Originally Posted by
morerightrudder
I think the company has realized this, which is why they're now slowing the pace of negotiations. The most a new contract would do is keep junior FOs from bailing.
They think they will be able to staff via signing bonuses ($12K is a lot for a young CFI with flight training loans), pouring more resources into recruitment, touting their bases (live in Miami and er...Pittsburgh!), and using the "employee engagement" tactics to sway people on the fence to keep chasing the carrot that's tied to the moving stick. Have some free baseball tickets!
BB has drawn his line in the sand thru his speeches- he wants junior manning in this contract. And not surprisingly, that's one of the Articles the Company has stopped negotiating on- the "Days Off" one.
There's no way this pilot group will ever agree to JM. They would rather continue with the old contract. So, impasse.
It very well might be best to continue on the current contract instead of inviting junior manning in. I know of really nothing that I would trade for it, I mean it would truly have to be industry leading, and something not open to interpretation.
Let the company figure out recruitment.
On the plus side I believe Republic pilots will be the first to be absorbed by major airlines. Without flow and being wholly owned, there is nothing to stop mainlines from absorbing your entire group as quickly as they see fit to do so.
On the minus side, although it may seem hard to believe, Republic could be the first to fail. When the hiring really picks up in the next few years, I predict all regionals will eventually fail, but Republic may be one of the first. Hopefully though wholly owned carriers do not become a new rung on the ladder on the path to getting to the majors.