Subj: Our First ####-Slapping...The Company's Sept 10, 2004 Proposal
Date: 9/11/04 3:44:27 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Garland Jo
To: [email protected]
BOS Pilots,
Just returned from the PIT Special MEC Meeting called by the PIT/PHL Reps.
Quite a turnout, 150 or more pilots, and from all bases, including several from BOS.
As soon as we were called to order, I asked the PIT/PHL Reps why they called this meeting so soon after a 2 week Special Meeting in DCA, and questioned whether there was real work to be done or if this was a publicity stunt in turning out the PIT pilots to support their position. As the PIT/PHL Reps were all dressed up in their uniforms, and the negotiating committee were all in their uniforms, I think the answer was obvious to all even though none of the 4 who called the meeting chose to answer my question.
I then moved a Resolution which said that since all these pilots had come on their own time and at their own expense to speak to the MEC (and I thanked them for doing so), then at least the members of the MEC should not claim expenses or flight pay loss as well. John Brookman objected to this, and since this would have had to pass without objection, my Resolution died.
Does make one wonder, though, that after 2 weeks of flight pay loss in DCA, the man who called yet another Special MEC Meeting 4 days later would fight so hard to collect another day (5 hours) of flight pay loss paid for by ALPA dues money.
In any event, the Freshwater, Brookman, Crocker (proxy) and Von Bargen side show started, but since there was a rather massive turnout of CLT pilots there as well, it didn't go as planned for these gentlemen as an even number of both their supporters and critics spoke at the meeting.
Their supporters were adamant that they didn't want to see any proposal from, or agreement with, the company unless the PIT/PHL Reps gave their blessing to it, and their critics said how dare they use their Roll Call vote to deny the pilots of this airline a vote on their careers.
After about 4 hours of listening to the pilots, and giving all who wished an opportunity to speak, we moved onto the 2nd agenda item with an update from the NC. As they had all gone home after our meeting in DCA just like the rest of us, they had little to report except that the company had this very day withdrawn all previous offers and proposals, and had replaced it with the one that is attached to this letter.
As you can see, it took the negotiating process right back to where it started 3 months ago, and maybe a little further, with a 16.5% pay cut, Jet Blue work rules, 95 hour cap (flex to 100), and a matching 401K in lieu of our DC Plan. Also check out what the company is proposing for profit sharing, fragmentation and the minimum 279 fleet caveat's. And finally, note that the 1113 waiver letter offer is rescinded.
We just got our fist ####-slapping everybody, and it's exactly according to the script that our advisors have been telling us would happen, advice that has been consistently ignored by the RC4.
And that advice was that on the night of Monday, Sept. 6, when we were looking at the product of 3 months of negotiations (called a company "proposal" because our NC would not put their names on it), that "proposal" would be as good as it gets with a potential bankruptcy in our immediate future. The RC4 denied this pilot group the opportunity to vote on that "proposal," and today the company withdrew it.
No problem, says the RC4, we'll just pass another charging resolution sending the NC back into negotiations yet again, and this time we'll use the same strategy that has failed so miserably before in these negotiations, that being we'll stipulate where the NC can and cannot go in seeking a TA with the company.
I moved an amendment to take those stipulations off the NC since they had so disastrously shackled them to failure in the past, and, not surprisingly, the RC4 Rolled Called my amendment down, and then Roll Called their Charging Resolution into being (now their 27th Roll Call vote since March 1, 2004).
They then beat up on Jack Stephen for a while because they thought he was being too critical of their use of the Roll Call vote and of them denying the pilots the right to vote on the company's Sept. 6 proposal, and then, growing tired of their own charade, finally ran out of things to say, so we adjourned and all went back home.
Again, not one of our finest hours, but we're all starting to get used to it by now.
So today we are as far apart, or further, then we ever have been in negotiations, and it's Saturday, Sept. 11, which is one day before Sunday, Sept. 12, 2004.
May God help us. He'll have to, as we have proven totally incapable of helping ourselves.
Garland
Date: 9/11/04 3:44:27 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From: Garland Jo
To: [email protected]
BOS Pilots,
Just returned from the PIT Special MEC Meeting called by the PIT/PHL Reps.
Quite a turnout, 150 or more pilots, and from all bases, including several from BOS.
As soon as we were called to order, I asked the PIT/PHL Reps why they called this meeting so soon after a 2 week Special Meeting in DCA, and questioned whether there was real work to be done or if this was a publicity stunt in turning out the PIT pilots to support their position. As the PIT/PHL Reps were all dressed up in their uniforms, and the negotiating committee were all in their uniforms, I think the answer was obvious to all even though none of the 4 who called the meeting chose to answer my question.
I then moved a Resolution which said that since all these pilots had come on their own time and at their own expense to speak to the MEC (and I thanked them for doing so), then at least the members of the MEC should not claim expenses or flight pay loss as well. John Brookman objected to this, and since this would have had to pass without objection, my Resolution died.
Does make one wonder, though, that after 2 weeks of flight pay loss in DCA, the man who called yet another Special MEC Meeting 4 days later would fight so hard to collect another day (5 hours) of flight pay loss paid for by ALPA dues money.
In any event, the Freshwater, Brookman, Crocker (proxy) and Von Bargen side show started, but since there was a rather massive turnout of CLT pilots there as well, it didn't go as planned for these gentlemen as an even number of both their supporters and critics spoke at the meeting.
Their supporters were adamant that they didn't want to see any proposal from, or agreement with, the company unless the PIT/PHL Reps gave their blessing to it, and their critics said how dare they use their Roll Call vote to deny the pilots of this airline a vote on their careers.
After about 4 hours of listening to the pilots, and giving all who wished an opportunity to speak, we moved onto the 2nd agenda item with an update from the NC. As they had all gone home after our meeting in DCA just like the rest of us, they had little to report except that the company had this very day withdrawn all previous offers and proposals, and had replaced it with the one that is attached to this letter.
As you can see, it took the negotiating process right back to where it started 3 months ago, and maybe a little further, with a 16.5% pay cut, Jet Blue work rules, 95 hour cap (flex to 100), and a matching 401K in lieu of our DC Plan. Also check out what the company is proposing for profit sharing, fragmentation and the minimum 279 fleet caveat's. And finally, note that the 1113 waiver letter offer is rescinded.
We just got our fist ####-slapping everybody, and it's exactly according to the script that our advisors have been telling us would happen, advice that has been consistently ignored by the RC4.
And that advice was that on the night of Monday, Sept. 6, when we were looking at the product of 3 months of negotiations (called a company "proposal" because our NC would not put their names on it), that "proposal" would be as good as it gets with a potential bankruptcy in our immediate future. The RC4 denied this pilot group the opportunity to vote on that "proposal," and today the company withdrew it.
No problem, says the RC4, we'll just pass another charging resolution sending the NC back into negotiations yet again, and this time we'll use the same strategy that has failed so miserably before in these negotiations, that being we'll stipulate where the NC can and cannot go in seeking a TA with the company.
I moved an amendment to take those stipulations off the NC since they had so disastrously shackled them to failure in the past, and, not surprisingly, the RC4 Rolled Called my amendment down, and then Roll Called their Charging Resolution into being (now their 27th Roll Call vote since March 1, 2004).
They then beat up on Jack Stephen for a while because they thought he was being too critical of their use of the Roll Call vote and of them denying the pilots the right to vote on the company's Sept. 6 proposal, and then, growing tired of their own charade, finally ran out of things to say, so we adjourned and all went back home.
Again, not one of our finest hours, but we're all starting to get used to it by now.
So today we are as far apart, or further, then we ever have been in negotiations, and it's Saturday, Sept. 11, which is one day before Sunday, Sept. 12, 2004.
May God help us. He'll have to, as we have proven totally incapable of helping ourselves.
Garland
