CAL EWR B737
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2005
- Posts
- 652
“If you look at the demographics of the base we have about 65% commuters in Newark. Of those 65% there are about rough justice [sic] 200 commuters from Houston to Newark. And if you are going to have a reduction, we didn’t want to force people out of Houston to backfill people that would be reduced here potentially…It’s to try to reduce some commuters…It’s an easier commute, more flights, better weather and fewer delays.” - Captain Fred Abbott, Newark Pilot Meeting, August 12, 2009
Today is Friday September 04, 2009 and there are 17 items for discussion.
Item 1: Note to Flight Ops Management – A Step In The Right Direction
A review of the October 2009 bid package indicates that maybe, just maybe, flight operations management has been listening. It appears that some pairings with eastbound leg times under eight hours, those historically staffed by Deadheading FOs, are now staffed with working IRO’s in both directions. Even some of the dreaded LIM – EWR legs will have working IROs. Bad news for all the chiropractors out there making a living correcting head-bob-induced neck injuries; good news for us.
While there appears to be no rhyme or reason as to why flight operations picked certain European pairings over others, your LEC Officers certainly approve of the much needed safety enhancement for our crew and passengers. It is our position that all oceanic crossings should have working IRO’s in both directions.
To any of our pilots who may interpret any of these changes as a pay cut. Nothing transcends safety, absolutely nothing, and that includes pay. Flying IRO’s in both directions is the safest course of action, period.
Item 2: Well, is system bid a system bid, or is it all just smoke and mirrors?
Judging by the numberof e-mails and phone calls your LEC officers received this week, it would appear that several EWR Assistant Chief Pilots have been very busy making phone calls. We really do appreciate this new hands-on approach by our ACP’s to reconnect with their pilots and to see if there is anything they can do to help them out. But we must remind them that a contract is a contract and seniority is seniority. Of course we demand the contract be adhered to at all times.
Message to flight operations: If you really want to keep extra crews in EWR, we have a suggestion for you, rerun the bid and keep the pilots where the flying is! No need to worry. It’s permitted per the contract.
Item 3: One Year Anniversary of Pilot Furloughs – You Are Not Forgotten!
Next week will mark the one year anniversary of the unnecessary furlough of 147 of our union brothers and sisters. Not a day goes by that your union leadership doesn’t think about our furloughed pilots and their terrible plight.
Many of our furloughed brothers and sisters are still out of work, trying to do whatever they can to make ends meet and support their families. We want our furloughed brothers and sisters to know that virtually every decision made by your union leadership is made with significant consideration given to the short-term and long-term affects it will have on our furloughed pilots. We are doing everything possible to ensure not only the fastest possible return for our furloughed pilots, but also the building of an infrastructure which will ensure that you will return to a career not just a job. If there is anything your union leadership can do to help you, please contact us ASAP!
We urge all CAL pilots to follow the union’s lead and think about the effects of your actions on the furloughees and their potential recall.
Item 4: Oh Larry We Have Yet Another Letter For You
From EWR CA Jim LaRosa
Dear Sir,
I realize how busy you must be and to find time in your day to read emails is greatly appreciated. I'm quite sure I'm not the first email you've received regarding this topic.
I feel you need to get another line pilot’s perspective on this latest act. I'd like to consider myself a good employee. I rarely call in sick, I do very well in all proficiency evaluations, and I believe I’m a good diplomat for Continental Airlines. Having said that, I wouldn't consider myself a huge "union guy" either. I support my union, attended a few meetings, etc.. but, I'm not what one would consider a hard line union guy. I firmly believe in unions but, I believe in a good management team also. One that embraces its work force rather than irritating it.
I just feel my management team has let me down and has put in place an immeasurable anger amongst the group. Moreover, I have never, in my 11 years at CAL, seen a group so focused and yet, so angered at the same time. Not a combination I'd consider good for the job we do. It seems that every pilot I’ve flown with lately is so terribly distracted with this latest bid that they are having trouble focusing with the job at hand. They are scared about losing their homes, commuting now, and being away from their families. Most pilots made commitments to the EWR base and are now having to commute to IAH, CLE.
I, along with most EWR pilots, have done our job without fail and with a high regard for our airline.
This latest vindictive act against the EWR pilots has set something in motion that I truly feel is unnecessary. Most would agree that the union is more unified than any other time in history. This is true however, that does not mean the pilot group will act like anything other than that of true professionals. Working together to attain a goal is so much better than fighting to achieve it. This unity is embraced by all the bases and not only EWR.
So why the attack on EWR? It’s a bit disconcerting when the V.P. of Flt Ops who attended the EWR meeting, smiled when confronted with questions regarding the bid. I realize there was some difficulty in answering some tougher questions. Most would agree, given the scope of the answers, it is tough to compartmentalize personal beliefs with that of management directives. Answering with smirks however, is not conducive to professionalism. These are peoples lives at stake and when a representative of management laughs at the group, the reaction cannot be expected to be anything but pleasant. "What did you expect, you did this to yourselves" was the impression the meeting gave off. What did we do? Go to work, do our job day in and day out without incident or accident.
I realize the economy changes and management needs to make tough decisions. Priority is to continue operating at the highest and most efficient level. I, most, would accept that however, this decision did not appear to be for economic reasons rather than for vindictive ones.
All I can do is perform my job with the professionalism one would come to expect from a Continental Pilot. All I ask or hope for in return, is that my management team does the same. We have a great product at CAL and part of that product is its pilots.
Best Regards
Jim LaRosa
Capt 737 (FO soon)
Today is Friday September 04, 2009 and there are 17 items for discussion.
Item 1: Note to Flight Ops Management – A Step In The Right Direction
A review of the October 2009 bid package indicates that maybe, just maybe, flight operations management has been listening. It appears that some pairings with eastbound leg times under eight hours, those historically staffed by Deadheading FOs, are now staffed with working IRO’s in both directions. Even some of the dreaded LIM – EWR legs will have working IROs. Bad news for all the chiropractors out there making a living correcting head-bob-induced neck injuries; good news for us.
While there appears to be no rhyme or reason as to why flight operations picked certain European pairings over others, your LEC Officers certainly approve of the much needed safety enhancement for our crew and passengers. It is our position that all oceanic crossings should have working IRO’s in both directions.
To any of our pilots who may interpret any of these changes as a pay cut. Nothing transcends safety, absolutely nothing, and that includes pay. Flying IRO’s in both directions is the safest course of action, period.
Item 2: Well, is system bid a system bid, or is it all just smoke and mirrors?
Judging by the numberof e-mails and phone calls your LEC officers received this week, it would appear that several EWR Assistant Chief Pilots have been very busy making phone calls. We really do appreciate this new hands-on approach by our ACP’s to reconnect with their pilots and to see if there is anything they can do to help them out. But we must remind them that a contract is a contract and seniority is seniority. Of course we demand the contract be adhered to at all times.
Message to flight operations: If you really want to keep extra crews in EWR, we have a suggestion for you, rerun the bid and keep the pilots where the flying is! No need to worry. It’s permitted per the contract.
Item 3: One Year Anniversary of Pilot Furloughs – You Are Not Forgotten!
Next week will mark the one year anniversary of the unnecessary furlough of 147 of our union brothers and sisters. Not a day goes by that your union leadership doesn’t think about our furloughed pilots and their terrible plight.
Many of our furloughed brothers and sisters are still out of work, trying to do whatever they can to make ends meet and support their families. We want our furloughed brothers and sisters to know that virtually every decision made by your union leadership is made with significant consideration given to the short-term and long-term affects it will have on our furloughed pilots. We are doing everything possible to ensure not only the fastest possible return for our furloughed pilots, but also the building of an infrastructure which will ensure that you will return to a career not just a job. If there is anything your union leadership can do to help you, please contact us ASAP!
We urge all CAL pilots to follow the union’s lead and think about the effects of your actions on the furloughees and their potential recall.
Item 4: Oh Larry We Have Yet Another Letter For You
From EWR CA Jim LaRosa
Dear Sir,
I realize how busy you must be and to find time in your day to read emails is greatly appreciated. I'm quite sure I'm not the first email you've received regarding this topic.
I feel you need to get another line pilot’s perspective on this latest act. I'd like to consider myself a good employee. I rarely call in sick, I do very well in all proficiency evaluations, and I believe I’m a good diplomat for Continental Airlines. Having said that, I wouldn't consider myself a huge "union guy" either. I support my union, attended a few meetings, etc.. but, I'm not what one would consider a hard line union guy. I firmly believe in unions but, I believe in a good management team also. One that embraces its work force rather than irritating it.
I just feel my management team has let me down and has put in place an immeasurable anger amongst the group. Moreover, I have never, in my 11 years at CAL, seen a group so focused and yet, so angered at the same time. Not a combination I'd consider good for the job we do. It seems that every pilot I’ve flown with lately is so terribly distracted with this latest bid that they are having trouble focusing with the job at hand. They are scared about losing their homes, commuting now, and being away from their families. Most pilots made commitments to the EWR base and are now having to commute to IAH, CLE.
I, along with most EWR pilots, have done our job without fail and with a high regard for our airline.
This latest vindictive act against the EWR pilots has set something in motion that I truly feel is unnecessary. Most would agree that the union is more unified than any other time in history. This is true however, that does not mean the pilot group will act like anything other than that of true professionals. Working together to attain a goal is so much better than fighting to achieve it. This unity is embraced by all the bases and not only EWR.
So why the attack on EWR? It’s a bit disconcerting when the V.P. of Flt Ops who attended the EWR meeting, smiled when confronted with questions regarding the bid. I realize there was some difficulty in answering some tougher questions. Most would agree, given the scope of the answers, it is tough to compartmentalize personal beliefs with that of management directives. Answering with smirks however, is not conducive to professionalism. These are peoples lives at stake and when a representative of management laughs at the group, the reaction cannot be expected to be anything but pleasant. "What did you expect, you did this to yourselves" was the impression the meeting gave off. What did we do? Go to work, do our job day in and day out without incident or accident.
I realize the economy changes and management needs to make tough decisions. Priority is to continue operating at the highest and most efficient level. I, most, would accept that however, this decision did not appear to be for economic reasons rather than for vindictive ones.
All I can do is perform my job with the professionalism one would come to expect from a Continental Pilot. All I ask or hope for in return, is that my management team does the same. We have a great product at CAL and part of that product is its pilots.
Best Regards
Jim LaRosa
Capt 737 (FO soon)
