busdriver12

A Delta pilot wrote this, and it made me wonder if it was true. Do you think there is anything to this theory?

"Isn't it almost spooky that our Management teams are almost working in concert to settle our contracts and throw some money at us to take back QOL work rules.

If I didn't know better, I would think there was an industry managers club where they got together and strategized and colluded on how to take our work rules away, knowing full well that the next industry downturn was right around the corner, and they could get a court to yank those pay rates back down. After that, we'd have nothing left to trade up for better pay rates and without work rules to trade for improved pay, ALPA wouldn't know what to do. Boom, the union is finally busted.

If I was CEO of an Airline, I would start a little secret club but I'd call it an industry advocacy group, and I've even got a great name picked out already. I'd call it Airlines for America. Or A4A. Pretty catchy, huh?"

GetRealDude

The playbook and the club is real. You'll have difficultly finding either on the Internet.

It's a tried and true system and loyal employees are continuously manipulated and disarmed at every turn. The justifications are varied and numerous.

The RLA is structured in their favor. The only way to counter it is collective unity, an educated workforce, and pressure in response.

The pressure is called fly the book. Do your job in accordance with the contract. No individual employee is required to do more.

Acceptance of mediocrity is unacceptable with financially robust corporations. Executives and shareholders always enjoy corporate success and profitability. Why not employees?

It's taught in business school and strategies are implemented continuously at the highest levels of the corporate world. If you think otherwise, you are naive and easily manipulated. Period.

Without unions in this industry, it would be intolerable. Read about Dave Behnke, founder of APLA. Schedule with safety and more.

fr8av8r

Conquistadores del Cielo. Read "Hard Landing" by Thomas Petzinger.

iarapilot

It has to do, probably, with the fact that they all use Ford and Harrison out of ATL. If you dont think that there is a coordinated effort to whittle away at all pilot contracts, you havent been around very long. And once we give up work rules we are screwed. And so are all of our bros at every other airline. If our TA passes there will most likely be similar changes in other contracts.

KnightFlyer

Of course they are. All using the same playbook.

Raptor

Winner!

Ford and Harrison is the common theme. Google that and Memphis. You will find LinkedIn profiles of Ford and Harrison attorneys located here in Memphis. Their sole purpose in life is labor relations and negotiations. They operate behind the scenes and control all facets. Think Labor attorney CM is in charge...not in negotiations. Who approved JP's letter as he exited...F&H.
Look at this thread:
http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/major/83924-ford-harrison-where-they.html

StarClipper

Funny, I mention something similar to that in response to a post on another threat. Glad some of you guys have some actual facts on it. Bottom line is all the management are in sinc. So what ever decision one pilot group makes, will affect pilot groups at other company.

Thanks for the info mates

Raptor

Here is the Ford and Harrison profile:

FordHarrison is a U.S. labor & employment law firm with more than 200 attorneys in 27 offices, including five affiliate firms. The firm is committed to providing clients with the "right response at the right time" in managing their workforce. FordHarrison attorneys represent employers in labor, employment, immigration and employee benefits matters, including litigation. Through its membership in the global employment law firm alliance, Ius Laboris, FordHarrison provides clients that have multinational operations with a broad range of services related to labor and employment law in 44 countries throughout the world. For more information on FordHarrison, visit fordharrison.com. To learn more about Ius Laboris, visit iuslaboris.com.

F&H has a Memphis office.

Lead attorney: https://www.linkedin.com/pub/frederick-douglas/10/a27/271

MaydayMark

I bet these folks don't sign a 6 year contract with minimal pay raises and then take 2 more years to negotiate a new one? I bet they're not stuck with a decreasing replacement value (due to inflation) retirement plan? I suspect they don't work ALL NIGHT in an office with Hazardous Materials? Admittedly, they probably do have special skills.

Maybe they get paid for performance? "If you hose our pilots really badly and we'll pay you a really big bonus?"

Maybe we should be paid for performance? How about our contract pay + bonuses for being on time + bonuses for saving fuel. Even though Management would NEVER be interested, how about bonuses for good ideas that increase efficiency and increase employees quality of life for employees!*?

But ... what do I know? I'm just an illegal farm worker, picking cotton on the plantation. I should be happy with what they want to give me?

Overnitefr8

Sounds like we need to go out and hire Harrison Ford then.