Thing is though, an airline typically wants labor concessions so as to remain competitive with other airlines. If legacy pilots establish and maintain a certain standard of pay, management has no excuse in negotiations to lower pay in the next contract. In fact, when pay goes up across the board, it just means
each carrier adds a few more bucks to each ticket sold with no adverse effects on their market share or position relative to one another. Would United really complain about adding $1.42 to each ticket sold if they knew American and Delta were doing the same? I wonder if salary price fixing is legal...
Originally Posted by
tom11011
Your scenario is not that far fetched from a future reality. Pilots at regionals have overwhelmingly showed they are willing to put up with low pay and the like while pilots at majors have overwhelmingly showed their willingness to sell scope for personal enrichment.
In ten years, I predict the regional airlines will fly approximately 65% of all airline passengers in the US. There will be mass regional consolidation. Upgrade times will be in excess of 10 years at the regionals hence the deep desire to see pay scales at 12/4, what other reason is there for 12/4?
Pilots only accept bad conditions at the regional level for the major/legacy carrot. 99.9% of regional pilots would refuse concessions once they've made it to the big time,
especially in light of what they just put up with for 4-12 years.
Originally Posted by
John Carr
Pre 9/11, this was proven time and time again. On the UAL mid-term ESOP, then contract 2000. As well as NWA, and DAL contract 2001. Although there WERE mainline pilots that DID see the potential of "Pandora's Box" being opened, they were in a minority.
As for contracts around 2000, I've heard a lot about how good they were. Something like a 777 Captain making $300+ per hour unadjusted for inflation. Is that true? I appreciate your historical knowledge of the subject, and I'd love to hear more details about how things were then and what we're still fighting 15 years later to get back.
Originally Posted by
John Carr
Besides the retirement numbers accounting for job, but MORE airframes (even though maybe not the heavy/WB) going to mainline. More mainline pilots flying the equipment, on a mainline seniority list, on a mainline contract
I also wonder whether mainline pilots care about scope. If they aggressively recapture it, management will say, "Okay, but then you're not getting any kind of raise." The pilots already there know they have a job, why would they fight for the regional pilots at their own expense? The 55+ year olds want to pad their retirements, the guys just getting hired now want to make up for lost time, and the middle aged guys in between may or may not care. Of course there will be some compassionate and empathetic towards their regional brothers and sisters, but I question if that's a significant percentage. If it is, is it a majority?