Pilots to start major disruptions

[ClueByFour]

What is NOT needed is a repeat of the UA "Summer of Hell". That summer has left a sour taste towards UA to this very day and is one of the contributing factors to my mostly staying with US Airways.

The UAL pilots were no more or less guilty than their US counterparts. It just looked stupid because of the timing of 9/11.

Work to rule is a risk. If it tanks the airline and BK #3 is next summer, it won't look good.

However, given the way I've seen this management treat the frontliners, I wish _all_ the workgroups would work to rule.

Somebody said it above and it bears repeating: working to rule on the part of the pilots is currently dwarfed by the operational screwups provoked by the abortion of a cutover to shares. You won't truly appreciate the pilot work-to-rule for what it is until (and unless) shares is fixed.

The company apparently likes to play fast and loose with contracts. I think the idea of following one to the letter is just the irony tempe needs. And, unlike the UAL pilots (who basically refused overtime), the ALPA folks probably come out smelling better in the press on this: they are working to the same contract that was imposed in bankruptcy. Nothing less......

If you were in an "at-will" situation with this company, one would quit if they treated you like they treat the unionized groups....

 

[BoeingBoy]

So in answer to your question, yes I do think he would have a problem giving a pilot a note when he wasn't actually sick.

And 99 times out of 100, you'd be wrong. Not that it's necessary, as Clue said. As I've said before, the pilots are in the somewhat unique position of being able to make the bottom line of the P & L statement a whole lot lower. And the truly wonderful thing is that nobody can do a thing about it because the necessary actions are all spelled out in the manuals written by the company.

Jim

 

[Freighterguynow]

any disruptions will only hurt them in the end.

They are the lowest paid pilots in the industry - they have nothing to lose.

 

[sharktooth]

#2. Captains are required to hold a 1st class medical which means they see their FAA dr every 6 months not once a year.

Actually, nearly every pilot at U is required to hold a First Class Medical. That means, twice a year medical.

#4. The FAA doctor/pilot you speak about is a professional and would act as such when writing a note for a pilot who is sick. So in answer to your question, yes I do think he would have a problem giving a pilot a note when he wasn't actually sick. It's called being a professional.

Think about it. Pilot, forty to sixty years old, flying 50 million dollar airplane with 200 folks on board, needs an excuse for a sick call? Hello? Am I the only one who sees a problem here?

I mean, if you cannot trust a pilots word, yet you trust him with the corporate jewels, perhaps you, the management team is a little lot screwed up?

 

[sharktooth]

The UAL pilots were no more or less guilty than their US counterparts. It just looked stupid because of the timing of 9/11.

Actually, McCain called the UAL pilots traitors before 9-11. I suspect a poorly implemented governmental program called SWAP (Severe weather avoidance program) had a lot to do with UALs problems, even, I suspect, to overshadowing anything the pilots did.

Work to rule is a risk. If it tanks the airline and BK #3 is next summer, it won't look good.

If the margins are that close, than if working exactly according to the manual tanks an airline, then I respectfully suggest that the airline was dead anyway, the participants just had not realized it yet.

However, given the way I've seen this management treat the frontliners, I wish _all_ the workgroups would work to rule.

Are you saying management should be "punished"?

 

[luvthe9]

http://mmslb.eonstreams.com/alpa/aaa/AAA_N...-29-07_high.wmv

 

[DCaf]

It only makes the pilots feel better about themselves. Have company negotitors caved yet? Afterall, this has been going on for a month. Think angry pilots care one whit about their passengers? No. Their fellow employees? Don't make me laugh.
ALL of the employees of US have taken big hits (save for some in Tempe). And the ground staff is working harder than ever for far less than before. So my empathy for the poor pilots (who do this every time their contract talks are contentious) is nonexistant. Don't screw my work life up just because you're unhappy with yours.

 

[N924PS]

It only makes the pilots feel better about themselves. Have company negotitors caved yet? Afterall, this has been going on for a month. Think angry pilots care one whit about their passengers? No. Their fellow employees? Don't make me laugh.
ALL of the employees of US have taken big hits (save for some in Tempe). And the ground staff is working harder than ever for far less than before. So my empathy for the poor pilots (who do this every time their contract talks are contentious) is nonexistant. Don't screw my work life up just because you're unhappy with yours.

Well then,

If you are responsible for the cabin perhaps you should be the one who exits the aircraft to use the jetway telephone to call catering, request lavatory and potable water service. Oh that's right you can't step out of the aircraft during boarding to maintain flight attendant complement requirements.

How about that dupe seat assignment? Ooops, I'm sorry, once again you can not leave the aircraft.

Bottom line: This airline does not run unless the pilots follow up on every other departments lacking with a call to ops to git'r done. Sorry if it screws up your work life but perhaps in the long run it will help your cause as well.

Think of all the extra time you will make while waiting at the runway to receive your final weight and balance to be transmitted because the ground staff didn't enter the pax count or cargo weights in the computer. Is that the pilot's job? No!

Until management does what it takes for all employee groups to feel they are valued and their individual contributions are important to the success of the airline, I am afraid this is the new reality.

 

[Prince of PAWOBs]

http://mmslb.eonstreams.com/alpa/aaa/AAA_N...-29-07_high.wmv

It's a good video. Everybody should watch it.

 

[Formatman]

I have to say that while I see the pilots' point, any disruptions will only hurt them in the end. In the court of public opinion, such behavior would be attributed to them in all the press, and would only add insult to injury to those of us customers who rely on US to get us where we need to go.

In another thread, it states how stressed out everyone is for other reasons--weather issues, res migration, etc. To add a job action to the fray would cause massive booking away, costing millions in revenue, which could come back to bite all the employees in the future.

I have the utmost respect for the employees of US, and have made it known wherever I go--it's just that if this happens, it hurts the customer first--and I can tell you that if we leave, we won't be back.

Anything done to intentionally cause delays or cancellations not only hurts the company...but it mostly hurts the paying passenger and the front line customer service personnel (which I am). I have to deal with and try to assist passengers in a delay or cancellation situation...so my suggestions is this: If a pilot wants to delay by slowing down or cancel a flight then THEY should have to come out to the gate and help re-route the passenger....just a thought.

Just something to ponder........

 

[700UW]

So explain to the rank and file how they are expected to act and put pressure on a company that won't give ALPA, AFA and the IAM a transition agreement?

Why do you have differant rates of pay, vacation and other work rules differant for both east and west?

You might not like it but the only way the employees have to force the company to settle the CBAs is the work safe programs. And it is only working exactly to the company's established workrules, policies and procedures.

 

[N924PS]

So explain to the rank and file how they are expected to act and put pressure on a company that won't give ALPA, AFA and the IAM a transition agreement?

Why do you have differant rates of pay, vacation and other work rules differant for both east and west?

You might not like it but the only way the employees have to force the company to settle the CBAs is the work safe programs. And it is only working exactly to the company's established workrules, policies and procedures.

I think ALPA, at least, has a transition agreement. It's the Joint Contract that is the issue.

 

[Chicken or Beef??]

I have to say that while I see the pilots' point, any disruptions will only hurt them in the end. In the court of public opinion, such behavior would be attributed to them in all the press, and would only add insult to injury to those of us customers who rely on US to get us where we need to go.

It sounds like the pilots have already started "fly by the book" and other options. But with all the companies own screw ups nobody noticed! 🙂 😛

 

[Formatman]

So explain to the rank and file how they are expected to act and put pressure on a company that won't give ALPA, AFA and the IAM a transition agreement?

Why do you have differant rates of pay, vacation and other work rules differant for both east and west?

You might not like it but the only way the employees have to force the company to settle the CBAs is the work safe programs. And it is only working exactly to the company's established workrules, policies and procedures.

Yea, well you wouldn't like it either if I could figure out some way to make your job more difficult and unpleasant. Like I said...I wouldn't care either if you'd come out and deal with the problems you create.

 

[700UW]

The company creates the problems, not the employees.

And working exactly by the company's rules, policies and procedures is just doing what the company expects of you, deal with it.