openletter
New member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2005
- Posts
- 2
An open letter to John Spanjers, President and COO, Mesaba Airlines:
Dear Mr. Spanjers,
The recent concessionary proposal by management to the pilots of Mesaba is an insult. We understand the hardship that is being caused by the bankruptcy and turmoil at NWA; however, this proposal does nothing to solve the core problem at Mesaba. This proposal only serves to demoralize the one group of employees that can have the greatest impact on the success, or failure of this airline.
Is this, sir, what you intended on doing? If so, it has worked. Telling a First Officer that he is only worth wages that are below the poverty line of a family of four is demoralizing. Adding to that the reduced work rules, increase in medical insurance rates, and numerous other regressive aspects of the proposal make it ludicrous. The safety and on-time performance of this airline have been among the best in the industry for quite some time. This is due to the relentless pursuit of perfection by every airman at Mesaba. By demoralizing the pilot group, you, sir, have put a chink in the armor that separates a pilot from the external factors that must be ignored in order for a flight to be operated without peril. You see, we, as pilots, are only human. There is only so much we can take before we decide we are not fit to fly. Nor are we willing to fly for a company that obviously does not value our experience.
If the company proceeds down this slippery slope, it only serves to empower the pilot group to take matters into our own hands. We are professionals; we will not endanger any person or property. Our unwritten code of conduct as professional aviators, the credo by which we live by, precludes us from doing anything malicious, if only our management followed the same code. We, I believe, are now emboldened to not accept any concessions with the current management team. This team has proven to be incapable of the simplest forms of humility or humanity. If the process continues to an 1113(c) filing, and if the terms of this proposal are imposed upon us, I think I speak for each one of us in saying that we will refuse to work under these “draconian” work rules.
I am submitting this letter anonymously. Not because I am worried about being singled out, but because I feel I speak for the pilots of Mesaba, and the industry as a whole. Not just for myself.
Dear Mr. Spanjers,
The recent concessionary proposal by management to the pilots of Mesaba is an insult. We understand the hardship that is being caused by the bankruptcy and turmoil at NWA; however, this proposal does nothing to solve the core problem at Mesaba. This proposal only serves to demoralize the one group of employees that can have the greatest impact on the success, or failure of this airline.
Is this, sir, what you intended on doing? If so, it has worked. Telling a First Officer that he is only worth wages that are below the poverty line of a family of four is demoralizing. Adding to that the reduced work rules, increase in medical insurance rates, and numerous other regressive aspects of the proposal make it ludicrous. The safety and on-time performance of this airline have been among the best in the industry for quite some time. This is due to the relentless pursuit of perfection by every airman at Mesaba. By demoralizing the pilot group, you, sir, have put a chink in the armor that separates a pilot from the external factors that must be ignored in order for a flight to be operated without peril. You see, we, as pilots, are only human. There is only so much we can take before we decide we are not fit to fly. Nor are we willing to fly for a company that obviously does not value our experience.
If the company proceeds down this slippery slope, it only serves to empower the pilot group to take matters into our own hands. We are professionals; we will not endanger any person or property. Our unwritten code of conduct as professional aviators, the credo by which we live by, precludes us from doing anything malicious, if only our management followed the same code. We, I believe, are now emboldened to not accept any concessions with the current management team. This team has proven to be incapable of the simplest forms of humility or humanity. If the process continues to an 1113(c) filing, and if the terms of this proposal are imposed upon us, I think I speak for each one of us in saying that we will refuse to work under these “draconian” work rules.
I am submitting this letter anonymously. Not because I am worried about being singled out, but because I feel I speak for the pilots of Mesaba, and the industry as a whole. Not just for myself.
