Merry Xmas from Avantair

[P180puke]

As I said before, I've never favored unions. But now that I am faced with a choice to either quit, get fired if I'm perceived as stepping out of line, or organize; I'm beginning to see the worth. I'll be job hunting just in case we have enough ostriches that don't see the light. What's it take, 50%?

 

[angryoneincher]

Never one for a pro union stance, I have to say that here at avantair, we'll need one to protect not only our interests, but our jobs. Seems a well liked fellow pilot got canned recently for a "customer complaint". No details or proof was submitted. No written warning, no verbal, just "see ya". We have had guys flat out not show up for work and not get canned. IMO, instead of fixing their problems and looking at themselves for improvement, they're trying to spin damage control for the recent "expendature" there. It's very apparent that's what this is, the timing is too right and out of nowhere. How many more of us will get fired because management has a communist mindset?

sure hope i get one of those cards in the mail. If I don't how do you get one?[/quote

p180puke if you need a card i have a whole stack of them. PM if you care to- we'll take care of that. By the way the guy that got canned was a friend of mine. Spread the word that there were no customer complaints. That's been confirmed by scheduling and owner services. We all know what this is about.

 

[P180puke]

Originally from a CAL Capt., adjusted to fit here...

I am an Army of One (or 2, or 100, ...)

I am an army of One - A Captain in avantair’s army.

For years I was a loyal soldier, now I fight my own war.

I used to feel valued and respected. Now I know I am mere fodder.

They used to exhibit leadership. Now they exploit legal loopholes.

They used to enjoy my maximum. Now they will suffer my minimum.

I am an army of One.

I used to save hundreds of pounds of fuel per leg; finding the best FL, getting direct routing, throttling back when on-time was made, skimping during ground ops, adjusting for winds, being smart and giving the company every effort I could conjure. Now, it's "burn baby, burn".

I used to call maintenance while airborne, so dispatch would be ready with an alternative. Now, they'll find the write-up when they look in the book.

I used to try to fix problems in the system, now I sit and watch as the miscues pile up.

I used to fly sick. Now I use my sick days –oh wait, we don’t have those-on short notice.

I am an army of One.

I used to let the price of fuel at some fbos affect my fuel orders. I still do.

I used to cover mistakes by operations. Now I watch them unfold.

I used to hustle to ensure an on-time arrival, to make us the best…. Now I’ll get there when I get there.

I used to call dispatch to head off ground delays for bad weather. Now I remain silent….number 35 in line for takeoff.

I am on a new mission - to demonstrate that misguided leadership of indifference and disrespect has a cost. It's about character, it's about leading by taking care of your people instead of leadership by bean counters (an oxymoron). With acts of omission, not commission, I am a one-man wrecking crew - an army of One. My mission used to be to make my company rich. Now it's to make them pay.

I am a walking nightmare to the bean counters that made me. Are you listening? This mercenary has a lot of years left in his career; how long can you afford to keep me bitter? I'm not looking for clauses in a contract, I'm looking for a culture of commitment and caring. When I see it, I'll be a soldier for you again. Until then, I am an Army of One...And I'm not alone!

 

[widespreadpanic]

Never one for a pro union stance, I have to say that here at avantair, we'll need one to protect not only our interests, but our jobs. Seems a well liked fellow pilot got canned recently for a "customer complaint". No details or proof was submitted. No written warning, no verbal, just "see ya". We have had guys flat out not show up for work and not get canned. IMO, instead of fixing their problems and looking at themselves for improvement, they're trying to spin damage control for the recent "expendature" there. It's very apparent that's what this is, the timing is too right and out of nowhere. How many more of us will get fired because management has a communist mindset?

sure hope i get one of those cards in the mail. If I don't how do you get one?

Not the first time that someone has been pegged as a union supporter and then got the AX.

It sucks!!!
WP

 

[cornfed]

I wonder how many of us will be fired for by the Dark Lord SS and his company henchmen before we actually get the union involved.

And on that note as a kind of hilarious turn of events my blackberry now shows an email from our HR guy. Here it is for everyones enjoyment.

Subject:Reminder

As a condition of employment, it is expected that no employee will make
derogatory or disparaging comments about the Company, it's employees,
owners, or customers.
Doing sowill not be tolerated, and will result in disciplinary action up to and
including termination.

Ken Siegel
Director, Human Resources

Hey I dont remember reading that in our employee manual! Oh yeah thats right we dont have one! For our leader being a lawyer you would think by now he would know that someone who is fired from Avantair could sue and easily win being terminated from a company with no employee manual. After all what is right and wrong? What is company policy?

 

[cornfed]

Well it looks like the Dark Lord has fired another pilot from Avantair. This time a long time employee and all around good guy. I guess they are going to try to fire everyone in the hopes of "controlling" the pilots.

Keep it up Steve! All you are doing is making the push for a union stronger!

 

[P180puke]

derogatory or disparaging comments



So they consider their own corporate info as derogatory and disparaging.

 

[FRACTRASH]

It sounds like you have a lot of good people their. CS is doing a lot of hiring, come join our team. Where you will be noticed and rewarded for your maximum. www.Citationshares.com

 

[P180puke]

It sounds like you have a lot of good people their. CS is doing a lot of hiring, come join our team. Where you will be noticed and rewarded for your maximum. www.Citationshares.com

Unfortunately, the head of scheduling is best friends with barry (the hiring guy at cs). So in classic avantair strongarm tactics, they've managed to close that door to try and keep pilots around.

 

[Diesel]

Well then common to NJ.

Yes we have a union. Duh

 

[ilikecheese]

Unfortunately, the head of scheduling is best friends with barry (the hiring guy at cs). So in classic avantair strongarm tactics, they've managed to close that door to try and keep pilots around.

Phil has friends?

 

[FRACTRASH]

Do you know if anyone has tried?

 

[P180puke]

Phil has friends?

mmm, good point, must be paid

 

[P180puke]

Do you know if anyone has tried?

Yea, there was a pilot here (that got wise and moved on) that was trying to get in at CS sometime last year. Had a buddy there and everything. Again, they aren't good at keeping secrets. But then, if you're an honest firm, you should need secrets.

 

[cornfed]

Well I wonder who the next lucky contestant is in the Avantair wheel of illegal firings?

 

[hyper]

Whoever's not a puppet, it appears....

 

[netjetwife]

derogatory or disparaging comments



So they consider their own corporate info as derogatory and disparaging.

Of course not! They have a double standard firmly in place. If a company treats its workers respectfully and compensates them fairly, they wouldn't need to send out threatening emails trying to muzzle them. Honest reports about the pay and working conditions aren't slanderous- -they're factual. It isn't the pilots fault if the company is so ashamed of their actions that they don't want anyone to know how they treat the employees. They've just made your case for you! Toe the line or else?!

I think that one email alone should generate quite a few more cards. Firing pilots without a cause- - other than their own fear- - just shows the potential leverage the pilots do have and the lengths the company will go to to stop y'all from organizing and making use of that strength. It also appears to me that the gauntlet has been thrown down, and Avantair pilots must decide what they're going to do. Get picked off one by one, or band together and fight back? It looks like an easy decision to me.

Time to start counting cards!
Netjetwife

 

[netjetwife]

Almost forgot. . .

P180, I enjoyed your post "Army of One". It's very similar to the NJ pilots "Pledge" that many there took to send the message to management that a corporate culture of disrespect and exploitation does come with a steep price tag. It's a well known rule of economics that you get what you pay for. While the NJ pilots were flying the Pledge, I cheered them on with my own personal motto that applies to other underpaid/overworked pilots--JUST EARN THE PAYCHECK! We all know that shouldn't require too much effort at places like Avantair, Flex and Options.

IF YOU'RE READY FOR A CHANGE, SEND IN A CARD

 

[RoughAir]

Just got my Xmas gift card in the mail! It was late but what the heck.

Returned ASAP to that address in CA.

 

[Texasskicker]

Got three words for you, NJW.

Of course not! They have a double standard firmly in place. If a company treats its workers respectfully and compensates them fairly, they wouldn't need to send out threatening emails trying to muzzle them. Honest reports about the pay and working conditions aren't slanderous- -they're factual. It isn't the pilots fault if the company is so ashamed of their actions that they don't want anyone to know how they treat the employees. They've just made your case for you! Toe the line or else?!

I think that one email alone should generate quite a few more cards. Firing pilots without a cause- - other than their own fear- - just shows the potential leverage the pilots do have and the lengths the company will go to to stop y'all from organizing and making use of that strength. It also appears to me that the gauntlet has been thrown down, and Avantair pilots must decide what they're going to do. Get picked off one by one, or band together and fight back? It looks like an easy decision to me.

Time to start counting cards!
Netjetwife

Three words for you to ponder.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

Get yall some help now, hear?