So exactly what is being floated? I need a real world example. The largest category at this airline is 7ERB. Most are 12 year pay. Using C2012 data we average 87 credit hours a month. So use that as an example.

$154.50 x 87 x 12 = $161,298.

Add 15% for 401K = $24,194.

Add 16% for 2014 PS = $25,807.

Total = $211,300.

So what's the probable plan now for C2015?

Are we looking at, or seeing trial balloons for, increasing said $211k by a marginal factor (say pessimistic 3%), reducing PS% but increasing hourly rate so that the end W2 is 3% higher?

So take $161,298 x 1.03% + 401K + 16%PS = $221,626. Now rework it so PS doesn't exceed say 10%. So to hit $221k you increase the hourly rate by 9.9% or 10% and made PS10% then the end W2 would match what is inessence a 3% raise. Someone could rant about how non variable pay was increased 10% ($15/hr raise for said 7ERB) but of course ignore the PS decrease that funded it.

Or are the trial balloons something more like we go for something where the W2 is decreased but less pay is PS??