You go ASA

[ASAFOE120]

Crash pad,

Ok, so since Delta is losing hundreds of millions of dollars each quarter, and since they MAY be filing for bankruptcy in the near future, and even though my company, ASA, is very profitable, I should tell my CNC to go ahead and give in to whatever management wants in our contract including paycuts (from our present contract signed in 1998). Ok, that makes alot of sense.
Lets see Skip, and Chuck and some of those guys make a little sacrifice.

And if you knew anything about our negotiations then you would know that most of what we are fighting for would have very little impact on our airline economically. Most of the changes we want are in areas such as scheduling, vacation, sick leave, etc...

And as far as Mesa or somebody buying us and enforcing paycuts on us or taking our flying, then I say you dont know the solidarity of this pilot group. It would be a very bad day for the shareholders of Mesa, Skywest, or whoever buys us (not to mention big D) when 150 planes get parked overnight.

And as for myself, its pretty sad that my neighbor makes more money than I working at Home Depot than I do after 4 years here. Yep, I can afford a paycut.

Crash Pad, I bet you are one of those guys that have a "WILL FLY FOR FOOD" t-shirt in your closet.

Just my .02$

 

[MetroSheriff]

Identity Revealed!!!!!

CrashPad = Chuck Thibideaux

 

[asacap]

Crash Pad,


One more thing, you said ASA is not the cheapest. According to airlinepilotcentral.com, there only 2 regional airlines out of all of them that make less than us (at least on the CRJ-200). We are currently at the bottom of compensation and work rules.

 

[embryflyboy]

Ok and I'm curious... How many of you get the word out types voted for Bush. I'm sure most if not all of you. If memory serves me right and some Great Lakes pilots might be able to help with this... The national mediation board is apointed by the President... Three people if I'm correct... Since W is in office it is two republicans and one democrat... I'm a pro-buisness, Anti-Gay, Save the fetus, justice to Osama, and church loving republican like most pilots I know... But I wouldn't count on these people to release me to strike against a corporation.

The reason being last I checked Union money mostly goes to democrats... I may be wrong.

I love when Mind numbing libs pretending to be republicans. First off you forget all the times that democrat presidents refused to allow the unions to strike. I take for example President Grover Cleveland sent the Army to quell a rebellion by striking Pullman workers. Thirteen strikers were killed by the soldiers; union activist Eugene Debs went to jail because he refused to call a halt to the American Railway Workers' strike in Chicago. Most recently The Gore report recommended exempting federal contracts up to $100,000 from the Davis-Bacon Act and the Service Contracting Act. The unions have been in the pockets if the dimwit partly longer that you have graced this planet with your presence (at least since 1922). The example that is quoted to ad-nosem of a republican not allowing a strike is when President Reagan fired the striking controllers his stance was that government workers are public servants and if they are there to serve the public fine but if you are there to get all that you can at the public feeding trough and when it does not satisfy your insatiable desire you are going to strike. This was a reference to Government workers only; he further said that in the private sector that is something to be dealt with among the involved parties. Also if I remember my history correct it was a president from the jacka$$ party that interjected the government into the mix and the power to not allowing the unions to strike. so until you are ready to get your facts strait and stop drinking the kool-aid at that stupid fat white mans stand pipe down.​

 

[No Delay]

Where can you find out the kind of things our negoiation team is asking for in the new contract?


I think we desperately need duty rigs! Last month I flew 4 day trips (actually, 2 2-days). Day 1: 3 legs, 2: 1 leg home, 3: 5 legs, and 4: 1 leg home. I thought it was an easy schedule but it is also way inefficient.

First day of the month, integration: deadheaded to SHV and flew the flight back to ATL. The F/O that I replaced DH back. He was perfectly legal to do the trip. He even called scheduling to which they responded "oh well."

I have talked with 4 different people whose schedule this month has a 3 to 4 hour break in the middle of their day.

The company is crying about be under staffed... much of these problems could be fixed with some descent scheduling. With all the airlines, you would think someone would have some software or at least the knowledge to build efficient schedules. I am sure it is a little more complicated than I realize but I do think it could be done better.


Does anyone know the things we are asking for in our contract???

 

[sweptback]

Does anyone know the things we are asking for in our contract???

You can read the session briefings posted on the ALPA website to get a pretty good idea. They don't post what they're actually looking to get, mainly not to give management any more ammo than they need.

 

[Oakum_Boy]

Delta will be on the phone to Washington to arrange an intervention should ASA pilots threaten to shut down Atlanta. It's going to get ugly folks... I'm ready- are you?

 

[Palerider957]

We are literally years away from being released by the NMB, so don't hold your breath.

At least it's fun to watch the company squirm with the self-generated pilot shortages. Our brilliant leadership team is hurting the company more than we ever could.

 

[Tomct]

Hey Crash...I mean Chuck...Shut it!! Its people like you that we don't need to hear from at anytime. I am sick of hearing all of your yammering! Just go back to sleep and spare us the horse$hit!!

 

[Tomct]

Chuck....

You must be one of those commie loving bast@rds that feels like we should all stand around and sing "Kum-bai-yah" while people target this great Nation! Atleast "W" had the b@lls to make a stand where as Kerry would have been content to "kiss and make up!"

 

[~~~^~~~]

Delta will be on the phone to Washington to arrange an intervention should ASA pilots threaten to shut down Atlanta. It's going to get ugly folks... I'm ready- are you?

1. Willpower - Tested, Armed
2. Savings - Check
3. Second Job - Tested, Set
4. Vacation Plans - Check
5. Polished Shoes - Check
6. Wood for burning in barrells outside the GO while waiting to walk in circles outside the Atlanta Airport - Check
7. Applications to other Airlines that will be around when Delta isn't - Check

Before Strike Check Complete!

Strike VOTE Stike VOTE Strike VOTE Strike VOTE. I'm not talking about Kerry or Bush - gimme something I can vote for - STRIKE VOTE.

 

[~~~^~~~]

these people are ruthless they get bonuses based on performance and profits they would fire all of us in a heart beat and bring in the chinese for minimum wage if they could.

But - they can't

 

[Tomct]

At a baby fins.....stay on target.....stay on target!
STIKE BABY!!

 

[Captain Overs]

You need leverage to strike.

 

[SpacemanSpiff]

reality stings like a biatch, huh?

You ASA guys may not like the things that Crash Pad has to say, but he sounds like he is being realistic. This is a business first and foremost, and the folks in charge are going to do what it takes to cover their own a$$es and keep the company (Delta) going.

I would hear the same things from the PSA, Piedmont, and Allegheny guys all the time in the olel Philly trailer - "We're profitable, we run such a great operation in comparison with Mesa and Chautaqua (sp?). It's mainline that is draggin' us down. They NEED us." Yeah, right.

Hey, get what you can in your contract...I hope it works out for you guys. I would never wish BK and job losses on anybody. I am just saying go in with realistic expectations. It certainly does not appear that you guys have much, if any, leverage in bargaining this contract. Then again they may just give you a great contract and turn right around and declare BK. I wish you guys well.

Spiff

Let the pummeling begin!

 

[Tomct]

Well Spiff...we could SHUT DOWN ATL and bring big D to its knees. That sounds like a pretty good start? Almost 900 departures a day there, not counting SLC or CVG? Looks to me like we have a pretty good leg to stand on?
We shall see! Big D knows that they could not take us striking...if we were to get released...maybe I will grab my "vodoo 8-ball" and ask it these trying questions! I think that is what they are doing over at the "Granite Palace" anyways!

 

[StaySeated]

That management/crash guy is harping on a disturbing, new page in the propaganda book. This whole notion that pilots are competing with one another for contracts. A few years ago dci started publishing these little tables with all the dci carriers and their "standing in the competition". On time performance, connecting bags, and a few other things. The first time I saw the table I thought, "who ever thought of that gem just made a lot of coin". Now, instead of periodicly hearing about how competitive one airline is the labor groups actually see a pretty chart. Well, that chart is now crammed done our throats on a minute by minute basis. It scrolls on the company website, a fancy plasma tv shines in our face on the way out of ops. It is a fantastic attempt to brain wash us into thinking that we can actually impact operations and control our own fate. I actually laugh just typing that concept. Do I go down the street to the airplane dealer and pick out our next aircraft type? Do I sit in with marketing and identify new and profitable routes? Do I talk with our credit card partners and negotiate hold back ratios? Do I have someone on the inside of oil futures identifying the best hedge price and the best hedge quantity? Do I get flight training, staffing, hr, and skeds together and figure out that 4.6 FO's can actually do the work of 4.9 if their daily scheduled hours increases? Let me think for a second...nope. GECAS, DAL and OPEC have more control over our lives than we could ever imagine. Leave on time, sure I give that a whirl each departure, but too many factors come in to play that I can't control. Bags? Why in the fack am I asked to consider bags, in any fashion. Misconnected baggage...is that gonna be a part of the next interview? "We are reasonably sure you can fly a plane mr. pilot, but lets go down to the ramp and see how efficiently you can throw and sort some bags." Arrival times? SWAP, flow, enroute weather, mx issues, blah blah blah, somehow I can control all of these things and get the plane to the gate ontime regardless. Never mind the fact that I am flying slow to recoup some of my last concession! I know I am rambling, but please stop with the "competiton" bullsh1t...go ahead and do what you were going to do all along because I know I have no control. deep breath, finishes beer...

 

[JoeMerchant]

Spoken like a true sheep.

I know "it can happen here," but at what point do you stop prostituting yourself and take a stand? If other has done this earlier, we wouldn't be confronted with this threat.

No, if standing up for a decent contract means losing my job--so be it. The alternative makes this job not worth the effort IMHO.

Spoken like an ALPA "true believer". Take the ALPA blinders off for just a moment and look around at the industry. There are times to charge the hill and times to circle the wagons and protect what you have. I believe now is a time to circle the wagons, not charge the hill. You may be willing to lose your job, but many of us aren't.

 

[JoeMerchant]

That management/crash guy is harping on a disturbing, new page in the propaganda book. This whole notion that pilots are competing with one another for contracts. A few years ago dci started publishing these little tables with all the dci carriers and their "standing in the competition". On time performance, connecting bags, and a few other things. The first time I saw the table I thought, "who ever thought of that gem just made a lot of coin". Now, instead of periodicly hearing about how competitive one airline is the labor groups actually see a pretty chart. Well, that chart is now crammed done our throats on a minute by minute basis. It scrolls on the company website, a fancy plasma tv shines in our face on the way out of ops. It is a fantastic attempt to brain wash us into thinking that we can actually impact operations and control our own fate. I actually laugh just typing that concept. .... I know I am rambling, but please stop with the "competiton" bullsh1t...go ahead and do what you were going to do all along because I know I have no control. deep breath, finishes beer...

StaySeated,
You may not like the idea of us having to compete with our fellow union "brothers" for new Delta flying, but that doesn't alter the new reality of competition based portfolio bidding. It is a reality and if you don't think it is, ask some ALG, PDT, CCAIR, Air Wisconsin, or ACA pilots about how competition works.

ALPA dropped the ball on this issue in the early 80s by allowing outsourcing of domestic flying to these "regional" carriers. Instead of fixing the problem, they compound the problem by promoting the creation of even more alter-ego carriers simply to protect the mainline constituants (ie Freedom, MidAtlantic, Republic, G0jets, etc.)