Pinnacle Strike Vote results..

[higney85]

From MEC

Fellow Pilots…

Over the past 16 days your MEC has requested your support in providing authorization to us call for a legal suspension of service if that becomes the only remaining option to secure the updated working agreement that we so richly deserve.

I’m proud to announce that you have answered the call of your Union with virtually unanimous support for your leadership. The strike authorization ballot count totaled 99.39% of the votes in the affirmative with 87.45% of the pilots participating.

Your unwavering show of support for your Union will send a clear and deafeningly loud message to our management group that we have grown tired of waiting for them to do the right thing. Every day that passes our patience is tested, our ire is raised, and our resolve deepens.

Your MEC remains committed to reaching a consensual agreement with management but our patience will not last forever.

Fly safe and thank you again for your support.



News
Pinnacle pilots back strike
99 percent vote to authorize union to take job action
By Jane Roberts (Contact)
Saturday, December 1, 2007

Pilots at Pinnacle Airlines have voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike, showing management they are solidly united in their push for better pay.

The vote, released late Friday, was 99.39 percent in favor of authorizing a strike.

"The Pinnacle pilot group has been in negotiations with Pinnacle management for upward of three years now," said Scott Erickson, chairman of the union's master executive council. "With this overwhelmingly positive vote of support for a legal withdrawal of service, we hope to bring these negotiations to a close."

The are about 1,350 Pinnacle pilots, and about 400 are based in Memphis. Many will rally and picket today at 1 p.m. at Jackson-Hartsfield International Airport in Atlanta as Pinnacle inaugurates service as a regional carrier for Delta Air Lines.

"We were told the picketing would happen," said Phil Trenary, president and chief executive of Pinnacle, the Memphis-based regional carrier. "We have asked that they refrain from doing so. It's not a professional way to kick off a new contract."

He would not comment on the vote.

The biggest sticking point between the sides is pay, particularly for new pilots who take home about $18,000 in their first year, an industry low.

The sides have been meeting with a federal mediator since the fall of 2006.

The impasse has cost Pinnacle revenue and contract expansions. Last spring, for instance, Northwest Airlines announced it was taking back 12 percent of its planes because Pinnacle had not been able to reach a contract.

Northwest also penalized Pinnacle with more than $2 million in fines this winter and spring for canceling flights because it didn't have enough pilots to fly them.

Union leaders say the airlines' refusal to pay better has confounded its ability to recruit and retain pilots.

The vote, counted Friday, gives union leaders authority to call a strike if talks continue to flag.

Before that can happen, the National Mediation Board must release the sides from further mediation. The next session is scheduled in January. A 30-day cooling off period is require before a strike could take place.

"This is a big preparation step," Erickson said. "It's a signal to the union leaders that the pilot group is behind them."

The pilots are covered by the Air Line Pilots Association, the largest pilot union in the world, and also includes FedEx and Northwest pilots.

The last time Pinnacle pilots authorized a strike was in 1996 with predecessor Express Airlines I. It did not materialize.

Bring it on! STFD

[TVB]

Congrats guys, thats a real good turnout. Hope it goes well!

[MSUDAWG]

Great job guys! I hope this all pans out and you guys get what you have diserved for so long.

His pitiful quote that begins with "It is not professional to start out a new contract by striking", Well Mr. Trenary, professional also is bringing home more than 18k a year

[Doug Taylor]

Give 'em hell.

Let the folks know that the more united the group is, the lower the possibility of an actual strike.

If there's folks running around waffling and panicking over the possibility of a work stoppage, the company is certainly going to call you bluff in order to send a message to the other airlines.

[WalterSobchak]

I better see to camera phone pics of 9E'ers out fron in ATL! Get what you guys deserve.

[Jason]

Keep me posted....out of that hell-hole (9e) since Jan 06 but I'll gladly drive to DTW and walk with ya!

[IFly85]

Local news had a little peice on the 9E strike vote. They didn't really say much besides the all but 1% of thier pilots voted for the strike and showed thier new billboard.

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by IFly85

Local news had a little peice on the 9E strike vote. They didn't really say much besides the all but 1% of thier pilots voted for the strike and showed thier new billboard.

Wow. They FINALLY showed the billboard? It's been up for months now. Looks like the media might have finally figured out we mean business and their golf buddies on Nonconnah might have to give a little.....

[IFly85]

Yeah it was on channel 3

[Doug Taylor]

Heck yeah, if there's a picket near a city I'm in, I'll walk with ya!

I love a parade. Especially when it's about pay rates and work rules. Give 'em hell.

[kellwolf]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Heck yeah, if there's a picket near a city I'm in, I'll walk with ya!

I love a parade. Especially when it's about pay rates and work rules. Give 'em hell.

Shame you're not ATL based anymore. Although I think talk was going around about possibly picketing the Q400 launch in EWR.