Watergate at FLOPS

[Freedom]

well then help pay my bills !!!!!!
i have to work 2 days ot just to make ends meet.
and with the paycut coming up in january.....................................

Hey Great One:

How many days of OT will you need to work when they cut your Per Diem from $41 per day to $20 per day? The Railway Labor Act protects Wages, Per Diem is NOT wages.

How many days of OT will you need to work when they cut the Match on your 401K to Zero. You don't think you'll be able to get a First Class Medical until the Day you Die, Do you?

How many days of OT will you need to work when they put you on the New Flex Schedule: Not the existing one, but the New One, yet to be announced, that will put you on Standby at Home (no Per Diem for that anymore) EVERY day of the month, with only 4 hard days off per month. Think it can't happen? Let me hook you up with the phone numbers of a few of my Charter Buddies.

How many days of OT will it take until you realize you are selling not only your Brothers and Sisters down the River, but yourself and your family as well.

Pick a side my friend. Its Managment or Your Fellow Pilots. This is not Flight Options under Ken Ricci. Those days are long gone and never to return. Get with the Program. We will be Outing our Overtime Whores, and it will be done in the worst possible way you can imagine.

You have my word on that.

Freedom is not Free.

 

[The Great One]

Ok fellow coworkers, let's start over.
I am at the bottom of the list. I do not a boat, fancy car or any luxuries.
I do not hate my wife, so don't compare with Logan or Graham.
We do not have 750 pilots. We had had 869 when I got hired last year and now have 730-740.
The reason I HAVE worked (note past tense) overtime is to feed my family.
My wife has been sick and unable to work and I have a 2 year old child.
We have drained our savings and had to do what I had to do.
Now let me ask you this, if I get sick and can't work, who will help me?
Flops? (Well that's a no brainer) you? I think not
My family comes first. I did what I had to do to survive.

NOW that being said.
That was the only thing I did "against" the union.
I have grounded airplanes in the middle of bumfu$% Midwest because my pics were too scared of doing so. I have not answered my phone before expected duty on time and got cussed at by pics because they did.
I have fought for disappearing crew meals because my pics didn't want to get on a list. I have fought refusing trips while my pic accepted a 22 hour duty day on day 8!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have done everything supporting our cause except the OT.

But I am happy to say: NO MORE.
I am done.

 

[netjetwife]

Harsh realities. There are only two sides in a contract battle. Do take notice of that word "battle"--there are good reasons that it is commonly used to describe labor negotiations that are contentious. Yes, emotions are running high right now but with all that is at stake that is to be expected. Hang in there Flt Ops pilots! You're doing the right thing, not just for yourselves, but for the entire industry. Thanks for fighting for the profession and frac families.
NJW

 

[The Great One]

Hey Great One:

How many days of OT will you need to work when they cut your Per Diem from $41 per day to $20 per day? The Railway Labor Act protects Wages, Per Diem is NOT wages.

How many days of OT will you need to work when they cut the Match on your 401K to Zero. You don't think you'll be able to get a First Class Medical until the Day you Die, Do you?

How many days of OT will you need to work when they put you on the New Flex Schedule: Not the existing one, but the New One, yet to be announced, that will put you on Standby at Home (no Per Diem for that anymore) EVERY day of the month, with only 4 hard days off per month. Think it can't happen? Let me hook you up with the phone numbers of a few of my Charter Buddies.

point taken freedom
are you giving the company new was to fu*& us some more with that?
I came from a charter job where I was on call 24/7 with no salary or perdiem? so keep your little numbers.

 

[netjetwife]

It is only reasonable to think that the company already has all of those ideas and more. After all, they are paying top dollar to get that advice from the famous union-busters--Ford and Harrison. Don't you think that money should go to the pilots, instead? If management can afford that high-powered firm I hardly think their on the ropes... How can anyone want to help the side that is open about their goal of destroying your right to stand together and bargain for your contract?

TGO, I'm very sorry that your family is having such a difficult time. Quite a few NJ pilots did as well, and some of them took out loans during their contract battle. It was worth it in the end. I applaud you for the things you have done to help your cause and encourage you to continue. It is the fastest way to to a fair/good contract for your family that will provide the lifestyle and security they deserve.
Best Wishes!
NJW

 

[FR8DOG777]

Glad to hear that

I am Glad to hear that you haven given up doing favors for management Great One. I, and my family want to thank you for your support in this effort to obtain a a benefit package that actually resembles the industry standard. I myself had done overtime a long time ago prior to the vote, and prior to the threats from the company to layoff pilots. No more OT from me. Like I said we all could use the money, some of us more than others, but we need to stick together so we can earn enough without having to extend our already over extended tours to survive.
I flew with a guy that "is" an "overtime whore." I had eight days to convince him what he was doing was not only hurting my family but his own. It finally sunk in when I explained to him that we work basically 28 day more per year than NJ. I also showed him that he was making $20,000 less per year. We also calculated how much he makes a year in OT. Guess what, by us matching NJ pay (not even taking in account the schedule) and counted all the OT he did last year he still was short about $9,000. I think it finally sunk in.

Welcome The Great One. If you can stop doing overtime anyone can.

 

[The Great One]

I am Glad to hear that you haven given up doing favors for management Great One. I, and my family want to thank you for your support in this effort to obtain a a benefit package that actually resembles the industry standard. I myself had done overtime a long time ago prior to the vote, and prior to the threats from the company to layoff pilots. No more OT from me. Like I said we all could use the money, some of us more than others, but we need to stick together so we can earn enough without having to extend our already over extended tours to survive.
I flew with a guy that "is" an "overtime whore." I had eight days to convince him what he was doing was not only hurting my family but his own. It finally sunk in when I explained to him that we work basically 28 day more per year than NJ. I also showed him that he was making $20,000 less per year. We also calculated how much he makes a year in OT. Guess what, by us matching NJ pay (not even taking in account the schedule) and counted all the OT he did last year he still was short about $9,000. I think it finally sunk in.

Welcome The Great One. If you can stop doing overtime anyone can.

Thanks, it actually feels good to hear that.
a little support goes a long way

 

[jetwash]

I can make more in one day of OT then 5 full days at my second job.

The reason I don't do the OT is so that when we get a contract I won't have to work a second job and I won't have to do OT. I can then enjoy my time off with my family.

" The Great One" I might have come across hard but, I too am the only one able to work in my family and we too have lots of medical expenses. With this new benefits package it is only going to get harder on my family. That is why I am going to be Extremely SAFE !!!!! when at work since my family depends on me.

 

[netjetwife]

TGO. I agree wholeheartedly that support is crucial at a time like this. Ditto for education. I think most pilots will do the right thing, once they understand exactly what is at stake and precisely how they can fight back.

JW, excellent post! Don't forget to slow down and double check everything you do. During the rush of the busy season pax and management get in a hurry, but the pilots have the duty to keep the pace slower and safer. The two go hand-in-hand. These are stressful times for the Options pilots, and stress can make one forgetful and tired. Pace yourselves out there. Take all the time you need to do your job safely and professionally and everyone will be better off in the long run.

Good Luck to you both and to your families,
Netjetwife