Originally Posted by
prior121
Oh horsesh*t. When I came to Mesa, there was really no quick upgrade anywhere but Compass. And it was HARD to get hired there. (2012-2013) Everyone paid about $22-24 an hour, and anyone who had any sort of a "better" contract, and was hiring (XJT) was career suicide due to all the 50 seaters. Mesa offered the same pay as everyone else, no 50 seaters, and some possible growth (only first 9 900s had heen announced, E175s were a strong rumor) on the horizon.
In today's market with 50k first year pay at 9E, $40 hour year one at OO, XJT, S5, YX..... quick upgrades at TSA, PSA, Compass and OO (soon?) you are nothing short of retarded for coming to work here. There are plenty of places you can get hired to fly a shiny new 175 for almost twice as what Mesa pays.
So yes, You New Guy. As long as you are coming to class, you are hurting our ability to get a new contract. And no, iflyRC is wrong, it's not every other pilot on properties fault. The times were different when we came here. Taking a job that pays $22 hour is not equal to quitting a job that pays $63 an hour just because that same job pays $22 first year. We have too much invested as 3rd or 4th year employees. The problem is the people coming here now.
Let me see if I understand this ...
You and Navmode and ScottyDooDoo have been at this for a whopping 3 or 4 years but you expect the rest of us to consider you experts in all things pt121, including collective bargaining?
And, you watched conditions worsen over that 3 or 4 year period, did nothing, watched ALPA do nothing, and choose to blame people who weren't even around instead?
Let's do some research. Find one example where, within the last 80 years, the Railroad Act (RRA) was enforced AGAINST organized labor. Now find one example where civilian employees of a privately owned business or even a publicly owned corporation were punished under that act either civilly or criminally by a court for work cessation. Remember, unprotected Government employees terminated by the gov don't count.
While you're at it, explain how the AA pilots and others have successfully avoided the RRA. There is nothing in the 17 sections of the 1862 act nor the subsequent statutes enacted through 1874 that pertains to airlines. Specific language pertains to the movement of troops, equipment, mail, and the continued provision of other services essential to the security and economic welfare of the USA. Airlines aren't mentioned once, big surprise since they didn't exist yet. For ANY current company, let alone a regional airline to attempt to expect remedy from the Federal government under the antiquated law is laughable. And, so is any expectation that the gov would attempt to apply it to any company other than a railroad or a telecommunications company that utilizes a railroad right-of-way. The language is very specific. Far too specific for the gov to use it to protect a regional airline, particularly one that they, otherwise, care nothing about.
That is why other pilot unions have successfully threatened a/o engaged in work stoppages without reprisal. ALPA is hiding behind this lame excuse while doing very little on behalf of most regional airlines ... especially Mesa. Yes, we do get our money's worth when personal protection is sought from them but, collective protection? That's another story altogether. My suspicion is that JO laughs them out of his office because he knows they're a joke.
So, to those who need to hear it yet again ... focus your frustrations and efforts in the proper direction.