shiftwork

No suprise.... good luck to all those waiting on the "dream" at NK

TTOCSMCC

...may not be the most reliable source
50 / 50 chance of accuracy, I'd say

bubi352

Well we know something is in the works. Three A320s coming in the next few months yet no recalls. At least 5 pilots leaving to Qatar and Etihad (as reported by another pilot on here) this month alone and yet still no recalls. If this is all true something just doesn't add up. I would tend to believe they are trying to get rid of those A321s.

ALPO Whisperer

It could be a combination of things:

1) They could be further drawing down the schedule if certain markets are showing soft bookings, freeing up capacity on the existing fleet,

2) They could, in fact, be getting rid of the A-321 aircraft if those jets are up for new lease terms (btw...those aircraft have been mx nightmares the past few months),

3) They could be trying to increase pilot productivity by flying the guys on property more efficiently,

4) Or, they could getting ready for the "nuclear option" and the ensuing "Armageddon" that could happen in the case of a release. (I ain't even going to go over this one...NOT on a public web board).

To my knowledge, the company NEVER put out any OFFICIAL notice of any recalls?? Sure, a management guy could have talked about it in front of a recurrent class, but there hasn't been any official notification to the pilot group. Therefore, the talk of recalls could have been pure rumor and nothing more. I know how difficult that is to take if you are on furlough...I wish the best for you in your future.

skybolt

Don't fool yourself. There are NO secrets. Management pays big bank to specialty law firms to get the inside scoop and history says that those law firms get it right most of the time.

Bottom line, management (and their lawyers) watches what we do and then predicts our course of action. Nothing you say here changes the actions we have been taking these last two years. Our actions show whether we will do it, or not.

skybolt

Sorry ALPO, I didn't have time to finish yesterday.

To complete the thought, Spirit is watching what we are doing now in order to determine what we will do in the future. They don't see us doing anything now, and they don't believe we will do anything in the future. Nothing you say here can change the fact that our actions show no initiative on our part.

ALPO Whisperer

I totally agree....

Let me share a little story. Yesterday, my captain and I shared a van ride with an Air Tran crew. They asked how things are going at Spirit? I told them "okay" with the usual "yeah, we're asking for a release also" talking points routine.

Unknown to me, they informed us that their guys have already had at least THREE picketing events!!! They haven't even taken a strike vote yet and they're doing these things! Oh, by the way, this is what ALPA NATIONAL is advising they do!! They've had REAL union meetings and REAL family awareness meetings to go over the process with all interested parties.

They told us they had over 600 pilots show up for their last event in Atlanta. WOW! In fact, they had so many guys show up they had to turn some away because their permits only allowed so many guys to walk in orbits.

They asked us how many picketing events we've had and when the next one will be so that they could fly down to FLL or DTW and help out? The CA and I didn't know what to say...They were a little suprised to hear that we haven't had any picketing events since our strike vote.

So, I have to ask...are they being advised differently by national than our group? They haven't even taken a strike vote yet and they are doing more, on request of ALPA national leadership, to try and show their company they are drop dead serious about wanting improvements to their contract.

I want us to start doing the type of stuff FL is doing. I want us to start showing the company there is muscle behind our strike vote.

Tine

So you are obviously already too involved with the SPA Union on other fronts to man or help out the Strike Awareness Committee? Did you bring up your concern at the last SPA meeting in Dania Beach? Did you call FH or DP voicing your concern? Did you ask the Airtran crew for help in getting in contact with their Strike Chairman to seek advice? Wouldn't it make more sense to become part of the solution and better the situation?

Sailor

I have to agree with Tine here, that's something ask at the meetings, or even contacting the reps.

Welcome to the Salt Mine TINE!

ALPO Whisperer

Point taken. I too welcome you Tine to this web board.

I recognize that my opinion may not be popular with some pilots that have never gone through this process. However, I want us to have the STRONGEST position if we get to an actual strike...that's all.

My opinion is shaped by many years of experience in this business. I have breakfasts on Friday mornings with a couple of airline CEOs, some chief pilots, and VP types as part of my Christian outreach. I've talked with them about what's going on here. They have some interesting things to say. I value their perspective because they see things a little differently than the average line pilot. I think its safe to say that a guy supervising 11,000 pilots or a guy that's in charge of one of the most successful airlines in the world has more credibility than most of us on issues of labor relations.

I've stated my opinion to a couple of guys in our union. One guy agrees, another one dismisses my opinion. I've always felt you have to be in complete, lock step agreement with the union to go to a union meeting at THIS company; hence, I've never felt comfortable going to that kind of a setting to discuss other ways of doing business. But, maybe I should try in the future...i'm open to that.