NEWS: Comair Mechanics Turn Down a Raise

Mechanics for Comair have rejected the latest contract offered by the airline. The rejection comes despite the fact that the offer would have granted a 2% raise and kept more work "in-house" to be performed by Comair's own mechanics thus keeping maintenance facilities open. Oh yeah, let's not forget that the pilots and flight attendants are being asked to freeze their pay. Did I mention the mechanic's own union leadership recommended that the contract be approved? Mechanic can traditionally be a tough group to work with but this caught me by surprise.

I'm not quite sure what got into the mechanics at Comair. Airlines are almost universally cutting labor cost, lowering staffing and looking to outsource maintenance. Maybe the mechanics at Comair have watched one too many Texas Hold 'Em games on TV. Maybe they think they are obligated to reject the first offer because that's just part of the "game". Here's my advice to the Comair mechanics, now is not the time to bluff...take the offer and run.