Omni Air International

For anyone keeping tabs on Omni, the tentative agreement vote closed this afternoon. It was rejected by a wide margin:

For - 74
Against - 140

:clap: :beer:
 
Gonzo said:
Why do you think it was rejected?
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A few big issues with it:

-No trip/duty rig (huge issue)
-Home basing changed into "gateway basing," wherein the company could choose any airport within 120 miles of your home, and change that airport from assignment to assignment (another huge issue)
-No change to MMG (currently 60 hours)
-18 days on each month, which is more than the industry standard
-No business class deadhead, which is the industry standard
-Allowed the company to hold us out an extra day (into our 19th day) for zero extra pay
-No change in per diem (currently $1.50 domestic, $2.00 international)
-No lateral bidding unless displaced
-No change to hotel accommodation practices (currently sitting 3 miles away from anything interesting on a long reserve sit)

Those are the big issues... The 800 lb gorilla in the corner was the weak contract wording, often utilizing "at the company's discretion," among other such phrases.
 
The following words should never be in a CBA: "discretion", "best effort". Hmm... can you think of some more? Its been a while since I read the Mesa CBA, it was full of that kind of stuff.
 
Jeesh, well perhaps the company can see a little clearer what the pilots want. No business class deadhead, I think even we get that on flights longer than 4 hours, jeesh.
 
dasleben said:
A few big issues with it:

-No trip/duty rig (huge issue)
-Home basing changed into "gateway basing," wherein the company could choose any airport within 120 miles of your home, and change that airport from assignment to assignment (another huge issue)
-No change to MMG (currently 60 hours)
-18 days on each month, which is more than the industry standard
-No business class deadhead, which is the industry standard
-Allowed the company to hold us out an extra day (into our 19th day) for zero extra pay
-No change in per diem (currently $1.50 domestic, $2.00 international)
-No lateral bidding unless displaced
-No change to hotel accommodation practices (currently sitting 3 miles away from anything interesting on a long reserve sit)

Those are the big issues... The 800 lb gorilla in the corner was the weak contract wording, often utilizing "at the company's discretion," among other such phrases.
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Just because you guys voted this down doesn't mean that you are going to get everything, or even some of the things, on your list fixed to 1224's satisfaction. Muckle has a lot on his plate right now and probably wants your guys contract wrapped up so he can get on with more important business. That's probably why you guys got what you got.
 
Thanks for the info Brent. Starting day 3 of class here tomorrow. Personally, would like to see more money but very glad to see this TA voted down. Hopefully we can get a few things fixed and try again sooner rather than later!
 
CzechAirman said:
Just because you guys voted this down doesn't mean that you are going to get everything, or even some of the things, on your list fixed to 1224's satisfaction. Muckle has a lot on his plate right now and probably wants your guys contract wrapped up so he can get on with more important business. That's probably why you guys got what you got.
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I certainly don't expect to get everything we want, and I think the pilot group realizes this. I was on the fence on the vote for a while. I desperately wanted to vote yes. But after sitting at home and reviewing the contract, I realized that the language in too many sections was too weak ("company may", "company will try" etc). That's what really did it in for me.

There was a lot of good in the TA, but unfortunately a lot of concessions too. The pay raise was great, but the quality of life hit for me was too great. If we can clean up some of the wording I'll be happy to vote yes next time around.

As for Muckle having his plate full....I sympathise, but it's no reason to vote in an unacceptable contract....especially one that we'll have to live with for 8 years.
 
chrisdahut1 said:
I certainly don't expect to get everything we want, and I think the pilot group realizes this. I was on the fence on the vote for a while. I desperately wanted to vote yes. But after sitting at home and reviewing the contract, I realized that the language in too many sections was too weak ("company may", "company will try" etc). That's what really did it in for me.

There was a lot of good in the TA, but unfortunately a lot of concessions too. The pay raise was great, but the quality of life hit for me was too great. If we can clean up some of the wording I'll be happy to vote yes next time around.

As for Muckle having his plate full....I sympathise, but it's no reason to vote in an unacceptable contract....especially one that we'll have to live with for 8 years.
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The company is trying to pull a fast one on you guys by giving you a seemingly large raise but you are conceding and equal or greater amount of work rules. As for Muckle and 1224. Omni is small time to them and they just want you guys finished, that's why they thought the big raise would be voted in.
 
CzechAirman said:
Just because you guys voted this down doesn't mean that you are going to get everything, or even some of the things, on your list fixed to 1224's satisfaction. Muckle has a lot on his plate right now and probably wants your guys contract wrapped up so he can get on with more important business. That's probably why you guys got what you got.
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There's more to this story than meets the eye. I believe that we do have the leverage necessary to see improvements on our next TA.
 
CzechAirman said:
Then why didn't you use said leverage to get a better TA than was presented to you?
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It is a process. Sending a TA to the pilots shows the negotiators are actually doing their job and not just shooting down everything. Hold out for too long or much and the NMB may not side with the pilots.
 
CzechAirman said:
The Airtran MEC probably thought the same with their riff with SWA.
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I still believe we have the leverage. Our pilots are simply choosing not to use it.

Do the Omni pilots have the leverage? I just don't know. Since they're IBT, I don't hear much about what the NMB is thinking in their case. If they can keep the NMB on their side, then they've got considerable leverage. If not, then they've got next to none. It's all about making the NMB happy in the world of RLA bargaining.
 
A new tentative agreement was just announced on Thursday, with improvements. It took them one day to re-negotiate. The improvements address QOL concerns, but do not address the main concern: Rig.

Personally, I think we're being played like a fiddle. I have a feeling it'll pass this round, though...
 
Update to anyone following Omni's progress, the second TA was ratified this afternoon with 58% for, 42% against.
 
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