Republic...
As a Chautauqua pilot, I'm very concerned about the creation of Republic Airlines. Of course, I'm somewhat biased and I hope that you examine both sides of the issue, though the more time I've spent here trying to give our management the benefit of the doubt has lead me further in support of our union's (Teamsters) position on Republic.
Our company (CHQ) is owned by a holding company called Republic Airways Holdings (commonly called RAH). This, in turn, is owned by another holding company, known as Wexford Capital, which also owns Shuttle America and shares in several other carriers, such as Midway, I believe. As of right now, the only thing that RAH owns is Chautauqua.
Chautauqua pilots were given the opportunity last year to sign on with the Jets for Jobs program to acquire more regional jets for our US Airways side of the operation. For a variety of reasons, our pilot group decided against taking part in the program. I wasn't employed by Chautauqua at the time, but I'm told by many of those who were here that there were concerns about pay for the US Air mainline pilots who were brought on by the program, seniority and furlough issues, among other things. It was disappointing in some ways that this program was not instituted, as growth in any form is good for our company's pilots.
Because our management wanted to implement Jets For Jobs anyhow, they have elected to create another airline, dubbed Republic Airlines (note that this, like Chautauqua, would be owned by Republic Airways Holdings), whose only existance would be for the express purpose of complying with Jets for Jobs. On the surface, it seems innocent enough; In fact, because our holding company would then be complying with J4J, Chautauqua could actually acquire a few more (9, I believe) US Airways jets to be operated entirely by Chautauqua pilots.
Were this all that was involved, there wouldn't be much of an issue. However, based on our contract negotiation situation and the all-too-similar sounding issues at Mesa with Freedom, our pilot group smelled a rat. While our management maintains that Republic is only in existance for the express purpose of complying for J4J (from CEO Bryan Bedford's weekly updates), our CEO Wayne Heller has told the news media that Republic will be competing for many contracts (note: against Chautauqua), and it has been strongly rumored that Republic was one of the carriers to bid on United's Express flying. Keep in mind that Republic wages have been set lower than Chautauqua's, and as nearly all other things are equal (same infrastructure, same aircraft, etc.), Chautauqua could not readily compete. We forsee a whipsawing like what happened at Mesa where management comes to us in a year or two, once Republic has been well established, and offering our flying for Delta, US Air, or American to Republic unless we take pay and work rule concessions, despite the fact that we are among the worst paid pilots per type and size of equipment in the industry. It is one thing to compete in a captalistic marketplace, but these tactics are being employed for one purpose--to make our management more money at the expense of our pilot group.
The Jets for Jobs agreement has changed since Chautauqua's pilot group originally voted it down, and as many of our concerns were addressed in the changes, our union put our another vote on our desire to participate with the changes being implemented. It overwhelmingly passed, partly because of the changes, and partly because we believe it is superior to the creation of Republic. Furthermore, we believe it effectively calls management's bluff. If they were being truthful about Republic's purpose, then it no longer has any viable reason for existance. Despite this and ALPA's endorsement of our ratification of J4J, Republic Airlines trudges on.
Our pilot group is currently voting on a strike resolution because of Republic's threat as well as constantly stalled contract negotiations that have gone on for nearly two years. The company has repeatedly and recently walked away from the bargaining table and failed to entertain our proposals. We are not asking for unreasonable increases in pay or ridiculous work rules. We are looking for an industry standard contract and for expansion to continue here at Chautauqua so long as we remain a competitive and quality product in the aviation community.
Should Chautauqua pilots strike, and I sincerely hope that it will not come to that, we fear a variety of possibilities. There have been thoughts that our probationary pilots would be fired and offered positions at Republic Airlines to help undermine our collective bargaining abilities. This has already happened at Shuttle America shortly after September 11, and the end result is now Shuttle pilots being asked for ridiculous pay concessions or facing liquidation (whether the company sincerely means these messages of doom and gloom is left to the reader). We fear that our routes might be taken up by Republic or Shuttle. We feel that pilots who would participate in this sort of activity are involved in an attack on our ability to preserve our jobs and a reasonable standard of living. While the term "scab" is used rather freely and often incorrectly nowadays, if circumstances were to fall as I've described, we are talking about genuine acceptance of struck work.
If you are considering working for Republic, or if you interview at Chautauqua and they offer you a position there (I have no confirmed reports that this has or will happen, but we fear it is a possibility), please carefully consider the consequences of your actions to both yourself and your future as a pilot as well as our futures here at Chautauqua. We truly value much of the support that has been expressed from other carriers, and we understand that we have not always seen things eye to eye in the past, I think we all agree that our actions will better not only Chautauqua, but the industry as a whole.
I am always interested in dissenting points of view. I hope that my rant has given you some sorts of insights into our concerns with Republic. Otherwise, safe and happy flying, and good luck working through the landmine infested field that the aviation industry has become.