robthree

Ladies and Gentelmen,

I'd like to get your thoughts on this idea. I recently read on the ALPA board a persuesive argument for it by a US Airways pilot. I'd also like to get your feedback on some thoughts I've had about it.

First off, I like the idea. It strikes me as a potentially powerfull tool to stop the race to the bottom.

I think the NSL should be based on your DOH at any 121 carrier. This allows APA, SWAPA, otherwise affiliated and unafiliated pilots to get on board. I think that 100% endorsement of the NSL by 121 pilot groups is essential, even if they are not ALPA represented.

I think it should be a Longevity List. That is if you move from one airline to another, you keep your pay and vacation, but go to the bottom of the list for bidding and upgrades. You don't want to get bumped out of your position when a new guy joins your company, but we need Career Portability, just like everyone we know in the 'real world'.

I think it should be a Preferential Hire List. When a carrier has an opening they must interview unemployed pilots from the top of the list. If they do not hire the most senior pilot, they must compensate that pilot X amount (10-25% salery?) Until that pilot is hired or declines an offer from any carrier. A pilot would be able to decline any offer for any reason, but then would lose the compensation if they were recieving it. Once all pilots on the list were hired, compensated, or declined an offer, then the carrier could hire from off the list.

I think as part of the NSL there needs to be a National Pay Scale. The Scale should be relativly flat, and should be cost neutral to the leading contracts. As a starting point say $1.00/hr per seat or 1,000 lbs MTOW. Plus 10%-25% for PIC, minus 10% for first year pay, minus 15% for first year pay for off the list pilots. Plus a nominal longevity bump. There probably needs to be an adjustment at both the B-747 and b1900 end of this proposal, but I think in the middle its a good start. The flatness of the scale helps promote Career Portability, and coupled with its proportionality it becomes a disincentive to farm out flying to "Regionals" using 90 seat jets to go half way across the continent.

The proposal I saw called for a pension plan and health care to be provided by ALPA. I'm not sure if that is a good idea or not. While ALPA is more inclined to protect our intrests then a company, it may prove to be a great liability to the group. Ideas anyone?

SCOPE. No codeshare JET flying by non-NSL carriers.


WHY?

Why do we want a NSL?

I think it would end the undercutting that's been going on in the industry for the last few years. Regionals have grown at the expense of Mainline. Now Regionals are underbiding each other and taking paycuts to get more flying.
It would free us from the Indentured Servitude we all suffer from. It simply costs too much to jump ship once you're on board with a Major, and to a leser extent from one Regional to another. A flater scale would allow you to leave before the ship has sunk. But maintaining company Seniority for bidding would promote stability.


Why would Airlines want a NSL?

First of all, if its close to cost neutral they probably won't care about anything else.

It would allow the "best" companies to attract the "best" pilots. The companies that have the best reputation will attract an inordinate number of applicants, (as SWA, FDX, and UPS are today) and they will be able to select the ones who are the best organizational fit.

It will even the playing field. Airlines can not (or will not) compete on price. Why should they compete on cost? There will be resistance at the low end, certainly. But the high end will see the advantage of equal labor costs.

It may allow them to get out of the pension & health care plan business.



Thanks for your thoughts,
Rob