Mesaba pilots give union the OK to call a strike

[mesaba2425]

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.

Great post sf3boy. It's nice to see that someone else understands what is happening.

 

[AviatorTx]

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.

OK, it was a strike authorization vote, not a go on strike vote. The vote simply gave the MEC permission from the pilot group to strike if they deemed it necessary.

It was not a mandate to shut the place down. The fact that the pilots voted the T/A in, proved this.

 

[Carl_Spackler]

I know what a strike vote is. My point is that most of the XJ pilots thought they showed poor judgement in not calling a strike, why was Wychor and the rest of the MEC not held accountable?

 

[SplitBar]

I know what a strike vote is. My point is that most of the XJ pilots thought they showed poor judgement in not calling a strike, why was Wychor and the rest of the MEC not held accountable?

I think that most XJ pilots thought they showed good judgement. Wilson polling showed 95% + support and approval and recent polling shows similiar strong support of our MEC. You have to realize that the chest pounding loud mouths who want to burn the place were and are a small minority.

 

[sf3boy]

Splitbar is correct.

The loudest people are the FO's. They have zero to loose as they are all going to be furloughed anyway. They will have to start at the bottom of another list regardless of what happens.

It's the captains that have the most to lose. Half of them will be FO's in the Saab at rates less than when they used to be FO's The other half will get to be Saab Commanders again or for the first time at Mesa wages. But at least they don't have to start over if they give away the farm, which they will. Management knows this and laughs at the dumb pilots who will do anything just to stay a Mesaba pilot.

Of course, the FA's could all quit when the company forces them to accept $9500/year and none of the above matters.

 

[screwed_again]

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.

The MEC thought they got the most out of the company. They also thought they had a contract that the pilot group might approve. The company got screwed because THEY shut the company down for two days and we got PAID! Sounds like thats better than a strike...

 

[screwed_again]

Splitbar is correct.


It's the captains that have the most to lose. Half of them will be FO's in the Saab at rates less than when they used to be FO's The other half will get to be Saab Commanders again or for the first time at Mesa wages. But at least they don't have to start over if they give away the farm, which they will. Management knows this and laughs at the dumb pilots who will do anything just to stay a Mesaba pilot.

Hell, I'll give away the farm to collect a paycheck until my leads for other jobs pan out. Sorry SFBOY, send you aps out to Mesa, *************************s and Pinnacle. I don't mind voting YES if it spites a holes like you! Who's the dumb pilot now?

 

[KaptainKarl]

Who's the dumb pilot now?

Uh, you are, Brother.

The other half will get to be Saab Commanders again or for the first time at Mesa wages.

Yeah, some, because they were captain's on the DASH! How long has it been since the DASHoles were captains on the DASH? What a sad state of affairs we are in. Yeah, vote for whatever comes down.

The company got screwed because THEY shut the company down for two days and we got PAID! Sounds like thats better than a strike...

Not the intent of a work-stoppage. Now, we don't control enough of the NWA flying to have any effect on operations with a strike. NWA will not be affected in the least if we withdraw service now.
Jan '04 was our last chance. If we had gotten the payrates then, the reduced rate we will get in the nex "agreement" would be higher.
Karl

 

[SplitBar]

The loudest people are the FO's. They have zero to loose as they are all going to be furloughed anyway. They will have to start at the bottom of another list regardless of what happens.

Typical ME ME ME attitude. It just goes to show that most pilots only care about how things will effect themselves. At least this guys is willing to admit that all he cares about is himself and what he has to lose.

 

[flyin backwards]

Uh, you are, Brother.

Yeah, some, because they were captain's on the DASH! How long has it been since the DASHoles were captains on the DASH? What a sad state of affairs we are in. Yeah, vote for whatever comes down.

Not the intent of a work-stoppage. Now, we don't control enough of the NWA flying to have any effect on operations with a strike. NWA will not be affected in the least if we withdraw service now.
Jan '04 was our last chance. If we had gotten the payrates then, the reduced rate we will get in the nex "agreement" would be higher.
Karl

I thought the intent of a workstopage was to dusrupt the company's mean to bring in revenue. Isn't canceling 700 flights a means of doing that. Maybe I'm wrong, its hard to concentrate with all that noise your making with that chest pounding.

 

[fieldinsight]

Typical ME ME ME attitude. It just goes to show that most pilots only care about how things will effect themselves. At least this guys is willing to admit that all he cares about is himself and what he has to lose.

Bull.....

Last time, ALPA used the poor junior FO, and they're using them again now. Last time we heard ALPA screaming bout the $17000 first year salary, now we're hearing ALPA say that a first year FO will clear $12000 after paying for healthcare. Problem is, this time there will be no first year FO's after the dust settles.

I'm gone, and know that I'll be on the bottom of the list elsewhere soon. The junior guys have nothing to lose, you are right. That drives our decisions. The problem is the senior guy who isn't willing to make the same sacrifice that I have been forced to make. Put your money where your mouth is. Take a risk to stop Mesaba from lowering the bar for the entire regional industry. If the Mesaba guys cave (as I suspect they will) just to keep a job, it'll move through EVERY regional. You pushed me out, don't affect where I land next.

 

[kmox29]

To KaptainKarl and MonsterBuck:

Idiots.

I voted on the very first day of our strike vote. I voted IN FAVOR of calling a strike and my opinion is no different today than it was then. I need to make this clear to you two in particular: I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY CONCESSIONS AT THIS COMPANY. I WILL BE WALKING PICKET LINES WITH THE REST OF MY MESABA PILOTS. I DO NOT CARE IF MESABA GOES UNDER. I WILL NOT BE BULLIED INTO ANY CONCESSIONARY AGREEMENT.

If you took 2 seconds to actually read my post, you'd have understood that.

But, thanks for blindly throwing rocks at me and labeling me one of the 2%. You two are a real class act.

Kevin Morris
DTW SF3 CA

ps - now you know who I am, you can come and ask me personally any more questions you might have about my stance on this.

 

[xjlifer]

Hey Kevin...I think your a class act....maybe if more people actually signed their name's on here it would not be quite so loud all the time.

Ken Staske Mem Avro

 

[SplitBar]

Bull.....

Last time, ALPA used the poor junior FO, and they're using them again now. Last time we heard ALPA screaming bout the $17000 first year salary, now we're hearing ALPA say that a first year FO will clear $12000 after paying for healthcare. Problem is, this time there will be no first year FO's after the dust settles.

I'm gone, and know that I'll be on the bottom of the list elsewhere soon. The junior guys have nothing to lose, you are right. That drives our decisions. The problem is the senior guy who isn't willing to make the same sacrifice that I have been forced to make. Put your money where your mouth is. Take a risk to stop Mesaba from lowering the bar for the entire regional industry. If the Mesaba guys cave (as I suspect they will) just to keep a job, it'll move through EVERY regional. You pushed me out, don't affect where I land next.

What he said is that the FO's have nothing to lose. He didn't specify Junior FO's as opposed to Senior FO's. Ask any of our First Officers who are making 40K and who have kids and whose wifes don't work if they have anything to lose. They will find out what they lost when they start over at another regional making 20K. Or maybe they will find a job out in the real world making 30K. It's wrong and naive to assume that every other job out there in the real world pays 40K +

 

[Waylon]

Kmox 29,
So the day the concessions get passed if they do, you now have to quit or for ever be known as a Sh---t talker.

 

[kmox29]

Kmox 29,
So the day the concessions get passed if they do, you now have to quit or for ever be known as a Sh---t talker.

Please explain to me where I said I'd quit if concessions were voted in. (I said I would not accept any concessions referring to a concessionary contract to vote on) I guess somehow I am not writing in English to some people. I am trying to say I will not vote in any concessions, and if we call the stirke, I will be gladly walking the lines.

I am attempting to gain other employment (NON-AIRLINE) so if we do vote in concessions, I can quit. (This might make you happy because I might be senior to you)

So, "Waylon", if you're still unsure about how I feel, you know who I am, please feel free to contact me. Although as with most people on this site, I doubt I'll ever hear from you personally.

 

[sf3boy]

What he said is that the FO's have nothing to lose. He didn't specify Junior FO's as opposed to Senior FO's. Ask any of our First Officers who are making 40K and who have kids and whose wifes don't work if they have anything to lose. They will find out what they lost when they start over at another regional making 20K. Or maybe they will find a job out in the real world making 30K. It's wrong and naive to assume that every other job out there in the real world pays 40K +

49 Saabs equals ALL FO's and some captains to the curb. They have been told by the company that they have nothing to lose. The FO's that are making 40+ year darn sure better be looking for another job while they enjoy the one they currently have. Sorry, that some think I am an a hole; but for all the captains that think the pilots as a group should lower the bar of the industry just so they don't have to start over is a bit much to ask. The pilots will vote how their own personal families can survive. I believe that most of the FO's are going to be finding they can't afford to stay at Mesaba, much to the dismay of the Captains.

 

[mesaba2425]

Please explain to me where I said I'd quit if concessions were voted in. (I said I would not accept any concessions referring to a concessionary contract to vote on)

I need to make this clear to you two in particular: I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY CONCESSIONS AT THIS COMPANY.

That sentence says it all.

 

[Monster Buck]

To KaptainKarl and MonsterBuck:

Idiots.

I voted on the very first day of our strike vote. I voted IN FAVOR of calling a strike and my opinion is no different today than it was then. I need to make this clear to you two in particular: I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY CONCESSIONS AT THIS COMPANY. I WILL BE WALKING PICKET LINES WITH THE REST OF MY MESABA PILOTS. I DO NOT CARE IF MESABA GOES UNDER. I WILL NOT BE BULLIED INTO ANY CONCESSIONARY AGREEMENT.

If you took 2 seconds to actually read my post, you'd have understood that.

But, thanks for blindly throwing rocks at me and labeling me one of the 2%. You two are a real class act.

Kevin Morris
DTW SF3 CA

ps - now you know who I am, you can come and ask me personally any more questions you might have about my stance on this.

Sorry if I didn't get your intended drift of your post. I read it several times before I posted, as did several people who felt as I did. Maybe you didn't get what you intended across, it sounded just like how some of us responded.
As far as the idiot and the class act, well maybe your intentions were not as clear as you thought, it more sounded like you were trying to gain support that it was no use in trying.

Everyone knows that Ken is crazy, he scares the hell out of me, but you would do better staying in the closet rather than coming out on this type of board. It isn't the ALPA boards, at least there at least it is only our PILOTS reading. You never know what scum is reading these and taking notes. Now that I see that we are on the same side, that is good. Adios.