Originally Posted by
TheGreatChecko
USMCFLYR,
The simplest way to explain it is that in most cases, the companies who ask new hires to sign training contracts are the ones that aren't as "good" to work for. By "good", I mean, pilot friendly workrules, commutable schedules, etc.
When a company locks in a pilot for a year with a training contract, it nullifies the effect that a bunch of pilots leaving because they hate working there would have, thus making it difficult for any improvements to occur.
TC's in effect are a way to skew the labor economics of pilots, making it more difficult for them to "vote with their feet" when pilots feel they aren't treated well or fairly.
Checko
I wouldn't be that iron-clad about it. There are several decent companies that have training contracts in place. There are also some POS companies. The bottom line is that no one is forcing you to go to work somewhere. You need to do your own homework and make your own decisions. Don't go someplace with a training contract and then complain about it.
Look at the realities of operating a business. I have my own LLC for my contract work and pay for my own recurrent training (which is factored into the rates I charge) and that costs around $6K each time. Guys, training is not cheap and companies are in business to make a profit. They can't do that if they're paying to train people who then walk out the door. Training contracts are not in place to "skew labor ecconomics." They exist as a way to help companies ensure they recoup the costs of training.
If it's truly a POS company, then DO NOT go to work there in the first place and the company will go broke and be gone from the picture. However, to say every company that has a training contract is terrible is ridiculous. I assume none of you are going to work for SWA either -- see my post above. There's a bunch of people on this board who are dying to get a job at NetJets -- do you realize they use to have a training contract? The majority of places with training contracts are the types of operators seen as stepping stones to higher things.
I remember the days years ago when guys were telling everyone to NEVER work for the likes of SWA or NetJets. Sometimes I just have to laugh!
