TrevorW

I'm still trying to understand the whole GoJet issue. A few years ago there was hostility floating around when TSA started flying as American Connection. A friend of mine was an F.O. for Eagle and had a "No Alter-Eagle" sticker and TSA pilots now have the no "Alter EGo" stickers. My friend told me that TSA undercut the American Eagle pilot group and as a result Eagle lost flying and he was a 6 year F.O. on the 145. I understand a lot of things happened in that time frame that effected the industry, but he was happy blaming TSA for his misfortune. As a result of the American flying, TSA is flying with a scope clause in place that doesn't allow them to fly anything larger than 50 seats. When United approached TSA with the offer to fly 70 seaters (ERJ-170 or CRJ-700) TSA was bound by the scope clause and was unable without starting a new airline. GoJet was founded and the TSA pilots were offered the flying 3 times and a single seniority list, they rejected this offer 3 times. I understand the pay was below standard and the TSA pilots rejected the flying in an appreciable attempt to gain a better pay scale but were not successful. GoJet hired their own pilots and began operation. ALPA (Who has not negotiated a new contract for TSA in years) offered to represent GoJet and GoJet rejected that offer by selecting Teamsters. No where in this whole situation was there ever a picket line or a strike. I'm not trying to start a flame war, but I have never seen the non-biased, non-emotional truth written about this.

Pilotpip

The flying TSA (and CHQ for that matter) have as AA connection is holdover from the two regionals' contracts with TWA. There was no whipsaw or undercutting. Also, TSA had been in business for 20 years before any of that ever happened. TSA pilots didn't undercut anybody. Sure, their contract wasn't as good as Eagle, but that was management's choice at AMR.

Some of the concessions that management gave the waterskiers included massive paycuts, loss of block or better and cuts to bennefits (which already suck).

ALPA has been in negotiations for quite a while now. Management at TSA is dragging their feet as much as they can per the RLA. The only thing that's happening is that DH and his lawyer buddies are getting rich and Hulas is going to owe a ton of retro pay. The old contract was pretty standard fare for the time that it was signed. The MEC is working hard to improve it, but management is cheap.

As far as GJ being teamsters, they aren't a member of local 747, the airline branch. A number of carriers from 747 wrote very passionate letters to national to oppose their inclusion. Instead they joined local 618. Then they preceeded to sign a CBA that was FAR below any CRJ-700 payscales in the industry. Block isn't everything. Havning worked for TSA I know their other bennies suck.

To throw the Eagle arguement into it is BS. Pilots don't make that choice. The comair strike a few years back taught the legacies that they can't rely on one regional provider. The whipsaw is happening everywhere and the only way to stop it is to not accept below average contracts. That's exactly what the GJ pilots did. As a result, it's harder for TSA, Pinnacle, RAH and every other pilot group in negotations to raise the bar.

grossole

There is a simple reason why people are angry. Pilots at TSA worked hard to make money for the company for years. The company then used this money to start a new airline to pick up 70 seat flying. These pilots stood up for a higher pay rate that was deserved. Instead, other non-union pilots were hired to fly for a lower rate. The new higher paying jobs, in the newer jets that these pilots had in essence worked to get, are now flown by external pilots. Thats the whole reason people at TSA were angry.

It was the GoJet pilots that chose to go work for cheaper rates than a union was in the process of negotiating. If no pilots had been willing to go, the TSA pilots would have gotten to keep the flying they helped pay for.

exwaterski

Wow you sure seem to know a whole lot for just being an innoncent bystander trying to figure it all out. It's all so confusing! Maybe I'll just apply at Go Jets while I try and make sense out of this crazy world. You really should consider a career in politics.

soon2bfo

TSA could have operated the new GoJet ticket like CHQ/Shuttle/Republic, but instead they decided to completely separate the two groups and "invited" (read threatened jobs) some of the staff at TSA in order to get GoJet off the ground. It isn't the same as the Eagle/American farming out some of their flying to a company that would fly cheaper. Trans States deliberately sidestepped the union and formed a new company, while cherry picking from the TSA pilot group. Some of the pilots went over voluntarily, and they are hated by some TSA pilots, but what some people are remiss to admit is that TSA would have made life very hard on some of the people that went over to GoJets, if they would not have "helped out" the new certificate. Eventually it will all clear out, but for now the wounds are still fresh, and GoJets is still new so management still has a stranglehold on their QOL, pay etc. It probably isn't a good first choice but if you live in STL and have multiple failures/violations and low time they might be right up your alley.

Senior Skipper

My problem is with shapes and colours

Scooter2525

These answers are why I started the post... searching through the other forums found more of emotional vents... THANK YOU!

TrevorW

It seems like pilots are their own worst enemies. Hopefully the inevitable mergers will make the industry better for pilots.

reevesofskyking

And to make matters worse, since I have been there they have gotten a 50 seat payscale into their "contract"

Which I believe will be hung over our heads later down the road.

the first fight and ill will against go jet may have eased some in the industry, but a I think a new and bigger one could be around the corner.

AirWillie

TreverW, I don't know if you're a pilot or whatever. That Eagle VS AAConnection carriers is totally different than Gojet. Gojet is a scab operation, if you choose to go to Gojets you will be blacklisted by ALPA and other pilots, good luck finding a job. Gojet pilots are supporting an operation which was started against union approval, they undermined the bettering of TSA pilot contract, and regional airline pilots, and the whole industry in general. Those CRJ7s that you see are supposed to be TSA airplanes and crews, that is why pilots who go there will be treated accordingly. If you like flying with no dignity, avoiding other's and would like hiding your badge at the airport go ahead and fly for Gojets. Most of the guys that go there are foreign nationals and guys you wouldn't want to share a cockpit anyways.