Mesaba Big Announcement on Friday

[U of I Tweak]

The Real Big News

Many rumors have been swirling around Mesaba over the past several days, and I want to stress that we have nothing to announce. If we have something that is deemed significant and factual, we will communicate the information, as appropriate. The only thing I can tell you, is that the company has saved 15% by switching to GEICO...

Any takers?

 

[DetoXJ]

Here is a headline from the front page of planebusiness.com

"
[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]* Mesaba/Northwest On Verge of New Agreement That Will Bring 70-Seaters to Mesaba[/font]

 

[Napoleon TNT]

U of I....


Um...yeah-

That line has already been used.


On another note...I vow to continue to *bump* this thread until "BIG ANNOUNCEMENT FRIDAY" arrives.

 

[T-handle]

Vote for Pedro!!!

He offers you his protection!

 

[CFIfornow]

It's Friday.......again, where's the announcement?

 

[Terry Hunter]

Bump!

DIE 70 seat rumor... DIE.

Of course I'd love to fly a 70 seat jet, but I think it is a pipe dream, and with little information, it is possible we are setting our sights on the hopeful rather than realistic.

 

[T-handle]

From NWA's ALPA site: http://www.nwaalpa.org/

MEC Negotiating Committee member Bob Moser continued the Negotiating Committee report from Wednesday. He compared the previous scope language with the current (post Bridge Agreement) RJ protections. He said the current language allows additional 50-seat aircraft by eliminating the old narrowbody to RJ ratio and creating a new ratio (For every narrowbody below 360, the 104 RJ maximum is reduced on a one-for-one basis). Considering the current narrowbody and RJ fleet plans, NWA will be allowed to operate up to 81 50-seat RJs with NW code. As before the Agreement, NWA still has the ability to fly an unlimited number of 44-seat SJs.

During the Q&A session that followed, Moser was asked about the reduction in planned NWA flying and the possibility for more furloughs. Moser said the company has told ALPA there are no plans at this time to furlough additional pilots. However, as always, recalls and furloughs will be affected by future events and NWA’s flying levels.

The meeting was then closed so MEC Chairman Mark McClain could update the MEC on issues related to contract negotiations at other NWA labor groups and how they could affect NWA pilots.

 

[Spinn555]

Oh, the drama.

 

[88_MALIBU]

Did anyone care to see the local news tonight? BIGGG story...

 

[88_MALIBU]

ok I lied.

 

[IbeFlyenhye]

New metal for Mesaba

I hear Mesaba is to be the Regional Launch customer for the A380.

... course, might just be another rumor...

 

[xjhawk]

In all seriousness, about the negotiations (the secret ones) I was thinkng that if they got new airplanes for a pay freeze, i say fire all the union heads if that is the case. I remember in there last negotiation, they said they would not accept anything less than Comair rates (from the MEC meetings, and a lot of fist pounding that we would strike if they offerred anything less). So, if they want to accept a pay freeze, lets freeze at Comair rates, because i cannot afford to freeze at 24000 a year my W2, but now will be 27 or so) but still barely not enough to make my life advance. My message to the FO's at MESAba, no pay freezes should be accepted. Remember how we fo's got a higher % that that of an avro captain in the last contract? I liked doing the math on that one, they got about a 15 dollar raise and we got around a ten or less dollar raise. But i should say, they were right to think that we would not complain since that is better than what we were making.

So, if we are like Comair and our MEC accepted a pay freeze, lets say we do it at Comair rates like our MEC promised ! This MSP FO has a loud voice, and will stand for only what was promised. Comair rates or we strike! hahahahahahahahahahahahahahah i can only hope htey found some balls during this set of negotiations! john......PS but i do appreciate the hard work our MEC does, i just do not like some of the results

 

[Gator1999]

I hear Mesaba is to be the Regional Launch customer for the A380.

With that bunch of management brainiacs in MSP I wouldn't be surpurised to see that. We can't even fill the Avros...but let's bring the 380's online and fly'em to MBS, FNT and AZO 50 times a day! What a great idea!

 

[Dodge]

IF there is to be a new aircraft, then there should be no pay freezes. We have pay scales in our contract that will cover any new airplane that comes on the property. 70+ seaters aren't even on the radar since the NWALPA have stated numerous times that those aircraft are not to be flown by anyone outside their pilot group. (of course that could be typical ALPA smoke and mirrors)

We have a contract. We were told by the MEC that this contract brings us in line with our peers. We actually got our per diem to match the FA's rates. Then we were told that it was the best we could do given the ecomomic forces of the time. No more backpeddling. If our union should accept anything less than what this contract states, then they need to clean out their desks and get back to flying airplanes.

 

[Dodge]

Another friday long gone. Anyone else thinking that this "Big Announcement" is probably never going to materialize? This management team has proven time and time again that it has no real plans for ...well, anything. Silly me for thinking (hoping) that this time would actually be any different.

 

[1hydraulicpump]

My message to the FO's at MESAba, no pay freezes should be accepted. Remember how we fo's got a higher % that that of an avro captain in the last contract? I liked doing the math on that one, they got about a 15 dollar raise and we got around a ten or less dollar raise.

Uhh, first year FO's got a 23% raise compared to Capts 5% raise. ($4.87/hour vs. $2.81/hour)

So, if we are like Comair and our MEC accepted a pay freeze, lets say we do it at Comair rates like our MEC promised !

I don't remember the MEC PROMISING anything..., I remember a "goal".

..PS but i do appreciate the hard work our MEC does, i just do not like some of the results[/QUOTE]

Sure doesn't sound like it....

BTW, I voted no also, but I know my facts. You are just spewing trash.

I do like your chickens quote though...

 

[Propsync]

The rumor I heard was XJ was buying Air Wisconsin's 146's. Since those have 100 seats, mainline pilots will fly them. The XJ Avro's will be reconfigured in a timely fashion for marketing purposes. Any hiring that Mesaba does will be a J4J scenario, in order to fly the Avro's with more seats.

 

[Simon Says]

In all seriousness, about the negotiations (the secret ones) I was thinkng that if they got new airplanes for a pay freeze, i say fire all the union heads if that is the case.

Seems to me you are doing all the fist pounding. Anything that comes out of the MEC will be MEM RAT. So if there will be anything coming down the line, You my friend, will be voting on your own destiny.

By the way, you cannot fire an elected position, You recall them.

 

[Gator1999]

Another friday long gone. Anyone else thinking that this "Big Announcement" is probably never going to materialize? This management team has proven time and time again that it has no real plans for ...well, anything. Silly me for thinking (hoping) that this time would actually be any different.

Yeah Dodge I think you're right...my bad for being optimistic and waiting and longing for some good news. Sad to know that it'll never change with this company. I can't imagine what could be such big news that the MEC reps would have to keep it from the union members for this long. Get ready for a big disappointing announcement like, "we just extended the leases on the 340's".

Hey...but at least we got scope! Now that Big Sky is flying all those 1900's around...

 

[bdy85]

I could use your guys help with this. I am a new hire so i am not familuar with pay freezes. If a pay freeze goes into effect before I get out of training will I be stuck at 1st year fo pay for a few years. Thanks

 

[Yudso]

I believe pay freezes affect the cost of living increase built into the contract, not longevity pay.

 

[Jimdandy]

Well The official word I heard straight from a Union Rep in MSP is they have stopped talking.

No more negotiations and no aggrement was reached meaning the company asked the union to give up too much.

The next move belongs to the company .......just wait

 

[Simon Says]

I wouldn't be so confident about that. Remember LOA 15? Be careful about how much faith you have in your MEC. It would be better to stay neutral until the info comes out. There is no guarantee at all that this will be MEMRAT.

Once again...Whatever comes out that affects the contract will be Mem Rat.

LOA 15 was a hard lesson learned.

 

[Dodge]

Well The official word I heard straight from a Union Rep in MSP is they have stopped talking.

No more negotiations and no aggrement was reached meaning the company asked the union to give up too much.

The next move belongs to the company .......just wait

So, I guess we aren't getting PBS.

 

[T-handle]

We probably couldn't agree on western expansion/EAS to Brookings, SD.

 

[xjhawk]

Okay, the facts are this, when i went to a MEC meeting, OUr MEC stated a goal of COMAIR or better, and when the fist pounds on the table, and the following words are that we will stike if we do not get it, and then we do not? Well, i can understand goals, but i also know when i have been misled by strong words and fist pounding at MEC meetings. ANd what i said is true, i apprieciate their hard work, and am thankful for the good parts of the contract. And i do know they worked hard, and truely feel they got what was the best they could get. They are working harder than i am, I just feel what was promised, was not delivered, and why threat strike, and then not use what the membership had approved.

But, are you serious?Every airline has asked for and gotten concessions lately, what makes you think ours is not any different? I ust hope they (our MEC) did not give anything up in order to get new aircraft, I am not throwing trash, i am just stating my opinion, and thats allowed in here, oh well, i really just want everything to turn out alright, pay rqaises and new airplanes, NWA pilots back to work and management to stop mismanaging our airline and stop sucking all the money our of the airline through undeserved bonus's and stock options! and let me know if i made any more mistakes in this posting? I do not keep my calculator with me, but i do know that many avro captains say they recieved bigger pay raises than i did, but i also think they deserved every cent they got.......actually i think they deserved more! i have heard a lot of rumors, and do not care to hear more......so, until the announcement, i will be happy to just say, take care everyone, and hope for the best

 

[Terry Hunter]

Anyone consider that the concession may be a seat lock for current AVRO Captains? (So they don't go to the new a/c, causing two training events?) That might fit the "Most will like it, some won't" mantra of this announcement.

Plus, my speculation is that we are getting small CRJ's.

Did anyone else hear that the MKE CRJ is totaled?

 

[DoinTime]

Plus, my speculation is that we are getting small CRJ's.

Did anyone else hear that the MKE CRJ is totaled?

Thats the one I heard you were getting.

 

[Dodge]

We took 366PX off your hands. Another banged up plane would be just what the doctor ordered.

 

[Workin'Stiff]

A plane that's got a great rolling tendancy when you let go! Beautiful rigging! Oops... Patch job...