Originally Posted by newarkblows

Unfortunately I do agree that delaying a contract will hurt the pilot group in the long term as the company bids on flying. The company is very powerful and will probably prosper no matter how many airplanes it operates but we directly benefit by more aircraft and a larger company. On the other hand, I wont take another concessionary contract or bend over for a management team that knows it can make money even if we were 10% more expensive. A company that has an entire department devoted to reduced circus tickets and employee raffles with a "department president" can afford to pay more then $23 dollars an hour for a first year pilot.

We aren't a small company with weak finances. They want us to be the largest regional with one of the top 5 largest fleets of any airline worldwide. How can we be that airline and yet in our new contract they are actively trying to cut our retirement match in HALF. The company is shooting for the moon with this contract and they fully intend to watch us work for pennies while they reap the rewards.

I vote no out of spite... I wont deadhead for 50% pay, I wont deadhead without a positive space listing, I wont see my retirement match cut in half, I wont see my scheduling section of my contract gutted and replaced by an unknown quantity that our union will be arbitrating for years with an unfair and lengthy railway labor act process, and I wont see my medical benefits which are already **** poor be cut once again. TO even come to the negotiating table and propose any of those things with a straight face is completely asinine and yet they have. All of those things have huge ramifications on our way of life and yet certain members of both MEC's want us to "play ball." They aren't asking us to play ball they are beating us in the nuts with the bat. That is why I will vote no.