November 8, the other “1108”
Bob Tyler
To: All_PIC; All_SIC
Cc:
To each Flight Options pilot:
Once a year the local of the union you elected to represent you – Local 1108 – is “recognized” by the calendar we all observe. 1108, of course, corresponds to November 8, and in fact, we have received numerous reports that there is a union-related agenda for November 8. That agenda, however, is one we believe is not in the best interest of our owners, our Company, or our pilots as a group or as individuals. More specifically, we have received reports from a number of our pilots that some of their peers are advocating a pilot sickout on November 8 to send the Company a message.
First, there’s the “legal” reason this is a bad idea. At this point in the negotiations process, the Railway Labor Act prohibits self-help by either the Company, the Union or the pilots, and thus engaging in the advocated sickout would be illegal. In fact, even advocating a work slowdown or concerted interference with the Company’s operations, such as a sickout, a write-up campaign or a ban on overtime, is illegal. This is a fact even the union acknowledged yesterday when it wrote to you. . ."The Union does not advocate, support or encourage pilots to engage in a sick out on
any day, including November 8, 2007. "
In addition, you should know that any pilot who engages in an illegal sickout or job action is subject to Company discipline, up to and including termination. Fortunately, we believe a large majority of our pilots would neither engage in an illegal slowdown nor advocate that others do so. Unfortunately, a small number of pilots acting illegally can negatively impact operations. For that reason, I want to be sure each of you has accurate information about the potential repercussions of engaging in illegal actions.
In addition to the current rumors relating to November 8, we have heard from some of our pilots about disruptive actions other pilots are either engaging in or advocating in order to “send the Company a message.” What’s the message? The Company has not refused to consider Union proposals on wages, vacations, health and welfare benefits, sick time, job protections, schedules, or any other subject. In fact, neither party has even made a proposal on wages, vacations, benefits, 401(k) or even sick time. The parties have spent most of the table time in recent sessions discussing, at the Union’s request, Crew Bases. The Union initially had proposed a completely criteria based system for identifying crew bases for all current pilots as well as future new hires. The Company countered with a proposal that would grandfather all of our current pilots, allowing them to stay in their domiciles regardless of whether it meets the criteria, and to retain their current rights to move between existing domiciles. In October, the Company agreed to the Union’s overall concept of a criteria based system for new pilots (details are yet to be hammered out) and the Union agreed to the Company’s proposal that our current pilots will be grandfathered. The negotiation process requires give and take from both sides.
So I come back to the question of what message is meant to be sent by causing unnecessary interruptions to your Company’s operations? We believe the message appropriate for November 8 (and every day) is that we are working together – every employee, including every pilot, and the Company – to establish Flight Options as the fractional operator that provides the best travel experience in the industry.
Best regards,
Bob
Bob Tyler
To: All_PIC; All_SIC
Cc:
To each Flight Options pilot:
Once a year the local of the union you elected to represent you – Local 1108 – is “recognized” by the calendar we all observe. 1108, of course, corresponds to November 8, and in fact, we have received numerous reports that there is a union-related agenda for November 8. That agenda, however, is one we believe is not in the best interest of our owners, our Company, or our pilots as a group or as individuals. More specifically, we have received reports from a number of our pilots that some of their peers are advocating a pilot sickout on November 8 to send the Company a message.
First, there’s the “legal” reason this is a bad idea. At this point in the negotiations process, the Railway Labor Act prohibits self-help by either the Company, the Union or the pilots, and thus engaging in the advocated sickout would be illegal. In fact, even advocating a work slowdown or concerted interference with the Company’s operations, such as a sickout, a write-up campaign or a ban on overtime, is illegal. This is a fact even the union acknowledged yesterday when it wrote to you. . ."The Union does not advocate, support or encourage pilots to engage in a sick out on
any day, including November 8, 2007. "
In addition, you should know that any pilot who engages in an illegal sickout or job action is subject to Company discipline, up to and including termination. Fortunately, we believe a large majority of our pilots would neither engage in an illegal slowdown nor advocate that others do so. Unfortunately, a small number of pilots acting illegally can negatively impact operations. For that reason, I want to be sure each of you has accurate information about the potential repercussions of engaging in illegal actions.
In addition to the current rumors relating to November 8, we have heard from some of our pilots about disruptive actions other pilots are either engaging in or advocating in order to “send the Company a message.” What’s the message? The Company has not refused to consider Union proposals on wages, vacations, health and welfare benefits, sick time, job protections, schedules, or any other subject. In fact, neither party has even made a proposal on wages, vacations, benefits, 401(k) or even sick time. The parties have spent most of the table time in recent sessions discussing, at the Union’s request, Crew Bases. The Union initially had proposed a completely criteria based system for identifying crew bases for all current pilots as well as future new hires. The Company countered with a proposal that would grandfather all of our current pilots, allowing them to stay in their domiciles regardless of whether it meets the criteria, and to retain their current rights to move between existing domiciles. In October, the Company agreed to the Union’s overall concept of a criteria based system for new pilots (details are yet to be hammered out) and the Union agreed to the Company’s proposal that our current pilots will be grandfathered. The negotiation process requires give and take from both sides.
So I come back to the question of what message is meant to be sent by causing unnecessary interruptions to your Company’s operations? We believe the message appropriate for November 8 (and every day) is that we are working together – every employee, including every pilot, and the Company – to establish Flight Options as the fractional operator that provides the best travel experience in the industry.
Best regards,
Bob
nobody has ever said or hinted to anything that he described I think it is all made up.
