Joe, John's right. Doesn't matter if you're at 9E or Eagle or XJT. All ANY of us can do is sit back and wait at this point.
I don't disagree with that point. In fact I'm not entirely sure why you think I need to be corrected on that point as all I said was I didn't need his criticism and clearly there's a lot more keeping pilot wages down than concessionary contracts. I went through the denial stage, skipped to anger and stayed there for a while, I went through disappointed instead of the bargaining phase, then back to anger, I hit depression for a while, and now I'm onto acceptance. I don't care how grim it looks anymore, I'm in good shape and I'm determined to see this stupid bankruptcy through. You are a terrific guy and I have complete confidence you have a bright future ahead, that's inclusive of family and job and any sports team as long as it's New England based. I do too but I think it'll be a little different road than yours.
The rest of this is directed at anyone critical of my pilot group that is outside the pilot group. It's a long read so feel free to skip:
Forgive my crabbiness but I don't need the STFD mantra. We are eventually going to get a choice on a negotiated settlement, the judge will give us new rates, OR we will fold. Items 2 and 3 I have no control over, as I've stated to infinity and beyond.
When we see the negotiated settlement, we have to vote as a pilot group. My single vote has four conditions to be met, everyone has the
right to vote how they see fit free of criticism, including the guys who will vote for anything. I've got a couple ten thousand in the bank, my house (which is way above water and could be sold at a years income profit) is rented, I have no debt, the sides business is doing just fine and has plenty of room to grow, and the economy here is just fine if I need something local. Bring it, I like my odds, and quite frankly the beach is calling my name.
Previous management brought this on, management one step removed did nothing to stem the tide but did have the decency to tell us Delta wanted us in bankruptcy no matter what, and the current group doesn't have the decency in court to at least keep the facade of a engagement in the running of the company they are charged to manage. We've got so many internal management problems, in collusion with Delta, that sometimes I completely understand the mentality of let it fail. I have the responsibility to be realistic here and let the process work itself through to an end.
During the last bankruptcy, and you can talk to older Mesaba pilots about this especially in mem, pilots from a carrier whose name with be withheld used to tell us to STFD in the jumpseat of our aircraft, because it would "bring down the industry". Not only was our concessionary contract better than theirs they never matched it.
Were there regional airlines who had a higher bar than us? Yes, ASA and Eagle. *shrug* I don't really care to hear from anyone else after almost a decade, and that includes anyone merged with ASA. If anyone else is looking to raise the bar, just do it, I've got enough whining to listen to without the pilots of other carriers. If you can't get it done it's not our fault, you should have done a better job beforehand when our concessionary contract was better than yours (unless of course you are ASA or Eagle). We are captive in a process, don't blame the victim, and don't tell me how to vote.
I like our odds against the pinnacle management circus. If I get a chance to vote, and the contract is unacceptable, then I will vote no. If it meets my criteria, I'll vote yes. Hoping Pinnacle fails because it will make your negotiations easier? Fortune favors the bold.
