Originally Posted by
BagMan
The argument is simple If 30% of the pilots in any given base are prohibited from picking up open time. More open time will stick around long enough to become premium. With work schedules in some of the smaller bases there may only be a few pilots capable of picking up these trips. These Premium adds would also drop earlier to allow enterprising out base pilots to fill the void. This would prevent the possibly one pilot from holding out until the INC was right. With a little bit of networking and some collusion I could imagine some Big Paydays. Management would want something BIG to expose themselves to that. What makes me Personally Angry about it is the "hay why don't we screw over all these other pilots so I can get paid more" Attitude. I also know for a fact that there has been proposals for this position. I doubt they get much traction because again 30% of the company is on Reserve. Pare that with future upgrades who will sit Reserve and Union Members making these proposals could lose there seats.
I don't agree with this approach. It would require giving up some from all of us to benefit line holders. It's not good for the pilot group to be undercutting each other. It was in the previous contract now its gone and it's not coming back. With the limited negotiating collateral we have I would hope the members of the NC will work hard to improve all of our lives. Not kneecap pilots on reserve so they can pander to line holders.
Full disclosure I am one of the pilots on Indefinite Reserve.
I would like the NC to focus on Better Payrates, Benefits (LTD in industry), Bettering parings (more efficient use of our time) Redeye,321,International overrides, Higher Per diem (enough to cover gas and tolls and lunch on a day turn) Something for the reserve guys, Something for the +12 years pilots (extended payrates or more vacation) Some language the requires schedules to be build in a way that keeps us working inside a 14-16hr window (no 630 show with a 2230 show in the same trip.) A snap up clause or pay increase % per year after the contract would be nice to.
Brother, I agree with you. Harsh reality and sad truth, I don’t think anything in your last paragraph is going to happen. Sounds like you’re looking for one of the big four to be your new home. Or hoping to bring some if not all of those items here. I just don’t see it happening. I could be wrong but this place runs in a hope and a dream if guys would stop hoping and try to see what there options actually are they wouldn’t stay. Go and find guys who have left, it’s been my experience the ones I’ve talked to have said I wished I’d done it sooner. Yes they’ve admitted there’s some pain in the beginning but overall regret not leaving long ago.