More news on Jazz

[flyinhigh]

ivanhoe: Comair pilots end strike
The Erlanger-based company's pilots Friday ratified a contract, ending the 27th-longest strike in U.S. airline history at 89 days. The airline immediately made plans to put planes back in the air July 2.
The contract, which one union official who requested anonymity said increased total pilot compensation by approximately $55 million over its five-year length, makes Comair's pilots the highest-paid in the regional industry

Sorry, comair was on strike. I didn't hear a word about this. Was it recent?

As far as I am concerned, back to work legislation would mean very expensive, and many delays ruining all OTP's. What does our COM say for taxi. A brisk walk(10 KNTS), leaving US gates for rwy 5 in YYZ. Ok book says so, so lets do it. Oh sorry I didn't get my legal rest last night as it was interupted from the maids this morning, etc etc.

I'm just sayin though

[mattedfred]

Comair was on strike around 2000 or 2001. Every ALPA member was assessed so that Comair pilots could receive strike benefits.

[ilovelamp]

Any recent news?

[Jean-Pierre]

Government says Jazz can't strike. Why do people pay money into unions?

[4Stroke]

Government says Jazz can't strike. Why do people pay money into unions?

Hold yer horses JP.....all the Minister is stating is that should there be a strike, they will table legislation to end it. This must take place in parliament, with a debate.

This is an expected part of the dance. The MEC still holds the 72 hr card, and will drop the hammer if and when it is needed.

Parliament is now on summer holiday, therefore would have to be called back in to debate this legislation. Good luck getting our MP's back to YOW in time!

Also with a minority govt the debate will not be so easy and quick.

Negots continued today in YYZ, without the labour minister, which is a good sign.

Jazz pilots still have the RIGHT TO STRIKE, if the MEC decides this is prudent action, and will serve the notice.

Stay the course fellers......

4S

[bcflyer]

Parliament is now on summer holiday, therefore would have to be called back in to debate this legislation. Good luck getting our MP's back to YOW in time!

Also with a minority govt the debate will not be so easy and quick.

Stay the course fellers......

Good statement about the minority govt... Every pilot in Canada should be writing their MP's about this. There are alot of us and it would definitely give them something to think about when the debate started...

[Pourdu_fun]

Negotiation is completed for Jazz Pilot. Both parties have reached an agreement. The TA will be completed this week.

Pourdu

[mattedfred]

.

[AuxBatOn]

Are you guys going to get an extra free peanut bag on every leg?

[Localizer]

Are you guys going to get an extra free peanut bag on every leg?

Depends if the flight-deck is considered part of the new "Peanut Free Zone" ...

[International Harvester]

Unions existed so as to keep 12yr old kids out of mine shafts 75yrs ago. Now all they do is distort the fair value of labour and choke the competitive spirit out of a going concern. The UAW killed Detroit and the pilots union ensures AC will always be a miserable dinosaur that exists despite itself at the mercy of old Liberal parenting. Just research the most profitable airlines/charter co's in this country and tell me if they're unionized.

Que the anger.

[Flax]

Your points are all completely valid, except don't forget companies get the unions they deserve. If it weren't for ALPA, jazz captains would be making minimum wage working 29 days a month. Management's job is to maximize profits in part by minimizing workforce costs, but a smart manager realizes that if you squeeze hard enough you get a union that will cost you more than just treating people well in the first place ever would have.

I despise unions myself but if I worked at Jazz I would be a card-carrying ALPA member too given how management treats them there.

[beast]

international harverster, jazz is one of the most profitable airlines in Canada

and of course, southwest, the most profitable airline in the world, is heavily unionized

but don't tell anyone at wj that

[yycflyguy]

You can call it an association or a union but they both serve the same purpose.

Unions/associations are needed to ensure fair working conditions and provides a check against corporate exploitation of their workers and also to create a standard for the workers so pilots don't screw fellow pilots like you see at the 704/703 levels.

The UAW killed Detroit and the pilots union ensures AC will always be a miserable dinosaur that exists despite itself at the mercy of old Liberal parenting.

Wrong. Detroit died as a result of producing an inferior product for decades and the demand of the consumer for the quality of overseas products, Japanese in-particular. In their latest government bailout, have you already forgotten the rich, spoiled executives arriving in Washington with their multimillion dollar corporate jets to ask for a handout? It is a classic example of why a union is required.

[MUSKEG]

Flyguy.

Sorry can't agree with you. When long time employees are making 75 bucks an hr to push a broom then the union has struck it's way right out of a job as per what happened in Detroit. The Foreign car plants in the US average wage was approx 50 bucks an hr and UAW plants were 75 bucks. Guess what has to give. As far a product goes, yes for a long time the foreign stuff was better but now it's pretty well equal. There are nice nice cars out there now from both sources.

[CFMartin]

However great work might have been achieved on the part of ALPA on this negociation, it might soon be a moot point , since management now has to negociate with the flight attendants union...

[yycflyguy]

As far a product goes, yes for a long time the foreign stuff was better but now it's pretty well equal.

By producing a known inferior product for 20 years it is hard for the consumer to view a GM/Ford/Chrysler product in the same light as a product that was well known to be reliable for the same time period. It will probably take another 20 years to recover that ingrained perspective. Just like the average Canadian will inaccurately tell you that Westjet's fares are lower than Air Canada's. It was Westjet's "low cost" marketing at their inception that taught the public that they provide cheaper fares that carries on today.

As far as employees making excessive wages that are out of line with their responsibilities and skill set, well, we have those at AC as well. Certainly not those groups who hold a licence in their pocket (Dx, Mx, pilots). My original comment was targeted at International Harvester who claims that the pilot union at AC is the cause of piss poor corporate management. CEO's that shuffle money creating optics that a company is broke while still rewarding executives with multi-million dollar bonuses on the backs of the employees concessions.

You get what you negotiate. Unfortunately, ACPA has a dismal record of their negotiating prowess.

[teacher]

Don't forget that unions only ask for what the employees want. A responsible union like ALPA at Jazz has looked at Jazz's financial reports, it's balance sheet and it's future plans and has put forward AFFORDABLE proposals that will enhance the lives of it's members WITHOUT putting the financial health of the company at risk. The problem with alot of unions is that they ask for things that the employees don't deserve and eventually the companies get bullied into providing. There's nothing wrong with a union providing resonable demands, employee protection and keeping the pencil pushers in check.

I too would love to not have a union but in aviation in all too many cases it has been proven that employers will take advantage of the seniority system to reduce pay for pilots, force us to fly unsafe broken airplanes, push duty day and flight limitations and reward those that bend to their demands for cutting corners while firing or withholding advancement to those that do not agree with those practices. I've seen it and lived it so I'm happy to have the right to walk off an airplane I deem unsafe without having to worry about my job.

[Flaps 1]

Excellent point Teacher! You hit the nail on the head. This contract has to be good for both sides, because if it isn't good for the future of Jazz, I don't want it. I have many years left and want Jazz to remain healthy while also providing my family and I with a decent living.

[yycflyguy]

Nicely explained Teacher.