Mesaba pilots give union the OK to call a strike

[Iflyamouse]

CHICAGO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Pilots at Mesaba Aviation, a unit of MAIR Holdings Inc. (MAIR.O: Quote, Profile, Research), have authorized union leaders to call a strike should a bankruptcy court let the airline impose unacceptable contract terms, the workers' union said on Monday.

The Air Line Pilots Association said 98 percent of the pilots who voted approved the strike authorization.

http://yahoo.reuters.com/stocks/QuoteCompanyNewsArticle.aspx?storyID=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20060227:MTFH16004_2006-02-27_19-44-07_N27256411&symbol=MAIR.O

Stand strong!!

 

[amcnd]

GO GET THEM GUYS!!! (and gals)

 

[coogebeachhotel]

I am begining to think that Mesaba management wants this shutdown to happen.:angryfire

 

[Flying Ninja]

Wow...98%...things must be really bad over there! Best of luck! I hope you get everything and more!

 

[kmox29]

If we call a strike, I have no doubt NWA will kill Mesaba. As soon as that happens, NWA will look at Pinnacle and say "Guess what? You're next. Better give concessions or you'll end up just like Mesaba."

This will continue until NWA gets what they want.

I'm not advocating concessions (still won't vote for any). Just want XJ'ers to know a few of my theories:

1. We strike = Mesaba liquidation
2. Result of Theory #1 won't make one bit of difference in this Wal-Mart industry
3. ALPA is powerless to stop any of this

It sucks, I know.

I also hope I'm completely wrong.

 

[Jack Mehoff]

It might not change anything but look at it this way. Being that all the XJ'ers are going to get the shaft either way why not got out strong? It makes a statement to the public,and you have more self respect. Best of luck to you all at Mesaba. I went to school with alot of the pilots there. I wish you all the best.

Sad thing is alot of PCL dorks are probly getting wood thinking of all the flying coming their way. Since mom and dad pay their credit cards they don't worry about takeing a hit in the paycheck as long as more red tails come on property.

 

[Monster Buck]

[quote1. We strike = Mesaba liquidation
2. Result of Theory #1 won't make one bit of difference in this Wal-Mart industry
3. ALPA is powerless to stop any of this

It sucks, I know.

I also hope I'm completely wrong.[/quote]

Your weakness is showing. I quess we found one of our 2%. In or out brother.uke:

 

[taloft]

From The Article:

"Management's term sheet slashes wages and benefits to the lowest levels in the industry. A new hire pilot would gross just $13,100 after paying 50 percent premiums for family health care. More senior pilots would see their pay reduced by up to 66 percent.

"Not only will pilots not work for these kinds of wages, but I'm certain that the traveling public would not want to fly in the back of a plane if they knew that the pilots were being paid poverty wages necessitating second and third jobs just to make ends meet," said Wychor. "Pilots are highly skilled professionals with a great deal of responsibility, and it behooves our airline to attract the finest employees possible to provide the safest and best experience for their passengers." -- Captain Tom Wychor, chairman of the Mesaba unit of ALPA

 

[noonan]

I have no doubt if we strike, we liquidate.

So be it. You can only take so much. This will push me quicker into that landscaping buissness I always wanted to do.

I have been here for 12 years, and this is an all-time low for pilot/ management relations.
SLT thinks we will rollover like in Jan '04. Hopefully now a few watts are getting through to their already dim bulb with this 98% in favor strike vote, and they will rethink their stance.
I for one already have my longjohns washed and ready so I can walk the line, even if it most likely will be only for 1 day.

 

[Monster Buck]

I have no doubt if we strike, we liquidate.

So be it. You can only take so much. This will push me quicker into that landscaping buissness I always wanted to do.

I have been here for 12 years, and this is an all-time low for pilot/ management relations.
SLT thinks we will rollover like in Jan '04. Hopefully now a few watts are getting through to their already dim bulb with this 98% in favor strike vote, and they will rethink their stance.
I for one already have my longjohns washed and ready so I can walk the line, even if it most likely will be only for 1 day.

Amen brother, I got your back, I'm all In!:uzi:

 

[sligo1]

Don't Generalize PCL Pilots

Sad thing is alot of PCL dorks are probly getting wood thinking of all the flying coming their way. Since mom and dad pay their credit cards they don't worry about takeing a hit in the paycheck as long as more red tails come on property.
I don't know what you think of the PCL pilot group, but their not a bunch of whores. Not only will the bulk of the pilot group support any action Mesaba pilots take, but if the shoe were on the other foot they would also most likely have had the same percentage of pilots authorizing a strike as well. Their not as stupid as you might think and they have far greater people in their pilot group that would never post such a stupid statement[/B].[/B]

 

[xjhawk]

well, showing that we stand together (except for the 2% weenies) makes a point. Only our union leaders who have signed a gag order know what is at stake and what we might gain or lose in the long run, and how much needs to be given. the company would ask us to pay to work if they could, its our union leadership that needs to advise us of their best decision, then we make our minds up. But i will say, that i think its criminal what they are asking, what the industry is asking. I put the blame on ALPA, and allowing the race to the bottom.

The industries that have people with skills have set industry rates which must be adhered to, to prevent what is happening here in our industry. We are a cost measure to be adjusted, unlike in other unionized industries which are pretty much a fixed cost.

I sure wish those at ALPA national were as bright and had the foresight that the plumbers electricians and others did in their industries. Oh and by the way, try to ask a lawyer to accept a lower rate than one of his counterparts to get your business, he will laugh, and say they have standards.....apparently we do not....

 

[razorbacks]

I sure wish our pilot group at CMR had the nutts to take a stand like you all are doing. Best of luck guys.

 

[D'Angelo]

I sure wish our pilot group at CMR had the nutts to take a stand like you all are doing. Best of luck guys.

Comair is still in line right around industry average. Not the lowest not the highest. Sure going out "with respect" seems fun. Only problem is another pilot group just laughs all the way to the bank on their quick upgrade. Sure they cheer you on hoping for a strike but they sure won't refuse to pick all that flying up. Its a sad state of affairs indeed.

 

[mesaba2425]

There will be no strike. It's all posturing.

 

[SplitBar]

well, showing that we stand together (except for the 2% weenies) makes a point.

I think the real weenies are the 7% (60 something) pilots who didn't even bother to vote. Why don't you ridicule those pilots as well while your at it. Between "NO" votes and not voting at all we have almost 10% of the pilot force. For sure the minority but nonetheless, a fair amount of desolate pilots.

P.S. I voted "YES"

 

[taloft]

Let's face it. When you can no longer afford to pay the bills/survive, no job (no matter how great) is worth it. Seems like the Mesaba pilots have reached that point. Good luck.

 

[sf3boy]

There will be no strike at Mesaba. The pilots voted to authorize one in 2003 and the MEC thought that a strike would not be beneficial even though that is what the majority voted for. Nothing has changed.

If the pilots do go on strike, Mesaba will dissolve. Surprisingly, that is exactly what NW would like to see. They need have a seniority list that will cost them half of what Mesaba's does. Dissolve Mesaba as they fly props, start a new regional and have captains at year one pay, vac and sick accrual, etc...instead of the 15 year guys in the left and 8 year guys in the right seat.

Unfortunately for the execs at NW, there won't be a strike as the MEC will get a huge concessionary package on the table.

 

[FIRE ALPA]

I gotta agree with sf3boy on this one. We voted a strike authorization back in 03' for a deadline of 11pm. At 1103pm, the union decided that an extension of that deadline was in order to keep talking, meanwhile they fabricated this cock and bull story about how we shut down the airline for a day and got paid for it. That was a victory in their eyes. Then when they got the TA a few days later, they wouldn't let us see it til they went out on roadshows so they could spin it, with lies and scare stories about bankruptcy.

www.geocities.com/firealpa/firealpa.html

 

[screwed_again]

Fire ALPA, nice web site. Loser.

 

[Carl_Spackler]

Why was there not a recall of Wychor following the '04 incident?

 

[flyin backwards]

We voted a strike authorization back in 03' for a deadline of 11pm. At 1103pm, the union decided that an extension of that deadline was in order to keep talking, meanwhile they fabricated this cock and bull story about how we shut down the airline for a day and got paid for it.
http://www.geocities.com/firealpa/firealpa.html

I don't recall flying any airplanes after the strike deadline until the TA. If we would have struck, the same thing would have happened but with about 5 days or no pay. I think we should fire you.

 

[PCL_128]

Why was there not a recall of Wychor following the '04 incident?

Why would you like to recall Wychor? You do realize that the MEC's voting members don't include Captain Wychor don't you? Tom is the Chairman of the MEC, but he doesn't get a vote in what gets sent to the pilot group for ratification. Only the status reps get to vote on the MEC. MEC Officers and LEC Sec-Treasurers have a voice on the MEC and can make their opinions known before the vote, but the final vote comes down to the status reps.

 

[Carl_Spackler]

I can't recall Wychor, because I don't work for Mesaba.

Isn't it the MEC who calls for a strike?

 

[KaptainKarl]

If we call a strike, I have no doubt NWA will kill Mesaba. As soon as that happens, NWA will look at Pinnacle and say "Guess what? You're next. Better give concessions or you'll end up just like Mesaba."

This will continue until NWA gets what they want.

I'm not advocating concessions (still won't vote for any). Just want XJ'ers to know a few of my theories:

1. We strike = Mesaba liquidation
2. Result of Theory #1 won't make one bit of difference in this Wal-Mart industry
3. ALPA is powerless to stop any of this

It sucks, I know.

I also hope I'm completely wrong.

Add Mr. Kmox to the list of those diseased in this industry. Thank you, sir, for contributing to the strengthening of management. If you feel this way, why give Spanky power. Are you afraid of liquidation? Do you value your education, morals, coworkers, that little? Man, I've stepped in deeper puddles.
Yeah, if we strike its over, but really, isn't already? Stop kidding yourself and put the kool-aid down. You are exactly what they want. Maybe they can find you a cushy spot in the training dept. It seems they like guys like you.
Buck, Noonan, I hear ya.

 

[PCL_128]

Isn't it the MEC who calls for a strike?

The MEC is composed of several members. Captain Wychor is the MEC Chairman. He, along with the MEC Vice-Chairman and Secretary-Treasurer, don't have a vote on the MEC. The job of the MEC Officers is to facilitate the day-to-day operation of the Association and to deal with upper management when necessary. They don't get to vote on anything, however. The actual members of the MEC that get to vote are the status reps from each LEC. All important decisions that must be made by the MEC are made by these voting members.

 

[Carl_Spackler]

So if nobody gets a vote on the MEC, who does? And who is responsible for calling a strike?

 

[screwed_again]

Why was there not a recall of Wychor following the '04 incident?

Because 2/3 of the pilot group voted for the TA.

 

[AviatorTx]

So if nobody gets a vote on the MEC, who does? And who is responsible for calling a strike?

The normal base reps that make up the MEC.They are the voting members. At XJT they consist of two reps from each base, and a flight instructor rep. This gives us a total of seven MEC members, plus the "officers". I am not sure of the breakdown at Mesaba.

The Chair, V/C, and S/T, are the "officers" and are non voting positions. The Chair may only cast a vote to break a tie.

Good luck my Mesaba Brothers!

 

[Carl_Spackler]

The incident I'm talking about is the fact that there was a deadline to go on strike, and then someone made the decision to back off.