deltajuliet

The MAG ALPA email yesterday seems like a step in the right direction. It would be nice to have some of the scorched earth enthusiasm the new Delta ALPA negotiators have, but at least we have an actual attorney who seems interested in the opinions and displeasure of the overall pilot group.

iFlyRC

Wait til they are compromised with back door deals that set them up for life

deltajuliet

I'd hope a former Comair pilot has more integrity than that. Besides, set up at Mesa for life? No thanks. Amazing the number of Freedom A-Listers who now populate management and the training department. Same with ex-ALPA reps. They took that route, and they can have it, but why would they want it?

Not a knock against guys who got stuck here in the Lost Decade.

Stratapilot

Having Mesa "set some one up for life" is like being a Walmart greeter with social security benefits.

flapshalfspeed

The caliber of individuals now on the NC means nothing if the MEC is going to turn a blind eye to the company paying out under-the-table money to new hires to make sure classes are full.

It's like saying "hey we have the best negotiators ever!!!" while quietly allowing the company to skirt the CBA, destroying any leverage that our top-notch NC would've had going to the table.

The jury is still out--maybe our MEC will draw a line in the sand on this one (I assumed they would've issued some form of statement on the under-the-table payments to new hires by now if they planned on fighting it). I'm not optimstic--but maybe ALPA will prove me wrong for once?

deltajuliet

Well, the MEC still needs some house cleaning itself. AH needs to be voted out at the earliest opportunity if we ever want to see progress.

flapshalfspeed

Yup. I think about stuff like this everytime I see Endeavor, Republic, TransStates, Envoy, Skywest, XJet, Piedmont, Compass, CommutAir, and PSA crews getting into shuttles for Courtyard/Renaissance/Hyatt/Marriott/Westin/Hilton-branded properties everywhere--in almost every city we overnight in--while our crews are getting into shuttles for LaQuintas/Days Inns/Microtels/third-tier budget motels 80-90% of the time.

People who weren't in this industry 5-10 years ago might not fully understand what I'm saying here (b/c every regional used to stay at budget motels like that in very recent history)...but we are now the only regional left standing who still puts pilots up at dumps like Days Inn/LaQuinta/Best Westerns on a majority of overnights.

I'm not blaming this on management at all--if I were in JO's position I'd be putting you all up in EconoLodges until it cost me a penny extra in cancellation factor/fatigue calls/etc.. I'm more likely to blame our union--for squandering a lot of negotiating capital and turning a blind eye to things like the hotel buyback program and the alleged under-the-table money going to new hires to prevent empty classrooms at the schoolhouse. In recent history, our MEC is behaving more like a whipping boy than a pitbull/counterweight to regression in pay/benefits/hotels/etc..

There's definitely a downward trend in hotels and work rule interpretations here, and it'll only get worse as long as our new hire classes are full (which is much easier when the company can pay new hires extra money without the union even attempting to say a word about it publicly!!!)

Bucketofpropwas

Speaking of subpar hotels, are any good out of IAH on the 175? I assume these hotels don't offer work out areas or restaurants. Anybody in IAH know the typical RONs long or short or you can PM me a typical trip pattern numbers of legs / days ? Any common routes or are most trips 4 days through IAD? Any typical DHs or wasted long overnights in anywhere interesting?

flapshalfspeed

For most of the IAH/IAD system, you'll be staying in isolated LaQuintas, Microtels, and Days Inns (or the "AmericaInn" equivalent in OKC). If you plan on working out or eating healthy, your best bet is a national membership to Anytime/LA Fitness/Lifetime Fitness, and just Uber or use a taxi to get there--our average hotels don't have "real" gyms or exercise equipment, and the breakfast is usually powdered eggs and self-made waffles...you know--the stuff that makes rednecks think "wow ya'll free breakfast!" while killing them of heart disease/Type-II diabetes around the time they hit retirement age.

We are truly the only regional left who uses LaQuintas/Days Inns/Microtels in a majority of cities in 2016. Shaking my head.

Bumbaclot

Hilarious! I agree with all of the above.