Originally Posted by
EWRflyr
First, let's not forget it is Memorial Day weekend and remember all those who have given their lives in defense of our country and the liberties we hold so dear (including the freedom of speech and expression we take for granted on APF).
Second, not all mainline guys forget that it was their own fault that the situation has developed to what it has become. I have flown with some, though very few, that have said they have only themselves to blame. Most guys do trash and bad mouth the feeder carriers as the cause of their problems and like to take it out on the little guy. Ticks me off since I was one of the little guys who flew where management told me, etc.
Third, the way for this to end is to hold the line. RAH guys can keep voting 'NO' on their contract until the company coughs up the work rules and pay rates that are worthy of a professional pilot...not a regional pilot, big jet pilot...A PROFESSIONAL PILOT. You can get what you want if you stick together and not get fooled by management's dangling of more airplane orders, quick upgrades, and even more pilots on the seniority list.
Finally, on a locked thread someone mentioned "this will only lead us down the road to majors having regional contracts with regional work rules with only slightly better pay." Well at some majors that is already the case. There are far worse work rules at my current company than my previous employer thanks to a concessionary contract that should never have been voted in when it was put to a vote.
You hit it on the head...
Though I would add two points. First, placing sole blame for scope on the MEC's of mainline airlines is akin to saying a rape victim had it coming. Airline management is very organized in response to labor and has been playing for this end game for a very long time. They are the real enemy. By offering carrots to certain segments of mainline pilots and strategic utilization of the bankruptcy process they have continued to move the bar. The only way the bar stops moving is if we "all" hold the line when we have the chance, whether in terms of scope clause or negotiating an industry leading contract.
Second point. It concerns me how many regional pilots are content with status quo pay rates. Don't you think management relishes every time you say you don't want industry leading pay or feel mainline pilots are overpaid. If no one goes up in pay and everyone seeks the average the average goes down. If you are not flying for across the board industry leading rates then there is work to do. I am not saying it should happen at once, but regionals need to start incrementaly leap-frogging each other up, not down.
WJI