Originally Posted by
Santos Dumont
I think you are too optimistic. Sure, a workforce deficit large enough to disrupt operations to the point that it affects the bottom line will make the company do "something." That's how market forces work, union aside.
Yes, that is how the markets work and you and I are seeing the definition of what you just stated across the industry. The majority of regional in the industry have more than doubled their pay and many have tippled their pay from two years ago. The driving force to this? Demand for pilots. Period. We are in high demand and have the bargining power to demand higher wages. We simply need a union that will truly go to work and get that done. In the mean time, JO said on the last conference call that he sees no reason to increase pay at this time because we have months of candidates lined up. Well, in the past day we have seen two things come out, 1. The new hire bonuses of "up to $30,000 in bonuses",
. 2. The holiday perfect attendance bonus. Both of which JO would never do if management weren't truly driven to do so. Time are a changing. Too optimistic? I fail to see how that is. Our profession demands it, so why aren't we pushing harder for it.
Originally Posted by
Santos Dumont
However, I doubt that "something" is going to be a contract on par with other regionals. At least that is what I can gather based on JOīs personality. Obviously his strategy is to squeeze the workforce to maximize profits, and he seems to be pretty unwilling to get away from that mindset. Also, honestly I think it might be too late. Mesa has a reputation in the industry, and while compensation is a big part of our problems, it is only one part. It is going to take years to change the company culture and itīs perception in the industry. Unfortunately, I just donīt see a reason for management to increase pilot pay at this time.
I'm not sure if you listened in on the last conference call but it was evident to me that JO was completely detached from the pulse of the industry and what was going on with other airlines. For him to sit there and continue to tow the quick upgrade line and spout out the exact same talking points from the prior conference call, I knew then and there that he is very much driven by as you have mentioned the economics of the situation. That's why the only way to get to him is for him to be unable to staff his planes. That is where it is our job as pilots to do our very best to educate our fellow pilots on what the whole Mesa package is.
Originally Posted by
Santos Dumont
Bottom line, all of us should have known what we were getting into when we came to Mesa. If we donīt like it here, we are free to leave and in the current market that should not be an issue. For those who are trying to leave, but canīt, chances are you fall in the group "only Mesa will take you" and beggars canīt be choosers, so stop complaining and be glad this crappy company is willing to give you a pilot job. If you canīt come to terms with that last statement maybe it is time to look for something else to do.
Ok, but this point right here is WAY wrong in any realm of reality. Two years ago, Mesa was a lower paid and had lesser benefits of most the regionals, but not by much. As you continue to use economic principles to explain your point, don't stop there. Those exact principles you have been using apply just as much to this point as any other. Our current state allows us to demand a higher wage and better benefits. JO has circumvented this reality by opening Mesa's acceptance of lower than desired candidates such as people retired from one career or failures from other companies. While I have zero problem with either candidate, it has been their acceptance of them that have allowed us to be un-phased by the increasing shortage. I feel that those candidates too have dried up and the direct proof of that is the recent introduction of the bonus.
If JO and company continue to play this game, there will be no Mesa. Pure and simple. They will lose contracts just as Republic did and will again have to be reactionary to the market rather than visionary.
Mesa pilots..... accept only what you deserve. Industry average.