Originally Posted by
AtlCSIP
While it may not be 'about being militant', you sure appear to come off that way. You say it's about demanding what you deserve. Ok. Based on what? Unfortunately, that demand is subjective based on the point of view of 4500ish pilots, and this isn't a democracy, it is a business. Please keep in mind that things will never be like they were. I'm not being argumentative, nor am I picking sides, it's just a fact. Too many things are different from how they were to ever go back. For instance, 'how things were' was based on a contract with Continental, which no longer exists, and the UA folks aren't going to do things the same way Continental did. There is no going back.
Yes, we could be here for a career. Yes, we all want that to be a good
place to be, but we won't be able to really work toward making this a better place until the divisiveness and animosity are gone, or at least reduced to a dull roar. Let's work together for a realistic contract that works for all involved. It will be better for all of us that way.
Well said. I think part of the reason the old Coex pilots have this view of the world is that they were accustomed to operating in a different climate than exists now for them - and everyone. They "grew up" in aviation as the sole coex carrier, with a different contract with their partner than they have now. There never was competition for them, and they never competed or bid for flying. Their profit margin was probably 10%, not the less than 1% that Majors have forced on their Regional partners. They are unable to shift from this dichotomy and view their world as different now. Do I want - and think I should get - paid much better than I do? Absolutely! But I understand that this is how the business works. Costs are squeezed to the bone now. New companies are formed to undercut those already on a contract and seniority list. ACA, Feedumb, Allegheny, Mesaba, Colgon and Comair are gone. AirWisn shifted from UAL to USAIR. Mesa has shrunk. Pinnacle is about to shrink. This isn't the same regional industry and many of the L-XJT pilots cant or refuse to see this. You can't demand to price your company out of business, and that it's managements problem to figure out how afford to pay it. The Coex days are gone, and the era of "competing for contracts is here - unfortunately.