Strike on HOLD

[de Pez]

Furoughed:

My impass comment, in quotes, referenced a statement made by New2flying.... Read the other messages before jumping in. The fact that an impass had already been reached was my point, although you restated it very well also.

 

[T-handle]

Dude how many hours of sleep did our negotiators get last night???? Any? Is it smart to pull an all nighter and still negotiate with a clear mind? How "limited" is 12 hours and 39 minutes past the deadline..... Not even a cold cup of coffee from the Saab could keep me awake. This one will be one to tell the kids some day......

 

[furloughed]

Sorry De Pez for the misunderstanding. I have edited the name in my response to New2Flying.

 

[Wanderer]

anyone talk to crew scheduling?

if they announce a TA, they are planning on ferrying planes to outstations andflying as close to a full schedule as possible tomorrow. But, it depends on if a TA is reached by 3pm.

 

[jetset]

So it's almost like being on strike, but getting PAID for it! Well, fair to mention pulling all the hair out of your head and calling that 800 number every 5 minutes. I haven't hit redial that many times since I was a kid trying to be the lucky caller for a radio contest. And how many cups of coffee have YOU had today!?!

 

[Tflyer70]

Cups? Were way beyond that--im 3/4 down to the SECOND pot! Except its Folgers, not that "Northwest Blend".

So when did NWA start getting into coffee anyway?

 

[Wanderer]

Except its Folgers, not that "Northwest Blend".

So when did NWA start getting into coffee anyway?

Crapavelli

 

[redflyer65]

The MEC made it perfectly clear that the strike would happen as planned, unless there was significant progress from Mesaba management. So far, I see this as a good thing for all Mesaba pilots involved, just frustrating waiting for a good TA. I think this MEC committee has a very good understanding of what the pilots will accept, and what will not accept. Good luck.

 

[fly4ever]

As of 12:30 pm cst the negotiations are ongoing. Today's flight schedule has been cancelled, no decision as of yet on tomorrow. Everyone is in a wait and see mode right now which is a good thing. This is what negotiations are for and the deadline was to bring everything to the table which it has apparently done. We all hope for the best outcome but are ready to fulfill our right to strike should that call be made.

 

[New2Flying]

Re: impasse

New2Flying,

An impasse has already happened. It was declared on December 11th and the 30 day cooling off period began. At the end of that 30 day cooling off period the pilots are free to strike or the company can lockout the pilots and enforce their own work rules and payscale. After the deadline passed last night the union can walkout of negotiations anytime and declare a strike regardless of the progress of those talks. The RLA allows this.

What has probably happened is that the company has finally come to the table with some meaningful contract provisions. Because the Company has stalled for over 900 days the entire contract needs to be hashed out, which takes time. When the union saw that the comapny was bargaining in good faith they decided to continue, but at the same time the union probably told management that if they tried to operate revenue flights today they would officially strike. By officially striking, negotiations end for a period of time (probably weeks or even a month) and pilots are free to scatter to all parts of the world. Other employees would be furloughed. To start up operations again after a strike has been called and then settled would take probably over a week. By doing what they are doing today, if the negotiations can be settled today, everyone is still in position to start up again tomorrow with relatively little loss of revenue. As long as the company continues to bargain in good faith the negotiations will continue, but at the same time there will be no revenue flights. I am sure as soon as the comapny tries to operate without a settlement, a strike will be called. So what we have is a virtual strike, that can easily be called off or it can easily made official. Either way, it sounds as if the company is finally starting to negotiate and this is a good thing for everyone involved.

Furloughed and others..

Sorry - my bad. I was writing after an all nighter! What I meant to say is that as long as they are negotiating, (from my understanding) that the general workforce cannot just strike. (please correct me if I am wrong on this too)

I think it is sad that companies have to wait till the last minute to do anything. It just makes for bad morale all around and is so unnecessary. They should bargain in good faith from the beginning and see their employees as valuable resources.