Originally Posted by
dba74
Where to begin...
You say it's not the best and I agree. You say it will boost our w2's and that is only true if you fly the ATR or 200. The scheduling still allows rescheduling outside your footprint (extending) and junior manning (flying on your days off) among other problems. You say it will take a substantially longer time to negotiate another contract if we vote no. This is absolutely a false misconception that many of you have. It could take literally a few hours to go back to the table and correct the problems. We do not have to start over again, i.e. NOT another 5 years.
You say the rigs bring the 700 guys to the top of the industry. In my above example I show a pay cut. Horizon is the top of the industry, BTW. My counterpart there makes $14/ hour more than me. (18% more)
Then you play into their hands about getting new flying and growth. This is exactly what management wants you to do. It just doesn't work this way. ASA has had some of the lowest 50 seat rates and only until recently did upgrades start happening quickly because Delta (among others) started hiring again. 2 years ago, F/0's were stuck in the right seat 4 or 5 years. Also look at how ASA lost LAX to XJT who has much higher rates of pay.
WE ARE IN CONTROL due to massive pilot shortages, which will only get worse as the legacies continue to hire. DO NOT SELL OUT!
1) Skywest will not come to the table nov 21st if we vote no. We can't just call them up and tell jerry to be at a meeting. We will have to go through the NMB which we all know will take forever. Skywest can go back to not agreeing to the 700 rates and maybe 6 months to a year from now we will get 2% on the 700 rates with inflation this means nothing.
2) We almost had CAL flying and lost it because we couldn't give a real estimate on the costs. (don't give me that's just what the company tells you, because you all know ASA desperately wants to get flying with other carriers)
3) Express jet will not make more money then our 700 guys and there payscale reflects that.
4)Horizon has 1/3 of our pilot group's size with an upgrade time of almost a decade on the jet. I'm guessing your counterpart took longer to get to captain then you. With duty rigs I bet you will start to see the same money he/she is making. Also horizon is one company with only a handful of jet drivers, how many other 700 drivers will make as much as you do?
I just don't see this contract as selling out, it significantly increases 1st year QOL, gives a substantial increase to the majority of the pilot group while increasing 700 rates higher then most regionals (with exception to horizon) and positions us for future growth. ASA will not be my retirement airline so if you want to fight for that extra couple percent then vote no i understand where you are coming from I just don't agree. There definately is a pilot shortage but we should be realistic with our goals and future.