Jetlife

The company wants it, lots of pilots want it. That means we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement to implement it. If we can't, they don't get it. Pretty simple. I love PBS but I don't want it without control of it. The company will save lots of money by going PBS, get lots more utilization etc. so if we get more flexibility and good language to control PBS, I am all for it.

airb320

Apparently you don’t either because you keep rolling over😉

flywest

I accept ALPA merger policy. I just think it should be date of hire, that's all. What would have SWA given you guys......You should be somewhat happy.

lowflying

Well, as long as you, your friends and the company are happy we can skip scope and settle for some more "flexibility."

KnockKnock

Yeah no $#!t. The agreement won't be be so mutually beneficial if the company knows they already have 800+ yes PBS votes.

SoCalAirlifter

Slowdown Jetlife! You need to understand something before you blame the pilots. Our union has a history of being waaaaaay too close to Eskimo Mgmt! Our union sold us down the river by voting in block representation years ago. This gave the larger base more voting power....in our case, Seattle. So, anytime we vote on something, Seattle swings the vote because they have the power. Management convinces SEA pilots to vote for it and......WHAMO!

I cannot confirm it, but it is my understanding the AK Union convinced the VA Union to keep block representation as well. If this is true.....hmmmmm, politics at its finest.

Our only hope........the increased size in the LAX base and the gaining of an SFO base (the “Cali bases”) as well as NYC base, we NEED to do whatever it takes to avoid a Seattle swing vote by staying together to minimize the Seattle dominance.

Step one clean house in our union (which I believe is happening now). Step 2, Unify the pilot group for 2020......get some work rules back that were STOLEN as a result from Kasher arbitration. THEN, once work rules are in place, AND ONLY THEN, we come to the table talk PBS and our expectations of how it will be run.

Packrat

It wasn't "our Union". It was one MEC Chairman who wanted to be the first passenger airline in ALPA with block representation and sold it to the MEC.

Under the old system, SEA ALWAYS had more voting power. All they had to do was ask for a roll call vote. In that case, the SEA reps could vote 900 votes for the way they wanted the issue to go.

All block representation did was remove the MEC vote from one of the LEC reps. Usually that was the F/O rep because all bases have more Capts. than F/Os.

Block representation essentially disenfranchised the junior pilots at the smaller bases. They could attend the MEC meetings. They could express their opinions. But when it came time to vote on an issue they were excluded.

Before block representation each base had two votes, Capt. and F/O. Issues were decided by simple majority of six voters with the MEC Chair empowered to break ties. Everyone's opinion was heard and their vote accounted for.

Unlike USAir where every vote was roll called, it was virtually unheard of at the Alaska MEC. SEA always had the power, they just didn't exercise it.

In fact, I can only remember one time when it was used. That was to elect a Jet A pilot as MEC Chairman when the SEA Capt. rep was conveniently on vacation and didn't leave his roll call proxy to the F/O rep.

SoCalAirlifter

Packrat, thanks for the correction & clarification.

My main concern and takeaway for our new VA brethren is this: all the power lies with Seattle and a union (who in the past) have taken what the company wants and sold it to the pilots.

How else can one explain how we see the likes of a former MEC Rep end up as the Chief Pilot once the first post Kasher contract passed.

Klsytakesit

So now that y’all have experienced Alaska Airlines running your PBS for you how is it going. Everyone still getting commutable 85hr 18 day off lines?
Here is what the Alaska base chief pilots are saying ,”When we took over and got a good look at how Virgin scheduled pilots we found lots of opportunity for improvement. So much that we wont need to put anybody in the Airbus for awhile”.
I have heard that two different times now. Curious what that means for Airbus crews.

Flitestar

Alaska is not running VX’s PBS yet.