Originally Posted by
Mesabi
I think the tired line of "they're just doing what they're supposed to" or "mgmt's job is to get us to fly for free" is a HUGE disservice to employees everywhere and a gross rationalizing of incompetent and greedy "me first/I got mine" executives.
There have been and still are today plenty of companies that provide great jobs with good pay and wonderful benefits, I.e. treat their employees well and yet still make massive profits. A GOOD company does NOT make its profits at the EXPENSE of its employees.
Historically there's even been a few airlines who've managed to figure out that formula for at least a time. See FedEx pre-flying tigers merger or Southwest in its heyday.
A really good management team realizes that their employees are an asset to be taken care of and that providing good qol thru pay and benefits generates happy employees who are more productive, provide better service, and generate sustainable long term profits. The problem is so many executive, bod's and shareholders these days don't care about long term. It's all me me me NOW NOW NOW.
EDIT: also, if you're a line holding captain you've been here for at least 3+ years. If you say they've never violated the contract on you I'd easily bet you just don't know the contract as well as you probably should.
The term "good," when being used to describe a company, or an airline is totally subjective. I am not arguing whether or not this company is "good" or not, but if you are judging solely based on finances, one would probably use that word to describe it.
I think they key to your post is understanding that the airlines you mentioned WERE PREVIOUSLY pilot friendly and offered tremendous benefits, but everyone has realized that they can no longer compete, especially with the ULCC's by doing so.
I want to make sure I am not misunderstood in this post, I am very much pro-labor and very much in favor of a new contract and industry standard wages, but if anyone thinks we will get paid more than Delta (I have heard this on the line), they are wrong and seriously misinformed.
Yes, I have been here much longer than 3 years and know the contract very well. Most pilots here, however, do not know the contract well enough though, and that is a good point. You must have a pretty pessimistic view if you automatically think that because I have been here a while the contract must have been violated, but I was just too stupid to know. I don't think that is fair. I also believe that optimism plays a lot into interpretation. Then, you probably won't believe me when I say I have NEVER EVER gotten a call from the CPs office either, for anything, ever. If you show up to work on time, keep your head down and do your job, no one notices you, I like it that way.
More times than not, it seems, the pilots who run into trouble bring it on themselves.