Originally Posted by
gettinbumped
No, I've been watching the slide for the last 10 years, so I fully have the point. UAL was 10,500 pilots big, and now we are 6,300. We were the highest dues paying pilot group in ALPA, and ALPA national did what to stop the carnage? Nothing, and this is how most of the 7000 guys/gals at Skywest Group got their jobs.
Lawsuits can be filed all day long by the RJ operators, but at the end of the day, they operate within their contract at the whim of their mainline parent's management. When the contract expires, if UAL doesn't renew the deal due to scope issues negotiated with the UAL/CAL pilots, there isn't anything to sue about! It's totally legal.
Look, I know how it feels to have your job threatened. I've lived this way every day for a over a decade since the wheels came off in 2000, watching friends get furloughed (twice), wondering if we are going to cease to exist, all the while watching more and more RJ's in our colors come in and take over flying that we used to do. I'm a former commuter guy, so I know the drill. During this time its been mega expansion, quick upgrades, and bigger and better equipment for regional pilots....good news for the percentage that want to have a career there. Pretending that ALPA is going to somehow step in and make a change one way or another is something I wouldn't hold my breath on. For individual airlines, ALPA is that pilot group, and they will look out for their own self interests. ALPA National won't factor into this decision.
Now, what will happen? Who knows. I've got my own guess, but at our MEC's request, I don't talk about it in public. I do know that the first section that I'll be turning to in the eventual TA is going to be Scope.
Of course I'm not entitled to my job! But for the first time in a VERY long time, I see an opportunity to take back some of the painful, horrific, life-changing losses we've endured. I'm pretty confident the 11000 pilots of CAL/UAL all pretty much feel the same way. Good luck to us all.
Good post.
Originally Posted by
gettinbumped
jetBlue successfully flies the E190 at $143 an hour (plus overtime) for a 12 year Captain. We can start the discussion there and work backwards to the smaller airframes.
The proposal had the regional flying phased out over time. It wasn't a flip the switch type of deal.
FWIW, for better or for worse:
Delta's PWA (starting January 2011), we did negotiate CRJ900 pay:
EMB195 12 YR A = 131.63, EMB190/CRJ900 12 YR A = 111.98
EMB195 12 YR B = 89.90. EMB190/CRJ900 12 YR B = 76.48
SKW CRJ900 12 YR A / B = $86 / $44
OH CRJ700 12 YR A / B = $83 / $43
ASA CRJ700 12 YR A / B = $87 / $45
JB E190 12 YR A / B = $143, $97
RAH E190 12 YR A / B = $96 / $37
Airtran 717/737 12 YR A / B = $153 / $79
AE CRJ700 12 YR A / B = $91 / $41
For comparison, and mind you this is chapter 11 pay rates, for 2011 pay for the MD88/MD90 12 YR A is 161/165, B is 110/112.
My question is, why are regional pilots not worth more pay? I think you are.
But it probably isn't happening until the planes are at mainline and money isn't being spent to finance an entire seperate company and its guaranteed profit.
It is better for everyone that UCAL wins this section 1 battle.