Originally Posted by
Boomer
I have two instances where SKW's rates didn't "help" Comair's bargaining power...
I seem to recall Comair management and the Bankruptcy Judge throwing out Comair's negotiated pay rates in 2006. They replaced them with a rate they determined by averaging the ASA, CHQ, SKW, and MAG rates for each equipment type.
The SKW and MAG numbers sure flushed the pay rate for the 70-seat guys. A 5-year 70-seat FO (yes, Comair's 5-year guys are still FOs) went from $46.99 to $36.50. Big ouch.
In addition, the next year SKW won Delta's RFP and were awarded half of Comair's 70 seat jets.
Every time you see a SKW CRJ700 numbered NxxxCA you're witnessing the benefits of a "non-negotiated, below-industry-average pay scale"
The Comair guys mostly blame Atlanta and not the SKW pilot group, but it sure gets frustrating year after year hearing:
"If you won't fly for cheaper, we'll give your planes to (fill in the blank) because their pilots will..."
Let me know if my memory is off.
Um, yeah dude. I know, you don't have to point it out to me. What you said is what I was saying.
But to make ANOTHER point. At my former employer, we negotiated a 70 seat pay rate as the type would have come on property had we been awarded more UAX flying. Our MEC got a 70 seat rate that was on par with COMAIR's pre concessionary rate.
And guess what, they put together the charts and graphs showing the high and low. With our rate and COMAIR's rates being the high. Of course MESA'a is at the bottom, and RAH being close to ours and enough above MESA's tobe taken seriously. Well, that's when SKW agreed to fly the 70/90 for 50. What do you think that did for our MEC's ability to hold that rate?