NPA Elections

[BagelBomber]

There's a lot of propaganda being tossed around about the candidates.

I have a real problem with LH for Vice President. First, how long have most of you been here and how many times has management asked you to do some work for them in their respective office? None for me, as I would suspect for most of us. Second, in his short tenure here at AirTran, he has spent a lot of time in those offices. I can understand his desire to "make things better for the pilots of AirTran." But, like it or not, the corporate culture at this airline is: you are either on one side of the line or the other; union or management. We have all seen the result of union BOD members playing both sides of the fence. They end up in company management positions and we end up with concessionary LOA's and greivance settlements, and recall votes. I just personally feel, if it comes down to making a tough decision, I'm not sure if LH's previous ties to Management will not come into play in that decision. You need not look any further than his response to some tough questions on the election central forums. No real answers to the "tough" questions, just political spin and safe, evasive responses. Also, why is it he can campaign in the crew room while doing work for the CP office? Makes you wonder who their choice would be. I'm tired of "their" choice.

Say what you will about Brad D. Did he make some stupid mistakes while on the previous BOD? Absolutely. But, you always know he will stick up for what is right for the pilot group (reference the Ryan Air vote, etc.)

As for the Capt - Domicile rep...BL is a great guy, BUT, he has NO business being in a union position for that same reason. Period.

However you stand on the issues, get informed and make your voice heard...VOTE.

 

[Spidey]

There's a lot of propaganda being tossed around about the candidates.

I have a real problem with LH for Vice President. First, how long have most of you been here and how many times has management asked you to do some work for them in their respective office? None for me, as I would suspect for most of us. Second, in his short tenure here at AirTran, he has spent a lot of time in those offices. I can understand his desire to "make things better for the pilots of AirTran." But, like it or not, the corporate culture at this airline is: you are either on one side of the line or the other; union or management. We have all seen the result of union BOD members playing both sides of the fence. They end up in company management positions and we end up with concessionary LOA's and greivance settlements, and recall votes. I just personally feel, if it comes down to making a tough decision, I'm not sure if LH's previous ties to Management will not come into play in that decision. You need not look any further than his response to some tough questions on the election central forums. No real answers to the "tough" questions, just political spin and safe, evasive responses. Also, why is it he can campaign in the crew room while doing work for the CP office? Makes you wonder who their choice would be. I'm tired of "their" choice.

Say what you will about Brad D. Did he make some stupid mistakes while on the previous BOD? Absolutely. But, you always know he will stick up for what is right for the pilot group (reference the Ryan Air vote, etc.)

As for the Capt - Domicile rep...BL is a great guy, BUT, he has NO business being in a union position for that same reason. Period.

However you stand on the issues, get informed and make your voice heard...VOTE.

So you like Dunlap?

 

[Frequency]

I think its safe to say that the FO's got the shaft on the last TA. Which is why most of the people that voted down the TA were FO's (apparantly nobody sees the elephant in the room). I want to make sure that that as an FO I am represented fairly, not by a senior CPT who is only looking out for his own kind. No one can promise me an upgrade ("oh dont worry youll be a captain in 2 years anyway"). In fact, if there were another terrorist attack, we will be FO's for a loooooonnngg time or furloughed. Upgrades are getting longer, deliveries are getting defferred. That is why I am voting for LH. I think he can see where we are at and where we are coming from because he is one of us. If you can convince me that BD is going to look out for the FO's as well as the Captains fairly then I may change my vote. But so far he hasnt done that in the papers that I have read. If Airtran wants to GET and KEEP quality pilots they are going to have to take a long hard look at the FO side of the contract. Otherwise this place will be only be a stepping stone to a legacy or a better paying LCC. The interview pool is drying up from what I hear, isnt it obvious?!?!? Dont step on the elephants trunk!

 

[airline#5]

FO pay is deplorable. FO's will not vote another senior clown in. 2/3 Capt pay or bust!!!

 

[Newjetjockey]

I have also heard some negative things about LH. I talked to someone who was at Piedmont with him and said he didn't trust him for the exact reasons BagelBomber pointed out.

I also heard a rumor (from a credible source,) he sued United for discrimination when he didn't get hired. Can anyone verify that rumor?

 

[fmr727drvr]

I'm starting to get a real bad feeling about my choices of VP. My head hurts from trying to figure out what the truth is about these guys. Somebody help!!

 

[Newjetjockey]

My feelings are that normally I would not vote for BD. However, the negative things I have heard about LH make BD look like a better choice. Hope that helps.

One thing that makes me OK with BD is that he was one of the people who negotiated our current contract. Its not perfect by any means but its a good contract that could be better with a few tweeks.

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Lear70]

I've talked at LENGTH with both candidates. Both bring unique perspectives, experience, and skills to the table, and both are trustworthy in their positions as pilot advocates. What you have to ask yourself is: "Who is more appropriate for the opponent we face?"

Make no mistake; the company is the opponent in this particular game. Obviously you have to work *WITH* them in daily operations, but their job, as *THEY* see it, is to make sure we cost as little as possible to move the airplanes around. Period.

So, that being said, who do you think has the most effective game plan? Who do you think will stand strong under pressure? And believe me, there is a LOT of pressure brought to bear. Going toe-to-toe with Kolski was NOT a pleasant experience, but you have to be able to calmly look him right back in the eye and stand your ground.

LH has been involved in miscellaneous office work for management; that may or may not have any bearing on his work as a BoD member. There were a few answers in the NPA message board that he gave that I didn't much care for, one of them being the F/O compensation and where it should be.

Conversely, BD is aggressive enough in his contract ideas that I feel comfortable with what he would and wouldn't vote for. He was one of the most staunch supporters of shooting down that miserable T.A., and one of his biggest gripes was that pay didn't even go up by COLA, especially for the F/O's. I can't discuss his posts on the "other" board specifically, but I *CAN* tell you that he would NOT support a T.A. that came out with substandard pay rates for the F/O's.

His downside is that management won't want to work with him. That's fine. He won't be on the NC; the BoD members don't negotiate. As V.P. he would help set the goals for the N.C. (along with the rest of the BoD) and strategy for how to achieve them, as well as enforcing WITH ALL DUE DILLIGENCE, the current CBA.

I personally like BD in the V.P. seat and LH on the NC, as I believe they both bring crucial skills to the table that we need: BD with his aggressive pro-pilot stance and LH to continue working with management at the direction of the BoD (the BoD sets negotiating goals, NOT the NC).

I just hope the voting percentages come up. Not even 50% voter participation at the moment...

Just my .02 cents

 

[fmr727drvr]

Thanks Lear, that helps alot. Hope you and you're family had a great Christmas despite everything you have been through this year. Next year will be better for sure.

 

[TV9Driver]

Right now we need someone who is almost a militant anti-management type if we are going to get anything accomplished. Kind of like a ying to Kolski's yang. That's why I voted for BD. I'm an FO, but looking at LH's background and his position paper did not give me the warm fuzzies that he is looking out for the FOs...

 

[BagelBomber]

Very little time remaining...Vote NOW!!!

 

[ATLplt]

Marriam-Webster online...
Apathetic: Pronounced: ap·a·thet·ic
Definition: 1 : having or showing little or no feeling or emotion : spiritless 2 : having little or no interest or concern : indifferent 3 : 44% of the AirTran pilot group : (See also spineless)

56% voter turnout. SK is probably laughing hysterically.

 

[Murphy]

Yeah, I rode on the hotel van the other day with one of those apathetic pilots. Voted yes for the TA and said that he didn't care about the runoff election. Nice

 

[FlyFastLiveSlow]

Welcome to America....I mean AirTran.

 

[curtis46]

FFLS thanks again for cheering me up.