UAL ALPA warns members on wildcat sick-out

Which, of course, begs the question what is the proper amount.

Should the company have 2x the number of required pilots so that just in case everyone scheduled to work gets sick they can still run with all the others? Or is the margin 50% or 25% or some other number?

Just like they have historical numbers of MX issues on aircraft and can figure out roughly what it takes to run a reliable operation over time they also have models which can help with the numbers for crew. Those hold up fine, even with folks getting sick. But at some point when statistical anomalies occur the models break down. And then it becomes a question of whether it is, in fact, just an anomaly or whether there are shenanigans at play.

Like I said at the very beginning of the thread, I'd like to think that neither side really is playing that sort of game, but it is hard to know what is really happening and no matter what the actual cause, the customers are the ones who are going to get screwed.

In this case the bolded [mine] portion is the crux. To make a claim there needs to be a pattern and I have my doubts that can be discerned at this time.

It's impossible to know what's really happening and we're only being fed tidbits of info/half truths as PR. A skeptical mind is the only point of view to have on all of this at the moment.

Customers, as the base of the pyramid, will be screwed no matter what happens. Some of us think we're screwed already.

It might be, when considering the alternative of striking in this economic (and political) climate.

If the pilots frame a labor action seek to increase their diligence to heights not seen since summer 2000 in reporting MX issues, opting out of overtime, not taking any chances if they feel ill, and rigidly adhering to the contract, they won't need to strike as UA's ops *will* be impacted.

In doing so, they will also have a far stronger PR position (e.g. We're trying to keep the flying public safe! Management is allowing unsafe planes to fly! ...and so on) vs. "We're on strike and we don't care who we screw over."

IMHO management has no qualms about creatively framing their agenda in ways to squeeze every last drop of revenue and savings from customers and employees pump up employees with "dignity and respect" and offer customers enhancements they "want", the pilots - or any labor group - should be afforded the same privilege...sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander, I guess.

Good.....give the pilots their pound of flesh and we can take it from our customer wallets by increasing fares to make up the difference. goose/gander

I have flown on one sCO plane and crew, and I picked up on the latter point of no "United." Thought it was a one-off. Guess it wasn't.

I said you were Global Services. You called me a schmuck.

Like I said, keep it classy Seth.

That's not what you actually wrote and you know it. Anyone who goes back and reads the post will see it, too.

But feel free to pretend if that's what suits you.

TOBB has provided the ultimate answer to this question
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/18864445-post375.html

I agree with much of the post except his view on mainline vs. regional compensation. By profitability, mainline pilots are underpaid while regional pilots make too much. Seriously. Nearly all regional flying is at a net loss on a standalone basis.

Calling someone that is a self-professed Global Services, Global Services (with or without a *cough*) equates to calling me a Schmuck?

Keep it classy Seth.

IN THE RED CORNER REPRESENTING THE GLOBAL MEDIA EMPIREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE WEIGHING AT A SVELTE 175 POUNDS IS THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND, THE OWNER OF ONE TOOOOOO MANY BAD HAWAIIAN SHIRTS, SBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBM12

IN THE BLUE CORNER REPRESENTING THE SAVE THE TULLLLLLLLIP CAMPAIGN, HALING FROM THE IAD RED CARPET CLUB, THE RED AND THE BLUE, THE SAUL BASS DEVOTEE, THE MAN WHO STILL THINKS UA IS THE GREATEST EVAR, INNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNFINITE 1K.

READY
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FIGHT

You've underestimated my weight a bit (though I suppose I should be flattered). And those shirts are phenomenal.

I also have no idea what "self-professed global services" means versus just the fact that I have GS status this year. Is that to imply that I'm lying about it? Otherwise everything all of us say here is self-professed. In that we all type out our own posts, thereby stating things ourselves.

Hate to wade into the deep end of the stupid pool, but I think Infinite 1k (and please, correct me if I'm wrong) was implying that because you tell folks that you're a GS as opposed to running the status undercover, that somehow makes it less haute (?). The best thing about being a GS is doors magically open for you without having to proclaim "I'm a GS, open the F'ing doors," which would be uncouth.

But who knows.

How that's at all different/worse than having your status as your handle is of course a heavy amount of irony that I feel compelled to point out.

I say "I'm 1K, beeyotch!" at the airport all the time. I get excellent customer service as a result.

It's the little hip swivel you do that sells it, I do believe.