Originally Posted by
Oberon
In theory, negotiations could result in increased efficiency (pay banding, higher pickup limit, etc.) or inefficiency (more vacation, higher training credit, etc.) which would change the need for pilots but in reality any changes will be marginal and will pale in comparison to current hiring needs. In other words, don't worry about how negotiations go.
I don't think anyone is worrying about negotiating so many "efficiencies" we go from hiring 1000 a year to furloughing. But we need to be on red alert at all times for "efficiencies" that will lower the need for required pilots the most when times are good.
I'm not willing to conceed a few hundred pilot positions. Period. We're done with the "productivity" give backs. The company can reduce the need for a lot of pilots any time it wants to by simplifying fleet types. You can buy a lot of planes with the billions they are "returning to shareholders" so therefore its not our problem to fund manpower reductions for them.
Work rule changes, a possible attempt at redefining block time, larger "RJ's" at the regionals and "selling" the AF/KLM scope grievance are just a few areas where we could literally sell our jobs to the company for a few pieces of silver.
This is a high threat environment with real jobs at stake. We can't let them hoodwink us just because it will most likely occur during a period of hiring regardless. We can't afford to walk around drunk on hiring and give up more jobs because we'd still be hiring.
We need to send a loud and clear message to our reps that we are done selling back jobs. Period. And we need to remind them of that. Constantly.