Amerijet Pilot's Strike

[TheWashingtonEagle]

This is the typical story of predatory "airline" management.

[TheCubanote]

is not good company amerijet line ...abused

[datsunjosh]

I have a passion for flying and always have, but its stuff like this that makes me afraid to go to flight school and pursue a career as a pilot.

[dproffessa]

This is total madness. Thats slavery man

[727Viper]

See D. Leschinski--@ 0.01--evil crazy woman--we happen to see her quiet often in Miami and Miami B--and we know what she is done--shame on her--stop the madness--stop hurting people--what comes around goes around.

Whatever happened to showing pride--some humility--decency--respect for self and others ?

In another note--Is she getting fired any time soon ?

[707BIGGLES747]

This is the state of corporate America! These pilots should have hauled the management out of their offices and beaten them to a pulp!

[Brianhuevo]

If you see that stupid look round and round

[umahuma4]

dont work for amerijet.

[Vasa500]

ABOUT LESCHINSKI: SHE GETS iNFORMATION FROM THE SCABS, AND TELLS ALL TO THE STRIKERS AND VICEVERSA, BUT EVERY BODY KNOWS THAT ALREADY NOTHING NEW THERE.

CAN NOT TRUST PEOPLE LIKE THIS. SHE IS SO RETARDED.

[skgamerps3]

This company is based in America

[Vasa500]

The old ugly blond "Leschinski" looks and talks like a mentally retarded person

[Freeworld4575]

Tough times....

[Juji909]

What about the passengers? Don't they have a bathroom? Can't the pilots go over there? And there's obviously water on the plane somewhere...

[aviador1982]

@Juji909 There are no passengers in cargo airplanes, Amerijet is a Cargo Airline

[Juji909]

I see.

[Matt007b]

Good for these guys :)

[sunstart1]

A better overall working environment was bought and paid for by all who were involved. If I were one of the scabs, I'd hit the road before my fait caught up with me.

[acuratsx29]

sorry for my last comment it was ment for sunstar1

[acuratsx29]

Dunia seriously apply overseas !!!

u r not gonna get far by sacking up !!! this people are never gona change !!

Supply and demand !!! simple rule have u ever gone out of the States ??? i guess not u can't insult others people culture like the way u did !! anyways good luck !!

[FMPninja]

Looks like poor conditions, hope you get anything out of it

[sunstart1]

Being able to write freely like this is why America is the best country in the world. Pyper 70 you are, indeed, a true scab (communist) to be speaking of your country like this. Scabs and communist, both are the same and should be used in the same sentence. America may be having problems with its economy, but, it is still far better than any country in the world. Enjoy your monkey stew and algae-infested water wherever you are.

[acuratsx29]

about Fucking time !!!!! but you know what pisses me offf more than it's only a few that Stike !!!

Guys !!! there are JOBS out there but we are all a bunch of Pu_@_y that we never want to go over seas !!!! there is china emirates and south america ETC !!!! beleive it or not those people are not affected by greed and pilots hold their value in the Industry !!!

Agarrense los Huevos !!!!

prenez vos boules !!!!

[Pyper70]

How can you call people who don't agree with your cause....a scab? I dont believe in pro-life...does that make me a scab to humanity? If you don't like your jobs.....just turn in your resignations and go look elsewhere for work, No one put a gun to your head and told you to work in those conditions. If the situations were tolerable 10 years ago.....why aren't they still tolerable today...Again...hard economy...roll with the punches or quit. GO MANAGEMENT!!!!

[sunstart1]

To the Scabs,

Us guys that have taken names welcome you into the fold. We have seen your little heads bobbing up and down in training, anxiously waiting your turn at the wheel. We KNOW your names and where you live. There is just one problem, you will NEVER get one minute of logged time to place in your pathetic disease-infested logbooks. You are scum and are too little too late to make any difference with our cause. Now, go home and see your momma's, your late for dinner. Pussies.

[707BIGGLES747]

Can you believe that this is the USA in 2009! Great country eh? Great principles! Great management! These pilots are not going far enough. Storm the office, drag the management out in the street and beat the fuck out of them!

[sunstart1]

Well said. All of this support for the strike is about to pay off. Let this be the beginning of taking back the industry from greedy airline management.

[reenig]

luismdimas you are an absolute fucking moron. Keep earning your $8 an hour while i will be happy with my six figure salary and i am not divorced and work 10 days a month, so fuck you.

[DUNIAJOVANKA]

for luisdimas and all the Scabs

After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, He

had some awful substance left with which He made a scab. A scab is a

two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a waterlogged brain, and a

combination backbone made of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts,

he carries a tumor of rotten principles.

[DUNIAJOVANKA]

When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs and angels

weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out.

No man has a right to scab as long as there is a pool of water deep

enough to drown his body in, or a rope long enough to hang his carcass

with.

[DUNIAJOVANKA]

Judas Iscariot was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his

Master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab hasn't.

Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Judas Iscariot sold

his savior for thirty pieces of silver. Benedict Arnold sold his

country for a promise of a commission in the British Army.

[DUNIAJOVANKA]

The modern strikebreaker sells his birthright, his country, his wife,

his children, and his fellow men for an unfulfilled promise from his

employer, trust, or corporation.

--Jack London-1915--

[sunstart1]

When the pilots win this strike, and they will, you will wish you were part of a union that negotiated better working conditions and pay on your behalf and not remain in the same negative environment for which you now live.

Keep going brothers and sisters on the picket line. Take names of the scabs who dare to cross for their future in this industry will soon be but a distant memory. We are watching cargo city closely 24/7.

[kc10guy]

Can you say Escherichia coli or E. Coli for short. Thats what we are playing with here. Please investigate!

[kc10guy]

Hey spin this Amerijet. David Bassett said that it was ok for his crews to take a crap next to the fresh fruits and vegetables that we bring from the caribbean to your tables. He approved the removal of the bathrooms. People please wash your fruits and vegetables.

[sunstart1]

This strike is not about YOU or your office co-workers. It is about the pilots deserving of being treated like others in their industry. If you were half-educated and not so ignorant of the pilot profession you would realize how pilots are treated and paid at other airlines. BItch, please? What are you freakin' gay? Flutter back to work now and get your boss a cup of coffee so you can earn your $5 an hour and let the educated professionals fight for what is right. Your wasting your time here.

[luismdimas]

they dont go out and look for a job becuase they know no where else is hiring they here of alllll the other companys letting go of 100something go every month yet they still have the balls to complain oh please you should be greatful for what you got and stop trying to do wrong to others

[310kpat]

luismdimas, keep writing. Every time you talk, it makes the pilots look better. Besides, we need people like you to take out our trash, and then thank us for letting you do it. If you get laid off because if this strike, let me know, I can give you a job cleaning my toilet

[luismdimas]

Blow me u dumbass. At least i have a job n im not walking in circles with bags of poop like a dumbass,u guys r the ones asking for toilets but u aint getting none so mean while keep shiting in ur little bags n wait for toilets to fall off the sky.....FAGOT!!!!

[luismdimas]

bitch please im not jealous most of these ppl give nothing to be jealous of with there miserable wretched live most are divorced un happy alway complaining in a hurry to get to a bar fast as possible what i am is pissed these fuckers think just becuase they want to get a point across they can treat the employs working like shit excuse you asshole i need to pay my shit as much as the next person threatening, yelling, stalking,trying to run ppl of the road is not going to get you you're money.

[sunstart1]

Luismdimas...your an idiot...you can't even write well. Let me guess, your an office worker at Amerijet doing some kind of adminintrative BS. These pilots want what is comparable and fair in THEIR industry. Most are college educated and have years of training under their belts. If your jealous that they make more than you, which is clear that your are, then go and begin taking flying lessons. Perhaps in no less than ten years you too can make the big bucks. Meantime, your comments are clueless.

[DUNIAJOVANKA]

sunstart1 Goog Job!!! I totally agree with you!!

Luismdimas You're an idiot!!! what are they supposed to do,Keep taking abuse....

Go AMERIJET!!!!!

[Pyper70]

I'd like to show that Sunstart1 Criticizes spelling with his line "Luismdimas...your an idiot...you can't even write well." well asshole...its spelled " you're ".....And DuniaJovanka....Are you even an American Citizen? You can't be when you agree with Sunstart1 and say thing like "sunstart1 Goog Job!!! I totally agree with you!!"....whats a GOOG???

[DUNIAJOVANKA]

Pyper70 yes you idiot I'm AN AMERICAN CITIZEN I don't know about you but I'm !!! Whatever asshole

for your FXXXX info I speak 3 languages and you???

By the way you're a SCAB as well !!!!

[Pyper70]

Dunia....Born and raised in The States....I am a national scab....I moved overseas because the overall climate of the US is CRAP. I didn't whine....I left my hometown and went where the jobs were, where people treat you better, where MY KIDS can grow up and actually get a decent education. Obviously you guys are beating a dead horse.

<~~~~~~~~~~~SCAB AND PROUD!!!!

[DUNIAJOVANKA]

WOW CONGRATULATIONS SCAB!! Stay where you are and don't come back Ok. WE don't want SCABS here.

[luismdimas]

if you dont like the company move onnn..........

[luismdimas]

oh yea and i know for a fact that all they would ever complain about was 10percent this 10 percent that not shit about bathroom >.............. know for a fact

[luismdimas]

i hope you dont succeed and i hope that the pilots who kept us going end up getting everything you wanted and more i hope you end up in the unemployment line see how nice they treat ppl there.you never know what you had till it was gone shit bags and al

[luismdimas]

FE are just gloryfied mechanics and i dont need to shit in a bag i make less than 20g a yr to shit in a backedup sewer smelling bathroom where the cleaning crew cant work until the teamsters decide well this has nothing to do with them but lets leave them with out work

[luismdimas]

i may not be a pilot but im not completely out of the loop on this i know that the bathroom hasnt been an issue up until money started becoming a bigger issue companys might be asshole but amerijet is niether the first nor the worst and accordingly what was the deal breaker in your strike that the union wanted to beable to say where a pilot can or canot go just becuase they have bigger contracts the strikers are just mentioning things that will help them look good for the media not who and wat r

[luismdimas]

every thing they are saying on camera is just to get a piti party but what they really want issss ???? oh yea there ten percent they want 401k health insurance why dont you tell me who in america doesnt ppl in mcdonalds want it greedy selfish money hungry who dont care about anyone but them selves and there money!!!! give them a 20percent raise and see how fast they pee in a BAG HAHAHAHA

[fe4034]

Obviously you are not a pilot and Don't know what the hell you are talking about. Pilots have given a lot back to the company and all they want is pay cut after pay better yet go take a ride in those airplanes and good luck trying to take a shit in a plastic bag.. do that for a week and see how you feel about a company that took the lavs out of their airplanes so that they can make more room for freight and make more money without regards to the basic human need..

[luismdimas]

you cant be a scab if you are not part of the union dumbass im just an employ trying to work to not be a statistic as a freaking homeless person but im glad these pilots can afford to not work i hope they get the picture YOU ARE REPLACABLE HAHAHAHAHA "GOT JOBS" or so i herd

[DUNIAJOVANKA]

all of yuo with negative comments = SCABS!!!! simplea as that SCABS!!!

[projectsaa3]

If you fly for Amerijet you are either an Eastern/Continental scab, someone with a criminal record or DUI or a low time pilot building hours. I flew for Fine Air and it was the same deal. But I was happy to be working and the opportunity they gave me with my low time. If there are no serious safety concerns then go back to work or find another job. The regionals have a far worse pay scale. Find a regional FO and ask how they live on $23,000 yr. How could you not know who you were working for!!!

[DUNIAJOVANKA]

all of you bashing them are just SCABS!!! simple as that...

[sunstart1]

These pilots have wanted better working conditions for years. The ONLY way to get them is to unionize which takes years to do. They have had the balls to weather the storm and stay the course. It is NOT just about having a bathroom on board. It's about decent pay, hours, and overall working conditions and being treated like human beings, not laboratory animals. It's very easy to criticize and judge these folks unless you have walked in their shoes. Strike hard and take names!

[sunstart1]

To address an earlier comment; Go and get another job if you don't like it here. Are you F***ing serious? Where, Vietnam? How about the Middle East? These pilots were promised a working environment far different than what they received when they finished training, then, mngmt started with the abuse. I interviewed there years ago and thank god I had another job offer that I went with. They told me two legs a day and 60k a year plus benefits. Yall right! This strike should have happened years ago.

[sunstart1]

Any pilot that says something negative toward this is obviously worthy of being scab material. This is one of those places where pilots work in order to gain experience in hopes of making it to a legacy carrier. The company knows this and uses it against them. They figure they can abuse them as they wish with no harsh feedback. If any of these pilots could get a better job, believe me, they would in a heartbeat. The point, mngmt is scum for taking advantage of these hard working professionals.

[iltjoa]

You should buy the camping toilets with seats. And then deposit the bags at managements to show your discomforts of handling the bags. Keep protesting!! Go pilots!

[TheCaptnrox]

Call your life insurance company and see if you are covered outside of the US, in war zones, or 3rd world countries.? This company has the money to expand, buy new copanies, new 767 aircraft and refuse to take care of its employees.

[TheCaptnrox]

Well you never flew one of these 727's. There isn't one of of these so called "safe areas" they have a secure cockpit door and a small galley with jumpseats and a raft. Bathrooms are only a small part of the problem. These guys have been without a contract for over five years, working with substandared wages on a pay scale from 1999. Then came the 10% pay and benifits cut. Now these guys fly all hours of the clock into some pretty dangerous places for less than 36k a year!

[Pyper70]

If you want privacy away from jumpseaters.....you can always go behind the 9G Net. All Cargo planes have them in order to protect the pilots from dangers in the fuselage in time of crisis.

[Pyper70]

So quit and find another job. You pilots didn't have a problem with this when you first started. Bathrooms are a luxury on a plane. I used to work for a cargo company and their pilots were taken care of, and they WERE NOT EVEN UNION!.If you guys started 10 yrs ago and didnt have a lavatory, you should have brought it to attention then. You sucked it up and now you want more..In this economy, be happy you just have a job. Whats worse.....getting docked 10% on your salary or getting laid off?

[DUNIAJOVANKA]

SCAB!!!!

[joshsneaker]

I would have thought the FFA would do something about on board crew conditions. If your up for more than 4 hours i'd say you'd need a toilet on board.

[air1dit]

AMERIJET should be ashamed of themselves! The CEO should be forced to fly on one of his planes for 8 hours without a bathroom. What the hell kind of company is this?

[TheCaptnrox]

Hey guys, keep the picket line strong. Everyone should wear shorts and flops to show managment its better on the line then inside. I saw HIG is on a little drop in there stock, this shouldn't last much longer.

[dizzzzydoc]

Fact remains that All over the world pilots are leaving their places of origin to seek better work conditions, better pay etc. This should not be the case. I left Canada to fly in the Caribbean, and sure it's a blast but the idea of returning to Canada for 1/3 the paycheck isn't an option.

I would love each and every major airline pilot union to lobby IATA for some form of standardized work/rest, salaries, and general work conditions for pilots/crew.

[hecbir]

scab must pay scabs must die

[MrContrail]

Ahhh. Beautiful post. Filled with intellect and wit. People, this is the type of person flying those multimillion dollar aircraft asking for your support. Brilliant! Real professional. Also note the hit and run tactics without proving a single thing. Please support these hard working "professionals" with their just cause.

Would you want to trust your product/lives/family with a pilot like this? Niiiicccce!!

Does your mommy know you are on the 'puter little one?

[steve54296]

My mother in law was just laid off from a non-union job, after almost a full career. She was a stellar performer, and had more time at the company than a lot of upper-level managers. They laid-off, without any regard to seniority, and was weighted toward those with higher pay. Her position was that which required niche' skills, and not transferable. To find another position with a different company, she can only use her general skills, resulting in a massive pay cut, and a devastated career.

[MrContrail]

Really am sorry to hear that Steve. I wouldn't want anyone not having a job that wants one.

I got furloughed a year ago (NO flying jobs here) and my wifes company has been going through layoffs for just as long - her company has just announced they were moving manufacturing to China! SOBs! Everything is made in freakin' China. Don't know how long she has there, but we BOTH may be out before long! She's been there for 25 years too!

Move to where?

[sunstart1]

If they haven't already, I hope this strike gets some sort of National media attention. The flying public really needs to know what the life of cargo pilots, regional airline pilots, and part 135 pilots is like. Most are college graduates, go through years of experience and training, and hold peoples lives in their hands. When a plane crashes because of fatigue and everyone points their judgmental fingers at the pilots, perhaps this situation will shine the light on some answers. Strike hard!

[sunstart1]

Union or not, the pilot professions is made up of good, hard-working, skilled people that deserve far better treatment than they get at a low-class outfit like Amerijet. Think about this for a moment. Can you imagine any other job where you literally hold peoples lives in your hands and not get a bathroom to piss in? Even the guy at the local cuban sweat shot down in MIA gets that. I am quite sure that mngmt at Amerijet gets their cozy toilets to take a dump in whenever they want.

[steve54296]

Upper management at all airlines tend to breed those of poor moral character. Greed tells them that their labor groups are barriers to increased profits. They will undercut and mistreat their labor groups, in the name of increased profits. This is not the exception; it is the rule. Unions provide a balance to this greed. Any labor group will perform their job to the exact degree they are treated. Very rarely, good treatment is given. Most of the time, because of greed, it must be taken.

[bcrosier]

McContrail - why don't you go buy about 20 feet of hose to run from the tailpipe of your car to the drivers side door and do society a favor by eliminating yourself from the gene pool. Dirtbag.

[MrContrail]

Hey! Here's one of the guys now! I don't want to be promoted on my skills, knowledge, judgment. I am OWED this job. I'm an idiot that can't even have a discussion. Someone else that cant stand on their own two feet. Have another beer!

The passengers/product is the source of your income you idiot! The union only survives with dues paying pansies like you. They are interested in YOU?! What a fool! They survive by body count! Try that attitude at a corporate flight department C ya!

[steve54296]

Remember? Management walked out of negotiations, and shot their own company in the foot. Unions protect the profession we have all invested our lives in. It has been proven that better compensated workers are more productive, which almost 100% makes up for any increase in compensation. Plus, more money in the hands of the working-class puts more money into this economy. We had 8 years of trickle down, and now our country is the most sickly I've seen it in my life time. So much for that theory.

[MrContrail]

Proven?! You've got to be kidding Steve! I have been a member of the Teamsters twice (both times furloughed - Member in good standing each time). During this time, you could see who was a worker, and who RELIED on the union to save their jobs due to LACK OF PERFORMANCE. They got lazy and certainly were not motivated to work. Why should they? They enjoyed riding in the cart, not pulling it. Pride, honor, self-respect all lost with these guys.

[steve54296]

Yes, it has been proven that their is a clear link between the relative degree of compensation, and the performance of the worker.

[MrContrail]

I need protection FROM the union I supported all these years! They protected the numb nuts who couldn't perform, but were hired before me! Is that a way to run a company? I worked my ass off and did a great job, but was let go simply because the date I was hired. I flew with dip shits who couldn't navigate off the ramp but they keep their jobs cause they "found" it first"!? Unions protect the weak, lazy, unambitious cart riders, not the hard work, ethical, moral cart pushers. where R U?

[steve54296]

I've been with many union and non-union companies, as a pilot, and not. In all cases, I never saw any evidence that unions breed slothfulness. What I did see, in all cases, is that if a company treats their employees well, union or not, they perform well, and make up for their good treatment. If a labor group is treated poorly, in the name of profits, they will perform poorly, union or not.

[MrContrail]

Placard is a bit dull - ground the aircraft (but wait till we get to BF Egypt ;-) I just flew in on day one - I fatigued, I'll call company 1/2 hour prior to wheels up. Hey, how'd those pretzels get behind the door seal (write up pressurization problems - ya, wait till BF Egypt). Piss off pax, it's okay, we're protected by the union, but it will make the company negotiate faster with owners down, dispatchability down, etc. Here's a knife for own use....

[steve54296]

A. Required placard is unreadable?- write it up and delay the flight; non-union: You're fired!

B. Max duty with min rest, and you can't fly the aircraft safely the next day, because you're fatigued- call in; non-union: You're fired!

C. 1 day off in 7, and you haven't seen you're wife in almost a few weeks; complain to the wrong person; non-union: You're fired!

D. End up pissing off some passengers, because you delay them with a valid, safety-related open writeup in BFE; non-union: You're fired!

[MrContrail]

A: Find it day 1 on preflight - do your job!

B: GET rest - no all nighter binges - don't call in 1/2 hour prior to flight (so company doesn't have time to recover) - be "professional" - do your job!

C: Don't like the schecule? Do something else! Was it the same schedule you signed up with - live with it! - Do your job!

D: See "A" above - ....

Union - don't feel like working today, ball game on - call in sick. Yaddy Yaddy Yadda. I have a dog in this fight! I SEE the"quality" there!

[steve54296]

A. Because you're non-union, you were given an unrealistic turn time, with an aircraft swap. You didn't want to delay the flight, for fear of retribution. You didn't have time to see the placard. You then noticed it in flight, and didn't want to continue illegally.

B. Guess you've never had max duty, paired with min rest. There is a reason why SCIENTIFIC STUDIES are saying that rest rules need to change.

C. Why live with it, when I could change it, via UNION!!!!

D. IT BROKE IN FLIGHT!!!

[MrContrail]

Self preservation. I never did anything that would have jeopardized me, MY crew, MY aircraft,or MY career. If it was broke I wrote it up without fear of retribution. Never "called" on it. Turn time "unrealistic" - Just told them we'll do what we can - Thanks guys. Max duty - frequently, especially when I was medivac. You rested when you were off (nature of the job) seill LOVED my job. Why change something you were hoping so badly you would be hired with? The world revolves around you?

[steve54296]

You're lucky. I know non-union pilots who had their jobs on the chopping block, for everything I just mentioned. My career does revolve around me; sorry. I'm not asking for a million dollars per year, but I do expect fair and equitable treatment. This should be an expectation of any job. Like I said, if it's not given, unions allow it to be taken, and the preservation of the career field.

[MrContrail]

Maybe I'm too close to the trees. I want my job back. I love to fly, the pay wasn't the best, but I was willing to accept it (it's the scale presented to me when I hired on). My brothers keep saying how wonderful it will be when I come back to a great contract - ya, but for every $10K they win I get to sit out another 6 months. They collect, I sit.

If a company pays crap they lose good employees to other higher paying companies - it'll take time, but they WILL fail. Must pay to compete

[wingofflight]

WHY would anyone want to be a pilot ?

I just dont get it. Kids flying RJs are making well under 20k a year.

[BrewingMike]

Your Brothers and Sisters of the IBT Local 1108 stand with you! I will personally walk with you if I end up in Miami prior to the end of your successful strike! In solidarity, Mike N.

[justcoolin66]

Gents and ladies, it is a simple fact the here in the US no one is forced to work. Ones needs are the only reason most of us work today. If a job is not meeting your needs then one should just frankly give your two week notice then just move on and find another job. If Amerijet is not meeting your needs or the standards that you wish to work in go to FedEx, UPS, American Airlines, Delta and or any other majors. But I guarantee you this; you will always find something to complain about.

[MrContrail]

AMEN! JC66! They would do everything they could to get on, then complain when they got there. I hated those guys on the road - I loved to hear the slam - click when we got to the hotel so I wouldn't hear them cry/wine. They take a great job and piss on the camp fire!

[hategreedyppl]

You got that right, and this crowd here sure do know how to piss & whine.

[jonny2387]

good luck too all you guys.

[Visionmanagement]

I am so sorry for the Amerijet Flight Crew. I know nothing about unions or strikes except what I hear about or see on tv, but because I am doing the case study, I am learning a lot.

[MrContrail]

I was furloughed last year. My brothers were willing to sell me down the river so they could benefit! The higher the seniority number, the more vocal they appear. I had more time taxiing aircraft than some had total flying time and they got the new airplanes or werent furloughed because they FOUND the job before me not because of their skills, judgment, airmanship or customer relations skills.

Having to piss in a bag Bah! Ill take your job!

[Visionmanagement]

So sorry you got furloughed, but the facts are Amerijet furloughed a number of their employees and it was just a games. If the company is doing so bad how come they have bought other companies and airplanes. I know because I am using them as a Case Study for my Labor Relations class. I am appauled at the what the company offered the flight crew. You can go and apply for the jobs that is if the company is still in business after this.

[MrContrail]

Speaking from the "inside", I know that the company presented me with a binder showing the pay scale for 15 years. As a business person, I was willing to sell my time for that amount. If the industry grows up around me/my company and it doesn't keep up, well then, I can seek employment elsewhere. I can't say that they were screwing me. If they want to keep quality pilots, then raise the pay. If they want to be a training facility, then do nothing.

[MrContrail]

Polish my resume, buy a new suit, practice my interview skills - get hired - now the company sucks? We need to change? Death to the company if we don't get a good contract? Who said they owed you anything? If you don't like the smell then move on! Pissing off passengers so you can get at mgt. only cuts your own throat. They are the ones paying you. The company is just the middle man. The pax will go somewhere else to get what they paid for. Greedy X 3 and don't appreciate their job

[MrContrail]

It's like the pro sports player wanting the strike vote. It ain't about the money man - I just love to play, but I ain't playing for less than $Million per year. It ain't about the money - it's about the "quality of life" -right! The same job you sweated out getting now sucks - it didn't change, "you" did.

Move on!

[TheCaptnrox]

scab!

[kc10guy]

David Bassett said it was ok for us to take a crap next to the fresh fruits and vegetables that we bring to your table from the caribbean. He approved the removal of the bathrooms so that he could get some more cargo onboard. Money first public safety next. If you agree say nothing. If you don't call 954-655-8444 VP Huff

[tdp1957]

You guys stay the coarse. Its just another middle class job that they want to take advantage of. As a Sr aircraft mechanic for Fedex We are also fighting to get back all our benefits that have been taken away from us. Our pilots fought hard for their contract and stood together and have one of the best if not the best contract in aviation. I wish I was there to stand shoulder to shoulder with you brave people

[sonarmantoo]

The lav issue is a red herring. There are thousands, repeat thousands of pilots flying cargo in the world who do not have the luxury of a Lav on board, many of them operating for UPS, FEDEX, DHL, USPS, etc. No lav in Caravans, Metro III's, Cargo Falcons, most DC9-15F's, etc. In fact, the majority of cargo aircraft in operation worldwide, do not have lavs. These are not 747's or DC-8's flying 10 hour stages. If they came up through the ranks from other aircraft, these pilots know this.

[sunstart1]

Attention all negative commentors. There are no other jobs out there right now for pilots. That's the only reason why these pilots work here! That said, it should never be used as a bargaining chip for management to treat professionals like total slaves, which is what these people are. Could they quit, sure. Then what, work at freakin' wall mart for nearly the same wages. It's absolutely criminal what airline managemnet does here. TIme to re-bargain or shut the doors management scum.

[lanebmw]

Crapping in a bag? I guess none of these have ever flown c-130`s. Thats the norm. Pissing in a bag is not that bad. Have you ever pissed in a cup? I do it every year. whine,whine,whine. Its a small company trying to make it, and now they prolly won`t.

[pj1050]

these guys arent military. fall back man

[stykerforce]

This is BS! I am a flight crew member of an anonymous passenger airline in the United States and I can tell you right now that we would do the same thing if mgmt ever tried to pull that third world treatment on us!!!

[beergut111]

well if they paid the pilots what the job pays and gave them fair rules and working conditions that dont mimic the german death camps, management wouldnt have these problems.

the reason you get a union and strikes is because of piss poor management...not the other way around. One is evil and one attempts to stop that evil from destroying lives. fact.

[sonarmantoo]

Timing is everything, and mid-2009 is the worst time anyone could have chosen to strike. The well being of 600 employees at Amerijet and their families are placed at risk by these disgruntled few. Interview the rest of the employees before buying into the spew from this group. It is sureal to see pilots being misled by their union reps to strike in these times, and it's a sad day for all Amerijet employees, including pilots. This will certainly not help their profit sharing plan.

[PATCO158]

There is no good time to call strike. If management refuses to negotiate in good faith ...you walk and shut them down.

[310kpat]

PROFIT SHARING, You gotta be kidding. And a poor economy doesn't give management the right to systematically take away the pilot's rights, work rules, and impose a 10 percent pay cut after not giving a raise in 10 years

[diggy29]

You should send this into America's Funniest home Video. Maybe you will win the grand prize and can split it supplement your income by striking during the WORST economic crisis we've seen in the last 40 years. MORONIC

[nimitz808]

So by you logic Amerijet tore out all the sh!tters on the airplane as a direct result of subprime mortgage meltdown. You have no idea how airline labor laws work, BITE ME...

[pepi524]

I work here. We all work hard and we all took this 10% pay cut. It didn't make anyone happy, but there have been NO layoffs since this financial crises hit the world. How many companies can say this???? Unions are destroying this country...... If you are unhappy, go find another job elsewhere!! Our families need to eat!!

[a320guy]

another scumbag airline CEO...

what a surprise...

[l5u8c2k5]

You union garbarge have killed the honest working mans ability to have a good job in this country. I have only one question for you guys. Where will you be working next.

[LongBeachTrijet]

ah, truly ignorant comments from the peanut gallery

[smartcocker]

You speak like a SCAB.

[annettaification]

l5, You have no idea what the contract offer was. While I'll agree that some unions have destroyed some industries, the pilots unions have not. You have no idea what an airline pilot has to do to make ends meet. I'm not an Amerijet pilot, nor have I ever heard of Amerijet before, but as an ALPA pilot, I fully support their cause. I myself am working for a wage established in 1997 because some pus like you can afford your ticket. I can't give any more. I won't give any more!

[earlyworm1]

You know darn well what you're getting into when taking a job like that. I don't care what management prints on their website, any pilot with half a brain researches the airline and that includes talking to line pilots already there to see what life is like. Regardless, the pay and work rules are horrible and bring the industry down, so I'm glad you guys have finally put your foot down. I wish more would. But that picket line was the sloppiest I've ever seen. It's more embarrassing than the pay.

[earlyworm1]

To continue, if you're going to run a picket line, tidy up. Everyone in the SAME FULL uniform, hats (not baseball hats), no sunglasses (I don't care how bright it is outside), ties on, shirts pressed, shoes shined. Find a place where you can walk in straight lines on even ground in step together. Everyone hold the signs in EXACTLY the same manner. I support the effort, but if you demand to be paid professional wages, you need to act the part. I wouldn't go to a doctor who dressed like that....

[ubeflyer]

I agree. One guy in a sleeve less shirt? Other not wearing a tie? Come on...

[PATCO158]

Some folks were wearing shorts....did it ever occur to you that this was in South Florida? Temps are a little different then say NY..............

[anguissette]

Not all pilots picketing are from the same air carrier. More than 12 different carriers pilots have joined Amerijet pilots on the picket line so the uniforms are varied. I fly cargo and a tie is not part of my uniform in the first place.

[MrContrail]

Flight Options union asked their pilots to show up and walk the line to show support. Not all there were from Amerijet. They were told not to wear their uniform either (possibly as not to upset their own negotiations going on now)

[PATCO158]

There is no dress code on any picket line. It has yet to win any strike.

[n7346e]

How the F*^& does this company find anyone to work for them? Pilots have been willing to accept progressively worse deals for a long time now and I don't consider it a legitimate career anymore. It's bad.

[jonathanr840]

I agreed...They should be pay what they deserve.

There are the ones that keep the company running...

[sunstart1]

Amerijet pilots I support you all the way. I interviewed with this company several years back, was offered a job, and turned it down. I had a VERY bad feeling about this place and I now understand why. No professional pilot group should have to put up with the working conditions that you all have! Stay strong, stay honest and true, and stay the course.

[gonuclearnavy]

Where is ALPA on the list of supporting unions?

[kelsarr]

I know of at least one ALPA rep that's walking with them this week.

[crjetpilot]

Unbelievable! It's sickening to see management groups who completely disregard their employees. STFD! Please get the names of scabs out there. We don't want them jumpseating on our planes.

[kelsarr]

Keep it up Amerijet pilots. I and many other ALPA pilots commend your efforts.

REAL men don't scab.

[midgetwidget]

Good luck guys and gals.

You are worth much more than that, shut em down!