Originally Posted by
svergin
Agree. All the arguments I hear is that the company will immediately want to do a full Section 6 if turned down. Well what if this ends up like C2002 that ended in 2008 and it takes until late 2012 for us to get a new agreement? That means we get something maybe in 2010 or 2011 and we don't get extra long-haul flying we would have gotten. What if the company just says "OK we will add codeshares since our pilots don't want to do that ultra-long haul flying." Honestly I don't do that flying, but when I look at the latest 787 CA vacancy and see mostly double digit seniority number bidding it, I would think that those guys are pretty happy flying those long flights. I imagine that's why they are bidding it.
Another point: If this FRMS thing is so valuable to us as a pilot group, then why wasn't it presented that way during the last TA roadshows? I never heard anyone say "This FRMS is worth hundreds of millions a year and its in our favor". Only now its magically all this leverage? What if its not? What if this is a win-win and we say no. Last contract we were told payrates, work rules, and SCOPE. Those were the wins.
I haven't decided either way, but I can tell you that I'm not super convinced that the company would immediately jump back into negotiations if we vote this down. The Delta pilots said the same thing. And it didn't happen. We could end up not getting contract until after the flight attendants.
Negotiations are give and take. We all want only takes and no gives. No question there. But these payrates are way more than I ever thought I'd see and some of the people I've talked to have said they are pretty eye opening. Yes, we want better work rules, but I'm working under work rules mostly far better than my previous contract. This is all just my perspective and I'm just sharing that before you flame me.
A couple of things. Again, my opinion.
We can play the what if game all day. My opinion is that the company wants the FRMS. If the TA goes away, I think they will come back rather quickly with either another deal, or want to open early with the hopes of getting this done expeditiously. Rather quickly is relative. That is what I think. No one is saying that will happen immediately. It doesn't work that way and never will. It becomes more of a priority the closer the 777-300ER's and A350's get. Outsourcing to Star Alliance is a real possibility, but UAL has spent significant dollars on new lift, and they really don't like to do that without some prospect of a return on investment. Whether or not you plan on doing long haul is really immaterial. The widebodies drive all bid vacancies through trickle down. Every 777-300ER we get, impacts every guppy newhire FO bid in EWR. The importance of that drives the airline, and where you decide to take the pay on a move up in equipment and live with the current reserve rules, or wait to hold a line. It impacts everyone's pay.
As for FRMS in the last contract, that's easy, it didn't exist. FAR 117 is driving all this and wasn't yet implemented. So there was nothing to discuss.
Work rules. Hmm, depends on which side of the fence you came from.
Yes, there are some things better, but overall, we are still living with the huge givebacks from our bankruptcy contract, and work rules are far more onerous today than they were. Do I want to return to those days, is it realistic to ask or expect that? No. But I do think we can do better to improve the situation, but with a 2 year extension, that's not going to happen.
Also, timing. My guess is that the current booming economy will last plenty long enough to get a full contract done. Again, sooner than later, and here is the kicker, I think before the next 2 years. Meaning I think we could have a contract before the end of the proposed 2 year extension. My best guess would be within a year, not 4-6. That would make any QOL gains much more meaningful than 2 years of 13%, for me anyway. My opinion is that if we take the 2 year extension, then we have to negotiate a contract in 2 years. My guess is that the economy won't be as good then as it is now. I think we stand to get less when we start the full contract in 2 years than we can get now by starting the process this time around. My crystal ball doesn't go out that far, but history has demonstrated the cyclical nature of this business. Timing is very important and I think we will be much better off doing the full contract now instead of 2+ years from now.
Our contract really has nothing to do with the FA's so when we get it doesn't really matter. It ****es off the FA's, but that is our management. Give and take yes. Record profits? You expect to give? Not me. I still want a lot of what we already gave back in bankruptcy. They stole my retirement, they stole my work rules, they stole my QOL. Why not work to get some of that back now?
No flames, just good healthy discussion.
Dave