Originally Posted by
gringo
The regionals pay more first year for one reason and one reason only.
They have no choice.
Our classes are full and there’s a line out the door. So clearly management does not see a burning need to improve first year pay.
And frankly, we have more important issues that need to be addressed with our limited negotiating capital during the next round of negotiations.
I agree with the NC. First year pay is a management function, not the union.
Would I love to see a higher first year pay? Of course. Everyone here would.
Am I willing to give up negotiating capital for it instead of, say, Calendar Day rigs? Or redeye override? Or removing the “international destinations” limitation?
Nope. And neither would anyone else already on property.
Well, at least it sounds like the next round will be an easy win for the company. Give something, take something, and this place is always going to be better than a regional, and as long as there's that "line out the door" argument, they can keep dropping to ATP mins like last time, and the line just keeps getting longer. Who wouldn't pick Spirit over Mesa if the requirements are the same and they just need a body in the right seat?
You listed some nice things we may want next round and I've heard some common others on the line, so here's an example of what we want:
Cal Day Rigs, Redeye Override, better international pay, stronger scope, better LTD, 16% DC, higher hourly rates, better per diem, better reserve flexibility, higher instructor override, 8 hours for ground school, etc.
Do we have a list of things equally long to give them back for your "quid pro quo"? Our strongest argument seems to be people won't come here or apply next round if things aren't "good enough" here, but at this point, it
is significantly than a regional, and if the company is willing to (like last round) drop the mins to the same as the regionals, and hire almost everyone on the spot, what do we do? What is there to give up if something
must always be traded? No one has been able to answer that.