Why do I get the impression that we all feel like suckers here? Almost everything I read, and everything I want to say, says that we've accepted everything bad about this job, and don't demand anything good from it. I enjoy my 13 days off every month, and I enjoy taking off and landing, but that's it. When will we all get together and demand that we're treated like the very talented and educated people that we are?
The carrot is gone. I've been at Mesaba 3.5 years, and I don't know why I' m allowing this to continue. We're screwing ourselves the best we can by accepting these "regional" work rules and pay rates. I'm scared to death that if we at Mesaba fight for and get an excellent "regional" contract, that someone else will immediately say that they'll do it for a little less.
Personally, I'd like to see a total S.O.S. Suspension of service. Sure, someone will take some of the jobs, but we'd all know who they are. We would no longer have people who sit on the ground all day telling us that we're so easily replaced. Unity is the key now more than ever.
I say RJDC all the way, and not because I hate ALPA. They've done amazing things for our profession. I say that because we're the major's pawns, both for mangement and pilots. Major pilots use us to secure their jobs, and management uses us to threaten Major jobs. How can that be good?
What if we all got together? It sounds like a John Lennon song, but Imagine all the pilots, saying that I won't fly your passengers for 1/4th the price so that I MIGHT get the chance to fly them for full price?
One ALPA list, or at least one flag list is the only answer. If you connect on a codeshare, you're flown by those pilots. You don't go from HPN to CYQR with one stop on a NWAirlink operated by Mesaba, you take NWA all the way, flown by people who have demanded the respect that they deserve, not by people who would smoke a pole in a heartbeat just to burn some kerosene. How is 25K a year as an F.O. ever going to repay the debt I incurred getting here? How is 60K a year as a Captain ever going to make the overnights or the icing/severe turbulence/ engine failures/pc's/medical exams worth it? Let's stop accepting the prices we paid to get here for the price that management pays us.
Let's all get together and say "NO MORE!" NO 121 pilot should be allowed to accept less than 25k a year. They should be able to save for retirement and raise a family at the same time. They've paid enough for training by getting their MEI, and paid enough by flight instructing. The issues are deep, and togetherness is our only salvation. One list, no more "regional" airlines. A 121 pilot is a 121 pilot.
Can you imagine all of us as brother and sister, willing to stand up for each other because it is only dumb luck that separates 99% of us? Imagine that.
I'm voting NO on our contract, unless it makes me a NWA pilot. Stand up for me, with me. Strike, vote no, say "No more!" Pay me what I'm worth, or join me in the breadline Mr. CEO.
The carrot is gone. I've been at Mesaba 3.5 years, and I don't know why I' m allowing this to continue. We're screwing ourselves the best we can by accepting these "regional" work rules and pay rates. I'm scared to death that if we at Mesaba fight for and get an excellent "regional" contract, that someone else will immediately say that they'll do it for a little less.
Personally, I'd like to see a total S.O.S. Suspension of service. Sure, someone will take some of the jobs, but we'd all know who they are. We would no longer have people who sit on the ground all day telling us that we're so easily replaced. Unity is the key now more than ever.
I say RJDC all the way, and not because I hate ALPA. They've done amazing things for our profession. I say that because we're the major's pawns, both for mangement and pilots. Major pilots use us to secure their jobs, and management uses us to threaten Major jobs. How can that be good?
What if we all got together? It sounds like a John Lennon song, but Imagine all the pilots, saying that I won't fly your passengers for 1/4th the price so that I MIGHT get the chance to fly them for full price?
One ALPA list, or at least one flag list is the only answer. If you connect on a codeshare, you're flown by those pilots. You don't go from HPN to CYQR with one stop on a NWAirlink operated by Mesaba, you take NWA all the way, flown by people who have demanded the respect that they deserve, not by people who would smoke a pole in a heartbeat just to burn some kerosene. How is 25K a year as an F.O. ever going to repay the debt I incurred getting here? How is 60K a year as a Captain ever going to make the overnights or the icing/severe turbulence/ engine failures/pc's/medical exams worth it? Let's stop accepting the prices we paid to get here for the price that management pays us.
Let's all get together and say "NO MORE!" NO 121 pilot should be allowed to accept less than 25k a year. They should be able to save for retirement and raise a family at the same time. They've paid enough for training by getting their MEI, and paid enough by flight instructing. The issues are deep, and togetherness is our only salvation. One list, no more "regional" airlines. A 121 pilot is a 121 pilot.
Can you imagine all of us as brother and sister, willing to stand up for each other because it is only dumb luck that separates 99% of us? Imagine that.
I'm voting NO on our contract, unless it makes me a NWA pilot. Stand up for me, with me. Strike, vote no, say "No more!" Pay me what I'm worth, or join me in the breadline Mr. CEO.
