Originally Posted by
CE750
You don't think I know that? What do you think I work for a company (Gemini) that pays 1/2 what you get paid to do the same thing (arguable more)?
Short Answer: They're ALPA - I would have never applied to them before they were union, with no chance of improvement. I see possible upside and potential with them now however.
Long Answer:
Their current contract, while poor in some respects (pay... $64/hr 2nd year FO, etc..) was negotiated under BK. There are significant upsides, like Home basing and a liberal overtime policies and time and a half pay (we have $180K/yr CPs that are still getting 12-14 days off a month)
Nevertheless, at the time of our contract, the company was losing money hand over fist, unlike Fedex and UPS. In time, if/when they're profitable, I expect we'll try to bridge the gap between them and Fedex, but this will not happen without a union on the property. That said, we've lost 30+ pilots in the past few months to UPS/Fedex and some others... simply because of the pay issue. Time will tell if GAC ever raises the pay to where it's more reasonable, but clearly the free market is speaking about the value of an MD-11 pilot by the mass migration out of our company.
I'm a new hire, having taken a good bit of time off from flying, I didn't many choices of where to go. I'm thankful for my union contract Job and while I'm at GAC, I'll do my best to make it a great company, and a profitable company that can then pay me what I deserve for the work I do flying all over the world, into 3rd world nations at Airports with minimal facilities on 6 continents.
So I guess it was just luck of the draw that I got hired by FedEx and you are flying MD-11's at Gemini doing the "same job" making less money? I'm sure that's it. It had nothing to do with 21 years of experience, four year degree in Engineering, a Masters ----Bla Bla Bla. I really don't think you want the entire resume'. I'm sure it was purely an accident that I'm where I am, and you're where you are.
You have a serious chip on your shoulder my friend. I suggest you lose it because life's too short to be ****ed off at the world. Is it really all about the money? Because that's all I'm getting from you, other than we derserve as much respect as a Doctor.
I'll say it again. This is a great job and profession. I really enjoy my job--is it as much fun and as rewarding as Flying Eagles? Hell No, and it never will be. But hell, I really would have done it for beer money. The reason wages are so low at most places right now is becasue some pilots are willing to fly for penies on the dollar. Period, Dot, End-Of-Statement.