Some FLTO Mechanics Want a Union

[simba]

Had to do a little duck and cover lately. Just want to let the supporters and the know that the flame is still burning. Will post more regarding the resent policy changes later this week. Sure wish they'd be polite enough to give a reach-around.

 

[simba]

Holiday Pay

Well, in spite of management’s best efforts, I remain unscathed. There is… or was a concerted effort to ferret out the pro-union folks. It appears that the focus has shifted back to running the department.

Guess we took it in the face yet again. This time they’re messing with our holiday pay. Check this out: we now have a bank of 48 hours of holiday pay for us to use on the six recognized holidays. At first glance that doesn’t sound too bad. However, consider this, the greater majority of FLOPS employees (non-pilot) work non-standard shifts. The definition of “non-standard” in this case is: anything other than five days of eight hour shifts (example: 4/10’s & 3/12’s). The people that this new policy effects are those that work non-standard shifts at the beginning of the week (Sunday – Wednesday). Three years from now the people on the back half of the week will feel the pain, but right now, they’re livin’ large.

OK, now do the math. If you work 10 hour shifts at the beginning of the week you will work five of the six holidays. That 50 hours at work with a 10 hour shift actually enjoying the family (we’ll consider that a full shift off). That equals 60 hours. Let’s see… 60-48=12. That means that you will be shorted 12 hours of holiday pay. Or, shorted 2 hours on Thanksgiving (which you would normally have off) and a full 10 hours on Christmas. Who wants to work Christmas Day for straight time??? The math is a little more lop-sided if you work 12 hour shifts, or 11’s and 12’s alternating. I don’t know about you, but I feel the flu coming on. I might have to call in sick Christmas Day.

If you ask our fantastic HR department they’ll tell you that this new policy was put in place to make the system fair to all. Well, duh… looks like it is fair to those working 8 hour shifts INCLUDING THE HR DEPARTMENT!!!

Now here’s the kicker. If you worked New Years Day, you got SCREWED and never knew it!!! They’re only paying you 8 hours of holiday pay regardless of how much time you actually work on the clock and they never told until Garrett Matyas sent out his award-winning email on January 26th.

Don’t believe me? Read the email and look at your paycheck on February 15th.

Without a union, the company will continue to whittle away at everything until we have nothing.

 

[dime line]

Simba, was in PBI, and the leaders are not very pro union and the one guy was so anti it was pretty funny. He really had no reasons but to say if you dont like it here just quit. So have fun with that Mx base

 

[Phoenix]

Koolaid addiction

Simba, was in PBI, and the leaders are not very pro union and the one guy was so anti it was pretty funny. He really had no reasons but to say if you dont like it here just quit. So have fun with that Mx base

I think I talked to the same guy there and he was rabidly anti Union, but could not articulate any rational reason. I did however talk to several that were very receptive to what a Union could do for them and wished there was more open exchange. As has been the case in the past, company management is doing everything they can to scare the MX personnel into not even talking about a Union.

Simba and the other leaders should be mindful of the fact that the company has a history of expediting the departure Union organizes. Be very careful until you have an overwhelming ground swell of support before taking your mask off.

Be patient, management will help you and provide all the incentive you will need to motivate your group.

Keep working it

Phoenix

 

[skanza]

Simba, I'm trying to figure out who you are. But anyway, so you're saying that a union for the Maintenance department would fix the holiday pay policy? I agree along with a lot of other folks that it does cater to those that work the "normal" schedule. But we are a 24/7 operation and the one who actually make the difference must work long shifts, weekends, and odd hours. G.M. is just an HR person, not and aviation person and clearly doesn't understand what these people need. If he did, he would have designed a holiday pay policy the fit our orginization (like we had with RAS).

 

[Dep676]

Simba, I'm trying to figure out who you are. But anyway, so you're saying that a union for the Maintenance department would fix the holiday pay policy? I agree along with a lot of other folks that it does cater to those that work the "normal" schedule. But we are a 24/7 operation and the one who actually make the difference must work long shifts, weekends, and odd hours. G.M. is just an HR person, not and aviation person and clearly doesn't understand what these people need. If he did, he would have designed a holiday pay policy the fit our orginization (like we had with RAS).

Who cares who he is. Are you management or just trying to get them fired? They are voicing their opinion how the MX personnel are getting screwed. Just because you are a 24/7 operation does not mean you should not get holiday pay. Hell even the dispatchers get holiday pay. Take a look in the company manual, it spells out all holiday pay.

Just remember all of upper management care about one thing and that is moving airplanes and intimidating the employees to what they (upper management) wants.

You mention having aviation people. Well the CEO is suppose to be an aviation person, one that hates pilots and employees in general. Just look at the newest salesman, a garage door salesman. That should be a real advantage in the aviation business. Maybe he can get a good deal on new hangar doors but thats about it.

You guys will wake up someday like the pilots did. At least you better for your sake.

 

[Phoenix]

Simba, I'm trying to figure out who you are. But anyway, so you're saying that a union for the Maintenance department would fix the holiday pay policy? I agree along with a lot of other folks that it does cater to those that work the "normal" schedule. But we are a 24/7 operation and the one who actually make the difference must work long shifts, weekends, and odd hours. G.M. is just an HR person, not and aviation person and clearly doesn't understand what these people need. If he did, he would have designed a holiday pay policy the fit our orginization (like we had with RAS).

skanza,



The answer to your back handed question is yes a Union/contract would fix your holiday pay and many other things that are very much askew at Options. Holiday pay is the least of them. The Mechanics and the Pilots at Options are the only "professional" aviation employees that the company has yet we are the groups that are treated with the most disdain by top management. I say the top because that is where the abhorrence toward the aviation professionals at Options descends from. Middle management is only passing on what the CEO of our company dictates.



A contract will make it very difficult for a CEO current of future to change our work environment, pay and benefits at will and management will do anything to prevent Unionization and the negotiation of a contract. These important employee protections remove considerable power from managements hands and the loss of that power it exactly what management is so afraid of and what they will do anything to preserve.



For that reason Simba should remain in anonymity for the time being and not allow you or anyone else he would not trust with his wife and children to know who he is. Should management discover who he is they surly will arrange for his swift departure from the company.



Phoenix

 

[simba]

The following is something I posted on another threa. This info needs to get out to everyone in the company.

"This time the company is screwing every single employee with the new pay schedule.

Doesn't matter if you're salary, salary non-exempt, or hourly. The company converts your yearly pay into hours for ease of calculation.

Check this out. We all know that 40 hours a week multiplied by 52 weeks equals 2080, right? Well, our fantastic friends in management (M.S. and G.M. - V.P. of H.R.) forgot that.

In the first 6 months of 2007 we have received 6 paychecks (bi-monthly) with 86.67 hours on them and on 4/13 we will start to receive 6 more paychecks (bi-weekly) with 80 hours on each one. You can check the math any way you like, it always adds up to 1000 hours. The last 6 months of 2007 we will receive 13 checks with 80 each = 1040 hours.

WHERE DID THE 40 HOURS FROM THE FIRST 6 MONTHS GO?

The change to a 2 week payroll will save Flight Options $1,500,000. That's just me using the number of active empoyees times 40 hours times an average hourly wage. It is definitely more.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!

Wouldn't you like to put that chunk of change in you bank account?

This "over sight" was brought to G.M.'s attention by numerous people from many different departments. He couldn't see the "error." Just like he couldn't see the "error" in his awesome Holiday Pay plan. He is a "special boy."

Incidentally, regarding that Holiday Pay plan. In case you haven't heard, the "salary non-exempt" folks are given a bank of 48 hours to use over the 6 holidays in the year. Initially it doesn't look bad but take this into consideration: the OCC, OSR, Flight Planning, International, and the entire Maintenance department do not work 8 hour shifts. They will run out of holiday pay on Thanksgiving Day. Since S.M. & G.M. believe everyone likes this plan and refuse to consider a change, odds are very good that there will be an incredible number of people with the creeping crud on Christmas Day. In fact, if I were a betting man, I'd bet the farm on that horse."

 

[netjetwife]

Some words of encouragement--

http://www.bluemountain.com/view.pd?i=164243857&m=1932&rr=y&source=bma999


I think it's great that pilots support the mechanics. You're all in the fight together and there is strength in numbers. There will always be a group that you have to drag kicking and screaming (their doom and gloom message) into a brighter, more secure future. It was my experience that they are the selfish and/or fearful ones. Just go for the majority who can easily see the truth of your posts. The good news is that you will pick up more supporters as you go along. Even some of the naysayers eventually come around.
Good Luck!
NJW

 

[RVATOR]

I suppose this thread got filed too soon for the MX guys. I dont know that a union would have been able to stop the screwing before the axing of a few weeks ago but just thought it a bit clairvoiant of a thread.