txbusdriver

Why is this so hard for you? Pinnacle was/is BANKRUPT. When your employer goes bankrupt rough times are ahead. Please take the emotion out of your arguments. It's well documented that you do not like unions but what would life be like for pilots at former bankrupt airlines without representation. You would probably be flying a 737 as Captain for $85 an hour.


Of course unions cannot protect you from everything but at least you have a fighting chance having a team of attorneys by your side. Again, let's look at ALPA carriers and where they stand today....

Hawaiian...better pay and benefits...ex 17% B fund retirement

Alaska...slightly better pay with an amendable contract on 4/13... Better benefits...ex retirement 13.5% plus profit sharing which took them to 21% a few year back...

Delta....better pay and benefits
UAL......Better pay and benefits

Again, how did these airlines obtain these pay and benefits?

Pinnacle is just another fee for departure airline in a competitive world. Please stop telling us JetBlue is better then a regional...it's supposed to be!!!!! You guys sound like Chris Rock's stand up act...I take care of my kids...well you're supposed to take care of your kids....I've never been to jail, you're not supposed to go to jail you low expectation.......

txbusdriver

So you are saying ALPA caused airlines to go bankrupt? Pinnacle is a second rate fee for departure carrier, not even an airline really. Fee for departure carriers live in a new reality now, lowest bidder wins. There is a surplus of feeder lift out there so you better be willing to do it at a discount. I lived in the regional world so I feel your pain.

Is your buddy miserable with his new work rules? Would he trade union representation for the Direct Relationship? JetBlue pilots are now behind every major carrier save Airways. JetBlue pilots are the only one that are non-union. Coincidence?

I have been represented by ALPA at two previous employers, one of which I was furloughed from. I'll take representation over this DR nonsense any day. You guys that bash ALPA remind me of spoiled children, you whine and whine that you don't get everything you want. You think just because you have representation that everything should be perfect. Most of you that worked for regional carriers were loss leaders for ALPA, you put in way less then what you get collectively.

To have a successful career in this business you need two things, a financially healthy employer and representation.

johnso29

JetBlue is coming up on a measly 13 years in operation. Maybe you'll have a valid point after JetBlue has been operating 80+ years. BTW, CAL & UAL pilots have been operating on BK contracts(CAL's POS 2003 avoided BK) Many of the new work rules provided by the recently ratified joint contract have yet to be implemented. However, the benefits provided by those BK contracts still exceeded what JB provides.

And Pinnacle isn't a valid comparison to JetBlue. Pinnacle is a contract airline that operates on a fee for departure basis. JetBlue is completely different. Apples to oranges.

Cruise

Don't be ignorant your entire life........

Your buddy at CAL may just be an unhappy person and wouldn't be happy unless he got paid to stay home. I know many, many people at CAL and they enjoy it. They have a new CBA with reasonable pay rates......certainly better than jetBlue.

Also, ALPA had ZERO to due with the situation at Pinnacle. Ignorant management negotiated money-losing deals with their mainline partners. There is only one reason Pinnacle is in the situation they're in.....POOR MANAGEMENT.

hyperboy

So then why pay for a union? in regards to your comment? waste of time and money right.

hyperboy

How can I respond when you don't ever answer the questions I ask of?

ALPA is a conflict of interest. Period. How is that so difficult to understand? If you don't refer to Pinnacle/Delta or Comair/Delta. You cant figh both sides of that? So I guess I dont understand economics.

So easy to just attack than answer and have a debate? right

hyperboy

Just attack so funny........

You might be the ignorant one.....ALPA and their contract administrator would have to sit down with the company to negotiate a concessionary contract? Right? This was to be cheaper and retain flying from Delta (another ALPA carrier which just negoatiated a contract). How is that not a conflict of interest? Open your eyes.

hyperboy

Both of these fruits are represented by ALPA. Much more of a comparison than being on opposite ends of the spectrum? Don't you think?

jetlink

Your comparison of two completely different in operation airlines can be valid; however, you must add Republic Airways and their union and compare them to Roadway, ABF, Yellow, and USF, etc – yes the trucking business; also in transportation, represented by Teamsetrs union.
I have recently quit jetBlue and started in one of the “awful” blood sucking legacy airline with ALPA negotiated contract, and can tell you I have never felt better.
jetBlue’s Safety, Passion, Caring, Integrity, and Fun, Organic Growth, “family” slogans are good for FOs with little to no experience excited to fly a big jet, and completely oblivious to his or her future in this business as well the planning for the retirement.
Slogans like that are text book big corporation like JnJ management mind control, used for long time since Roman Empire “SPQR” and continue to be used in nowadays by many governments and corporations to give you a sense of belonging and values to make you more devoted to the cause. You’ll learn very quickly, after your first disappointment such as layoff, or if your government betrays you (like it did in Katrina and Sandy) that these are just slogans and work on weak mind. There is nothing wrong with having sense of belonging or devotion, but at the same time always question the statuesque.
Not knowing what my airline is going to cook up tomorrow is scarier then 2% of my tax deductible pay to ALPA representing my interests with clearly defined contract (concessionary or not) instead of FSM that is updated daily by the company’s lawyers and HR experts, or BS PEA, and 5 documents, that hold no legal value during acquisition or merger with unionized ALPA carrier with enormous financial resources.
Take a look at Delta FAs that had to lay down their own money to file a lawsuit against new Delta management, after merger since they were not unionized.
During my exit interview, I was asked why I’m leaving the company, amongst some other factors I replied: When you guys are posting record profits for the past two years and then show how much you CARE about your employees by tripling the healthcare cost over night; I’m terrified by what jetBlue will do when you start loosing money.
I’m not saying jetBlue is a bad company, for me they have become not competitive enough to keep me on the property and healthcare change was just a nail to the coffin.

Climbto450

Thanks again for your insight and good luck at your legacy carrier!!