To me the, the TA is a step in the right direction, but I'm not voting for it. I don't have too many reasons, but PBS will offer me no enhancements to days off as I already average about 14 days off per month in base, I see that declining under PBS.

From everything I've seen so far, the language is too strongly slanted towards management being able to over-manipulate the system. That's no good, that's the problem w/ the current contract. Too many loopholes that have allowed abusive management practices. I also don't like the idea of having an official check-in process. If they wanna pay me 100k or more per year, I might reconsider. In the mean time, I'm a PIC of a part 121 aircraft...I think I can manage just fine w/out a required check in. I know my schedule, how to check it, and when to show up for the airplane. It's not rocket science, don't need the company to baby-sit me through the process. To me, the check in just reeks of future abuse.

Our pay-rates/proposed raises aren't keeping up w/ the CPI, or consumer pricing index. While I don't expect any substantial pay raise under a new contract given the current economic climate, we can do better. It was my hard work, not management's, that nearly earned this company $300,000,000 in the bank. They turned around and squandered a large portion of this in Hawaii. We also bypassed appreciable pay raises the last time around because of the whole Freedom whipsaw tactics used by management.

Personally, I won't vote yes to a contract until it ties executive compensation to the success of the company. If we're doing well financially, the pilots, along w/ management, should prosper together. When times get tough, management needs to be required, per the contract, to make the necessary cuts. Pilots have been the ones making the financial sacrifices for so many years now, it's time the CEO, CFO, etc. be required to make the same sort of sacrifices. Twenty years ago, adjusted for inflation, pilots made twice as much as they do today. Does that hold true for the upper-management types w/ regard to their salaries? I didn't think so. Patience is a virtue, I can wait for a better contract...If I'm not around to inherit that contract, hopefully some future Mesa pilots will be better off as a result of our pursuit of a better agreement. Personal gain can take a back seat, advancement of the profession is what I want.