Originally Posted by
Bassman1985
How's that upgrade coming at Horizon? Under a decade of wait time yet? SKW doesn't have Brasilia bases I'm interested in, and their new rates aren't enough to convince me to move out to the Cereal State and start over at the bottom of the list again. We are looking at raises of 10% for FOs and 5% for CAs. Not great, but better than it was before. Everyone is also now on the scale that used to be the Saab. No more 1900/Saab Apartheid on pay rates. Since the 1900 is likely to be gone soon anyway, kinda moot, but still an improvement. Starting pay for Silver as of ratification will be $26.75, soon to be $27.82 in May, and you don't have to be based in California. Combine that with the existing $6000 new-hire bonus and the new $6000 retention bonus for all of us who missed out on the new-hire bonus, and it's not a bad deal. Upgrade time here is currently looking at less than 3 years after the SSB gets sorted out. Yes, the reserve rules suck. I'm going to have to live through them when I upgrade. It's doable if you live in base, impossible if you commute. Take it or leave it, as you did.
Everyone will have to make their own choice in this. I'm sure the reserve rules will be the big topic of conversation on the call tomorrow. If you have questions, I'm sure the ExCo guys will have answers for you.
Couldn't tell you as I don't work there anymore but I know they're dropping might even be a decade, but you can go right into the jet at SKW which being from IAH you can maybe get home based. I don't see very many Captains from Silver getting picked up at Majors the ones that are have either been there for many years or came from prior 121 jet and even then most of the street captains have their magical 1000 and still haven't received calls from majors.
The fact that your union presented an LOA that has reserves lasting 18 continuous days is an absolute disgrace. Everyone knows the 1900's are gone so by them making pay the same it's a total moot point don't think the company is trying to do any favors for the 1900 guys.
Your bonus will be taxed at a different rate IIRC and the fact that you think it's not a bad deal is not making sense to me. Let's just break this down using a candidate who maybe looking at Silver and Skywest.....
Under the new Silver pay
Yr 1 $26.75x75hrs= $2006.25 x 12 months $24075 + $6000 bonus= $30075
Yr 2 $29.62x75hrs= $2221.50 x 12 months $26658
$56733
SKW
Yr 1 $22 x 80hrs= $1760 x 12 months $21120
Yr 2 $37.15x80 hrs= $2972 x 12 months $35664
$56784
All without having to be subject to being on Reserve 18 days in a row possibly extended an extra 2 days. You'll be a line holder in under a yr on the BRO which is worth it's weight in gold. Better benefits and a 401k the option to transition to a jet and other bases if you so choose. The mere fact that Silver might/prolly wont weather this storm of a shortage of pilots is worth it. Sure you might get to upgrade if the SSB is sorted out well how many times has that been said. In reality the sticking point is the 18 days of reserve so by you voting yes you are willing to put something complete unheard of in the industry into your contract and subject to the ranks of every other pilot group. Remember all it takes is one company to start and continue the downward trend to the bottom. You can't honestly say that the company couldn't have offered the same pay rates without absolutely destroying the lives of those that will be on reserve.