Originally Posted by
Otterbox
Staffing isn't an issue right now but The company is obviously concerned about long term staffing issues. The pilot shortage is hitting the lower paying regionals now. Barring some sort of economic depression it will hit the ULCCs then JB.
Pilots leaving for the better paying legacies only help your argument for better pay and QOL because the company fears the pilot shortage will hit them eventually.
Happy and content pilot groups don't get paid more money. Every pilot I know at JetBlue is happy but you guys threw a large vote of no confidence by unionizing so hopefully you can leverage that into more money but unionizing is a one trick pony. Once it the newness wears off then you'll need another source of leverage.
Management has no incentive to pay you more as long as pilots stay at the company and pick up open time. Why pay you more when you're happy with what you make now so much that most of you stay and you're even willing to work open time at the rates they pay you now?
The union needs to be citing every example of someone leaving the company, where they went and what that company pay scale is. If the losses are small management will argue that they're obviously paying you the right amount. If the losses are large you have better ability to argue that your pay is sub standard and they'll be left without a chair when the music stops and the hiring shortage hits.
That's the all point, but with the wrong conclusion; there would be no shortage if they allow ab-initio program into a major, the company will have a revolving door of pilots.
The argument for more pay and better QOL will be shut by these guys even willing to pay to be here.
The union would not be really unified because those guys would be willing to take less, and move on, and the company would spend save money spending less on senior guys. Remember cost more money to pay a senior pilot than train a new guy. Especially if the new guy is not willing to push hard for a good long term contract.