XJT Pilots Authorize Strike!

[MECH]

The majority of the ExpressJet pilots just want something to vote on. How that vote goes is anyones guess. The reality is that it is very easy to be tough on this forum and in the crew room. But when your at home with your spouse the real world kicks in.

Some FO are trying to feed their families with food stamps, some CA are so in debt they will take raise or retro check just to survive, other CA are about to leave for CAL over the next year and will need the retro check to survive the pay cut when they go. Other pilots see the reality of the industry. Yes this company can afford to pay 85/hr, but we have no threat(strike) to force the company hand.

This pilot group has complained for the last three years, but at the end of the day only 87% of this pilot group voted on the strike ballot. You do the math on how many pilots did not even care enough to vote on the most important vote we have had at ExpressJet in the last 7 years.

We do not have a pilot group that is ready to change the industry. We only have a pilot group that wants to talk about it.

 

[RSRVWINDSURFR]

Dont even need to see the first one, its a no vote already.

Dumba$$...............That is the stupidest thing I've seen here in a long time.

 

[Sam Fisher]

The majority of the ExpressJet pilots just want something to vote on. How that vote goes is anyones guess. The reality is that it is very easy to be tough on this forum and in the crew room. But when your at home with your spouse the real world kicks in.

Some FO are trying to feed their families with food stamps, some CA are so in debt they will take raise or retro check just to survive, other CA are about to leave for CAL over the next year and will need the retro check to survive the pay cut when they go. Other pilots see the reality of the industry. Yes this company can afford to pay 85/hr, but we have no threat(strike) to force the company hand.

This pilot group has complained for the last three years, but at the end of the day only 87% of this pilot group voted on the strike ballot. You do the math on how many pilots did not even care enough to vote on the most important vote we have had at ExpressJet in the last 7 years.

We do not have a pilot group that is ready to change the industry. We only have a pilot group that wants to talk about it.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Sam

 

[Sam Fisher]

Mr. Fisher if you are a 4th or 5th year f.o. I deeply sympathize with you. I don't know how some of these guys survive. Do you happen to realize that your strike benefits and a part time job at Mcdonald's will put you at more than what you're making now, and with a much better quality of life. If I were an f.o. I would be voting no on just about anything that didn't promise me the moon. What do you have to lose. You seem to be very short sighted with a take whatever you can get now mentality. My family is afraid of people like you who are helping to bring down this whole industry.

It doesn't matter if I am a 5th year FO or was one or was never one. We DO have these guys who should have been captains the past few years but weren't, and respectfully honored and understood the FTA. That's life. Strike benefits plus a part time job at McD's probably won't be more than even our paltry $32.41/hour for a 5 year guy, when you factor in all of the benefits, etc. But, I know it won't be more than whatever deal comes down the pipe here, if ever.

Many have a misconception about strike benefits. For starters, you actually have to work a certain amount of hours supporting the strike and secondly, it is pre-tax and doesn't contain medical insurance.

I am not going to bring down this industry. Why? Because I've recognized that continually voting "no" in hopes of achieving $100/hour for a Captain is the wrong and flawed mind-set and strategy, given our relative leverage and bargaining strength at the moment. Go read MECH up above.

I FULLY SUPPORT A STRIKE if we were able to secure a cooling-off period. Show me where to line up! But until then, I think we must work within hand we were dealt.

Sam

 

[Sam Fisher]

Sam do you actually fly the line? If you do, do you actually converse with your fellow pilots? Apparently you do not, I'd be suprised if you even hold a non-management position at XJT based on your disbelief at these replies.

Heres the scoop from the vast majority based on my observance flying the line. The XJT pilots are pissed. Can I emphasize that word more? I mean, these guys are seriously pissed. I'd say at least 75% are working on setting up new careers which they love to chit chat about, just to get out of this scam of a profession.

I don't need to break the story down to you, bottom line is we're making money hand over fist! We'll continue to even if we're paid more than the other regionals for many reasons, even if the CAL CPA runs dry. We're not buying into this underbidding line of bull**CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED**. You don't need to rationalize it for us, we understand the easy decision would be to take our measly pennies and run. There's no profound statement coming from you that everyone else doesn't already comprehended.

The difference is an overall philosophy on the profession and long term vs. short term thinking. You seemed grounded in the short term, while fortunately the majority at XJT are really FINALLY thinking long term at the "regional" level. Good luck with your push to compete with MESA, though I think you're really not grasping the big picture (even though by your arrogance you seem to think you know better than everyone else).

Yes R.M., I do fly the line. We might have even flown together before. If you think CAL is going to pay us our costs plus 14%, you are also on crack. If you think XJT is going to accept a compensation section that will make us wildly uncompetitive so that in 2007 CAL will just use others, you are also on crack. If you don't think that there is a bunch of RJ capacity ready to move in on your soil, you are once again, on crack. This point is enhanced even more if one of the network carriers goes Ch. 7.

Sam

 

[Skychief]

Don't know if W. considers any of the regionals 'Airlines' in the same sense of the word as the majors. Not that we are any different (except for the pay!).

RI

The problem is even if W. doesn't consider us to be the same as a major, the ramifications of XJT going on strike would hurt Continental's business, so that in turn could be looked at as a disruption on a national transportation service...not to mention the fact that our headquarters and largest base is located at an airport named after Bush senior!

Wheather or not W. would let us strike, I don't know....maybe after the election...maybe....it will definitely be interesting to see!

Skychief

 

[nonstop]

Yes R.M., I do fly the line. We might have even flown together before. If you think CAL is going to pay us our costs plus 14%, you are also on crack. If you think XJT is going to accept a compensation section that will make us wildly uncompetitive so that in 2007 CAL will just use others, you are also on crack. If you don't think that there is a bunch of RJ capacity ready to move in on your soil, you are once again, on crack. This point is enhanced even more if one of the network carriers goes Ch. 7.

Sam

"You're on crack," seriously, how about finding a new insult if you insist on using them... that's more played out than "bling bling."

Look, I understand and comprehend where you're coming from. I think that's the part you fail to grasp, you're no revelation of information. Anyone that flies the line should understand the dynamics of our dilemma by now.

The difference is, which way you lean, and which way I lean. I'd be happier bidding myself out of a job, hoping others would follow the pattern, rather than underbidding CHQ and the likes. But I believe XJT can afford to pay us considerably more than our competitors and still be competitive based on the quality and efficiency of our operation. Ream's pay certainly isn't in line with our so called "peers" in the industry.

 

[DTWFO]

I hope you guys show managment how easy it is for them to run an airline without any pilots! I'll be supporting you guys 110%. Good luck!

 

[Sam Fisher]

"You're on crack," seriously, how about finding a new insult if you insist on using them... that's more played out than "bling bling."

Look, I understand and comprehend where you're coming from. I think that's the part you fail to grasp, you're no revelation of information. Anyone that flies the line should understand the dynamics of our dilemma by now.

The difference is, which way you lean, and which way I lean. I'd be happier bidding myself out of a job, hoping others would follow the pattern, rather than underbidding CHQ and the likes. But I believe XJT can afford to pay us considerably more than our competitors and still be competitive based on the quality and efficiency of our operation. Ream's pay certainly isn't in line with our so called "peers" in the industry.

I didn't say you were on crack RM. I said "if you believe..., then you are on crack." Big difference.

But America is a wonderful place. We are all entitled to our opinions and I support that 100%. Good luck with yours.

Sam

PS - Based on your financial and operational analysis of how efficient we are and the superior quality of our operation, how much more should management pay us? And please provide your empirical data and evidence. Thanks!

 

[nonstop]

I didn't say you were on crack RM. I said "if you believe..., then you are on crack." Big difference.

But America is a wonderful place. We are all entitled to our opinions and I support that 100%. Good luck with yours.

Sam

PS - Based on your financial and operational analysis of how efficient we are and the superior quality of our operation, how much more should management pay us? And please provide your empirical data and evidence. Thanks!

I do my best to not negotiate in public (unless it's verbal and only non-management pilots are in ear shot). Though I've made some statements to clarify my position as best I can I refuse to throw specific numbers out in the public for all to debate. I believe we're undercompensated and would think we sold ourselves short if we accepted something comparable to Comair. That's as far as I'll go. Anyway, I think we've both adequately expressed our position. Take it easy.

 

[killjack]

DEAR CAPTAIN Sammy - "Shut up and pull Gear"

xoxo- (my mistake - I apologize)

 

[Sam Fisher]

DEAR Sammy - "Shut up and pull Gear"

xoxo-

Ah yes, nothing like a mature statement made from an educated pilot. A.C., is this you? Or is it JF?

Captain Sam

 

[killjack]

DEAR CAPTAIN SAMMY- AH YES - IT IS I ----xoxox

 

[Sam Fisher]

DEAR CAPTAIN SAMMY- AH YES - IT IS I ----xoxox

Well that explains the commentary. Gracias.

Captain Sammy

 

[killjack]

DEAR CAPTAIN SAMMY - Please count my "NO" vote immediately- no sense in sending me a ballot - thank you - xoxoxo