Originally Posted by
Poppy
You miss the point completely. We are not talking about chump change here. I know FOs at CAL who have made just under 200K for the past 10 years, I know Captains at CAL who have made over 250 for the past several years. All the while your A320 guys were taking it in the shorts. The rest of your pilots, while not as bad, were taking it in the shorts also. I still ask, how do you pay for your child's college with all the stuff that you United guys seem to hold so dear.
BTW,I like all the work rules as much as the next man, but I just can't make a bank deposit with that stuff. No matter how you slice the pie, if the company prices a particular work rule out at $10.00 per flight hour, that is $10/hour less that I make.
By the time that all the work rules kick in, I will have taken a pay cut under this new UPA. Even with the raise next January, it will still be a pay cut. My QOL will be better, but nevertheless, my pay will be less. Not whining by the way, just stating fact. And this illustrates one of the vast cultural differences, we went for the money, and you went for the work rules.
So it is quality of life or a large W-2, really? If your only concern is your W-2 then I guess you will also stretch those pesky safety rules also as we all know how important it is to carry that write up so as not to screw up your sequence. Work rules pertain to safety. Quality of life is a result of these safety rules. The reason we have a rest seat is to provide a place for a pilot to rest so he is alert and fully ready to perform his required duties upon return to the flight deck. Having to endure a seat mate who is ill, talkative or on any way disruptive of your rest break is a safety issue. A few years ago we had a captain that regularly reminded us of how large his retirement was going to be and how he went out of his way to maximize his w-2. Just before his 60Th birthday he was diagnosed with cancer but with all his unused sick time he was still able to maximize his pay while he recovered. We flew together not long after he returned to work and he told me that his wife was retiring from her 33 year career as an educator and that she was looking forward to not returning to work in the fall. When I asked him why he did not join her and enjoy life he responded "Do you know how much money I would leave on the table." Within six months of our conversation his cancer returned and he was dead. Now that's quality of life for the w-2 chasers. ( ORD 767I AA Captain, about 4 years ago.)