extension in which 75% of the voting pilots turned down. To this date no other offer has been proposed.
The University of North Dakota stands for integrity and honesty, not shady business practices and loopholes. I am proud to be a UND graduate, but when I hear about my university advertising and supporting Go-Jet Airlines I am dismayed. I urge you not to support Go-Jet airlines. Go-Jet was devised to get around contracts bargained in good faith and is a threat to the hard working pilots at Trans-States Airlines. Go-Jet is just another airline dedicated to the downward spiral of pilot wages and benefits. The absence of these will cause a decline in enrollment at UND and I do not wish for this to happen. I do realize that placement is a difficult job and I do not wish for our graduates to be jobless, however Go-Jet is not a good choice for our new graduates. I am confident that you will make the morally right and ethically sound decision.
Sincerely,
#########
Since UND is still advertising for Go Jet. I guess they decided it was morally right and ethical to do so. Just like most everyone but the zealots had concluded long ago. Good luck to those who choose Go Jet as a career. I still think you will be on the beginning of a large expansion.