Thank-you Mesaba

[Dodge]

All that money that XJ ALPA spent on strike prepardness info, p2p, strike rallies.....well spent.

They would have been money ahead had they just told the pilot group upfront that they should just get used to the fact that you will work for less money in terms of real dollars every year.

 

[Axel]

Sanctimonious cowards. Go fly the plane, switch monkey.

 

[Turtlesfly]

EVERY SINGLE regional airline pilot out there has a job because they do it for less money than the company they code share for the bottom line. .

Not true . . . us XJTers didn't run to the bottom against Continental. We have a great contract and there was no pressure in 04 coming from some scum management to get us into a threatened position to sign it.

Now that Continental stiffed us with 25% of our airplanes, instead of begging for concessions, our management hasn't asked for anything. On the contrary, we just voted in a cost-of-living increase in a contract extention, and told Continental to F themselves with those airplanes and we're going to take our profits and our good business elsewhere.

Not all Regional Pilots and not all managements just roll over. I just had to correct you on that.

 

[8HourPilot]

i would imagine that the countless FO's that have 5 years plus did think about this.
I'm just wondering when people are actually going to read what this TA is, then stop making stupid posts.

I couldn't agree with ATRDriver more. Taking a bad contract now may SEEM like a good idea because you hope for the growth that will allow you to move on, but what happens if the industry goes back into the toilet and you're stuck at XJ? Now not only will you not be moving on the Big Leagues but you're also stuck at a crappy place to work because you were short sighted.

When we finally do get something to vote on at ASA, if it's not a contract that I could work under for the next 10 years, I'll vote no because I know I may just end up stuck here for 10 years if things go poorly. And if a company has to shut it's doors because it can't afford a reasonable contract, then it should fold, I'll just consider it saving future pilots from a crap hole of a company.

People will argue that they have bills to pay, a family to feed, I can't let the company fold... Well, you were intelligent enough to get your ratings, you're intelligent enough to make it in the job market, especially considering you can make more money at Home Depot on day one than you can as a 1st year FO.

 

[profit]

All Mesaba bashers take note. Exactly how familiar are you with the agreement? It might be a little premature. Just because the media is saying 15% cuts doesn't make it true. And just where is the 15% coming from? And how many of you are familiar with bankruptcy claims? The pilots are due 14.2 Million dollars. Even if it got paid out 50 cents on the dollar, that is a lot of money.

I fully respect those Mesaba pilots who voted against. It is their right. But lots of loudmouths out there who really don't know anything about the agreement. Would you be shocked to hear that it amounted to a 5% pay rate cut?

 

[Smarta$$]

This is exactly right. If Mesaba went on strike over this are any of you guys going to pay their bills if they lost their jobs? I doubt it. Every one of you that think Mesaba Pilots are wrong to ratify the TA are really just a bunch of loud mouth hypocrites. EVERY SINGLE regional airline pilot out there has a job because they do it for less money than the company they code share for bottom line. How many of you 9E guys felt bad over the last few years that Northwest had almost 1000 furloughed pilots while your airplanes flew old DC-9 routes? And let’s not forget that you guys have those airplanes to begin with because of your sub standard contract. Or what about ASA or Comair who agreed to fly 70 seat jets at a fraction of what Delta pilots would fly for, again while Delta pilots were out of work. So all of you jag offs that want to whine about how Mesaba pilots are lowering the bar can shut the f^%$ up.

You are a tool. There is not a single 50-70 seat jet at any regional that was not VOTED AWAY by the mainline pilots you simpathize for. Regional pilots have always been poorly paid. The only difference is that now mainline pilots gave them jets to fly and suddenly you expect the pay to go up 300%.

 

[Caveman]

Man, it kills me when a bunch of blowhards get on here and start hammering another pilot group about what they should or shouldn't have done. Every pilot group that's been put in the BK Death Grip over the last few years has had to roll over and take it. Nobody likes it, but that's the way it is.

XJ dudes I wouldn't go wetting all over yourself about what badasses you are. You and your mainline teat weren't in BK when you had to make that call. I think you made the right call, but the circumstances weren't nearly as dire as they were at Mesaba.

Mesaba guys/gals. Good call. A tough one, but the right one. Live to fight another day. Been there, done that and it sucks but I understand.

 

[Rip Vanwinkle]

This is no surprise, but please spare us the "it's not that bad" spin. "Burn it down!", "not one penny!", etc proved to be BS. Again.

The only way anything is going to change is through education and organization. Appealing to people's desire to "uphold the profession" isn't going to cut the mustard when they're faced with whether to be stand-up or evicted. It might be worth considering the fate of the mesaba tough guys the next time you start an ill-advised bunch of macho chesthumping about your airline and how infallible your pilot group is.

 

[HelloNewman]

Everybody wants everyone to fall on thier swords.... except themselves....

I stand by XJ!

Now there is something I agree with! It is true all the airlines want it to be someone else. I have to say if they want to fall on their sword so bad then let the ones egging Mesaba on do it! I bet they won't do it though.

 

[Drill Sgt. Dad]

Mesaba pilots have pulled the regional pilots down to an all time low

 

[WSurf]

Well, now they can just drop the 'ba' off the name! MESA!!

 

[ReportCanoa]

So what are Mescraba pilots getting paid now, like five-fifteen per hour?

 

[AvroJockey]

Yes, the majors are hiring, or are going to start. CAL currently has over 15,000 aps on file. Are you going to be one of those lucky few who get on with a major as soon as you get your hours?

Actually, the majors are hiring a-plenty. We had 9 pilots resign just last week to go to majors, and 3 guys I work with in the training dept just got the good news from WN. CAL may have 15,000 apps, but they give preferential hiring to XJ pilots and they are supposed to hire 400 more pilots between now and May. There is pleanty of hiring going on. XJs attrition is out the roof and they are all going to WN, CAL, FDX, UPS, JetBlue, Alaska, and Airtran. If anything, this whole situation got everyone off their a$$ to move on!

Just another note for all those bitching about XJ...the average senoirity at XJ is about 10 years! The odds of you hitting your target audience on flightinfo is NIL! Most of the 68% that voted yes are old enough to be your fathers, and they don't read web boards. Instead of hiding behind the vail of flightinfo anonymity, try confronting these people one-on-one. You will be suprised to know that I had a senior guy in the sim yesterday, and he was discouraged that 32% voted NO. He was even more suprised when I told him that I voted NO!

 

[kmox29]

Instead of hiding behind the vail of flightinfo anonymity, try confronting these people one-on-one.

But then they wouldn't be able to use those big internet balls and make their brash statements.

 

[8HourPilot]

Another bonehead post.

What exactly are you forming your opinion on sir? Have you seen the TA? Do you know what was or was not given up? Are you even remotely informed...

Mesaba pilots have pulled the regional pilots down to an all time low