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XJ pilots: Here is the lube, stand by for the big. . .

  • Thread starter Thread starter Butters
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Butters

Keepin' it real...
Joined
Aug 7, 2005
Posts
169
November 21, 2005

Dear Fellow Employees:

Today, I sent letters to our union leadership at AFA, ALPA, AMFA and TWU proposing expedited negotiations on new collective bargaining agreements for each group. The negotiations are scheduled to begin November 29
th and conclude by December 19th. I wanted you to be aware of this development and the reasons we believe these sessions are necessary.

Since Northwest Airlines entered into Chapter 11 in September, our financial condition has dramatically deteriorated as our business plans have been disrupted. Northwest’s bankruptcy – and its subsequent actions – was responsible for our Chapter 11 filing in October.

In response to this situation, we entered into discussions with each of our unions regarding changes to their existing collective bargaining agreements. Those discussions led to exchanges of information, several negotiating sessions and an agreement with one union on a limited group of issues.

Since then, however, the extent to which our financial condition has deteriorated has become clearer. As a result, the Company’s new business plan now compels us to seek further modifications to each of our collective bargaining agreements in order to ensure a successful reorganization of the Company. Thus, our call today for expedited negotiations which, if successful, would allow us to avoid using the bankruptcy courts to
achieve these restructurings (in legal terms, a “Section 1113(c) filing”).

At our meetings on November 29, we will present comprehensive proposals for
modifications to each collective bargaining agreement. These proposals will be based on the most complete and reliable financial and business planning information available, information that we will freely share with our union negotiators. We believe that expedited agreements to the terms of the proposals, or to other negotiated terms providing similar cost savings, are essential to the successful reorganization of the Company and to assure that all of the affected parties are treated fairly and equitably.

I want to underscore that last point – all of us, whether we are subject to a collective bargaining agreement or not, will fairly and equitably bear our share of the challenges we face. We will not put before the unions any proposals which ask their members to carry a disproportionate share of this burden.
As I’ve said on many occasions over the last several months, these are difficult times for our company and our industry. I have been proud – but not surprised – by the professionalism each of you has demonstrated during this period by keeping our airline operating at the highest levels of service and reliability. As we face this next set of challenges, I believe that we will continue to be successful. Thank you for your efforts in achieving that goal.

Very truly yours,

Mesaba Aviation, Inc.


 
Amazing, isn't it?

They want cuts yet we don't even know what aircraft we will have or how many of each. And they want it all done in a month.

Nope. Not a penny.
 
With the NWA pilots caving and taking a 23% paycut on Nov 14th, it's only a matter of time before our 20% is taken out of our pockets, everything seems to run in tandum around here.

If you want to send a message to our MEC Chairman, here's his email address [email protected]

Tell these "leaders" NO to concessions and pay-cuts.

I'm sure he would enjoy hearing from other pilots explain their viewpoint as to why another regional pilot group concession is not a good idea for the industry , or for our families.

Will ALPA please stand up and DO something !!!!!!!
 
I don't understand, why is it that only MAIR is in bankruptcy? Why isn't pinnacle in on this as well? Why is it that MAIR is having to consider pay cuts (cause we all know that the way to saving $$ is to cut the poor guys salary), and there is no talk from pinnacle people about pay cuts? What am I missing?
 
8HourPilot said:
I don't understand, why is it that only MAIR is in bankruptcy? Why isn't pinnacle in on this as well? Why is it that MAIR is having to consider pay cuts (cause we all know that the way to saving $$ is to cut the poor guys salary), and there is no talk from pinnacle people about pay cuts? What am I missing?


MAIR is not in Bankruptcy, Mesaba Aviation is in BK! I'm guessing that Pinnacle isn't because they operate so lean already, not just compensation either, all the other cost savings of operating a single fleet type. Also, half or more of their fleet is not threatend to be parked. Just my $.03

Tough to swallow, but inevitable! Its about to get ugly enough to scare a dog off a meat truck!
 
that would be a leadership challenge for our respective association officers, and a change to the system (RLA, seperate contracts, etc.) There is no vision or courage evident for a UNIFIED effort, at this time...

No concessions! If the court forces them in 1113c, STFD!!
 
Dec 19th?

Sounds like something big is planned on Dec. 20.;)
I see some Avro's returning from their suntan.
 
To tie a few threads together...We should pull up to about 1.5 meters and communicate. Spongebob jingle pants can go fUkk himself.
Not one cent in any form.
 
8HourPilot said:
I don't understand, why is it that only MAIR is in bankruptcy? Why isn't pinnacle in on this as well? Why is it that MAIR is having to consider pay cuts (cause we all know that the way to saving $$ is to cut the poor guys salary), and there is no talk from pinnacle people about pay cuts? What am I missing?

Here is the SHAM....and why 9E is not going into bankrupcy.

In the beginning, Mesaba wanted to open up our contract. The only way to do that is if ALPA agrees to open it up. Under ALPA by-laws we are not to open up concessionary contract talks until ALPA reviews ALL financial data from the company and deems it nessecary for concessionary talks. The company did not want to share that information so we were not going to enter into concessionary talks. Well, as everybody knows Mesaba then took the back door route to opening up our contract through bankrupcy. They will force our hand to open up our contract legally through a 1113c filing. I BELIEVE THIS IS THE ONLY REASON MESABA ENTERED INTO BANKRUPCY WAS TO OPEN UP THE PILOT CONTRACT.

To answer why 9E did not file bankrupcy is simple. Their contract is already open through Section 6 negotiations.

Folks, it is that simple.
 
Simon Says said:
I BELIEVE THIS IS THE ONLY REASON MESABA ENTERED INTO BANKRUPCY WAS TO OPEN UP THE PILOT CONTRACT.

To answer why 9E did not file bankrupcy is simple. Their contract is already open through Section 6 negotiations.

Folks, it is that simple.

So can't we count of those of you in the MEC to stand firm and tell the company to shove it or are we looking at another roll-over-and-take-it scenario?
 
The reason Mesaba Aviation is in BK but not Pinnacle is very simple: MAIR Holdings funnels all of Mesaba Aviation's profits back into the MAIR bank accounts and leaves Mesaba Aviation with virtually no cash as a buffer. Pinnacle on the other hand keeps all of it's profits without having to send any of it to some nebulous holding company. As a result, Pinnacle had $66 million in the bank to cushion the blow of not receiving the payments from NWA after the BK filing. Mesaba didn't have that cushion because their profits were sitting in MAIR bank accounts. Mesaba is actually quite profitable, but all of the money goes to MAIR, which loses money on other ventures such as Big Sky. The truth is, MAIR actually has tremendous amounts of cash on hand. I believe the number is somewhere around $120 million, but I could be off by $10 million or so.
 
Butters said:
So can't we count of those of you in the MEC to stand firm and tell the company to shove it or are we looking at another roll-over-and-take-it scenario?

I don't know why you think the responsibility all rests with the MEC on this. No matter what Wychor et al do, they will most likely send any TA out for membership ratification to avoid a lynching. The final decision will be up to you and the rest of your fellow pilots, just as it was a couple of years ago with the new contract. Don't blame the MEC for these things. The pilot group holds the ultimate decision.
 
PCL_128 said:
I don't know why you think the responsibility all rests with the MEC on this. No matter what Wychor et al do, they will most likely send any TA out for membership ratification to avoid a lynching. The final decision will be up to you and the rest of your fellow pilots, just as it was a couple of years ago with the new contract. Don't blame the MEC for these things. The pilot group holds the ultimate decision.

Not quite.

The pilots voted to strike in '03. When the deadline came due in '04, everyone was ready and willing to walk. The MEC decided to "keep negotiating", not the pilot group.

Why doesn't the MEC get some balls and tell the company to go to hell before we ever have to vote? The strong ALPA types always blame the pilot group when they have the far majority of the power in such matters.

How can you say "don't blame the MEC" when you have no idea what you are saying?
 

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