"Go-Jets" the new Freedom!!!!

[airjackson]

That is correct. On May 10th, Cpt. Duane Woerth will address the TSA pilots in the terminal at STL. The location will be the upper terminal conference room behind the BBQ place (can't remember the name). He should be there around 1PM and will be speaking, taking questions, etc. I doubt we would be recieving this level of national support if our MEC was "corrupt" or lacked pilot "support", as a previous tool suggested. This pilot group is overwhelmingly united behind our MEC, and highly motivated. Remember, TSA remains the only group (in ALPA history) to have approved a strike authorization vote by 100% of the pilots during the last contract negotiations. Any fellow pilots are welcome and encouraged to attend!

 

[jsmenkin]

Hype

Either way, I plan on adding the names of Go-Jet pilots to the list of Freedom pilots that I have. You slimy little priks know what you are doing.

Well then, you might as well add your own names to that list since you are flying American Eagle airplanes with Trans States pilots. You are breaking scope and pointing fingers like you own the right. Hypocrits.

Oh, and since the post of the VARS is back on this board, might as well let people know the truth again:

After just a little research, I found that it is extremely imperative that the Trans States pilot group have a truthful and factual response to each and every accusation made by Mr. Dario Miranda in his VARS message recorded on Thursday, April 28th, 2005. Below are rebuttals to the relative comments from the transcribed VARS message:



1) Re: unjustly terminated - The terminations of Paul Hopkins and Jason Kagan were handled within the stipulations of the Trans States contract, and even given further consideration by Management above and beyond the latitude of the contract in an effort to avoid having to culminate in their termination. Since the grievances of these two individuals have just begun, the facts behind the terminations cannot be discussed publicly. Management would like to emphasize that as soon as these facts can become public, they remain confident that the facts will vindicate any belief that Management acted unjustly. Keep in mind that Management has a large investment in each and every one of Trans States pilots, and will make every effort to avoid termination whenever possible. In these cases, that was not possible due to the nature of the facts and even considerate of Management to let go as far as it did. This is a business. Hiring and firing of pilots is strictly handled on a professional basis. It would be bad business to handle issues of that nature any other way.



2) Re: effective union leaders - The track record of these individuals remains to be seen. The pilot group may not be aware that the local ALPA budget is over $200,000 a year accumulated from your dues. Trans States pilots have never been shown how this budget has helped them in the past several years with a growing pilot group, more dues, and nothing to show for it except cell phones and laptops for your elected union officers. A two year extension of the current contract in 2003 has kept Trans States pilots near the bottom of comparable contracts in the industry without any improvements. That sure saved the company money, but did nothing for the pilots. Who do you think got that ratified? You can thank your MEC, Mr. Dario Miranda.



3) Re: financial support - The financial support for Paul Hopkins and Jason Kagan is coming directly from your dues. Management is not here to speculate on how the pilot group will spend its resources. However, Management does feel the need to warn you that your union officers are finding it more important to deplete your valuable resources on such issues that were handled more than fair in situations that in most companies would not even be given consideration. This waste of resources is not helping at a time when contract negotiations are soon at hand. Picking the proper battles is the duty of your MEC, Mr. Miranda, who has only found it appropriate to find ways of stalemating mutual conversation with his continuous unprofessional behavior and lack of proper leadership.



4) Re: diplomatic strategy – Mr.Dario Miranda has never used diplomatic strategies with Management in handling pilot issues. He routinely used profanity and insulting comments when beginning his communication approach on any issue. Although he would have you believe this, he has never approached Management regarding GoJet since its inception. Again, the door has been open for Mr. Miranda to sit down and discuss GoJet issues from day one. The level of unprofessional behavior is unprecedented in this Management’s bargaining history. This remains one of the sole reasons why management is desperately seeking an individual or group who will approach bargaining with a mutually beneficial frame of mind and a level of professionalism seen in the rest of the industry. For pure clarification, Management has nothing against ALPA. In the rest of the industry, ALPA has done very well with its pilot groups and bargaining with other companies Management. At Trans States, they have not, due to the ineffective leadership of Mr. Dario Miranda.



5) Re: disrespect for the union – Again, in an effort to maintain clarity,Management has no disrespect for ALPA. Management has no disrespect for any Union. Management openly admits that they would love to work with a Union that also has respect for the direction of the airline and its goals in the industry. Mr. Miranda has proven time and again that his goal for Management has a different course. The disrespect is for the local leadership under Dario Miranda. Mr. Miranda’s lack of interest to approach Management with professionalism has led Management to recognize other Union opportunities. Management has tried to prove that by recognizing the Teamsters as the agent for the GoJet pilot group, the willingness to work with a unionized pilot group is important. This has worked very well, only to be accosted again by Mr. Miranda and his accusations that Management disrespects Unions and pilots. Missouri is a closed shop state. Unions are a part of business, and Management recognizes that.



6) Re: Alter Ego – An Alter Ego as it pertains to the aviation community, and particularly Trans States Airlines, is very important to understand. When an aviation company pursues creating an alter ego, it is, by nature, set up to side-step the initial companies pilot contract in order to limit any liability from that pilot groups or unions decision making process. It is also an entity that is implicitly tied to the original company. GoJet was set up as a completely new company, with different market goals than Trans States, no ties to Trans States Airlines in any way, regardless of the fact that its parent company is the same (a very common fact in the business world), for a very specific reason. That reason lies with American’s pilot union, APA, and the scope clause that limits Trans States Airlines, as an entity, to grow outside of the fifty seat jet market. What it boils down to, is that if Trans States Holdings wanted to be able to take advantage of being only one of three entities available to engage in contracts that are being offered in the 100 seat (average) market, it would be forced to create a new and separate company to be able to accept that work. Trans States Airlines cannot accept that work. It will never be able to accept that work unless APA drops or changes its scope against the greater than 50 seat jet market. Do you think that will happen? If you were a pilot for American, you would not cut your own throat by allowing your job to go to another company. The fact is, the domestic market is changing due to demand for more service with smaller aircraft than the legacy carriers can provide without a complete fleet overhaul. Instead, Management from the legacy carriers have found that they can change with the times by changing their outdated and costly hub and spoke model, and code share with carriers that have proven profitability in times where the public, not the carriers, have decided what they will pay to travel. The legacy carriers also dictate what size aircraft they need for the markets they serve. Since legacy Management is not willing to overhaul their fleet, they have decided that code-sharing is the key, and their existing fleet will serve large load and long haul (e.g. coast to coast and overseas). This opens the market for new domestic carriers, but only those that can compete and are not scoped out. Trans States Airlines cannot compete for these contracts. It is scoped out. So, in a nut shell, who is to blame for Trans States not being able to compete for this new business? APA. There is no Alter Ego, only another new business. A business that you will see more and more of, regardless of who owns them.


(next post)

 

[jsmenkin]

(cont'd)

7) Re: detrimental to our profession - GoJet offers the ability for pilots in the entire aviation industry, not just Trans States Airlines, to become part of a growing company that will have the ability to change with industry needs, something that Trans States Airlines does not currently allow due to the APA Scope clause. For this reason, Trans States remains a stepping stone company, as it has since its conception, for pilots who want to gain experience and move on to larger aircraft. As in any industry, GoJet is a business that must be open to successful competition and growth, and will strive to offer pilots industry standard or better pay and benefits in concert with its ability to compete for these new market contracts. Pilots are better served when more jobs are created and the ability to move up is provided. To stifle that opportunity only hinders the chance at a better future for everyone. GoJet is a new company with new ideas that can provide this to pilots.



8) Re: dictate the bargaining representative - Management has not dictated to anyone who the pilot’s Union representative should be. The pilot’s who have been hired for the initial class have decided from their own research who they thought would represent them most effectively. Those pilots held their own vote and determined from a list of eight unions from around the world that the Teamsters would be their best representative. That being said, Management is happy that Mr. Miranda will not be at the bargaining table, and even happier to admit that current contract negotiations with the Teamsters have been proceeding very efficiently to the surprise of both sides. The pilots contract will speak for itself.



9) Re: avoid ALPA - Management has no intention of involving itself in unprofessional negotiations. The Trans States pilot group needs to seriously address its MEC.



10) Re: premature voluntary recognition - The GoJet pilot group invited the Teamsters to unionize and was promptly recognized by the National Mediation Board. We have the certification letter to prove it. Mr. Miranda thought it necessary to spend more of your resources to challenge the validity of the recognition. To avoid an unnecessary and prolonged legal battle, the GoJet pilot group itself elected to withdraw its recognition until it satisfies ALPA’s criteria for certification, which was an option the pilot group did not have to offer. Recertification, nonetheless, will happen shortly. After such recognition, if Mr. Miranda and ALPA wish to spend further Trans States union dues resources on additional litigation, they can do that at their own leisure. The Trans States pilot group should hopefully be well informed by its own MEC before more of your money is spent.



11) Re: scheme - GoJet is a new and legitimate business started for the sole purpose of capitalizing on a new opportunity in a sharply changing market that otherwise would not have been possible under Trans States and outdated provisions. GoJet and its pilot group decision are definitely not part of some elaborate scheme that Mr. Miranda would have you believe. The new company plan is very much similar to Southwest, Jet Blue, Independence, etc. This is America folks. Private enterprise. We do not live in Russia. Here, you have a choice to compete and succeed, or die out. Management does not believe that Mr. Miranda is interested in the growth of the company. His negotiation of the Trans States contract extension, and the ramifications behind that extension, prove it. Do your research.



12) Re: management selected pilots - Another misguided message from your MEC must be clarified. The GoJet pilots elected to organize solely of their own interest, and Management must recognize their right to do so. The only time Management dictated anything initially, was to hire manual writers for GoJet. These positions were offered to individuals with experience in writing manuals and the certification process, some from Trans States Airlines that could be replaced with equal or greater experience, and some from other companies. These pilots could have easily chosen ALPA under your current MEC. The fact that they did not along with Mr. Miranda’s misguided remarks , should send a message to the Trans States pilot group.



13) Re: avoid bargaining with your MEC - Again, Management has no intention of involving itself in unprofessional negotiations. The Trans States pilot group needs to seriously address its MEC.



14) Re: revoked - Again, Mr. Miranda would have you believe that the Teamsters certification was revoked, when in truth, and in cooperative consideration of ALPA’s comments, it was voluntarily withdrawn by the GoJet pilot group until it satisfies ALPA’s criteria for certification. The GoJet pilot group still feels that they were properly recognized and certified, however, mediation would have been the alternative in justifying their position which the pilot group thought would end up taking much longer than the current path. The pilot group, under Teamsters guidance, will be recertified shortly.



15) Re: they do not want to deal with ALPA - ALPA has nothing to do with why the GoJet pilot group, not Management, decided to vote in the Teamsters. However, Mr. Miranda was a deciding factor in their decision making process. Again, the Trans States pilot group needs to seriously address its MEC and how Mr. Miranda handles the business issues that will affect your future.



16) Re: success that we have achieved - It should be important for the Trans States pilot group to ask its MEC for a list of successes stemming from the last several years of negotiations and compare those with other industry contracts. The Trans States two year contract extension has put itself at the bottom of industry jet contracts. The pilot group should also hold its union officers accountable for any money spent from your dues collection. Remember, your dues amount to a local budget of approximately $200,000 annually. You should know where it is spent.



17) Re: speak directly to pilots - GoJet Management and the GoJet pilot group will also hold an open house at a time and date to be specified soon. This will give interested individuals from the Trans States pilot group an opportunity to have any unanswered questions addressed. We will also have a website forum in place soon to allow for transcripts of these and other communications to both pilot groups for further discussion in an effort to add some insight to a one-sided campaign against Management.

-----​

We hope this will prompt you to ask more questions of your own union officials before jumping to any conclusions over any accusations made against GoJet or its pilot group.

 

[jsmenkin]

Remember, TSA remains the only group (in ALPA history) to have approved a strike authorization vote by 100% of the pilots during the last contract negotiations. Any fellow pilots are welcome and encouraged to attend!

A 100% strike vote was authorized by 51% of the pilots. 100% of the pilots did not vote to strike. That makes TSA very divided. It's sad what you have been led to believe.

 

[Propsync]

Well then, you might as well add your own names to that list since you are flying American Eagle airplanes with Trans States pilots. You are breaking scope and pointing fingers like you own the right. Hypocrits.

Wow, you sure typed a lot of words. Too bad the first paragraph proved you're retarded. Trans States is flying their own airplanes as American Connection, not flying as Eagle itself. This is a problem with AMR/Eagle, not Trans States.

You see, Trans States used to fly for TWA. Then, TWA got bought by AMR. Trans States CONTINUED to fly as American Connection. They didn't just show up a couple of years ago to take all of Eagle's flying. Maybe Eagle has that flying scoped. I don't know. Same with RegionsAir. All we should be focusing on right now is 1. Killing GoJet or 2. Having TransStates ALPA pilots flying those airplanes.

 

[DiverDriver]

A 100% strike vote was authorized by 51% of the pilots. 100% of the pilots did not vote to strike. That makes TSA very divided. It's sad what you have been led to believe.

Was the other 49% probationary pilots?

 

[NewBlue]

All we should be focusing on right now is 1. Killing GoJet or 2. Having TransStates ALPA pilots flying those airplanes.

If you kill GoJet will you, the TSA pilot group, still be able to get the large small jets in violation of APA's scope clause?

 

[BoilerUP]

I'm not even a TSA pilot, and I put more faith in Dario than the crap put out on this board. It amazes me when people complain about their union but are unwilling to do ANYTHING to make the union better. I guess you just expect your dues to magically give you everything you could ever want with no work or input on your own.

 

[IFlyLow]

what are you trying to accomplish?

Well then, you might as well add your own names to that list since you are flying American Eagle airplanes with Trans States pilots. You are breaking scope and pointing fingers like you own the right. Hypocrits.

jsmenkin,

First of all, “hypocrits” is not a word. Secondly, are you part of TSA management? The tone of your post seems as if you wish for GoJet to succeed. I’m sorry you’re upset over the integration of TWA into AMR. I agree a lot of people got screwed during that transition. TSA however, never went after “your” flying. They simply were part of TWA that was integrated into AMR.

We should really be focusing on the GoJet issue here. It is vital that GoJets and TSA be flown under one seniority list by TSA pilots, or simply not exist at all. This is a close-knit industry, and this decision will affect all of us. I work for AWAC and it has already had an effect on us. I sincerely hope it never detrimentally affects any other pilot group. And I’ll be showing up on May 10th in STL to back that statement. I hope many others will be there as well.

 

[Reebo]

Well then, you might as well add your own names to that list since you are flying American Eagle airplanes with Trans States pilots. You are breaking scope and pointing fingers like you own the right. Hypocrits.

Welcome back E.O., former STL ATR F/O. Top of the list "distinguished aviator". Glad you were able to crawl out from underneath whatever the lowest form of life you and D.T, J.N and all the other "BLOW JET" distinguished aviators live under. Enjoy your CAREER at BLOW JET