realityman
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2004
- Posts
- 782
Aft, good replies! It's great you folks have a nice relationship with your management.
Two things to think about though.
First, while you have a great relationship with your management team, ask yourself this: what happens if there's a change in management and the new team isn't nearly as friendly or trustworthy? Never say never. Who ever though RTS would be out at NJA? And while things certainly got, uh, "interesting" with our relationship at times, there was always a certain level of respect between us, and towards the end, we were working together very well. And overnight we had an all new management team take over which, well, let's just say they make us very glad we have a binding contract!
And the second thing to think about is the "binding" contract itself. Having a contract isn't all that restrictive if you have a good relationship with your management team. When things were really going downhill at NJA, our union worked closely with management to develop and implement the VM's. These we designed to save the company a buttload of money, provide more flexibility, and protect pilot jobs and compensation. All this while still operating within the confines of our contract. And it was working! Alas, the new management team had different ideas about how those same cost savings could be accomplished. But the point being, with a little out-of-the-box thinking and a good working relationship with management, a contract isn't nearly as restrictive as you would normally think.
For some reason pilots think they should take the brunt of a company's misfortunes by accepting pay cuts and altered work rules. I'd personally rather see management turn things around through an altered business model, improving sales, and a good working relationship with the employees than simply making less money while working more.
Again, not pushing the union. Really. Just pointing out a few more things to think about. Ultimately, you folks will decide for yourselves what's best.
Safe journeys!
Two things to think about though.
First, while you have a great relationship with your management team, ask yourself this: what happens if there's a change in management and the new team isn't nearly as friendly or trustworthy? Never say never. Who ever though RTS would be out at NJA? And while things certainly got, uh, "interesting" with our relationship at times, there was always a certain level of respect between us, and towards the end, we were working together very well. And overnight we had an all new management team take over which, well, let's just say they make us very glad we have a binding contract!
And the second thing to think about is the "binding" contract itself. Having a contract isn't all that restrictive if you have a good relationship with your management team. When things were really going downhill at NJA, our union worked closely with management to develop and implement the VM's. These we designed to save the company a buttload of money, provide more flexibility, and protect pilot jobs and compensation. All this while still operating within the confines of our contract. And it was working! Alas, the new management team had different ideas about how those same cost savings could be accomplished. But the point being, with a little out-of-the-box thinking and a good working relationship with management, a contract isn't nearly as restrictive as you would normally think.
For some reason pilots think they should take the brunt of a company's misfortunes by accepting pay cuts and altered work rules. I'd personally rather see management turn things around through an altered business model, improving sales, and a good working relationship with the employees than simply making less money while working more.
Again, not pushing the union. Really. Just pointing out a few more things to think about. Ultimately, you folks will decide for yourselves what's best.
Safe journeys!
