Originally Posted by
Karnak
If I "wrench the numbers a bit", I can prove the Sun orbits the Earth!
But it doesn't.
It doesn't matter if you call it "restoration", a "great leap", or "righteous justice" - it was a rate of increase in one contract greater than the increases achieved by other airlines that didn't see subsequent concessions during LivingTheDream's "dark years".
Timbo and LivingTheDream jump aboard with ""Small incremental changes/improvements will not even begin to restore our contract's buying power... not ever". Maybe they could start a thread calling out Southwest, FedEx, and UPS pilots for destroying our profession with their underachieving contract history. Just be prepared to respond to how they could possibly have found themselves earning more than us using their incremental gains strategy.
The term "restoration" should be banned from any contract discussions. We should position ourselves so we aren't vulnerable to the abrupt losses that result in the need for restoration in the future. It's been done by others. That was the history I was providing.
How long have you been here Karnak?
Are you aware that they did indeed (mostly SW) drag the whole industry's pay rates down?
Are you aware that those three suffered very little loss in traffic due to 9-11? The freight companies lost no business, while SW, being a small domestic only carrier, lost very little traffic/earnings. Meanwhile, the MAJORS, flying empty international routes, lost BILLIONS! But not due to PILOT WAGES! We could have flown for free and they still would have lost money and gone bankrupt.
BTW, prior to the Major's pay cuts, SW was -always- at the bottom of the 737 pay scales and I flew for a UPS feeder in 1985 prior to coming to DAL, why do you think I left?
MONEY!
But now you are comparing one of the largest international airlines pay rates in the industry, to a domestic 737 ops and a couple freight outfits?
Seriously?
You disgust me.
Back in the day, the ONLY reason anyone went to SW or a career in night freight was, they'd already been turned down at Delta, American, NW and United.
But now you hold SW/UPS/FDX up as a shining example of how to negotiate? They didn't pass us, we dropped below them!
While Delta is making BILLIONS, you are ok with 3% raises??
You are one naïve puppy.