joel payne

We're mad as H***, and we're not going to take it any more !!

Shortcut to: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/busine...47_alpa08.html

vagabond

Glad to see Prater seems to be a bit better than Woerthless. A union presenting a united front is always good for morale and the Alaska pilot group sure needs that these days.

ToiletDuck

If airlines are in the red for 6 years like this article claims why does everyone expect better wages the first year they post good profits? They still have lost money to make up no? A profit for the current quarter or year doesn't mean they have broken even overall yet. They could still be in debt or oweing creditors.

PS..... Hi Vagabond !

vagabond

Hello Duck. Hope you are well and that you've been keeping your nose (or I should say your bill) clean. I thought I'd drop by once in a while to see how everyone is doing. Nothing has changed that I can tell.

I don't know anything about other carriers, but the Alaska pilots took a big financial hit thanks to the arbitrator's ruling. The junior FOs, who never made much money to begin with, received the biggest percentage cut to their salaries. Negotiations are underway right now; the contract is amendable May 1, 2007. I could not possibly discuss the details on a public forum such as this. In my mind, it's going to be difficult for the pilots to even get back to status quo.

mike734

My new saying for Alaska Management to ponder is: RETRO PAY STARTS IN MAY!!!!!!

All I can say is I want my money back. Full pay restoration is the only contract I'll vote for. The pilots at Alaska are furious. If we don't have a new contract to vote on May 1, (or very good news about an impending one) Summer 2007 is going to be UGLY. I don't think Alaska management has any idea of how bad it will get. They will lose many millions.

Time will tell. I've got my HELOC lined up.

vagabond

First of all, Alaska pilots need to know that, at least in SEA, you have the support of the community and many feel the same outrage at the arbitrator's ruling. During oral arguments before Chief Judge Lasnik at Federal District Court in 2005, he was very sympathetic to ALPA, and ruled against the pilots reluctantly and only because of the way the law was drafted. However, most gratifying was the number of people who jammed his courtroom that day.

Full pay restoration would just put you back to status quo of 2005, so I would hope for some concessions to account for the lost opportunities in those intervening two years. I have said before on these forums that a union is only as strong as its members. Each pilot needs to be on the same page, particularly when it comes to something as emotionally charged as the decision to strike. I hope it does not come to that, but if and when you get to self help, be assured that at least one lawyer and judge will be there on the streets with you. I might even be convinced to burn my Mileage Plan card in front of Ayers!