2015 Fleet Service thread

[charlie Brown]

It amazes me it took us three years after the blood bath of 92 to organize your group.

Lol. 700, our group was the Speed Bird rooted in the south. Born and raised to think unions was from the evil one. It took a very large Vaseline job for the fleet to realize we needed to organize. What really surprises me is how many out there still has the speed bird mentality and thinks they are soooo loved by this company.

 

[charlie Brown]

That's why I have made it known in Dallas, on here and to the Association that it would be totally unacceptable to even entertain the thought of bring back a T/A with any concession. Do not give in. I have school loans, auto payments, other obligations, but I'm in it for the long haul. I refuse to be a corporate whore anymore!

I hear ya!!

 

[WeAAsles]

That's good to hear WeAAsles. It's not that I don't think that we have the support. It's that people need to realize the company feeds on the negative. While I respect everyone's opinion on a open forum, because that's what makes a open forum enjoyable for most. it just surprises me that so many people that have been raped through two bankruptcies, still can only focus on the money, even people from closed stations that are now in hubs, only focus on the money. You would think they would be the first to recognize how important scope is.

2 Bankrupcies here as well. Just one was done without the court gavel. Besides the pay there was a lot of very good language lost that I hope people didn't forget. Some of us still have that old contract book as a reminder and some of us keep it stored in the back of the mind.

I'd love to read some of that language make a return engagement. Maybe even a few new and interesting things we've never even thought of?

 

[charlie Brown]

2 Bankrupcies here as well. Just one was done without the court gavel. Besides the pay there was a lot of very good language lost that I hope people didn't forget. Some of us still have that old contract book as a reminder and some of us keep it stored in the back of the mind.
I'd love to read some of that language make a return engagement. Maybe even a few new and interesting things we've never even thought of?

Haha, yea I know exactly what you mean, I take the 99 US agreement ( one that I thought at the time, wasn't that good) and think how great it would be to get all those things back that we once had. Then I get pissed thinking about how sorry it is that we have to wish for things we had back in 99. Just goes to show what a job thes companies can do to a group through bankruptcies.

 

[700UW]

Tell Glass I said hello.

 

[charlie Brown]

Tell Glass I said hello.

Haha. Will do

 

[700UW]

Is Al (head in the way) still around?

 

[charlie Brown]

Is Al (head in the way) still around?

No. He is gone.

 

[700UW]

I use to drive him crazy, lol.
 
And of course Giammarco use to egg me on, lol.

 

[700UW]

From a SWA Ramper:
 

I'm a ramp agent under this agreement so I'll be glad to answer any questions.

Firstly it should be noted that this was essentially voted in at a hair over 50/50, so many of us are not happy about it.

It means a substantial pay increase and a sizable signing bonus, but language that is detrimental to many, especially at some of our smaller stations.

Part time will be increased to 22%, scaled up year over year over the course of the agreement (from 13%). Cities with 12 flights or under that have been opened since 2009 can be part time 100%. Other cities are grandfathered and can only be converted to part-time by attrition.

SJU language that allows for 100% contractor.

Pay increases from $26 per hour to $32, and retro pay from 2011.

Other boring attendance policy changes as well that nobody here would understand..
 

 

[robbedagain]

While I'm not a shop steward I do tell everyone in my station to focus on scope because scope determines job security

 

[T5towbar]

While I'm not a shop steward I do tell everyone in my station to focus on scope because scope determines job security

So true........ SCOPE is the most important thing, since the company will throw more money at you so you can give it up.
At least you guys have some PT caps.  We (at UA) got hit so hard with that, in my particular hub, they had to restore people back to FT, plus hire off the street. They knew that they cut to deep where it affected the operation, but just didn't care. 
 
I hope that our negotiators have heard our voices, and do not budge on that critical issue. We've made that mistake once. The last IAM update told us that they and the company agreed on some limited issue items. Pretty soon, they will go into the meat and potatoes aspects of the negotiations - SCOPE.
 
We will see what happens.  At least your turnout was large. We need electronic balloting with our next contract instead of in-person walkup. That is why TA 1 got overwhelmingly shot down, so the Union (and the company) wanted the walkup ballot which IMHO reduced the numbers to pass the contract we have. 

 

[WeAAsles]

From a SWA Ramper:

It looks like they were able to hold the line on rising medical costs. I know up until only about 2 months ago they were still trying to pass costs onto the members.

It's a good thing that didn't happen because those raises can be eaten up fast with medical.

Sad to read the language on SJU. Puerto Rico is in a tailspin financially so I do understand why the company wants to lower their costs there.

Not saying I like it, just that I understand it.

 

[700UW]

It's not just SJU

 

[WeAAsles]

It's not just SJU

I think in a lot of small cities you're in a Catch 22 situation. It's all about revenue generation. If the airline can earn revenue from a particular city then they're going to fly there. And the more revenue they can earn the more frequency they'll supply to that location (Barring gate space)

Many smaller communities in the US are in trouble financially. People are moving into bigger cities for convenience. And those cities compete very aggressively for Businesses to relocate to them.

http://esd.ny.gov/BusinessPrograms/Taxes_Incentives.html

So the question has to be thought about can the market in a particular location support the wages and benefits we as Union members are demanding? Basically if you're demanding too much and they comply, what's the motivation for the carrier to continue to service that location? They have a fixed cost for Pilots and FA's already that they need to pay by contract. So all the other costs that can be directly controlled in that station have to be looked at. And you can only demand a fare from a person who can either pay or is willing to pay. You try to go above that ceiling and you're going to have empty seats. again back to the carrier pulling out the service.

Learned a lot reading Bill Swelbar. Miss that guy.