NPA Presidential Election Results

[BigEasy]

if you look at airline pilot central sw 2nd year fo's make around 86 an hour i think...not 100

although they can make 100 grand a year if they work it...

any swa fo's care to chime in?

How's it going EMB?????

There are many ways to increase your credit for the month. Believe it or not you can make six figures with just a little overtime and creative trip trading. If you live in your base you will definatley make some coin.

Later.

Bigeasy

 

[EMBATP]

How's it going EMB?????

There are many ways to increase your credit for the month. Believe it or not you can make six figures with just a little overtime and creative trip trading. If you live in your base you will definatley make some coin.

Later.

Bigeasy

thats what i'm talking about...

whats up playa?

 

[Whataburger]

if you look at airline pilot central sw 2nd year fo's make around 86 an hour i think...not 100

although they can make 100 grand a year if they work it...

any swa fo's care to chime in?

Avg FO is 100 "hours," times 86, times 12.

17 days off.

 

[-9Capt]

OrlandoSentinel.com

AirTran pilots select new leader

Jason Garcia
Sentinel Staff Writer
October 25, 2007

Deadlocked in negotiations over a new contract, the pilots union at Orlando-based AirTran Airways elected a new president Wednesday who, a union spokesman vowed, "will take a very hard line with the company."

Capt. Mike Best, who has been with AirTran since October 2000, beat three other contenders to become president of the National Pilots Association, which represents about 1,500 AirTran pilots. Best won about 63 percent of the vote.

He replaces former union President Allen Philpot, who was ousted in September by union members unhappy with a tentative labor contract Philpot had helped negotiate with AirTran executives. The union subsequently voted down that deal, and a federal mediator has put the talks on hold until after the first of the year, ensuring that any potential labor strife won't disrupt the busy holiday-travel season.

AirTran, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings Inc., and its pilots have been haggling for more than two years over a new contract. Best was a member of the union's negotiating team early on but relinquished his position more than a year ago to pursue other business opportunities, union spokesman Brian Gaudet said.

Best could not be reached for comment. Gaudet said he would seek significant concessions from AirTran.

"Mike has some definite opinions about what he would like to see in the contract," Gaudet said, citing concerns about scheduling, pay and other issues. "He's looking for a contract that would definitely put this pilot group right in the mainstream and dramatically closer to Southwest."

AirTran spokesman David Hirschman congratulated Best: "We look forward to working with him constructively."

But he also said that the low-cost carrier is determined to hold down its expenses. Labor costs are second only to jet fuel as the biggest expense at AirTran, which, according to regulatory filings, spent about $219 million on salaries, wages and benefits during the first half of 2007.

"We're not going to do anything that jeopardizes our position as the nation's low-cost leader," Hirschman said. "We've got to continue to offer low fares to be competitive, and we will continue to do that."

AirTran pilots will fill three other union leadership positions in elections next month.

 

[-9Capt]

Press Release Response

October 25, 2007

Captain Mike Best, newly elected president of the National Pilots Association wants to set the record straight on his first full day of duty as union leader for AirTran Airways pilots.

Yesterday a press report, the first addressing his agenda as president, went to print without authorization. It was followed up today by an article in the Orlando Sentinel.

“Any elected official should have the privilege of authorizing their first press release. The article in the Orlando Sentinel went to press without my knowledge,” said Best. “My concern is that it does not accurately invoke the tone I wanted to set for my approach with the Company. I’m also disappointed that the pilots had to read this first communication as well. It’s not in alignment with the approach I intended to instill when I campaigned for office.”

Captain Best’s position paper for his campaign spoke of service and union stewardship. He fervently maintains that the union consists of over 1600 pilots who fly for AirTran and decisions about the content of any future tentative agreement will be based on the collective desire of the pilot group.

“To tell our pilot group and the Company that I will ‘take a very hard line’ and ask for ‘significant concessions from the company’ was misinformation that did not originate from me,” said Best. “I am definitely capable of being an aggressive advocate for our pilots. However, progress is made and positive relationships forged when there’s balance.”

Mediated talks with the Company resume after the first of the year. Captain Best assures his colleagues that a tempered, steadfast and constructive approach based on the pilot group’s decisions will help bridge the issues that have thus far kept the pilots and the Company from reaching a ratified labor agreement.

Any future questions or requests for information can be directed to NPA General Counsel Laura Backus.

National Pilot's Association
3401 Norman Berry Drive, Suite 254
Atlanta, Georgia 30344
(404) 559-7700 Office

 

[njcapt]

Any future questions or requests for information can be directed to NPA General Counsel Laura Backus.

National Pilot's Association...

She sure as hell wouldn't be my first choice of contact, either. Did Gaudet not even check with Mike before he fired off a press release for him? At least let the guy get off his trip before you pimp him for a quote.

 

[Lear70]

She sure as hell wouldn't be my first choice of contact, either.

Mine, either.

Did Gaudet not even check with Mike before he fired off a press release for him? At least let the guy get off his trip before you pimp him for a quote.

That whole thing strikes me as odd... I've met and interacted with Gaudet in D.C. for 3 days; he's not a hot-head, so I don't know WTH that's about...

 

[CatfishVT9]

Just goes to show how frickin' clueless those at the NPA who write the press releases are. Their "hard line" comment undercut Mike before he even took charge. Totally clueless comment. His first statement shows his class and understanding of the power of words in print.

"Captain Best will not be bullied by management". If they had written that statement instead of the "hard line" comment, it would have made the union look like the good guys instead of the aggressor.:angryfire

If you wrote that press release, please quit now, you are part of the problem!!!

 

[SkiFishFly]

If you wrote that press release, please quit now, you are part of the problem!!!

I'm with you. I did not like the tone of the original press release and article. I really like how Mike went on record and corrected it.

I also hope he canned whoever sent out the first one (after seriously chewing their a@@)

 

[Murphy]

Nice rebuttal from the new Prez.

 

[-9Capt]

Do you guys remember the letters we all had mailed to our homes from Klaus last summer when Mike was the negotiations chairman? The company called him a liar, said he can't be trusted and has his own agenda during mediation, remember that?

I'm not saying that the letter from our PR guy was appropriate, but it was mild by comparison
.

 

[Lear70]

Hmmm... "has his own agenda"...

That sounds kind of familiar.

Can't say I was all that upset by the initial press release. The company needs to understand that the dynamic of their pilot group has permanently and substantially changed from what they had 5-7 years ago.

 

[Clyde Frog]

The company needs to understand that the dynamic of their pilot group has permanently and substantially changed from what they had 5-7 years ago.

Sure sounds that way.

But...

Will this pilot group have the balls to do what's necessary?

Voting for the bulldog is great, but the hard part is putting forth some sacrifices. Will the pilots do that?

Hmm...Remains to be seen...