Lots of union talk going on around here. So far just the usual hush-hush wink-wink secret handshake kind of crap among a small group of pilots. It's kind of entertaining to watch. This pilot group as a whole is not ready for a union. No two pilots can agree on what the problems really are, and the problems that we have are not the type of problems that a union is going to fix.
Do not have to answer phone before duty on time
Neither do we.
Company pays completely for your meals.
So does ours.
Don't have to go over 14 hours especially on last day. Can refuse trips on last day if scheduled over 14.
Neither do we. Nobody ever has to accept a day over 14 hours. Nobody has to accept anything that goes past midnight on their last day.
Now, I am far from a company cheerleader, but overall our work rules are not bad. Our schedule isn't the best, but it's manageable. And I will say that every time I have had a major issue and needed time to take care of my family or something of that sort, I have found both management and scheduling willing to work things out with me personally and directly. Once there's a union and a contract, that will not happen anymore. All a union is going to do is come in, make some minimal "improvements," and take a ton of money out of everyone's pay checks.
Oh, and you guys think the old boys' club here is bad now?? Wait until you get our inexperienced overgrown frat boy types that think they are god's gift to the world in union leadership roles.
Then you have the group of pilots who want to settle down and know that 10 years from now they are in a position relative to their experience and time in the industry. Right now, Airshare does not offer this. Your pay caps out low.
^^THIS. This is the number one problem causing attrition. Reward loyalty, and people will stay.
The other problems in this place are more on the operations side. Our scheduling and trip planning departments need to be completely reorganized. We need a dedicated dispatch department. The hiring and interview process needs to be re-evaluated. The training for new-hire pilots, especially guys and gals with zero experience, needs to be completely revamped. A union will not solve these problems. Making sure that we have the right people in management, and giving them the tools they need to make improvements, will.
I think the company is in the process of creating a retention strategy that addresses all these issues (fingers crossed), let's hope we hear good news soon before it's too late.
Unfortunately, I have a feeling it's already too late. The floodgates have opened and it's not getting better anytime soon. I do hope that you are right and that management is doing something, those of us that would like to stick around here for a bit need something to hang our hat on.