Great Lakes Furloughs Again

[Wally]

...you can blame it on...
...no one stays there long enough...

Big Red,

Why don't you refer to my previous post. If the MEC sucks, then why doesn't the group do something? Or maybe the pilot group sucks by not supporting unified causes? Maybe they all suck and Doug will be the ultimate victor. We can play the blame game all day long, but when it comes down to it, the people whose fate depends on these leaders should demand better of not only their leaders, but themselves.
I don't know if you currently work at Lakes, but if you do, why don't you do something to help. If you don't work there any longer, then I guess you too are part of the problem as you pointed out above. In that case, we're all ears for suggestions.

By the way, I'd like to hear you back up your accusation how anyone is lining their pockets in the union. As Fuzzy points out correctly, all Lakes pilot union positions are voluntary.

Seeeeeeeeee ya,
W

 

[Redtailer]

You know what, you're right. It is the fault of the pilot group for not putting their collective foot down in years past so that they could have a decent way of life. Of course the reason is that most of the pilots that worked at Lakes had the attitude of not being there long and they had other things to worry about.

I guess it's only just now coming up to bite them since there is really no place to go now.

As far as lining their own pockets, for the most part the position is unpaid, but I believe there is some type of compensation for the union work above the normal flight pay. Also, to believe that there were no kickbacks for a contract that was written in favor of management is not out of the realm of possibility. Honestly, I have never seen a contract so worded in management's favor and at the same time so abhorent to the pilots. I can't believe I would ever say it but you would be better off without a contract.
Also, I know of NO union that would tolerate an 60-80% failure rate in the training department. That may or may not be true today, but it was true as recently as 2 years ago. But, the same officers were in place for all of the preceding years.

Just for the record, I am not an employee but have known and flown with several over the years. Great group of employees, but the top on both the management and union sides not only suck, but appear to be in bed together to produce that toilet paper they call a contract.

canadflyau:

The ALPA and IBT are similarly setup, but the support on the national level is the difference. The IBT national really does not do a great job compared to ALPA, but the pilot group is what make the IBT work at a particular airline.

 

[fuzzy077]

Redtailer has absolutely no clue. We dont get paid squat above normal guarantee for doing any union work. Besides, the current contract was the first contract ever for the GLA pilots and it does suck but thats what were in negotiations for now isn't it???
Love,
GLA EXCO Chairman

 

[canadflyau]

about the pilot group

You know my position so I will not reiterate... As far as the pilot group that keeps getting bashed about not "demanding more" and sitting on their butts, I COULD NOT DISAGREE MORE!!

Since I have been here I have seen some major things done by the pilot group in 100% unison. 1)Making sure to follow the AIM's definition of a safe taxi speed 2) and 100% vote in favor of striking!!!

Until we are released I don't no that I could say we, as a pilot group could be doing more. We have given the people in the positions of our union all the backbone a pilot group can give, we voted 100% strike authorization.. That sounds like a resounding and resoulte group to me! Maybe I don't know the past inequities, but what I have seen thus far tell me we are all armed and ready to fire, we are just waiting for a target to aim at!

 

[Cardinal]

what DOH do they go back to?

If they also give another 6 the boot on June 1st, that will oust most or all of the October '02 class. August '02 hires would be safe. I think.

 

[Alaskaairlines]

GLA

Sad to hear guys!

Just talked to my buddy over at Lakes, and he told me the news.......sad to hear........guess the instructing mode goes back on for you guys. Really is a shame.

Sure wish you guys are able to hope back on, or even better yet, get a job offer at a better place!

 

[DrunkIrishman]

Wally,

I believe that the union negotiators received a small percentage of each members gaurentee, as per the vote.

BTW, if you haven't been a Laker, then get a clue before you go rippin' on current Lakers. The IBT is pathetic and they give little help to rank and file members.

-Former Laker

 

[fuzzy077]

The small percentage of each members guarantee is called an assessment fee. This is ONLY used to cover lost hours of flying while the negotiating team is in negotiations. For example, if one of the negotiators was scheduled to fly 10 hours during a week of negotiations, the pilot would not lose that 10 hours of pay. The company would pay the pilot as if he flew the 10 hours, and bill the IBT for it. The cost of the 10 hours to the IBT would then come out of the assessment fund. And thats how that works.

 

[Wally]

BTW, if you haven't been a Laker, then get a clue before you go rippin' on current Lakers.
-Former Laker

Well then, from one Laker to another... I do have a clue and believe me, I have earned every right to say whatever I please and then some.

As for the IBT, there's no doubt they could do better and I've never said otherwise. But simply bitching here to us isn't going to get it done. The pilot group must do better if they wish to stop using the contract as tiolet paper as you so eloquently put it. And as candaflyau points out, the group has potential, but they need to DEMAND more and they need to do it quickly. More of the IBT and of THEMSELVES.

WEll, I gotta go take a P-----y and wipe my E---n. I hope we're not out of contract to wipe with.

Regards

 

[Heavy_D_Driver]

More GLA Furlough Information

I got a call from the chief pilot last Wednesday regarding my furlough. They are still furloughing 17 pilots at Great Lakes, but the 7 most senior of that group will not be furloughed until June 1st now instead of May 15th. (The remaining 10 will still be furloughed on May 15th.) Fortunatly, I fall into the group that will be furloughed on June 1st. The furlough will affect seniority numbers 234 and below. (That equates to about 2/3 of the the October 2002 class being furloughed and all of the the November 2002 class on furlough.) I guess that Great Lakes got a copy of United's schedule this last week and apparently whatever information GLA was looking for, they got. The chief pilot said that they would probably not be furloughing any more pilots after the June 1st group gets furloughed, so those remaining 6 that were talked about earlier are "sort of safe" apparently.

 

[Heavy_D_Driver]

One other thing....

One other thing that the chief pilot told me- He said that of the 7 that are being furloughed on June 1st, if enough senior people start quiting, then he would recall us as people quit and potentially we might not get furloughed at all. Meaning that I need 4 senior pilots to quit between now and June 1st to avoid furlough. (I know that 6 captains quit here in the last week, most of which went to ATA, one went to Comair, but the company was already planning on those guys quiting prior to the latest furlough.) So, to any of you senior pilots at Great Lakes that are hired at another carrier and waiting on a ground school and would like to take some time off between now and the start of your ground schoool, now would be a good time to resign. Also to any of you captains that I have flown with that are thinking about getting out of the industry alltogather, now would be a good time to get out and let those of us that really want to be here, continue to be here.

 

[Alaskaairlines]

Do they have any idea when they will be recalling the furloughees?

 

[Cardinal]

Thanks for the info Heavy_D, it saves me from having to hassle poor C.S. or J.P. Hope things work out for ya.

 

[DrunkIrishman]

Hey Fuzzy077,

Congrats on Air Tran! What will become of GLA negotiations now?