Options Pilots About To Draw A Line In The Sand!!!

[GhettoBeechjet]

I don't think it will come to a strike.

Management knows that as soon as it is announced that the pilots are going to be taking a strike vote they will see the sales stop. They will also start to see all of those jet pass cards cashed out. Then the questions from the owners who have been paying extra to cover the cost of the pilot raises for the last 3 years.

Just the bad PR will keep the customers away. Who would put down $100K for a new jet card when the pilots have just announced a strike vote not knowing if you will be able to use it?

What sales? No one is buying from Options right now anyway. This is the perfect storm in managements favor. No sales and low owner use due to economic and political conditions. Easy access to lots of unemployed pilots who might be willing to whore themselves out. This will go to a strike or lockout and the union pilots will be replaced before the shiney new jet shows up. The owners will be told that the money was used to acquire and train the "best pilots and most service oriented in the industry" (read as will do anything they are told) who replaced the nasty union pilots who disrupted their travel plans.

 

[ITFL]

I think you should save the scab tag for the pilots management will hire after they are released for self help.

Hell Bob Tyler is at the table on the side of management.......Where is the master SCAB list?

 

[ITFL]

Since the company has never had any intentions of settling a contract, this will drag out for another year.
I think I just heard Ricci giggle.

Peak travel here they come!!!!!!

 

[Narrow Bridge]

It will never come to a strike vote, It would show the lack of support the union actually has.

 

[GhettoBeechjet]

It will never come to a strike vote, It would show the lack of support the union actually has.

It doesn't matter if the union has support or not. If the union won't strike management will lock them out and offer jobs to who they see fit on their terms.

 

[ITFL]

It will never come to a strike vote, It would show the lack of support the union actually has.

Read the messages from the FAC and PPC, game is on!!!!!!

 

[FR8DOG777]

Some good advice from a former comrade

I have seen lots and heard lots about mediation and it the first step to self help. You guys that are thinking that this is the road to a strike are right but you and many others a Floptions are missing a very big, very important point.

We don't need to strike. In fact in this business we can be much more effective and be much more "persuasive to management" not striking and remaining on duty.

A Strike

The purpose of a strike is to shut the company down by the aircraft not moving. Will this put pressure on management? Yes no doubt. but what are the down sides of a strike? First and foremost we will not be receiving a pay check and we will all be paying cobra for our health insurance. We may have to face management replacing us as we do not have a contract right now. These and other things that will have a very negative effect on each of us and our families.

A more effective strike.

As pilots each of us have the power to decide if a aircraft flys on any given day. The ink pen that resides in your shirt pocket right next to our new ridiculous gay looking wings and the authority that is given to you by the license in you wallet and the FAA, provide you with the tools to effect the same result as a strike. The big difference is while you are exercising this action, you will continue to receive a pay check and benefits. Now not only are the jets not moving but management still is carrying the expense of our labor cost. A double whammy.

Some will say that this is an illegal job action. Bullsh!t. The only thing that would make it illegal is if you were writing up erroneous squawks. There is nothing illegal about doing a preflight wit a magnifying glass and using it will have the same effect on management as strike.

Think about it.

If we had the majority of our pilots, the same percentage that would honor a strike, understand these very simple facts, we might already have a contract. Instead we still have pilots carrying known discrepancies, working OT, over duty day, going the "extra mile" to suck managements a$$. If you are a supporter of the hard work that our union negotiators are doing then its time to look at the pilots that are not flying the pledge as SCABS and treating them as such. If a strike were ever called it is these same pilots that will cross the line so you may as well recognize them for what they are now, SCABS .

The sooner that our pilots understand this and make the pledge their mantra, the sooner that management will have no recourse but to negotiate and to step up to the bar with a industry standard contract.

Fly The Pledge,,,,, and start today.

We could use more like you here now brother!

 

[skanza]

Originally Posted by SilverSurfer
I have seen lots and heard lots about mediation and it the first step to self help. You guys that are thinking that this is the road to a strike are right but you and many others a Floptions are missing a very big, very important point.

We don't need to strike. In fact in this business we can be much more effective and be much more "persuasive to management" not striking and remaining on duty.

A Strike

The purpose of a strike is to shut the company down by the aircraft not moving. Will this put pressure on management? Yes no doubt. but what are the down sides of a strike? First and foremost we will not be receiving a pay check and we will all be paying cobra for our health insurance. We may have to face management replacing us as we do not have a contract right now. These and other things that will have a very negative effect on each of us and our families.

A more effective strike.

As pilots each of us have the power to decide if a aircraft flys on any given day. The ink pen that resides in your shirt pocket right next to our new ridiculous gay looking wings (gay is bad? Is that what you mean?)and the authority that is given to you by the license in you wallet and the FAA, provide you with the tools to effect the same result as a strike. The big difference is while you are exercising this action, you will continue to receive a pay check and benefits. Now not only are the jets not moving but management still is carrying the expense of our labor cost. A double whammy. -You won't be getting paid for long because flying the airplanes = happy, paying customers. Not flying the airplanes = unhappy, not paying customers. Where do you think all the money comes from?!!!

Some will say that this is an illegal job action.Because it is. Bullsh!t. The only thing that would make it illegal is if you were writing up erroneous squawks. Because you do. There is nothing illegal about doing a preflight wit a magnifying glass and using it will have the same effect on management as strike. So....how would you preflight *after* a strike? Or when you get a contract? Seems like a sliding scale of preflight tolerances to me. Typical.

Think about it.

If we had the majority of our pilots, the same percentage that would honor a strike, understand these very simple facts, we might already have a contract. Instead we still have pilots carrying known discrepancies, working OT, over duty day, going the "extra mile" to suck managements a$$. If you are a supporter of the hard work that our union negotiators are doing then its time to look at the pilots that are not flying the pledge as SCABS and treating them as such. If a strike were ever called it is these same pilots that will cross the line so you may as well recognize them for what they are now, SCABS .

The sooner that our pilots understand this and make the pledge their mantra, the sooner that management will have no recourse but to negotiate and to step up to the bar with a industry standard contract.

Fly The Pledge,,,,, and start today.
!

Scabs? Really? Is it the 30s or what? I didn't think that term was still used.

 

[fracjack]

scab?

It doesn't matter if the union has support or not. If the union won't strike management will lock them out and offer jobs to who they see fit on their terms.

Then we could start threads on MIGS who scab. That is reality waiting to happen.

 

[B19 Flyer]

And be careful what you ask for!!!

A friend of mine sent me this. Good luck Options guys/gals stand your ground!!!!!

For over three years Flight Options pilots have been in negotiations for a first contract. Negotiations have progressed to the point where there are only a few remaining issues for bargaining, but they are the most critical, including finalizing scope, salary, PTO and duration. The time has come for the Union to prepare pilots for every possible outcome, including a tentative agreement or, in the alternative, National Mediation Board (NMB) release for self-help measures. In this first Pilot Preparedness Committee (PPC) communication, we would like to provide you with critical information about how the final process under the Railway Labor Act (RLA) may unfold in the near future. The PPC will send additional communications in the coming weeks.

The NMB Mediator has scheduled two additional rounds of bargaining. The Union and management will meet in CLE the week of August 17, 2009. At the Mediator’s instructions, the parties will meet at the NMB’s Washington, DC offices the week of September 14, 2009. The Union expects the Mediator will require management to send its principals to the meetings. As President Slinghoff recently announced, if a tentative agreement is not reached by the end of the September session, your Local 1108 Executive Board will assess the state of negotiations and determine an appropriate course of action that may include requesting a proffer of voluntary, binding arbitration from the NMB.

What do we mean when we say the Union may request a proffer of voluntary, binding arbitration?

Under the RLA, either the Union or management may request the NMB to declare that efforts at mediation have failed. If the NMB agrees that mediation has failed, the NMB will make a proffer of binding arbitration to resolve all outstanding issues. If management and the Union were to accept the proffer of binding arbitration, a neutral arbitrator would decide how to resolve all outstanding issues. The membership would not be permitted to vote on the outcome. As a result, unions typically reject a proffer of binding arbitration. If either management or a union rejects the proffer, the RLA requires a 30-day “cooling off” period.

What is the 30-day “cooling off” period?

During the 30-day “cooling off” period management and unions are prohibited from exercising self-help. Typically, the NMB will make a final attempt at a mediated resolution of all outstanding contract issues; however, the NMB cannot force the parties to reach agreement. At the expiration of the 30-day “cooling off” period, management and unions are free to exercise self-help unless the NMB notifies the President of the United States that the dispute substantially threatens essential transportation in the United States and the President establishes a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB).

What is a PEB?

A PEB is group of individuals appointed by the President to make non-binding recommendations for resolving a labor dispute. If the President establishes a PEB, the PEB has 30 days to make recommendations to the President. During the 30-day period during which the PEB is developing recommendations, management and unions are prohibited from engaging in self-help; however, the prohibition will expire. After the PEB makes recommendations to the President, the parties may accept the recommendations, reach an agreement on their own or engage in self-help 30 days after the PEB reports its recommendations to the President.

It is important to remember that management and the Union have not been released for self-help at this time. Therefore, the RLA prohibits using economic pressure unless and until the process described above is exhausted.

At this time, the PPC requests that all Flight Options pilots ensure that the Union has updated contact information, including name, address, home telephone number, cell phone number and personal email address. The Union needs to be able to contact and update you as events unfold. In addition, we echo the Executive Board’s request that all pilot families contact the Family Awareness Committee (FAC). To date, 163 Flight Options pilot families have made direct contact with FAC. The PPC and FAC will coordinate their efforts as we all hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Rock and roll there boys!!!!!!!!!!!

Let's see if you can get that sympathy strike going on to support you at Netjets.... Oh, that's right... they no longer are part of 1108. Gee, that kinda sucks, doesn't it?

And remember...... Be careful what you ask for!!!!!!!!

You just might get it!!! :bawling: