Originally Posted by
brakechatter
I am completely on your side with regard to this, but don't know if you logic is sound with regard to the economics. That is one of the reasons for having our guys look at it with our numbers. Pay rates are one thing, but rjet does not have our DC, our work rules, etc. I think that where it would pay off is in other less tangible areas. Customer service being one, and a larger one than I think most people consider. Additionally, having several sizes of the same jet brings about the SWA effect. The company can truly right size the aircraft to the flight on a daily basis. I agree with you though, that we are more competitive on these jets from a TOTAL cost perspective than the company would lead us to believe via their economic analysis.
That was the point of asking them to rerun numbers. We also need to get in to the books to see where the real costs are hit.
One thing you need to realize is that these DCI PWA's are not what they were 13 years ago when you were there. They have trip and duty rigs, they have 401K matches etc, they have long call and short call reserve. They are not quite to our level but they are close. Add in the legacy costs of pilots making DCI their career, and the margins that are paid, and I truly believe that added with the savings of mainline quality, you will save money over the long term and even some in the short term.
I want to see us get a firm commitment from the company that as DCI contracts are up for renewal this flying is returned to mainline and these contracts are not renewed. I want to see our scope worded to be inclusive not exclusive, and I want to see this company prosper, and not at labors expense. It is possible, and we see it every day.
Every time a pilot group agrees to a concession, it lowers the bar and makes it that much harder for any of us to dig out of this hole. Small steps in the correct direction lead to major changes over two or three contracts, remember that.
Brake, you and I may not agree on the methods, but we are agreeing on the goal. Best practices and a lot of straight talk will get all of us on the same page in regard to the methods.