US Airways Pilot Keeps American Pilots Off His Jumpseat

Not that I'm involved in whatever vote you have going on...
I grew up in a union family, I'm a pretty big supporter, but reading ATN's posts... I'm not sure if anyone could sway me against more than reading what he's posting.
I think if I were on the fence and I read this thread I'd come away with not only a no, but an F NO!

Just some thoughts from the peanut galley with no dog in the fight. Remember you're reaching a much wider audience than the people at your airline or other ALPA members and there's probably a good share of them that are going to end up voting on or in a union at some point in their career. With any luck, myself included.

I'm still a yes vote, because we need it.
 
It's not even the same topic.

Sure it is. A strong supporter of ALPA and previous union representative is supporting the equivalent of bullying to motivate professional pilots on a seniority list. How can that not give you a little pause if you have a vote coming up that will put people like that into a position of power at your place of work?
 
Sure it is. A strong supporter of ALPA and previous union representative is supporting the equivalent of bullying to motivate professional pilots on a seniority list. How can that not give you a little pause if you have a vote coming up that will put people like that into a position of power at your place of work?

You put your own people into positions of power. You can choose hardline trade unionists, or you can choose other types. That's your choice. The beauty of a union is that it's a democracy.
 
I did when I was a captain, if they looked old enough to have been flying then. Now I can just aggressive lobby the capitan. I'm 1 for 2 with that so far.

It's not easy to deny a guy a jumpseat (or seat in the back) in the DAL system.

The DAL procedure is to roll a guy to the back if there is a seat available. Which means they don't have to check in with the CA (per DAL policy), as there is no more JS request form at that point. The gate agent has checked CASS.

I've brought the issue up with my JS coordinator to no avail.
@ATN_Pilot


Maybe some DAL guys can chime in...?
 
It's not easy to deny a guy a jumpseat (or seat in the back) in the DAL system.

The DAL procedure is to roll a guy to the back if there is a seat available. Which means they don't have to check in with the CA (per DAL policy), as there is no more JS request form at that point. The gate agent has checked CASS.

I've brought the issue up with my JS coordinator to no avail.
@ATN_Pilot


Maybe some DAL guys can chime in...?

Yeah, I'm not really a fan of the DAL system. Alaska's is the same. I still stop by and check in with the CA when I'm jumpseating on DAL. Half of them seem to appreciate it, the other half look at me like I've got three heads. Whatever. I think the front end has the right to know when there's another pilot sitting in the back of their airplane on jumpseat privileges.
 
Yeah, I'm not really a fan of the DAL system. Alaska's is the same. I still stop by and check in with the CA when I'm jumpseating on DAL. Half of them seem to appreciate it, the other half look at me like I've got three heads. Whatever. I think the front end has the right to know when there's another pilot sitting in the back of their airplane on jumpseat privileges.

The problem becomes this: if you intend to deny scabs a ride (@BobDDuck ), you cannot. You cannot kick them out of the plane because they aren't on a JS request at that point.
 
The problem becomes this: if you intend to deny scabs a ride (@BobDDuck ), you cannot. You cannot kick them out of the plane because they aren't on a JS request at that point.

Yep. Which is pretty screwed up, because if they aren't on a JS request, then what are they on? They didn't buy an ID-90. They aren't an employee, so they're not on employee pass benefits. They don't have a buddy pass. And they certainly didn't buy a ticket. So how the hell are they getting on the airplane if they're not a guest of the captain on a JS request? Makes no sense to me.
 
Yep. Which is pretty screwed up, because if they aren't on a JS request, then what are they on? They didn't buy an ID-90. They aren't an employee, so they're not on employee pass benefits. They don't have a buddy pass. And they certainly didn't buy a ticket. So how the hell are they getting on the airplane if they're not a guest of the captain on a JS request? Makes no sense to me.

Can they partake in drinking too? :D

This question regarding OAL status at that point might be best suited for the DAL JS coordinator. Appeal to his unionist side and all...
 
Yep. Which is pretty screwed up, because if they aren't on a JS request, then what are they on? They didn't buy an ID-90. They aren't an employee, so they're not on employee pass benefits. They don't have a buddy pass. And they certainly didn't buy a ticket. So how the hell are they getting on the airplane if they're not a guest of the captain on a JS request? Makes no sense to me.

They are considered an ID-0. Just like the OAL FAs are "jumpseating" even though they cannot sit on the actual jumpseat.
 
So you think that the minority should be able to overrule the majority? Wonderful philosophy you've got there. :rolleyes:

No. I think you need to read some. That's not what that means.

And it is a good philosophy. It's the idea behind our entire Federal system of government, including the US Constitution.
 
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The threat of a union may be better than actually having a Union at JetBlue.

I think that used to be true. But the biggest reason we need a CBA is so we can have a 3rd party on our ASAP MOU. That will go a long way towards protecting our crew members from a heavy-handed (traditional safety minded) management.

Were it not for that, I would be a no vote. Sometimes you have to take the bad with the good, and protecting our crews from a traditional safety mindset is worth the mountains of crap that's going to come along with the CBA.
 
I think that used to be true. But the biggest reason we need a CBA is so we can have a 3rd party on our ASAP MOU. That will go a long way towards protecting our crew members from a heavy-handed (traditional safety minded) management.

Were it not for that, I would be a no vote. Sometimes you have to take the bad with the good, and protecting our crews from a traditional safety mindset is worth the mountains of crap that's going to come along with the CBA.

Though a CBA is nice in that they can't unilaterally make any negative changes without a vote or a bankruptcy.
 
That has already been tried at JetBlue (twice).

From my understanding, things have gotten worse there even with that threat.

Meh. There have been dramatic improvements too, in pay, in work rules, etc. Just look at our pay now vs. 7 years ago.

For me the biggest issue is the Safety concern. We just have too many upper management guys that think the best way to improve safety is to fire people who make errors.
 
I agree. The ASAP MOU is not the only reason, for sure. I just wish you could get one without the union politics that goes with it.

There are also politics that occur within the management circles.

Meh. There have been dramatic improvements too, in pay, in work rules, etc. Just look at our pay now vs. 7 years ago.

What about insurance??? I heard the insurance plans offered are absolutely atrocious.

For me the biggest issue is the Safety concern. We just have too many upper management guys that think the best way to improve safety is to fire people who make errors.

Yes, I would even agree with you on this. Unions are fundamental (in the airline industry) for improving safety at an airline.
 
There are also politics that occur within the management circles.

Agreed. Not a fan of that either, though the politics are different. I know you've got it in your little head that I'm pro management and anti labor, but that's not the case. Anti ALPA is not anti labor.

I took a position in safety to help my fellow pilots, not harm them. Safety departments typically are the voice of reason to provide guidance to flight operations, not to be anti-labor.

What about insurance??? I heard the insurance plans offered are absolutely atrocious.

My wife's insurance used to be better than JetBlue's insurance because she is a doctor, and care within her hospital was effectively free. This year hers is worse than JetBlue's, so we are on my insurance now. That's just the way health insurance is going in the country at large. JetBlue's insurance is worse than other airline's insurance, but average in the country at large.

We can negotiate for better healthcare, but it will come at a cost somewhere else. It's not like we will just get good healthcare for free once the union comes on property.
 
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