Thank You Mesaba MEC

[Simon Says]

Thank you for all your hard work and holding the line.

Everyone deserves a pat on the back including the negotiating committee.

 

[captpetefam]

Amen

I agree!! Way to go. I'm finally proud of our MEC and the effort they have put forth to represent our Pilot Group. Thanks for towing the hard line.

CP

 

[Towelie]

Thank you for all your hard work and holding the line.

Everyone deserves a pat on the back including the negotiating committee.

Wow... are you on the MEC or something?

Just kidding. Growth + no concessions = job well done.

Thanks for your hard work!

 

[schmitty340]

This MEC kicked A$$......nice job

 

[DoinTime]

Growth + no concessions = job well done.

Its pretty sad that this industry has come to expect employees to pay for corporate growth. Good job to the Mesaba MEC (and their pilot group) on putting their collective foot down.

 

[xjhawk]

yeah, my biggest worry was taking concessons......but you guys at the union held the line during some tough negotiations! thanks for the hard work!

Oh as a side note......about the Bashing other airlines....(mesaba-Pinnacle-NWA and back.....about all issues) lets try to remember,,,,,,unity.....IF alpa national would have some sort of strategy,,,,,,,except the one that bashes regionals.......just because you fly a bigger airplane does not make you better.......remember, we are not "just" regioanl pilots

 

[redflyer65]

What are the details regarding the MEC agreements with the new deliveries? You guys are indicating no concessions. Are there basically no changes to your current contract?

 

[Monster Buck]

Redflyer 65, no changes period. Current book. There were talks on PBS, freezes, and pay. Our union got close to an agreement on PBS but it all fell though in the end and no changes were agreed upon. The co. went forward with current book. That doesn't mean a year from now, they can't keep coming back with some bs to talk about, but our MEC ended our recent discussions with Mesaba with current book period.

 

[BighitterLama]

Has anyone heard why no PBS?

 

[Towelie]

Has anyone heard why no PBS?

PBS would be great, however, we need certain guarantees from the company before we say "yes."

The company wants to implement PBS with the ability to control what is allowed to be bid on. For instance, they might decide one month to pull all day trips out of the PBS so they can't be bid on. Dumb stuff like that so they can manipulate the PBS at their whim. ALPA said we want to make sure PBS is what it should be -- a true PBS system with no contraints.

Bottom line, the company wants PBS so they can have their cake and eat it too. ALPA has said that ain't going to happen.

Make no mistake, ALPA would like PBS to help the pilots. But they aren't going to do it just to do it. Also, with three fleet types the company is REALLY going to need this or crew planning will be buried. This way ALPA can help force the issue. By not agreeing to it before the announcement, they can get it done the right way after the award.

 

[BighitterLama]

Thanks for the information....it definitely makes sense.

 

[upndsky]

Just curious, but what are the CRJ pay rates going to be?

 

[upndsky]

Oops, never mind. I found it.

 

[Simon Says]

bump.

 

[Carl_Spackler]

Does anyone know under what terms and conditions XJ is going to fly the RJ's?

I hope the A/C don't come on line for a year or two, and then management says that it's not profitable, so take a pay cut or loose the airplanes.

 

[Dodge]

The CRJ will be online in late September or early October. We were told to expect a vacancy for it in June. FA's are already starting the process of being trained on a third aircraft in upcoming ground schools.

Sorry, Spackler, we will not be taking pay cuts just to get new airplanes. Our MEC learned the hard way 1997 that that particular maneuver is a very unpopular one with the rank and file pilot. As pointed out by Lear70, Mesaba is the pretty much the lowest paid (per hour rates) CRJ operator in the world. There is no money to give back.

 

[Carl_Spackler]

I never suggested that you would take a pay cut to get new or more airplanes. But, would you put it past management to use the same threat of taking away airplanes that you already have ala the AVRO during contract talks?

"Well guys, the CRJ thing is not profitable like we thought it would be. We have two options, give them up and furlough 350 pilots, or take pay cuts to make it financially viable."

Most of the new guys on the bottom would probably vote for a paycut rather than go on furlough. What about the CRJ guys who would have to go back to the Saab and take a paycut anyways, the Saab CA's who would go back to the right seat and take a paycut?

Don't get me wrong, I hope it never happens. But would that be out of the realm of possibility for Mesaba management?

Eventhough Mesaba might be one of the lowest paid CRJ operators, that is only half of the equation. The other half is the terms and conditions that they are being flown under.

 

[Dodge]

Very true, Carl. I could see management playing that card for sure. They did when we got the Avros. They told the MEC in order to get more planes, we have to go to a single pay rate for FO's regardless of aircraft. MEC said that sounded great. Eventually the union said no to a few more demands from XJ (NWA) and then got the planes anyway. Heck, Carl, they did it with this CRJ thing. Management wanted to freeze ALL Avro captains and extend our contract for another 2 years. The union told 'em to go fly a kite.

I have always believed that if NWA wants a certain plane to be operated, it will be operated. If they can put the pressure on the pilots for a little extra bonus for the management types, then that's great. If it doesn't work, oh well, we will still have them running that aircraft anyway.

I just don't think our pilot group would take concessions for more planes. Now, I have been wrong before.....

 

[RampTower]

I just hope the MEC, and the pilot group for that matter, continue to hold the line from here on out. We apparently told management to shove it for this first batch of CRJs. But the next 20? the next 40? 50? etc... NWA/Mesaba management will continue to "bait" us before each batch and each time we must tell em to shove it, no questions asked. So what if we dont get jets? We gain ten fold respect among the ALPA community.

However, the only type of concession some pilots may consider taking, is a contract extension as long as it inlcudes appropriate pay and per diem raises.

Great job MEC/negotiating committee!

 

[FCNelson]

So, when Mesaba's last CRJ is delivered, the score will be:

Pinnacle 139
Mesaba 15

 

[The Transporter]

FC NELSON

If only the measure of an airline was based on how many crj's an airline had,then maybe Pinnacle might be a place someone would choose to go, instead of the reality that it really is a last choice for most pilots.
I would rather be a Saab driver at XJ than live your existance at a piss poor excuse for an operation...not intended as flamebait but when you post a "my johnsons bigger than yours "what do you expect.

 

[BighitterLama]

...with a lock on the next 20...MES isn't going to pay upfront costs for only 15 a/c...

 

[fly4ever]

FCNelson,

You seem to be an immature individual with lack of knowledge about Mesaba and its history and performance. Take a hint and get educated before you start playing the comparison game.

 

[scabseeker]

Won't it only be 138 to 15?

Or does the milwaukee plane make it 137 - 15?

 

[PCL_128]

Won't it only be 138 to 15?

Or does the milwaukee plane make it 137 - 15?

A$$. The MKE plane will be just fine, and the plane that crashed killing two fellow pilots (how nice for you to joke about such a thing) will be replaced.

 

[Rook]

So, when Mesaba's last CRJ is delivered, the score will be:

Pinnacle 139
Mesaba 15

And they'll STILL be a better place to work than 9E. What a tool. Grow up dude.

Rook

 

[Rook]

Won't it only be 138 to 15?

Or does the milwaukee plane make it 137 - 15?

Wish you were in DTW so I could pimp slap you for that.

Rook

 

[LivinDaDream]

I agree.. Scabseeker is an A$$.

Just a point though, it will be 134 to 139. XJ already has 99 A/C + 35 crjs. Sounds like a whipsaw to me.

 

[TinGoose1]

Not to split hairs, but I heard the MKE airframe was a total hull loss. With all of the stuff 9E has done lately, I wouldn't throw any stones.....especially down the hall. Even if you ignore the cases that didn't bend metal, 9E still has a bad track record.....and safety is what counts. I'm not pocking anyone in the eye, I'm just pointing out the facts. If you question anything that I've said, ask your next FAA observer how many violations 9E experiences in comparison to the industry.....it's sobering. So the bottom line is, 138 planes vs. whatever doesn't matter one bit.

 

[PCL_128]

Not to split hairs, but I heard the MKE airframe was a total hull loss.

Rumor. The plane needs some work, but it will be just fine and back on line.