GOM Gossip
By PATRICK COURREGES
Acadiana bureau
Published: Sep 22, 2006
LAFAYETTE — Union pilots with the PHI helicopter transportation company continued their strike for a second day Thursday, calling for retroactive pay from increases pilots say they should have received during nearly three years of contract negotiations.
Jack Bower, secretary for Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 108, said Thursday that among the issues that led to the strike is that, during the recent 2 1/2-year negotiation period between the union and the company, pilots did not receive regular pay increases, such as cost of living.
He said that union pilots want that retroactive pay, as well as agreement on sick leave accruals the company wants to pull back and on requiring all pilots in the company, union or not, to pay union agency fees.
Bower said that the union is required to represent all pilots whether union or non-union, so should be paid to cover expenses.
A PHI official, who did not identify herself, said the company’s news release on the subject matter, sent out Wednesday, still stands and would be the only information released Thursday.
According to the release, about 25 percent of the pilot work force is participating in the action and the company has implemented contingency plans to continue normal operations as much as possible.
The release says that PHI has offered the pilots an industry-leading compensation package, and management is disappointed that the union has elected to go through with a work stoppage.
A company statement released in August, noted that PHI management believes that the union has “regrettably persisted with unreasonable and irresponsible economic demands” for the past two years of bargaining.
Bower said the 25 percent figure given by PHI is probably low, but that because of the shift schedules within the company, the true number will probably not fully be known until today when the three-day shift rotation is scheduled to change.
He said that no more than half the pilots are on duty at a given time, and if 25 percent of the total force did not show up for work, that could mean about 50 percent of the pilot work force might be expected to be participating in the strike.
Bower said he has heard that the stoppage has caused the company problems in meeting its contract obligations with one large customer, BP, and several smaller ones.
He said that pilots think the company is holding fast to its stance in hope of breaking the union by forcing them to choose between holding out and crossing the picket lines.
Bower said many pilots have already crossed back, and his own wife was frightened by a letter sent by PHI stating that he would be “permanently replaced.”
He said “permanently replaced” is not the same as fired, but the company wants to scare pilots who believe they cannot get their jobs back if they do not abandon the strike.
Story originally published in The Advocate
Acadiana bureau
Published: Sep 22, 2006
LAFAYETTE — Union pilots with the PHI helicopter transportation company continued their strike for a second day Thursday, calling for retroactive pay from increases pilots say they should have received during nearly three years of contract negotiations.
Jack Bower, secretary for Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 108, said Thursday that among the issues that led to the strike is that, during the recent 2 1/2-year negotiation period between the union and the company, pilots did not receive regular pay increases, such as cost of living.
He said that union pilots want that retroactive pay, as well as agreement on sick leave accruals the company wants to pull back and on requiring all pilots in the company, union or not, to pay union agency fees.
Bower said that the union is required to represent all pilots whether union or non-union, so should be paid to cover expenses.
A PHI official, who did not identify herself, said the company’s news release on the subject matter, sent out Wednesday, still stands and would be the only information released Thursday.
According to the release, about 25 percent of the pilot work force is participating in the action and the company has implemented contingency plans to continue normal operations as much as possible.
The release says that PHI has offered the pilots an industry-leading compensation package, and management is disappointed that the union has elected to go through with a work stoppage.
A company statement released in August, noted that PHI management believes that the union has “regrettably persisted with unreasonable and irresponsible economic demands” for the past two years of bargaining.
Bower said the 25 percent figure given by PHI is probably low, but that because of the shift schedules within the company, the true number will probably not fully be known until today when the three-day shift rotation is scheduled to change.
He said that no more than half the pilots are on duty at a given time, and if 25 percent of the total force did not show up for work, that could mean about 50 percent of the pilot work force might be expected to be participating in the strike.
Bower said he has heard that the stoppage has caused the company problems in meeting its contract obligations with one large customer, BP, and several smaller ones.
He said that pilots think the company is holding fast to its stance in hope of breaking the union by forcing them to choose between holding out and crossing the picket lines.
Bower said many pilots have already crossed back, and his own wife was frightened by a letter sent by PHI stating that he would be “permanently replaced.”
He said “permanently replaced” is not the same as fired, but the company wants to scare pilots who believe they cannot get their jobs back if they do not abandon the strike.
Story originally published in The Advocate
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http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/060922/20060922005379.html?.v=1
LAFAYETTE, La.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 22, 2006--PHI, Inc. ("PHI") (Nasdaq:PHII - News; Nasdaq:PHIIK - News) reported today that the Office & Professional Employees International Union ("OPEIU"), the Union representing PHI's domestic pilots, has made numerous false public statements regarding PHI's flight activity. Contrary to the Union's claims, during the period of the strike, the Company's Gulf of Mexico Oil & Gas operations have completed approximately 80% of its normal flight volumes, and its Air Medical segment is operating at about 90% of the volume prior to the union job actions. PHI continues to provide the highest standard of flight safety and service to its customers. According to public statements by PHI's primary customers, the impact to their operations has been minimal.
Maybe there is a message in that declination!
Now Bubba, when a helicopter pilot turns down two weeks wages in a show-up bonus.....that is something to etch in stone! Perhaps AL Gee listened to the wrong mystic!
Air Log guys are not being worked to death....seems some still are watching TV instead of flying today. That is the luxury of being on an exclusive use contract I guess....or is it the oil companies don't really work as "friendly" competitors?
Mixed reports are coming out about the impact the strike is having on PHI's operations.
Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of how many aircraft were flying today and how many were grounded as a result of the strike?
Has anyone accepted a job offer with PHI as a result of the "Permanent Replacement Pilot" advertisements?
Air Log guys are not being worked to death....seems some still are watching TV instead of flying today. That is the luxury of being on an exclusive use contract I guess....or is it the oil companies don't really work as "friendly" competitors?
Mixed reports are coming out about the impact the strike is having on PHI's operations.
Does anyone have any first hand knowledge of how many aircraft were flying today and how many were grounded as a result of the strike?
Has anyone accepted a job offer with PHI as a result of the "Permanent Replacement Pilot" advertisements?
PHI HR staff scouring gutters of New Orleans for pilots
Reports of a full court press by PHI HR recruiters have surfaced and all indications show that even the old Bob Suggs concept of looking in the gutters of New Orleans has paid dividends.
Photographic evidence of short notice departures by new recruits......
Photographic evidence of short notice departures by new recruits......
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Pilot Shortage?
Lest anyone doubt that there is a shortage of experienced pilots in the GOM, none other than Del Smith, owner of Evergreen Helicopters International, has authorized first, time and a half for overtime and then a 20% pay raise in two consecutive months. What's next? Contract pilots?
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GOM Requirements
Not sure if this is true, but through the grapevine I heard that 2 of the GOM operators have recently increased their requirements to 2500hrs in the light that may of the striking PHI pilot are now applying with them.
With PHI only have low requirements to fill seats lost due to the strike, this leaves many in a very uncomfortable situation. That to get a start in the offshore industry they have to cross a union line.
Not something that I for one would do. 
Is there anyone out there working for the big GOM operators that can confirm this?
PS. If you want to bash the union or phi please use another thread
With PHI only have low requirements to fill seats lost due to the strike, this leaves many in a very uncomfortable situation. That to get a start in the offshore industry they have to cross a union line.
Not something that I for one would do. Is there anyone out there working for the big GOM operators that can confirm this?
PS. If you want to bash the union or phi please use another thread
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Give em a call
Why don't you call Airlog, ERA, RLC, etc. and ask them what their minimums are? Check this out......
http://brian.hudson.home.mchsi.com/helopay/index.htm
http://brian.hudson.home.mchsi.com/helopay/index.htm
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Disclaimer...I don't work in the GOM, so this is mostly speculation.
I doubt that any company would actually change their minimums upward because of the availability of high time guys from PHI. I guess that if those experienced pilots are available, they'll likely get the job ahead of someone with low time and no oil flying experience.
When this all blows over, there'll probably be just as high a demand for pilots in the gulf as there was before the strike, and while the vacancies may be more plentiful at PHI for a bit, it will all balance out eventually.
Rotorcraft Leasing is currently advertising for pilots with 1,000 hours, and Air Log is looking for pilots that meet Pt. 135 requirements, so essentialy, 500 hours. Can't ask for much lower than that! Both of these ads were posted within the last couple days here.
I doubt that any company would actually change their minimums upward because of the availability of high time guys from PHI. I guess that if those experienced pilots are available, they'll likely get the job ahead of someone with low time and no oil flying experience.
When this all blows over, there'll probably be just as high a demand for pilots in the gulf as there was before the strike, and while the vacancies may be more plentiful at PHI for a bit, it will all balance out eventually.
Rotorcraft Leasing is currently advertising for pilots with 1,000 hours, and Air Log is looking for pilots that meet Pt. 135 requirements, so essentialy, 500 hours. Can't ask for much lower than that! Both of these ads were posted within the last couple days here.
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Living Conditions in the Gulf
I have read some older threads on here about how bad the living conditions are in the gulf. Does anyone on here work for PHI or ERA or AirLog? If you do, which has the best living conditions? I mean accommodations, because I realize you most likely are going to live in a remote part of Louisiana.
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all depends :}
I work for one of the three you mentioned.
How one grades living conditions is quite dependent on the person.
For me good living conditions is just basics e.g. clean room, clean bathroom, clean kitchen, not sharing a room, access to a washer and dryer, maybe internet, satellite TV in your trailer while onshore. I would think that the bigger operators would provide this; mine does.
However being a helicopter pilot in the gulf does mean that our jobs are more than likely going to be in areas that are remote (this means in the sticks - probably no cell phone coverage). Maybe a few basic shops or even just a single service station sometimes it just depends. So getting in to your car and driving two blocks to Wal-Mart, or going out to eat at Chilies and then off to the movies is more than likely not going to be an option.
If this is what you are looking for at each location then I guess the living conditions for you would not be that great.
It is the same with the offshore locations. Just depends on the location. I have my own room with wireless Internet, TV, a good cook on an old but clean platform. But it just as well could be you will be based on a platform where you have to share a dirty room, cook for yourself, etc.
Hope this helps
TGX
How one grades living conditions is quite dependent on the person.
For me good living conditions is just basics e.g. clean room, clean bathroom, clean kitchen, not sharing a room, access to a washer and dryer, maybe internet, satellite TV in your trailer while onshore. I would think that the bigger operators would provide this; mine does.
However being a helicopter pilot in the gulf does mean that our jobs are more than likely going to be in areas that are remote (this means in the sticks - probably no cell phone coverage). Maybe a few basic shops or even just a single service station sometimes it just depends. So getting in to your car and driving two blocks to Wal-Mart, or going out to eat at Chilies and then off to the movies is more than likely not going to be an option.
If this is what you are looking for at each location then I guess the living conditions for you would not be that great. It is the same with the offshore locations. Just depends on the location. I have my own room with wireless Internet, TV, a good cook on an old but clean platform. But it just as well could be you will be based on a platform where you have to share a dirty room, cook for yourself, etc.
Hope this helps
TGX
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I think the majors are pretty comparable in terms of accommodations on the beach. Offshore, it depends on the oil company, and ranges from intolerable to pretty good.
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Thanks for the replies
I guess "good" living conditions for me would be described as clean, and my own room. I don't mind cooking for myself, I just don't want to be in a smoky, moldy, filthy place with 4 other guys in bunks. If I have my own clean room and an internet connection, then I could be quite happy while on hitch. A gym or some type of fitness center would be really nice, anything like that common place?
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"smoky, moldy, filthy place with 4 other guys in bunks"
Hey, it sounds just like you've been working offshore already
Living conditions at the base are almost always better than on a platform, no matter how nice the living quarters and the inhabitants. Your best bet is to do everything in your power to prevent having to overnight offshore. The occasional offshore stay may be unavoidable when you're in the pool, but once you're ready to bid out of the pool, only bid on jobs that you know will get you to the beach each night. Call the pilot who currently works that job. If you do covet a job that includes offshore stays, always always visit the platform first (or get a firsthand description from someone whose judgment you trust) before putting in a bid.
Hey, it sounds just like you've been working offshore already
Living conditions at the base are almost always better than on a platform, no matter how nice the living quarters and the inhabitants. Your best bet is to do everything in your power to prevent having to overnight offshore. The occasional offshore stay may be unavoidable when you're in the pool, but once you're ready to bid out of the pool, only bid on jobs that you know will get you to the beach each night. Call the pilot who currently works that job. If you do covet a job that includes offshore stays, always always visit the platform first (or get a firsthand description from someone whose judgment you trust) before putting in a bid.