GOM Gossip
Um,
You are entirely correct....had a brain infrarction there for a bit.
http://finance.yahoo.com/charts#char...ale=on;source=
You are entirely correct....had a brain infrarction there for a bit.
http://finance.yahoo.com/charts#char...ale=on;source=
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PHI Pilots
It must have been a hestitant step forward but well done for standing up to demand the due reward and remuneration for such a skill level (which is continually tested, unlike most other professions), for such a commitment of finance and/or military service ($50,000 or 5 years) to achieve a qualification without which none of the oil companies could operate fully but all of which has sadly been ignored for so long - many reasons admittedly, but time for people to wake up to this injustice and stop treating you like lowlife cannonfodder.
Strike Updates by The Advertiser Newspaper
A reporter at the Lafayette newpaper, The Advertiser, will be doing daily updates and other updates as necessary as the situation at PHI develops.
This report was good for a laugh....the old Bobby Suggs School of Helicopter Management in action....
September 20, 2006
PHI Pilots Striking
Unionized pilots at PHI went on strike Wednesday, after two-and-a-half years of negotiations failed to produce a new labor agreement.
Reports of picketing in Terrebonne Parish have been called-in to the TV 10 newsroom.
But at the Lafayette facility, flights were seen leaving and there were no signs of picketers.
PHI provides flights to the offshore industry and for medical emergencies.
One offshore worker in Houma told us that he and his co-workers are stranded until further notice.
Roger Robinson says he and others have been waiting since 4:30am. He says when he arrived, he saw PHI pilots with picket signs around their necks.
Robinson says his company is hoping to use boats to get workers to and from the rigs.
TV 10 attempted to get a comment from PHI, but was told to, 'leave the premises.'
PHI estimates 25 percent of pilots participate in strike
Jason Brown
[email protected]
PHI, the Lafayette-based helicopter company, said today it has instituted contingency plans to deal with a strike by its unionized pilots.
PHI’s pilot union has called for all of its members to cease operations today.
The union called it a “historic first nationwide strike of an organized helicopter pilot workforce” in a news release issued today.
Union President Steve Ragin said members are expected to picket later today and that he believed that approximately 90 percent of PHI’s offshore helicopters have been grounded due to the work stoppage.
The company issued a statement this afternoon saying that it is "disappointed" that the union is moving forward with the strike but it is prepared.
"As a result of these job actions, the company has implemented
its contingency plans to continue safe and normal operations to the greatest extent possible. It is not known at this time the extent to which these actions will continue," the statement said.
The union represents PHI’s 538 helicopter and 19 airplane pilots in both AirVac and offshore operations.
The company said in a statement that about 25 percent of its domestic pilots in both the air medical and offshore fields are participating in the strike.
The union is calling for pilots in both divisions to strike. Locally, PHI flies for customers such as BP, Exxon and Shell and has 66 EMS bases in 15 states.
The union has been negotiating with the company regarding pilot contracts for nearly three years, and Ragin said the strike was “necessary to break the impasse and to move negotiations forward.”
The company said that it has implemented an "industry-leading compensation package for its pilots."
The union and company were released from a 30-day cooling off period after ongoing federal mediation August 28.
September 20, 2006
PHI Pilots Striking
Unionized pilots at PHI went on strike Wednesday, after two-and-a-half years of negotiations failed to produce a new labor agreement.
Reports of picketing in Terrebonne Parish have been called-in to the TV 10 newsroom.
But at the Lafayette facility, flights were seen leaving and there were no signs of picketers.
PHI provides flights to the offshore industry and for medical emergencies.
One offshore worker in Houma told us that he and his co-workers are stranded until further notice.
Roger Robinson says he and others have been waiting since 4:30am. He says when he arrived, he saw PHI pilots with picket signs around their necks.
Robinson says his company is hoping to use boats to get workers to and from the rigs.
TV 10 attempted to get a comment from PHI, but was told to, 'leave the premises.'
PHI estimates 25 percent of pilots participate in strike
Jason Brown
[email protected]
PHI, the Lafayette-based helicopter company, said today it has instituted contingency plans to deal with a strike by its unionized pilots.
PHI’s pilot union has called for all of its members to cease operations today.
The union called it a “historic first nationwide strike of an organized helicopter pilot workforce” in a news release issued today.
Union President Steve Ragin said members are expected to picket later today and that he believed that approximately 90 percent of PHI’s offshore helicopters have been grounded due to the work stoppage.
The company issued a statement this afternoon saying that it is "disappointed" that the union is moving forward with the strike but it is prepared.
"As a result of these job actions, the company has implemented
its contingency plans to continue safe and normal operations to the greatest extent possible. It is not known at this time the extent to which these actions will continue," the statement said.
The union represents PHI’s 538 helicopter and 19 airplane pilots in both AirVac and offshore operations.
The company said in a statement that about 25 percent of its domestic pilots in both the air medical and offshore fields are participating in the strike.
The union is calling for pilots in both divisions to strike. Locally, PHI flies for customers such as BP, Exxon and Shell and has 66 EMS bases in 15 states.
The union has been negotiating with the company regarding pilot contracts for nearly three years, and Ragin said the strike was “necessary to break the impasse and to move negotiations forward.”
The company said that it has implemented an "industry-leading compensation package for its pilots."
The union and company were released from a 30-day cooling off period after ongoing federal mediation August 28.
Last edited by SASless; 20th Sep 2006 at 18:58.
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From Local 108:
Our strike is clearly having an impact on PHI. PHI is attempting to intimidate pilots with its "report to work or be permanently replaced" memo and statements. Our lawyers believe that PHI has violated and continues to violate the law with these statements and actions, and they are preparing a response. But you should know that PHI has no one to replace you, and they cannot lawfully just declare you to be "permanently replaced" by someone not hired. If our position is vindicated, PHI will owe you your job, back pay, back benefits and other damages. If PHI calls you, tell them "On the advice of my Union, I must inform you that I am engaging in a legally authorized work stoppage until further notice." Stand firm. Don't let the Company scare you.
Also, you are not required to call in or risk termination as directed by PHI. If contacted by PHI simply read then the following and hang-up the phone:
“On the advice of myUnion, I must inform you that I am on a legally authorized work stoppage until further notice.”
PHI has been duly notified of our work stoppage and cannot order you to do anything!
Our strength is in our unity!
Our strike is clearly having an impact on PHI. PHI is attempting to intimidate pilots with its "report to work or be permanently replaced" memo and statements. Our lawyers believe that PHI has violated and continues to violate the law with these statements and actions, and they are preparing a response. But you should know that PHI has no one to replace you, and they cannot lawfully just declare you to be "permanently replaced" by someone not hired. If our position is vindicated, PHI will owe you your job, back pay, back benefits and other damages. If PHI calls you, tell them "On the advice of my Union, I must inform you that I am engaging in a legally authorized work stoppage until further notice." Stand firm. Don't let the Company scare you.
Also, you are not required to call in or risk termination as directed by PHI. If contacted by PHI simply read then the following and hang-up the phone:
“On the advice of myUnion, I must inform you that I am on a legally authorized work stoppage until further notice.”
PHI has been duly notified of our work stoppage and cannot order you to do anything!
Our strength is in our unity!
The company is attempting to call pilots who are off duty in an attempt to man the aircraft grounded as a result of the work stoppage. You should ignore such calls from the company, and if you accidentally end up on the phone and are asked to come in, or anything else for that matter, you should recite to the company the following:
"On the advice of my union, I must inform you that I am on a legally authorized work stoppage until further notice"
Although it goes without saying, under no circumstances should you accept any offers or answer any questions from the company over the phone.
"On the advice of my union, I must inform you that I am on a legally authorized work stoppage until further notice"
Although it goes without saying, under no circumstances should you accept any offers or answer any questions from the company over the phone.
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Where the 25% figure came from is anybody's guess. Obviously they are spinning that the pilots on break aren't striking, so that takes care of better than 50% right there. It's not true, but it's something to make the customers feel better. There was no picketing in Lafayette early because there are almost no jobs flying out of there, all the pilots were in Morgan City and Houma, and it took awhile to drive to Lafayette. The picketing took place in the afternoon.
strike info from a PHI EMS pilot
After a long call with a PHI friend:
The off hitch pilots had previously received letters stating that if they dont answer their phones (in event of work action) they will be released. All pilots have received similar letters, the EMS side stating the bases will be closed.
EMS west of the Mississippi has the better showing with the majority of bases shutdown. East of the big muddy, the bases are operational with at least 2 pilots. Lack of communication from the union pissed off the EMS guys and hence the low support.
$1000 bounus to show for work, double time on shift and $1000 bonus if you stay the week.
Training flight pilots had been told that in essence they can still have jobs but not in Training flight if they are in the union.
The off hitch pilots had previously received letters stating that if they dont answer their phones (in event of work action) they will be released. All pilots have received similar letters, the EMS side stating the bases will be closed.
EMS west of the Mississippi has the better showing with the majority of bases shutdown. East of the big muddy, the bases are operational with at least 2 pilots. Lack of communication from the union pissed off the EMS guys and hence the low support.
$1000 bounus to show for work, double time on shift and $1000 bonus if you stay the week.
Training flight pilots had been told that in essence they can still have jobs but not in Training flight if they are in the union.
he off hitch pilots had previously received letters stating that if they dont answer their phones (in event of work action) they will be released. All pilots have received similar letters, the EMS side stating the bases will be closed.
News article re strike.
Article published Sep 21, 2006
PHI pilots picket
Union members march outside headquarters
Jason Brown
[email protected]
The long-standing threat of a strike by PHI's unionized pilots became a reality Wednesday afternoon as more than 50 pilots with pickets in hand marched near the roadway of the company's Lafayette headquarters.
"Nobody wants to go on strike, nobody out here wanted to be out here on strike, not a one of us, but sometimes you get forced to stand up for what you believe in and we've been forced to do that," said union member Ed Bandy, a 16-year PHI veteran.
The helicopter company founded in 1949 serves the offshore oil and gas industry, and since 1981, has been rapidly expanding its presence in the air medical sector. The company said in a statement Wednesday it has instituted contingency plans during the strike to ensure its clients are not adversely affected.
The strike is the product of more than two and a half years of failed negotiations between the company and union regarding pilot contracts that expired in May 2004.
The major sticking point is retroactive pay, which the pilot's union argues should be paid from the time the last contract ended. The union estimates the pilots are owed about $5 million in retroactive pay.
The company has resisted that demand, but instituted pay increases for all its pilots when contract talks with the National Mediation Board in Washington failed Aug. 28.
Oil and gas industry spokesmen said the strike had not yet had a noticeable impact on their companies, although spokesmen for Shell and Conoco-Phillips, both of which use PHI to transport oil and gas workers in the Gulf of Mexico, said backup plans were being developed should the strike be prolonged.
Mike Suldo, president of Air Logistics, a PHI competitor, said it has been called on to help out and is ready to do what it can.
It is a busy time in the Gulf, and Air Logistics pilots are already working overtime.
"We don't have a whole lot of extra helicopters. None of the companies do," Suldo said.
He said he believes PHI and its pilots will settle the dispute quickly.
It is unclear exactly what impact the strike has had on PHI itself, as the company and union issued different figures for the work-stoppage Wednesday.
According to PHI, about 25 percent of the company's pilot work force participated in the action. But union president Steve Ragin said in excess of 80 percent of PHI's 538 helicopter pilots and 19 airplane pilots were on strike.
Ragin said the work stoppages occurred at bases across the Gulf coast, as well as throughout PHI's 66 EMS bases in 15 states. Along the Gulf coast, Ragin estimated that about 90 percent of PHI's helicopters were grounded because of the strike.
In the air medical industry, representatives from hospitals in Indiana, Texas, Arizona and Kentucky that contract with PHI said Wednesday they had not yet felt any impact from the strike.
Todd Harper, spokesman Wishard Memorial Hospital in Indianapolis, said it has uses PHI, as well as other helicopter companies, to transport patients to its Level 1 trauma center.
"At this stage, it's really hard to say whether we've been impacted," Harper said.
But Capt. John Strickland, a 16-year PHI employee and EMS pilot out of Phoenix said he estimated half of PHI's 14 Arizona bases were out of operation because of the strike.
EMS pilots have many of the same issues as those in the petroleum industry with the addition of PHI's alleged proposal to pay EMS pilots a lower wage than those in the oil and gas sector.
"I'm confident that we have a pretty fair representation," Strickland said, speaking on behalf of PHI's EMS pilots.
To the union, it is an issue of pilot pay, vacation days, unused sick leave and mandatory overtime, which they claim has kept them from their families and personal lives.
"What you're seeing here is a total rejection of Al Gonsoulin's philosophy, his management style and his managers," Bandy said.
Gonsoulin is PHI's CEO and majority shareholder.
The company has said in the past that giving in to the union's demands would endanger the company's financial viability, as well as threaten the jobs of nonunionized employees.
Following the release of both parties from federal mediation in August, the company has implemented what it referred to in a news release as an "industry-leading compensation package for its pilots, which is above both its main competitors in both the oil and gas and air medical segments."
In the statement Wednesday, PHI said it is "extremely disappointed that the union has elected to conduct these job actions at this time."
In the meantime, the strike has affected both veteran pilots like Gerald Harding, who has worked for the company for more than 30 years and newcomers like Laurie Puckett, who has been with the company for less than a year.
"Honestly, it's a scary feeling to risk your career, but at the same time, there are things that we are fighting for and standing up for," Puckett said.
(Arnessa Garrett and Bob Moser contributed to this story.)
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I think the crucial day will be tomorrow(friday), this is when the off hitch guys are due to report for work. If only a few guys and gals show up then this may be a turning point.
PHi are running a job advert elsewhere calling for 'permanent replacement pilots'
where do they think these pilots are going to come from, do they think pilots from other operators will jump ship to PHi for less money and all this stuff going on.
PHi are running a job advert elsewhere calling for 'permanent replacement pilots'
where do they think these pilots are going to come from, do they think pilots from other operators will jump ship to PHi for less money and all this stuff going on.
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from local 108 to PHi
Mr. Richard Rovinelli
CAO and Director of Human Resources
PHI, Inc.
Lafayette, LA 70509
Dear Mr. Rovinelli:
I have reviewed PHI’s memo to pilots dated September 20, with the subject “Duty to Report to Work.” The statements contained in this memo are in flagrant violation of the Railway Labor Act, and are further indication that PHI acts without regard to its legal obligations.
PHI seeks to require employees to communicate to you that they are on strike, and if they do not, the pilots are discharged as “having abandoned their job.” By letter faxed to you the morning of September 20 by OPEIU, you were informed that OPEIU was on strike. You acknowledge receiving this letter in your “Union Strike Info” posted September 20 on the PHI website. This is a lawfully called strike and not an abandonment of a job, no matter how cleverly PHI tries to address the issue. The law is clear that pilots cannot be terminated for engaging in a strike. There is no requirement that an employee on strike must individually communicate this to PHI or any other employer for that matter; OPEIU is the employees’ representative on this issue. PHI is clearly engaging in a campaign of unlawful intimidation and coercion.
PHI also claims to be permanently replacing pilots on strike. Pilots can not be replaced if no one has been hired, and cannot be lawfully replaced with individuals who are already employed by PHI, such as the so-called “contract pilots” and trainers or supervisors. If replacements have been hired, I am requesting that you provide us the names of the replacements or alternatively, the number of replacements hired, the positions for which they were hired and their dates of hire.
OPEIU stands ready to vindicate the rights of the pilots unlawfully replaced and or discharged by PHI. OPEIU demands that PHI immediately begin complying with its legal obligations.
Very truly yours,
Paul Bohelski, Intn’l Rep.
http://www.local108pilots.org/docs/2...6%20Letter.pdf
Mr. Richard Rovinelli
CAO and Director of Human Resources
PHI, Inc.
Lafayette, LA 70509
Dear Mr. Rovinelli:
I have reviewed PHI’s memo to pilots dated September 20, with the subject “Duty to Report to Work.” The statements contained in this memo are in flagrant violation of the Railway Labor Act, and are further indication that PHI acts without regard to its legal obligations.
PHI seeks to require employees to communicate to you that they are on strike, and if they do not, the pilots are discharged as “having abandoned their job.” By letter faxed to you the morning of September 20 by OPEIU, you were informed that OPEIU was on strike. You acknowledge receiving this letter in your “Union Strike Info” posted September 20 on the PHI website. This is a lawfully called strike and not an abandonment of a job, no matter how cleverly PHI tries to address the issue. The law is clear that pilots cannot be terminated for engaging in a strike. There is no requirement that an employee on strike must individually communicate this to PHI or any other employer for that matter; OPEIU is the employees’ representative on this issue. PHI is clearly engaging in a campaign of unlawful intimidation and coercion.
PHI also claims to be permanently replacing pilots on strike. Pilots can not be replaced if no one has been hired, and cannot be lawfully replaced with individuals who are already employed by PHI, such as the so-called “contract pilots” and trainers or supervisors. If replacements have been hired, I am requesting that you provide us the names of the replacements or alternatively, the number of replacements hired, the positions for which they were hired and their dates of hire.
OPEIU stands ready to vindicate the rights of the pilots unlawfully replaced and or discharged by PHI. OPEIU demands that PHI immediately begin complying with its legal obligations.
Very truly yours,
Paul Bohelski, Intn’l Rep.
http://www.local108pilots.org/docs/2...6%20Letter.pdf
Last edited by Old Skool; 21st Sep 2006 at 14:57.
Three of Fourteen Arizona based EMS aircraft are flying....
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/myfox/pa...ogoDisplayed=1
Perhaps PHI has (or think they have) a Federal Judge in their pocket....not that would ever occur in Louisana! Best they not pin their hopes on the Judge that sat on the Air Log case anyway.....or they may find themselves standing tall in front of him and have to explain what they are doing.
Harken back to the Air Log CBA fight.
Posts 132-135 for instance....
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...2C+OLOG%2C+CBA
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/myfox/pa...ogoDisplayed=1
Perhaps PHI has (or think they have) a Federal Judge in their pocket....not that would ever occur in Louisana! Best they not pin their hopes on the Judge that sat on the Air Log case anyway.....or they may find themselves standing tall in front of him and have to explain what they are doing.
Harken back to the Air Log CBA fight.
Posts 132-135 for instance....
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...2C+OLOG%2C+CBA
Last edited by SASless; 21st Sep 2006 at 15:18.
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our new theme song
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The current work action at PHI is unprecedented in our industry in its size and scope. It’s been a vehicle for many dire predictions and much distortion of the facts. My bias in this matter ought to be obvious, but I and most of my fellow pilots believe the company has attempted to ignore, minimize, or divert attention from the real issues. Or perhaps they just never did understand them in the first place. They have consistently failed to acknowledge that this disagreement is not nearly so much about money as it is about doing the right thing. That it’s about treating their employees individually and as a group with respect and equality. You can get a sense of what the company thinks of us by the tempting offers of additional bonus money they’ve begun to dangle before us, hoping to entice those who can’t see beyond the end of their nose.
To give credit where it’s due, PHI does an awful lot of things right, and most of the time it’s a great place to work. Top-notch maintenance, a reputation for safety, comfortable living quarters, and a certain sense of camaraderie. For the past two or three years I’ve been flying for a terrific customer in a fantastic helicopter. I’ve held what I consider to be the best job in the company, bar none. There’s no one at PHI whose job I envy, be it pilot, manager, even CEO.
But there are a few things that PHI does very wrong, and that’s the foundation of this dispute. We’ve all seen fellow pilots put in a financial bind when they’ve temporarily lost their medical certificate. For almost a year many of us have been subject to unpredictable mandatory workover to the exclusion of a normal family life. For two and a half years the company has had our services at bargain rates due to the lack of an ameded contract. We have a Director of Human Resources who, due to his hatred of unions, seems to seek out opportunities to antagonize the pilots and to cultivate the adversarial relationship that has developed between himself and the staff. But the worst sin turns out to be one of omission. Unlike many other forward-looking companies, PHI seems to be perennially in the reactive mode. We don’t forecast problem areas and address them early. Instead, we almost invariably wait until they’ve become a crisis before we act.
Perhaps we pilots should just sit back and be thankful for what we do have, which is admittedly, a lot. But these issues have been holding back progress far too long. For years our industry has been handicapped by a second-class citizen mentality which was capitalized on and fostered by our employers under the guise of economics. It still pervades the industry and has reduced the status of much of commercial helicopter aviation (in this country, at least) to the equivalent of driving a truck.
But PHI’s management still thinks it’s just about money, and Al Gonsoulin is a stubborn man who’s used to getting his way. I’m afraid this may be a lot longer fight than many expect. I’m afraid of what will be left of the company and of the generally amicable working relationship that has existed up to now between our pilots and management. I’m worried that it may sour some realtionships with our customers. But this work action is the catalyst for needed change in our industry. Understand that we’re not doing this out of any altruism, that it’s first and foremost for ourselves. But assuming we’re successful, it will benefit the entire industry in the long run.
-Stan-
To give credit where it’s due, PHI does an awful lot of things right, and most of the time it’s a great place to work. Top-notch maintenance, a reputation for safety, comfortable living quarters, and a certain sense of camaraderie. For the past two or three years I’ve been flying for a terrific customer in a fantastic helicopter. I’ve held what I consider to be the best job in the company, bar none. There’s no one at PHI whose job I envy, be it pilot, manager, even CEO.
But there are a few things that PHI does very wrong, and that’s the foundation of this dispute. We’ve all seen fellow pilots put in a financial bind when they’ve temporarily lost their medical certificate. For almost a year many of us have been subject to unpredictable mandatory workover to the exclusion of a normal family life. For two and a half years the company has had our services at bargain rates due to the lack of an ameded contract. We have a Director of Human Resources who, due to his hatred of unions, seems to seek out opportunities to antagonize the pilots and to cultivate the adversarial relationship that has developed between himself and the staff. But the worst sin turns out to be one of omission. Unlike many other forward-looking companies, PHI seems to be perennially in the reactive mode. We don’t forecast problem areas and address them early. Instead, we almost invariably wait until they’ve become a crisis before we act.
Perhaps we pilots should just sit back and be thankful for what we do have, which is admittedly, a lot. But these issues have been holding back progress far too long. For years our industry has been handicapped by a second-class citizen mentality which was capitalized on and fostered by our employers under the guise of economics. It still pervades the industry and has reduced the status of much of commercial helicopter aviation (in this country, at least) to the equivalent of driving a truck.
But PHI’s management still thinks it’s just about money, and Al Gonsoulin is a stubborn man who’s used to getting his way. I’m afraid this may be a lot longer fight than many expect. I’m afraid of what will be left of the company and of the generally amicable working relationship that has existed up to now between our pilots and management. I’m worried that it may sour some realtionships with our customers. But this work action is the catalyst for needed change in our industry. Understand that we’re not doing this out of any altruism, that it’s first and foremost for ourselves. But assuming we’re successful, it will benefit the entire industry in the long run.
-Stan-
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My first visit to the GOM was in 1978. First civilain employment. After a few months of 206 flying 110 miles out, no offshore fuel, limited flight following, etc, I had a few beers with the then Chief Pilot.
One of my questions was: T******, it seems to me that all the companies in the Gulf go out of their way to aggrravate the pilots. Reply: Consider that all pilots have big egos and if they get mad at one company they will quit. The result is that all the companies then get experienced pilots at beginning wages.
Perhaps the management people believed and still believe that?
Our value to the company, and customers, along with our egos, steadily rise.
"When the going gets tough, the tough turn weird. When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro".
This "pro" supports our PHI brethern. Keep at it chaps. We will overcome. Disliked it when others chanted the same, but now it's our turn.
Chas A
One of my questions was: T******, it seems to me that all the companies in the Gulf go out of their way to aggrravate the pilots. Reply: Consider that all pilots have big egos and if they get mad at one company they will quit. The result is that all the companies then get experienced pilots at beginning wages.
Perhaps the management people believed and still believe that?
Our value to the company, and customers, along with our egos, steadily rise.
"When the going gets tough, the tough turn weird. When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro".
This "pro" supports our PHI brethern. Keep at it chaps. We will overcome. Disliked it when others chanted the same, but now it's our turn.
Chas A
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Air Log, Era, and Jerry's Kids (aka Rotorcraft Leasing) are all operating at capacity, and have no spare equipment or pilots to even start taking over PHI's work. PHI asked Air Log for help, and was basically told "tough s**t, we have no spare equipment". The suggestion that they use PHI aircraft was laughed at. This won't be settled overnight, but PHI has only two choices - settle, or go out of business. The longer it goes on, the more money they lose, and they're losing a lot right now. Between BP, Shell, and Exxon, I suspect it's well over US$1 million/day, probably more. The economic package that would supposedly bankrupt the company was less than $5 million.
Now I am confused.....
Let me figure this out.
PHI suggested to Air Log that Air Log Union pilots be assigned PHI aircraft to fly PHI customers from PHI facilities while PHI Union pilots are on strike?
Air Log has a very strong and cohesive union membership to the tune of about 90% membership or more. Workover at Air Log is not mandatory as at PHI. Air Log runs about 40 pilots shy of meeting their own daily requirements.
UH....This just plain ain't gonna happen GI!
ERA wond the MMS contract and has had extreme troubles meeting the work load due to shortage of aircraft, pilots, and support personnel. They are still in turmoil with the merger of Tex Air and ERA flight operations with some notably unhappy folks. I just do not see a lot of help coming from them to bail out PHI.
The other small outfits are going gang busters themselves. Evergreen is having trouble with their startup SAR operation in the Persian Gulf....fire season is winding down a bit so they are still pretty short of pilots as always.
Even with offers of 650 USD per day....contract pilots are all but impossible to recruit and retain particularly after some bad experiences with pilots new to the Gulf of Mexico.
I am beginning to believe the PHI Brass made an assumption that the union would not be able to organize an effective strike due to the low ratio of Union Pilots to non-Union pilots and hoped any work action would be very short lived.
From the background chatter I am hearing from dem little birdies is the boys and girls are prepared to stay away as long as it takes. One of the very things that made the strike happen actually funded the pilots individual war chests. The company running short of pilots generated the need for excessive mandatory workover demands which resulted in the receipt of lots of money from overtime pay. Unfortunately for the management, the pay did not compensate the folks for their time away from home and family. That was aggravated by too many cases of no notice given until the day pilots were due to start their time off.
Compound that by vacations being cancelled but having a "Use it or Lose it" policy on vacation and sickleave just rubbed salt into that sore.
Me thinks this was a poorly thought out effort to rid PHI of the Union which is going to fail.
The tragic part of this is the cost to the entire staff of employees and the company this event will cause. All of it could have been avoided if the management had faced reality and bargained in ernest with the Union.
If it is as stated.....the only hangup being the Retroactive Pay....$5,000,000 ...then this whole thing is FFS! (Flat Frigging Stupid)
Perhaps Mike Suldo will tell us whether the PHI folks actually asked Air Log for help. That would be a very telling commentary on the mindset of the CEO of PHI if he did in fact really ask for Air Log to send pilots/aircraft to help.
PHI suggested to Air Log that Air Log Union pilots be assigned PHI aircraft to fly PHI customers from PHI facilities while PHI Union pilots are on strike?
Air Log has a very strong and cohesive union membership to the tune of about 90% membership or more. Workover at Air Log is not mandatory as at PHI. Air Log runs about 40 pilots shy of meeting their own daily requirements.
UH....This just plain ain't gonna happen GI!
ERA wond the MMS contract and has had extreme troubles meeting the work load due to shortage of aircraft, pilots, and support personnel. They are still in turmoil with the merger of Tex Air and ERA flight operations with some notably unhappy folks. I just do not see a lot of help coming from them to bail out PHI.
The other small outfits are going gang busters themselves. Evergreen is having trouble with their startup SAR operation in the Persian Gulf....fire season is winding down a bit so they are still pretty short of pilots as always.
Even with offers of 650 USD per day....contract pilots are all but impossible to recruit and retain particularly after some bad experiences with pilots new to the Gulf of Mexico.
I am beginning to believe the PHI Brass made an assumption that the union would not be able to organize an effective strike due to the low ratio of Union Pilots to non-Union pilots and hoped any work action would be very short lived.
From the background chatter I am hearing from dem little birdies is the boys and girls are prepared to stay away as long as it takes. One of the very things that made the strike happen actually funded the pilots individual war chests. The company running short of pilots generated the need for excessive mandatory workover demands which resulted in the receipt of lots of money from overtime pay. Unfortunately for the management, the pay did not compensate the folks for their time away from home and family. That was aggravated by too many cases of no notice given until the day pilots were due to start their time off.
Compound that by vacations being cancelled but having a "Use it or Lose it" policy on vacation and sickleave just rubbed salt into that sore.
Me thinks this was a poorly thought out effort to rid PHI of the Union which is going to fail.
The tragic part of this is the cost to the entire staff of employees and the company this event will cause. All of it could have been avoided if the management had faced reality and bargained in ernest with the Union.
If it is as stated.....the only hangup being the Retroactive Pay....$5,000,000 ...then this whole thing is FFS! (Flat Frigging Stupid)
Perhaps Mike Suldo will tell us whether the PHI folks actually asked Air Log for help. That would be a very telling commentary on the mindset of the CEO of PHI if he did in fact really ask for Air Log to send pilots/aircraft to help.
Join Date: Sep 2002
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