My thoughts

[Honorstudent]

There are not enough experienced pilots in the hiring pool and any pilot who is 45 or under with several thousand hours of Jet experience are being hired by the 121 carriers willing to pay decent salaries, 2N has a decision to make, either attempt to work with the Union or suffer the inability of crewing his A/C with experienced professional pilots, there are just not enough FOK's to crew all his A/C. Unfortunately his ego and absolute hatred for the Union is blocking the logic portion of his brain.

 

[UncleKenn]

Actually we are doing well, as you can see from my latest article.
http://robbreport.com/motors/aviatio...d-ceo-2755941/

 

[doh]

Actually we are doing well, as you can see from my latest article.
http://robbreport.com/motors/aviatio...d-ceo-2755941/

Why do we have so many uncrewed airplanes? And why are our numbers continuing to shrink? We have 120+ fewer pilots on the combined seniority list than when DAC first acquired Flexjet. We are shrinking, not growing.

 

[Imissmypilot]

That interview was probably the best example to date of just exactly how easily double n Kenn can lie with a big fat smile on his face.

I mean absolutely no disrespect but it is a fact that one of the biggest contributions to the lack of respect original Flexjet pilots had for Flight Options pilots was the first few groups of transfers lack of professionalism and skill. It took some time for a lot of us, myself included, to realize these first pilots really did represent the rejects. Based on these early examples and impressions, not to mention the reputation of "FLOPS" it was hard not to feel superior to any Options pilot as a whole.

However, once we were through with the initial few groups of sycophants and have delved into the meat of the Options roster, that impression by and large (with a few exceptions) has started to change for most. We are beginning to realize that while it's just a fact Flexjet has had a better training and weed out process, most Options guys are pretty decent pilots and in some cases better people. You guys have simply been dealt a raw hand and the mismanagement is obvious. A union has helped but is has not been completely successful in its efforts against such an unethical management team. Why an original Flexjet pilot thinks he is somehow immune to the same progression of deterioration is hubris at its best.

Like Doh said, anyone looking into the facts can see we are shrinking. Anyone looking at facts can see we are only hiring those that can't get hired anywhere else. Flexjet has now turned into the joke of the industry: a type and time stepping stone machine. Internal recommendations? No one, and I mean NO ONE would recommend this company as a viable option to a qualified professional. You and I know that's truth right there. BTW, why all the job fairs if there was any shred of truth to his interview?

I really hope customers are looking. I'm on my way out. Most of us are. The only thing holding me back is knowing that would be giving in to exactly what Kenn wants: the exodus of highly paid but unwilling to kneel pilots. While it's not my desire to watch it burn in my rear view mirror, I feel guilty not sounding the alarm for both new hires and customers.

The one thing this union has never had is solidarity. That's even true from the early days and the 2010 contract proved it. I often wonder just what could happen with a little real solidarity. I think it could be amazing. Why are people smart enough to be a pilot dumb enough to not see things like the porn lounge forum and the moves for decert are not in their single best interest let alone for us as a whole. Why are they dumb enough to be conned into a sleight of hand trick by a carnival showman that the ISL harms them?

RH is going against all previous rhetoric and now wants to say this MCBA is just the 2010 CBA with minimal changes. The fact is he's right (If you can say the addition of Red label is a small change with a straight face) but he's only right because they asked for it - fought hard for it - to be that way.

Why? Why? Why do some continue to believe the ever changing lies and schemes of management are in their best interest? Seriously. Is it some kind of employment Stockholm syndrome? It goes beyond selfishness. It's just sheer stupidity. I don't get it.

Would someone on the porn lounge please post this there? I really want us to all think about this. Why are we shooting ourselves in the foot? There is a tremendous opportunity for people to work within the system we already have and be 10 steps ahead. I don't really have the time or inclination outside of a few Flightinfo.com posts to do much but these guys are putting in time and money. It is crazy for them to think they can reinvent the wheel with no experience, no money and go up against the most ruthless anti-union businessman since Carl Icahn.

 

[Ludicrous Speed]

Well said.

 

[Bjtdrvr]

What is the porn lounge?

 

[Imissmypilot]

What is the porn lounge?

The oscrewlounge FW, PD, RA, MR and MW set up to advance their cause of decertification.

Question: if they are not bright enough to realize it reads "oh screw lounge" and reportedly shares a similar name to a pretty raunchy porn site, how are they going to be bright enough to fight for the pilots? Maybe it was a purposeful marketing choice but then again, that would not show a lot of professionalism.

The site is a cluster **** of lies, half truths, misinformation and just dumb old false deductions. I'd like to think it's purposeful (that would at least represent some type of calculation) but honestly I think it's just a lack of brilliance.

Just to give a for instance, MW recently posted a "scathing expose" on the salaries of union officials to give the appearance our leaders are secretely on the take. So a friend texted one of them to get clarification. Here was his response:

Your concern regarding union leadership salaries is unfounded.

The IBT 1108 only has 2 paid employees: the administration assistant and the business manager. For a time the business manager was full time but I believe right now due to schedule and budget cuts he's back to part time.

The statistics from the website you are providing people most likely include what's known as "flight loss pay". Flight loss pay is money the union repays the company if union leadership needs to be relieved from duty to attend negotiating sessions or grievances etc... If anything, I'd think you'd appreciate the fact the company is reimbursed.

Even if it includes flight loss pay, the website shows an average salary of 20k and shows the entire local has less overall assets than Winders paycheck last year. I'm having a hard time figuring out what your issue is let alone his. The union is hardly a get rich quick scheme you are always painting it out to be with your accusations of "dues grabbing".

As a side note, consider the legal support alone provided by being under the Teamster umbrella. The $250k in assets wouldn't even scratch the surface. D We couldn't do it without their support. Ricci would just simply keep doing what he's doing and bankrupt us. Luckily with the Teamsters umbrella we don't have to worry but candidly I can tell you if we did, the hostage lawsuit alone would have been the end of our Union's ability to fight.

As for Flexjet pilots in leadsership, the company refused to release us to serve so there was never an issue. All our work was done on our days off so there was no need for reimbursement. Your union leadsership is conducted 100% volunteer and the only issue that ever comes up regarding "compensation" is reimbursement. They conduct most of their business on their own time and reimburse the company for any of it occuring on company time. It's a hard, sacrificial job. With very few willing to step up to the plate, it could be a reason you feel under served and fair enough but I don't really care at this point if you do. You had the opportunity to help and you declined every time.

As always, if he or Woelke or any of them have concerns or questions the proverbial door to reach out to any one of us is always open and with you as the one exception, they've yet to extend the effort. My question to you is if they cannot take their time to fully understand the complexity of the issues, how can you, in good conscience, support their efforts?

I hear you are working on getting together another roundtable video session with Ricci. Considering how the last one went, that alone should tell you everything you need to know about who's cause your really supporting.

So not only was the information intended to inflame patently false, the truth actually works in the union's favor. You got to love the irony.

That just one of many examples of what you'll get on the porn lounge. Personally, I think it's a company straw man attempt and I'm convinced these guys are getting company help and advice under the table.

 

[doh]

MW is every bit as big an a-hole as FW.

 

[Imissmypilot]

MW is every bit as big an a-hole as FW.

The curious thing about Windbag is he does seem to fly KR an awful lot.

Well, I'm assuming it's as crew.

However, maybe when he is recounting all of his personal interactions with him to vouch for the accuracy of his information it just means he has been Cabo-ed.

There's a rumor out there one of the transfer pilots fishes with Ricci in Cabo often enough and then slides this "insider" information out the masses as his favor for the hospitality. Surely one of you Options guys can clear up the details.

Suffice to say it's kind of one of KR'S signature moves.

Maybe PD should consider why after all the felation he's extended he's never gotten an invite to the house. *****s very rarely do. So what makes PD a ***** but Windbags a full on mistress? Hmmmm.

 

[doh]

Notre Dame sucks...so it should come as new surprise that their alumni suck too...