paxhauler85

Because no one on the MEC or negotiating committee is going to flow anytime soon (1.5-2 years). Hell, the negotiating committee chair isn't even flow eligible.

What contract(s) blow ours out of the water? Just curious, since they're all mediocre.

ACessential

Skywest, ASA/Expressjet, Air Whisky, Horizon, just to name a few regionals with better contracts than Compass. Not saying they "blow ours out the water" but definitely have improvements over Compass.

I have personally talked with a couple different members of the negotiating team and I do believe they are doing a good job given the resources and environment they are in. But every single one of them will tell you that at best they are asking for industry average (which of course was just brought down by our friends at Endeavor). I guess personally I would like to see Compass fight for an industry leading contract but we all know that won’t happen.

paxhauler85

That isn't true. Our contract is already industry average. What they're saying is: "if this goes to arbitration, expect the arbitrator to dish out industry average provisions." That is what the LOA states he must do. If he doesn't, the company could sue him and have his ruling thrown out.

After talking with them at the BBQ, I'm confident they are asking for some improvements that aren't industry average. They have to be reasonable with their requests (not walking in and asking for a 30% raise), otherwise they risk losing credibility with the arbitrator, who will ultimately decide the outcome of this whole thing.

I'd suggest you talk to them some more. Perhaps attend some of the events.

ACessential

Oh really we are already industry average?? I have been told by numerous ALPA reps that we are the 2nd cheapest carrier in the Delta system (in front of GoJets) and still behind Endeavor Air.

Yes I have been to an event recently and I understand there are 20 "items" that must be arbitrated to industry average. Keep in mind an item is not a section of the contract. Trans States is low balling every single section of the contract (which we all knew they would do of course). Compass ALPA has no way to show the mediator the cash flow and profits of the company, for all we know Trans States can say Compass is losing money and we must take concessions to keep the company alive.

Of course they are not going to walk in and ask for 30% pay raises across the board. But what kind of bargaining power do they have now? After Endeavors concessionary contract and Delta management basically telling everyone to match their contract in order to be cost effective, what hope can we have under the new contract?

Like I said, the only thing going for Compass is the quick attrition. Prospective pilots shouldn't be attracted to Compass because of a "good" contract or that its a reputable company to work for. We work for Trans States Holdings. For all we know we could be merged or sold off to another regional soon.

Keep in mind this is all in the opinion of a fairly bitter Pinnacle refugee pilot. After making the move to Compass I can tell you there are numerous improvements in working at Compass over Pinnacle, however the majority of my feeling is same ****** different regional. I will say so far it seems like a great group of pilots who have experienced many pitfalls of the industry, and there is a lot to be learned from many of the pilots.

MrMustache

I really hope you know the reason for this and the difference between CP and Gojet.

HAL39

Well, I was going to explain why we are among the cheapest, but you did it all by yourself!!

I've been here almost 3 years, so far no major complaints. I would like to see more soft time (trip / duty rigs or min day guarantee) in our next contract, but otherwise, I'm rather content...as is the majority of our group.

Currently, our medical insurance is among the most generous in the regional industry (United Healthcare, 80/20 PPO). I wouldn't be surprised if medical benefits are our "big giveback" to the company. We could probably finagle a 20% pay raise if we went to SKYW's level of healthcare (50/50 HMO). Our retirement is about average. FWIW, QX's min guarantee is 82 hours in 5 weeks (about 67 / month), and it takes 5 years to get off reserve. They may have higher pay rates, but a 3rd year pilot will make more at CP than QX. We probably make slightly less than SKYW pilots because they receive quarterly bonuses.

Long story short, we have a decent contract negotiated by NWA pilots. It's not the best, but it's far from the worst. Plus, we fly long legs which affords relatively high credit trips with very few cycles. Even if we have some givebacks in this contract, we will still have efficient trips with high credit, which translates into bigger checks and more days off than most regionals.

But, like you said, it's still just a regional. Get in, get your time, get out. It's unfortunate that's what the regionals have become, but that's just the nature of the beast...at least for now

Lou Reed

The fact that Compass was created in 2007, therefore the most senior pilots are only on 6 yr CA scale, is also why we're amongst the cheapest operators.

AlaskaBound

Then I suppose those doing the hiring at Compass lied right to my face when they told me those numbers. I can't say there have been 0 CFIs hired because that would be ignorant. However the statement I was originally responding to is flawed logic. Now, if 98% of the new hires at Compass, Slywest, or any other carrier were CFIs and this was their first 121 carrier then I would retract my statement. But the fact remains that CFIs hired in to the pool are very very rare.

BlueMoon

Our contract goes to binding arbitration in about a month anyway. We will not get anything industry leading and it will be because of arbitration and not the pilot group

coryk

What are the main things that the pilot group wants?