100 Seat A/C - Don't Grab For The Carrot!
Over at Delta we rejected our TA in July due to a myriad of issues, primarily concessions during positive financial times. We were also dangled a "carrot" in the form of bringing at least 20 EMB jets to the mainline, along with 40 more 737s. The 100 seat pay rates were disproportionally low compared to the rest of our categories. Our smallest A/C, the B-717, pays the same as a DC-9, one iteration of which was a 68 seater not too many years ago, and the backbone of the fleet was at 100 seats. One school of thought dictates that the lowest captain pay rate must exceed the highest F/O pay rate. Even with substandard pay, I expect the EMBs would have been welcomed if the other areas of our TA were not so onerous.
But we all need to remember that the airline will purchase the aircraft required to support their business pursuits. We should never trade away other areas of a contract for the promise of new aircraft. This is especially true in the 100 seat arena. Given the staffing challenges in the regional ranks, there is pressure to operate these aircraft on the main line. Embrace the capture of affiliate flying, but don't pay for it. Get the pay rates right. Take carrots off the menu!