Re-Re-posting of Previous Statement
Well, I'll post this again, in defense of our pilot group, as it again reiterates what I have to say.
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As it's been said on numerous occasions, I believe that the vast majority of the people at CHQ made the decision to accept our current contract under the auspices of being whipsawed by our own parent company's creation, Republic. It wasn't the fear that we'd "lose growth" as much as the fear that the creation of an alter-ego carrier with lower pay rates (not to start a flame war here, but PSA rates for those that are wondering) would provide our parent company the opportunity to take the flying that we already had away from us and give it to a lower cost carrier. Though none of us will ever know for certain, I think it's reasonable to believe that had we turned down the contract, the mediation board would not have allowed us to start the cooling off period for some time (as it was nearing the holiday season, and historically the mediation board does no release pilot groups to strike during this time), and given the opportunity to get Republic (in it's prior form) off the ground could have led to our battling and existing entity making lower wage rates than we do (and you do). Had our flying effectively been transferred to Republic at their wage rates, you'd have been pretty greatful to be battling our wage rates.
Don't think it could happen? Read up on your history of Frank and the Continental folks and how well striking worked for them. Just because you go on strike does not guarantee higher wage rates, or even a job at all. ComAir was positioned incredibly well when their strike went on, something we didn't share because of other airline contracts being signed at wage rates significantly lower than what we agreed to. Besides Mesa, TSA signed a contract extension of lower wage rates and horrible work rules, PSA agreed to horrible CRJ rates, Air Wisconsin and ACA agreed to concessionary rates (the latter of which was admittedly reversed by their cancellation of their United contract, but at the time we still had to bargain against it), Piedmont/Allegheny agreed to poor CRJ rates (which never materialized for them, though), and we still find ourselves ahead of Pinnacle, Mesaba, and CoEx's current contract. Meanwhile, our work rules significantly improved and I still believe are among the best in the industry. We were the first airline to sign a non-concessionary contract post 9/11, and so far for all the talk about sticking it to the man, I've yet to see anybody pony up and do better [editor's note: I don't know wha the status of CoEx's contract is, but since I wrote this their new TA came out, and it is admittedly higher than Chautauqua's]. I hope CoEx and ASA do, and if I actually see ComAir +X%, I will hands down congratulate you [editors note: CoEx's new payrates, if their TA passes, have not lived up to previous promises of being markedly higher than ComAir's. The people I have heard who support it have said that their W2 wages will be better, though, which may or may not be true, but in my opinion is still doesn't live up to the overwhelming promises that have previously been, quite frankly, shoved in my face]. We'll see. I love to be proven wrong.
As far as the hatred goes, I can't help how you feel. I'm very happy here, and though I might disagree with the way other pilot groups decide to deal with their own contract negotiations, I don't take it personally. And even if you want to give me the nth degree every time I see you at the airport, you're always welcome in my jumpseat unless you've crossed a picket line, and even then, it's business, not personal. It's funny, though, how all the claims that have been made to me since our contract was signed about how sorry I'll be haven't seemed to materialize for me. Only time will tell, but something tells me that won't change any time soon.
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To add to that thread, I can say with a certain degree of authority that the pilot group has already been asked for concessions of varying sorts in order to produce better competition for new business, which has been blatantly rejected by our MEC. That quite obviously shoots down your first premise, of our taking concessions to breed new business. It does, however, support my theory that the pilot group, given the leverage of our scope, will stand the line much farther than you give us credit for. There's a difference between standing up for some idealistic target and standing up for what you believe is the best you can negotiate in the circumstances. I believe the first group could loosely be classified as lemmings. I'm just more pragmatic than that.
Now, in the context of everything I've said, it is entirely possible that we might secure new business. If that is the case, great for me. If it comes to ComAir, ASA, PSA, or whoever, I'm not going to go to sleep angry about it. Welcome to capitalism, folks. It is frustrating, though, to come through a place like this and hear about what a jerk I am because one of my coworkers didn't wear his hat to work, and then to go wandering around CVG and count ComAir crews without it. Each one of our airlines has some duds, and I apologize for ours (and I might even be one of them, depending on who you talk to). All I ask is for you to judge (and/or hate) people on an individual basis. If you run into a CHQ pilot who tells you he'll take any payrate for growth, by all means, kick him in the shins. I think, however, you'll be looking for a while before that happens.
