Originally Posted by
Aero1900
Just a thought: I wonder if this is true because these smaller carriers have been coming from so far behind?
When you are payed 50% less, you feel a burning need to play catch up. SouthWest voted down a TA in their last negotiations, while they were comfortably making way more money than us. They weren't suffering. They were fighting to raise the bar to the top. It's far easier to vote a TA down from the comfort of your SeaRay while cruising around the lake your beach house is on. Same thing with Delta voting a TA down.
Spirit and Allegiant pilots voted on their TA from their repair shop waiting room while getting the AC serviced on their 1984 Corolla.
I'm not saying that either vote was right or wrong, but circumstances matter.
That’s the simple and logical explanation. They were seeking an additional 15% in compensation while already sitting at the top, not seeking 40% to catch up to the rest of the pack. Pilot groups like Delta’s also started a trend of signing shorter duration contracts with early openers, which puts them at an accelerated pace for pattern bargaining. Say what you want about Delta pilots but they are some of the crucial pathfinders for raising pilot pay.