New Alaska Negotiations Thread

[alaskaplt]

xactly. We're not AA. We made $. After 4yrs of this crap, lack of retro is a no for me.

Damn right it's a No vote for me too.

 

[Going2Baja]

I would love to hear how there is no $$$ for Retro/Signing or whatever you want to call it. Take a look at how much GS walked away with. The money is there - we just need to get it out of their greedy little fingers!

Baja.

 

[Fubijaakr]

No, I have quite a few years to go before 60.

On another topic, considering the contract allows for a "full line" down to 65 hours, this is just more evidence that the furloughs are mere hostage taking.

 

[Going2Baja]

Hat's off and heads down for the additional 28 furloughs today @ Alaska. New total is 60 on the street.

Good luck - Hang in there - Hopefully see you ALL back soon to a better contract!

Baja.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Baja,

You'll see a signing bonus. Just don't hold your breath for full retro pay.

 

[Ocity]

And just remember there are 1875 pilots on furlough at AA alone.

Totally irrelevant. No retro, No significant raise, NO VOTE.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Ocity,

You think the fact that Alaska can replace us all in a matter of two weeks with qualified airline pilots currently on furlough AND has $1.1B in the bank to do it with is irrelevant?

Do you also think the fact that U.S. in currently in the worst economic recession since the '30s is irrelevant?

Nothing happens in a vacuum, my friend. Perhaps an unemotional look at the contract when it comes out coupled with an honest appraisal of the overall economic landscape would serve you (us!) better than screeching "No retro, no big raise, NO VOTE!"

 

[becket]

.........

 

[Chief Pilot]

Ocity,

You think the fact that Alaska can replace us all in a matter of two weeks with qualified airline pilots currently on furlough AND has $1.1B in the bank to do it with is irrelevant?

Two weeks? Seriously? Come on Fubijaakr--I've got to call BS on this. It would be 4-6 weeks at best and that's if they had a pool of qualified candidates just waiting in the wings to enter training. Hmmm...training. That brings up another question. Who will train all of these qualified guys? It will take a hell of a lot more than the handful of koolaid drinkers over at the training center.

Sure, the company has $1.1B in the bank and they could probably replace us all if they wanted to, but in doing so they would totally destroy the airline. Do you honestly think investors will stick around for a month while the company burns through all of their cash. Management has a duty to the investors to give them a return on their investment. I think taking less than $.1B and getting this pilot group moving and motivated would be a better investment, especially since we made money when almost noone else did.

Much better and smarter option than your doomsday proposal. I'm guessing you'd cross the picket line too.

 

[Ih8AFYesmen]

Ocity,

You think the fact that Alaska can replace us all in a matter of two weeks with qualified airline pilots currently on furlough AND has $1.1B in the bank to do it with is irrelevant?

Do you also think the fact that U.S. in currently in the worst economic recession since the '30s is irrelevant?

Nothing happens in a vacuum, my friend. Perhaps an unemotional look at the contract when it comes out coupled with an honest appraisal of the overall economic landscape would serve you (us!) better than screeching "No retro, no big raise, NO VOTE!"

Talk is cheap; we'll just have to see. However, scare tactics such as the recession, being locked out, replaced, blah blah blah, really don't matter for many of us. Yes, they are facts and yes they can and probably will happen if we are released for self help. Everyone's different. There's a difference on how much is at stake between guys making $150+/hr vs. $60/hr. Age, current seat position, the job market, and just the "give a $hit" factor plays a big role also. The question for everyone is this: how many times are you willing to take it up the a$$ until you start fighting back? I've already had mine through Kasher, so no more me.
On a different note, I'm pretty sure that our NC and MEC won't put out another turd of a TA, since the last one got shot down unanimously. Let's pray for the best, but be ready just in case.

 

[Old School 737]

Not demanding Retro basically says to management its OK to stretch out a deal as long as possible because it does not cost us anything!

 

[Ocity]

Fujiwhatever,

I don't live my life in fear. If you lie awake at night and shiver at the thought of the big bad Ayer, then by all means accept whatever your masters are willing to give you.

I'm taking a little firmer stance than you. I have the intestinal fortitude to look a bit longer into the future than todays headlines. I'm not signing another crappy deal for 10 years. I don't want to strike but I'll be out of here like a rocket if the time comes...scabs or not.

 

[AKMD80GUY]

Not demanding Retro basically says to management its OK to stretch out a deal as long as possible because it does not cost us anything!

Exactly!

 

[Singlecoil]

For Bill and Brad's sake, I just hope whatever scabs they find are bigger and meaner than I am.

How many furloughees at American are looking for a job and not already flying for Netjets or some other entity? Would they leave that to be a scum-of-the-earth scab for a bottom-feeder like Alaska? "Gee, I want to be a pariah for the rest of my life and fly a piece of crap 737 for the rest of my natural life." I'm sure there are tons of those folks out there. Even if they find people with time in type, they haven't been Captains. Who is going to give them OE?

 

[av8instyle]

Ocity,

You think the fact that Alaska can replace us all in a matter of two weeks with qualified airline pilots currently on furlough AND has $1.1B in the bank to do it with is irrelevant?

Do you also think the fact that U.S. in currently in the worst economic recession since the '30s is irrelevant?

Nothing happens in a vacuum, my friend. Perhaps an unemotional look at the contract when it comes out coupled with an honest appraisal of the overall economic landscape would serve you (us!) better than screeching "No retro, no big raise, NO VOTE!"

Personally, I'd be pretty surprised and impressed if our management was good enough to round up 1400 scabs, and train them to FAA standards, etops, southeast, arctic, and have them on the line in one month...which is about the maximum amount of time the airline can sustain a lack of any revenue with 1.1 in the bank. Oh, and thats assuming shareholders stay put and the board doesn't fire everyone.
Yes the economy is weak, and in this economy our company is making $$. So they can afford to share the wealth. Can you imagine what our profits will be in a good economy?
So let me unemotionally screetch...No retro, no big raise, NO VOTE!

 

[av8instyle]

Not demanding Retro basically says to management its OK to stretch out a deal as long as possible because it does not cost us anything!

Shack!

 

[av8instyle]

For the scabs

In our next contract I propose that if we have to strike to get a raise then any scabs that keep their job after the strike are on a permanent Kasher pay scale. Talk it up!

 

[Ocity]

For Bill and Brad's sake, I just hope whatever scabs they find are bigger and meaner than I am.

Why take it out on the Scabs when we have Bill and Brad to thank personally?

 

[ghostrider16]

i was told by a knowledgeable source that the MEC went to the FAA and were told that ANY new pilot regardless of type ratings or 121 status would have to complete the entire (mind numbing long/2 month plus) alaska ops spec approved program...no shortcuts from the feds....there is no way the feds would sign off on a short program and risk an accident...they could care less about the company.....and they have to "be trained by an alaska check airman"...some of which may be living their own dream but some of which are ready to bust out the slippy fist........

 

[wscrj]

Fubi,

You are in a state of near panic. Walk away from things for a little while (especially this site and the ALPA boards) and clear your head. DO NOT continue to post in this state. You are not doing anyone any good, including yourself.

Try and relax....resolution is coming.