Mesaba VS. Pinnacle

[xjcaptain]

The point I was trying to make was that when we made the offer to the 9E pilots, the conditions for the ALPA fragmentation policy to kick in TECHNICALLY had not been met. We took the high road and made the offer anyway. While the policy had probably TECHNICALLY not been met when we went to 9E for the reciprical part of the agreement, all we got in return was a bunch of legalease telling us that the conditions of LOA 21 had not been totally met. That is where the difference comes in. We were looking for a way to help our ALPA brothers, while they were looking for a way out of the LOA. How many would have went, I would guess probably almost none. It just would have been nice for 9E to make the offer.

 

[redflyer65]

The bottom line wasn't airframes, it was total block hours. When both MEC chairman and others did the math it didn't come close to achieving the trigger. Even Wychor agreed and that was the end of it. There was no need for a formal request from Mesaba or any type of denial by Pinnacle. It just wasn't there.

On another note, I'll walk the line with you guys anyday. I'm getting tired of the whipsaw.

 

[Dodge]

Yes, this has been talked about way too much. XJ did not need to offer anything to the Express pilots. Nor did Pinnacle need to offer anything to XJ pilots.

 

[Terry Hunter]

I had forgotten about this whole historical event until it was brought up. Perhaps for some, it isn't important enough to put back on trial toward determining one pilot group's stance toward another. I say let sleeping dogs lie on this issue.

 

[wmudriver]

Only AWAC and XJET formally offered prefferential interviews to furloughed XJ guys back in the winter/spring. 9E did not (they were not in my future plans for employment). Just an oberservation.

 

[Dirty Sanchez]

I don't know anybody at Mesaba that would even think about going to 9E. Most want to stay as far as possible from the red tail fleet. Plus 9E has plenty of 300 hour wonders to fill their classes.

 

[EL10]

9E did in fact offer pref interviews. Hardly any took it. This was done immediately while the on going discussion about the 21G and its applicability.

 

[kmox29]

9E did in fact offer pref interviews. Hardly any took it. This was done immediately while the on going discussion about the 21G and its applicability.

What's amazing is that Pinnacle offered a bunch of NWA furloughs preferential hiring to help them out. How did the pilots at NWA repay Pinnacle...by allowing Compass.

 

[redflyer65]

The pref hiring at PCL was a huge black eye for our MEC. They jumped through numerous hoops to get a specific number of slots while constantly working with XJ MEC. There was a certain number of XJ pilots that commited to the interview date and time. (Not sure of the exact number, something like 5-10). Absolutely NONE of them showed. Not a phone call or anything, and that was that.

So yes, there was pref interview given. It really doesn't matter to me, I just don't like it when people quote things as fact when in reality they aren't.

 

[SEVEN]

Only AWAC and XJET formally offered prefferential interviews to furloughed XJ guys back in the winter/spring. 9E did not (they were not in my future plans for employment). Just an oberservation.

You're right. Per our MEC, only Express Jet and Air Wisconsin offered furloughed Mesaba guys preferential interviews/hiring. Just because a few Xj pilots had interviews with 9E doesn't mean that's preferential. If Pinnacle was going to give us preferential interviews, our union would have been notified. The bottom line, there is a bitter rivalery between the companies that stems back many years. Most of them hate us, and most of us dislike them. It's like Michigan and State. That's the simple truth. As long as the bitter whipsawing continues (compliments if Doug at NWA) a peace treaty between the 2 Airlink Red tails is highly unlikely. Tell me where I'm wrong.

 

[wmudriver]

Its a fact that we weren't offered pref. interviews. Ask the 226 that were furloughed.

Again, even if there were, 9E wasn't in my future plans...neither were AWAC and XJET. Its kinda like in sports, if a guy gets knocked down, offer him a hand to get back up. Wether he takes it or not, its up to him.

 

[redflyer65]

The pref interviews were real. The events unfolded as I stated. Don't believe me?Call Wychor for yourselves. The guys/girls that were set up for interviews were complete no-shows. It was embarrassing even for our pilot group.

 

[Tank Commander]

If I were furloughed from xj the last place in the world I would go looking for a job is 9e. Spank me once shame on you, twice, you know the deal. When the pic time is done I'm gone! It's up, or over to 135.

 

[gnx99]

Hmmm, I'm furloughed from Mesaba, and I never heard a word about hiring at Pinnacle.

 

[redflyer65]

It may be apples and oranges. It was more than a few years ago. I think it unfortunately laid the groundwork for no pref interview this time around (with the current round of XJ furloughs). If you guys are talking within the past year, then my bad, it was further back than that. I continue to wish XJ pilots all the best and stand amazed at what a screwed up management team can do to a well run airline. Absolutely amazing.