This is total B.S. Mesaba... Shut 'em down!

[twinbeech]

Mesaba Employees Picket in Minnesota; New Pay Would be Lowest in the U.S.​

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Mesaba Airlines employees protested proposed wage and benefit cuts April 13-14 at five Minnesota cities, saying the airline will not stay in business if a consensual agreement is not met.
The employees mounted the informational picketing in an effort to raise awareness of the bankrupt airline's efforts to reduce pay and benefits for pilots, flight attendants, and mechanics by 19.4 percent during the next 6 years. The cuts also include a 66 percent increase in health care premiums, which would make the employees the lowest paid in the airline industry.
If the cuts are approved, many Mesaba employees will be eligible for federal aid. For instance, at the new proposed rates, a first-year pilot with family health insurance would gross less than $11,000 per year and a first-year flight attendant with employee only insurance would gross $11,000 per year.
A decision by the court on whether Mesaba Airlines has the right to impose its terms on the labor groups is scheduled for April 25.
Unless management is able to reach a consensual agreement that includes a fair wage, the unions say its members will no longer want to work for Mesaba, raising serious questions about the airline's ability to stay in business.
"The only viable path out of bankruptcy for Mesaba Airlines is a consensual agreement with each of its unions," says Capt. Tom Wychor, chairman of the Mesaba MEC. "Management's refusal to acknowledge the impact of the proposed cuts on their employees can only lead to liquidation of the airline--either through a pilot strike or through a mass exodus of highly experienced employees."
"To say that we are frustrated is an understatement," says Mesaba flight attendant Tim Evenson, Mesaba AFA president. "Mesaba knows that our wages are in line with the rest of the industry. Management is trying to use the bankruptcy process to push our wages far below those of all other carriers, which is not appropriate under the bankruptcy code."
"These desired cuts will place all three labor groups far below the industry average. A strike at Mesaba would ground almost all airline service to Northern Minnesota," says Kevin Wildermuth, AMFA Negotiations Committee chairman.

From ALPA fastread, today 4/14/06

 

[Soverytired]

That's just gross.

Mesaba Employees Picket in Minnesota; New Pay Would be Lowest in the U.S.​

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For instance, at the new proposed rates, a first-year pilot with family health insurance would gross less than $11,000 per year and a first-year flight attendant with employee only insurance would gross $11,000 per year.

$11,000 per year? Gross?

NOBODY can live on that wage. That's food-stamp level.

 

[threegreen]

Do they have any openings?

 

[WMUSIGPI]

If the judge approves that bs, yea probably about 800.

 

[grandma]

somebody should definitely get into a fistfight over this. I don't know who, where, or even when... But blood should definitely be shed over this. Perhaps a quick coup d' etat on Spanjers leaving the steakhouse this evening??

 

[smellthejeta]

$11,000 per year? Gross?

NOBODY can live on that wage. That's food-stamp level.

Can I ask a dumb question? How did the pay per flight hour (only) standard become a standard? I'm only asking because wouldn't federal minimum wage rules come into play at a certain point? Unfortunately, if you only "worked" less than 100 hours per month (or your thousand a year) you could theoretically get paid $5,000 per year roughly and still we within the federal min wage rules.

 

[dispatchguy]

Fair Labor Standards Act standards dont apply to any employer subject to the Railway Labor Act.

 

[mynameisjim]

Can I ask a dumb question? How did the pay per flight hour (only) standard become a standard? I'm only asking because wouldn't federal minimum wage rules come into play at a certain point? Unfortunately, if you only "worked" less than 100 hours per month (or your thousand a year) you could theoretically get paid $5,000 per year roughly and still we within the federal min wage rules.

If someone chooses to get a part time job, why make that the employers problem? What about a burger flipper at McD's who chooses to only work 2 days a week to buy reefer.

 

[Corbon]

So Fo pay=FA pay? Can that be right?

 

[YourPilotFriend]

FO pay less than FA pay

 

[JumpCaptain]

That is messed up Man!!

 

[Piper877]

So Fo pay=FA pay? Can that be right?

Not quite. They compared an FO paying for family health insurance, which is typically 4-5 times what it costs for an individual, to an FA paying for employee only health insurance.
It's still a really bad wage for both. Maybe if some of these companies go bust the industry will slowly get back to where it should be. I hope.