Gemini News

[porra]

B19,
If thats the case, and maybe if you are right, why don't we call off the negotiations right now, let the company exit BK and then start the negociations again.
Also I heard, that our MEC has someone else on the side lines that could go in and negotiate for us, but they will not use him...
At the end we could only blame ourselfs for accepting this BS contract if it passes, and I know alot of people will start saying the vary same thing you just said here( because we were ion BK we had no choice but to accept...) thats all BS.
Shame on our MEC for bringing this BS contract to us...what a joke

 

[fogrunner]

B19,

Also I heard, that our MEC has someone else on the side lines that could go in and negotiate for us, but they will not use him...

You referring to Mike B.? I know he is interested in returning to the bargaining table if asked. I know he has expressed an interest in doing this. I think there might be some politics and ego involved preventing him from returning. It would be nice to have a trained negotiator representing us.

 

[dhc8drvr]

I voted no and here is my reasoning:

I and many others are at a crossroads in our career where the return is simply not worth the time and investment. I love flying, and wish to continue, but the unhealthy lifestyle, responsibility and time away demands more. The industry as a whole needs to figure out a way to operate AND have reasonable pay and work rules. As long as we are willing to sell our selves short for mistakes made in a corporate office, we will continue the downward spiral until it just will not be worth it anymore.

In a perfect world I would like to see every ACMI carrier with the same work rules and pay, something we could all live with. Contracts would be awarded based on performance and reliabilty rather than low bid.

Just my thoughts.

 

[porra]

Fogrunner,
The person I heard of is someone else, I don't have the pilot list with me, but I think his name is CT. Mike B. would also be an excellent guy to have there right now. At least we know he would fight for us...

dhc8drvr,
I agree with you, I just hope that there are enough of us to vote no on this rev TA. I hope I'm wrong but talking to some other folks on the road, it looks like this TA might pass.

 

[fogrunner]

All that is needed for it to pass is 50%+1. The MEC is hoping to convince a mere 27 people to change their vote to a yes.

The industry as a whole needs to figure out a way to operate AND have reasonable pay and work rules. As long as we are willing to sell our selves short for mistakes made in a corporate office, we will continue the downward spiral until it just will not be worth it anymore.

You are correct. It is very hard to stand your ground and ask for a decent wage when quite a few of our competitors pay less than us or have lower guarantees for comparable equipment. The regional airlines have their Mesa's undercutting the competition to gain market share and we have some operators we compete against doing the same thing. As long as you have people willing to work for companies that furlough seasonally or pay their 2nd yr FOs $50-55 an hour or a Captain $85 an hour to fly a DC10 or 74 it is going to be an uphill battle.

 

[Freightflyer1]

The only way that battle will be won is to fight for it. Voting no on this lousy TA will not only be good for us, but also for the industry as a whole.

 

[vindiesel]

I really hope each and every one of us is being persuasive enough to not let this POS TA pass. talk on the forum is really good, but talk on the road is so much more effective. I am new to contract labor and negotiations, but as my friend and mentor once said, you get what you negotiate! we are picking up table scraps here from a diner at a homless shelter!!! please guys, lets pull it together and get something out of this, we work hard and all have made sacrifices in the name of saving this company. It is time to collect...

 

[fogrunner]

I have a nasty feeling about this. When we have a guy write to the MEC with a question or comment concerning the TA and says he does not care about the pay package. We are in trouble. You never get what you want, you get what you negotiate. This is a poor deal for the Gemini crew force.

 

[dhc8drvr]

What are you worth? Put aside the spin from the company and the union. Are your skills and dedication worth the proposed TA? The industry is driving towards nothing more than blue collar wages ( even less ).

Where does it stop?

just my opinion, I'd like to see opposing viewpoints.

 

[fogrunner]

What are you worth? Put aside the spin from the company and the union. Are your skills and dedication worth the proposed TA? The industry is driving towards nothing more than blue collar wages ( even less ).

Where does it stop?

just my opinion, I'd like to see opposing viewpoints.

I agree with you. What I am saying is that people will go out and fly heavy equipment all over the world for next to nothing. I am not talking about third world airlines. I am talking home grown US Airlines.

 

[dhc8drvr]

The sad part is, we have 3rd world wages right here in the USA. We can stop this, one airline at a time.

Shipping freight by air is expensive, charge the customer the appropriate amount. If it is time critical, they will pay the rate. Why do we take it in the shorts to keep the shippers costs down? This arguement is wearing thin.

just thinking out loud.................

 

[porra]

3 days and counting...

 

[porra]

No No No Niente Nope Nao Non...

 

[monyetbesar]

Time will tell the story, I voted NO but am not too sure if crewmembers are worn down etc. I do hope anyone apathetic does not vote vs voting YES, better yet gets fired up and votes NO. I am going on what woud be 11 yr pay, but the thought of a newer captain at 6 years making 6825.00 before taxes to fly DC-10 or MD-11 away from home 17 to 18 days per month.. no 401K match etc. I am not referring just to "captain" pay, but those F.O.'s who even spend a few years here, have not much of a future. Yes, they have mentioned we can revisit the pay issue in two years, hmm heard that before.

 

[FreightNazi]

How many MD-11s does Gemini operate, four? Are they all leased?