Originally Posted by
80ktsClamp
The thing that has me absolutely dumbfounded is the TA falls short on both scope and pay. I suppose I was so in shock the past week over the thing that I was trying anything I could to tell myself to vote yes and be on with it.
If you had told me 2 months ago that we would have a TA that allows 70 more long term viable large RJs while parking 50 seaters, leaves RAH to do their thing, reduces profit sharing while coming through with only 4/8.5/3/3 pay bumps, and reduces the amount of pilots required at the airline... I would have laughed and told you our ALPA NC could do way better than that.
What I'm saying is, if pay was the top priority... yikes!
Well, here we are...
I'm right with you here. I was very optimistic about the TA, and because of how things were at my regional I expected the ALPA negotiators to be very good at negotiating for a great result, so I thought for sure once we get a TA I would be a yes vote. I thought no voters are typically hard headed nothings ever good enough personalities. Now I see I was completely wrong. The company wanted it expedited, and our MEC chairman said that results would not be compromised to expedite a TA, yet clearly they are compromised, and now I hear several people on here use that we get the raises sooner as a reason to vote yes! It is so wrong to me, and scary what that attitude could do to this industry.
What happens if this poor contract passes. We will get to the amendable date and have to negotiate for years after that while making the low amount negotiated today. So by forcing low pay now instead of using what we have negotiated and working toward a better result, we are just moving the timeline of not good enough pay further down the line.
Example: We go back to the table, negotiate 25% with 3% year over year but it takes two years, we now have better pay January 1st 2015.
Example 2: We accept this TA, it becomes amendable 2016, but now that they have the scope erosion they wanted they drag out our contract for 3-4 years and we don't have the pay we deserve until 2020.
Using the excuse of getting our smaller raise now is not only hurting us in the long run, it is hurting the industry and the contract negotiations for the other airlines as well. So please, think about if we are accepting a sub par contract just because of being impatient. If you truly believe this is a good TA, this does not apply to you, but if you are thinking of voting yes because it is expedited, please think twice.