EskimoJoe

Right. Here’s a lesson on Alaska Management. They will take any form of leverage they can and try to screw you to the floor with it. Exhibit A: There used to be this little start up in SFO whose pilots were non unionized, had no contract, and we’re willing to undercut the salaries of other pilots in comparable seats and equipment by roughly 50%. They also had a dubious relationship with foreign ownership laws that resulted in Alaska suing said start up, but that’s beside the point. Anyway, for two section 6 contract cycles, the native Alaska Pilots had to hear how we couldn’t make any contractual gains thanks to the threat this SFO start up posed to our business model. Eventually, we, (by not much of a majority) voted to ratify two contracts that were sub par as a direct result of this start up and THEIR PILOTS WILLINGNESS to undercut the Industry they also disproportionately affected the Native Alaska Pilots due to the start ups fundamental route structure.

So, with that in mind. I’d suggest that it was never Native Alaska pilots unwillingness to “stand up for themselves” it was more out of necessity in order to gain ANYTHING. Again due to the FACT that the pilots of this SFO start up were completely undermining the Piloting Profession combined with my company’s willingness to exploit that fact during sec. 6 negotiations and use the SFO start up as a lever against us.

So, in reality it was both the company AND this SFO start up that forced us bend to the bar they lowered. Luckily, that start up doesn’t exist anymore but unfortunately, the damage their pilots caused, still does...despite whatever Bullschit revisionist history some would like to believe.

LineGrinder400

If one were to simply go by this thread, you’d believe...

1) VX pilots were flying high with an industry leading pilot contract and an amazing PBS system fought tooth and nail for. That is until ALK, with their antiquated ways, acquired them.

2) ALK pilots are spineless cowards who can’t see the light and are resigned to whatever Angle Lake decides to dictate next.

3) VX Pilots are the Lone Ranger coming into to save ALK pilots from themselves starting with selling them on the first of many silver bullets to a better work life...PBS.

While the ALK contract certainly has much to improve and fight like hell for, belief in the above points demonstrate a severe ignorance and tad condescending relating to VX pilot “contract” history and ALK pilot/management contract relations.

Hoping this ignorance subsides for the benefit of unity going into 2020.

flywest

Bravo, well said.

flywest

Really like your contract was sooo much better. Oh that's right you had NO contract. Your rule book was at the bottom of every metric of the ALPA contract comparison. Including PAY! I guess you got/had some bad as_ PBS system that in the hands of the new boss will rock your world. Enjoy your pay bump and focus on 2020.

airb320

So, you don’t fly?
Otherwise this post makes 0 sense...

Just a Lurker

Lost in all of this debate is the fact that there already is PBS on Alaska property. The FAs use NAVTECH, and they seem to like it. I don’t hear them screaming about how Scheduling / management is using it to screw them at every turn. Why not? It’s the same people, the same trips, the same optimizer creating there pairings.

2loud

“They seem to like it”? Exactly what % of “they” are you speaking of? And how many Alaska FAs have you surveyed? If “they” are in the top 20%ish, then you are somewhat correct or if PBS is all they know. It’s simple boys and girls: if Alaska management wants PBS, it’s beyond bad for this pilot group. I’m not here to divide and conquer but some of y’all VXers act as if you come from the greatest airline gig. VX was minor step above SkyWest, mainly because of the bigger iron, quicker upgrade, and a few more $ but not much else. Know yourself and know where you come from. Those of you with an inferiority complex may now lash out.

OCCP

VX was far from the greatest airline, but so is Alaska. So now we’re just one big bottom feeding “legacy”! Spirit and frontier will soon be above us.

Just a Lurker

Know yourself and know where you come from? Back at you pal. You assume VX is all of our only stop. Has it ever occurred to you that we just didn’t beam out of nowhere? Guys with very long pedigrees on the VX side too, flying 73s and larger. I got checked out in a 73 over 20 years ago myself, and I’ve line bid before too. I get it. .. as for the FAs, prove me wrong.

ELAC321

The PBS vs Line bidding is pointless without similar trip construction. VX has a high % of efficient trips. This is mostly due to 2 reasons, more transcons and relaxed work rules allowing the maxing out of 117 (ie long duty days, hotel standby for delays etc)

You'd be surprised how little PBS protections Delta United and others really have within their respective LOAs for PBS. They still get decent schedules. Why? Pairing construction and duty rigs/min day rigs.

Fight for minimum credit per DAY(not average and not per duty period) or a better trip rig and PBS or line bidding will be a moot point.