Eagle Pilots Protest Outsourcing of Jobs in Chicago

[Firebird2XC]

AMR seems to be danged if they do, danged if they don't. The contract between CHQ and AMR forbids outstation basing (as if there are going to be many flights in and out of STL next Spring anyhow), so they HAVE to move CHQ's operation, or violate our contract. However, in doing so, they violate Eagle's contract.

Eagle has every right to protest. Everyone at CHQ is hoping they're successful. I hope CHQ would do the same thing if it was us, but I doubt our union is that proactive. I see Eagle winning, AMR forced to terminate our contract and fork out $$$ so that Bedford has a little somethin' somethin' to beef up the 170/190 operation.

It'll definitly be an interesting couple of months ahead.

Thanks for the other side of this coin, D. I was hoping somebody would come up with this.

I actually spoke to Airdale the other day- he said that B.B. was trying to phase out CHQ operations as well. It would seem that if CHQ got a payout from AMR to cease the Connection flying, Republic could put that money into the 170 program and slide the STL CHQ pilots into that system.

I'm not sure how the numbers hash out, but that'd be a win-win for the pilots involved in this situation.

Eagle pilots sincerely appreciate CHQ pilots' support. I know I can say that much about it.

Interesting few months ahead, indeed.

 

[Firebird2XC]

You also need to look at what has happened to ROC in the past 10-15years:

...
HUUUGE exodus from that area. Certainly not arguing with MQAAord's OVERALL point, but ROC has its own issues.

Excellent point.

That's one of the things that Eagle does, really. While the outsourcing from American is far from ideal, often as not it's not entirely a matter of 'taking flying'. When a market no longer supports AA sized loads, they'll pull out and Eagle will go in to fill the void. That way AMR retains market share, and doesn't oversupply the market, either.

When AMR starts a new, small market, it's often with Eagle. If the market demand grows sufficiently, they'll start sending AA in addition or to replace Eagle. It's all the American brand to the traveling public, so to them it's all the same.

I'm sure that's of little consolation to the AA pilots still on furlough, but that's not really Eagle's doing. Had the APA not scoped away small aircraft, this scenario likely would never happened.

 

[SoCalAprch]

Thanks for the other side of this coin, D. I was hoping somebody would come up with this.

I actually spoke to Airdale the other day- he said that B.B. was trying to phase out CHQ operations as well. It would seem that if CHQ got a payout from AMR to cease the Connection flying, Republic could put that money into the 170 program and slide the STL CHQ pilots into that system.

I'm not sure how the numbers hash out, but that'd be a win-win for the pilots involved in this situation.

Eagle pilots sincerely appreciate CHQ pilots' support. I know I can say that much about it.

Interesting few months ahead, indeed.

First off, I am supporting you guys 100% in your fight with AMR. Do not look the other way and let them screw with your contract for the thought of 22 shiny new jets. Stand up and all of us are behind you. On a different note what would the EGL group say if AMR said "No CHQ in ORD then no more new planes."

Secondly how does Airdale know what BB wants to do with CHQ flying? The CHQ side is the biggest part of the RAH operation and makes a ton of money for the company. If AMR cancels the contract with CHQ you will see those planes painted in Midwest, Frontier, or Mokulele colors. As much as some of our own look down on the lowly 145 from their mighty 175s and 190s and think that CHQ is going away they are sorely mistaken. Beford wouldn't have hinted at leasing more 145s from XJT and putting them into the Mokulele and Midwest operation if he thought the 145s were dead.

 

[Firebird2XC]

First off, I am supporting you guys 100% in your fight with AMR. Do not look the other way and let them screw with your contract for the thought of 22 shiny new jets. Stand up and all of us are behind you. On a different note what would the EGL group say if AMR said "No CHQ in ORD then no more new planes."

Secondly how does Airdale know what BB wants to do with CHQ flying? The CHQ side is the biggest part of the RAH operation and makes a ton of money for the company. If AMR cancels the contract with CHQ you will see those planes painted in Midwest, Frontier, or Mokulele colors. As much as some of our own look down on the lowly 145 from their mighty 175s and 190s and think that CHQ is going away they are sorely mistaken. Beford wouldn't have hinted at leasing more 145s from XJT and putting them into the Mokulele and Midwest operation if he thought the 145s were dead.

As for the 'no new planes' idea, that's somewhat moot. If the new planes came at a loss of old planes, plus the displacement of DFW based CRJ drivers, then the displacement of ORD based ERJ drivers, that's still a massive loss in quality of life. Commuting issues alone would be irritating. Not keeping CHQ out of ORD could result in a drawdown of ERJ flying as a whole, not just in ORD. Not to mention a dangerous precedent...

As far as what Airdale knows, he doesn't look down on anybody, I think. He just stated his opinion, and he may have been saying that phasing out CHQ's STL op was the issue at hand, not CHQ as a whole. Try not to take it so personally- I really think his point of view is that B.B. wants to go to larger aircraft in general, and to step away from certain aspects of the 50 seat market.

With fuel prices being what they are, 50 seat jets are reasonable economic models again, so their phase out may not be as soon as some formerly thought.