Originally Posted by
indapit
No one wants to shut the place down but you must be willing to. I will not vote to work under a crap contract either. I keep hearing just give us the XJ rates and that is not gonna work for us. Both Colgan and Pinnacle pilots would get raises as well as pinnacle getting a signing bonus while the XJ guys get status quo.....a concessionary agreement.
I think the big push is to get it done before December 1. That is the day XJ guys get a 4% raise across the board plus on December 31 we get a per diem jump and restoration of our yearly uniform allowance, I think it is $235 If I don't see current rates + 4% + some, it is a no vote.
If anyone wonders why the XJ concessionary agreement is so much better than most, it is because the pilot group put it all on the line. Shutting the doors was a better idea than accepting huge pay cuts in the bankruptcy. That is why the mentality of shutting down the airline (strike) is so powerful. We forced management to work with us instead of accepting whatever they gave us.
You do have to remember this is not just about XJ though. There are two other pilot groups negotiating here as well. If we are to get something passed as 1 pilot group we cannot expect so much. Mesaba plus is a great idea but to expect Mesaba pay at all three carriers + 4% + even more is a bit much and most likely wont happen. Trust me I want it just as much as you do, but I dont see Pinnacle giving the Colgan/Pinnacle Inc guys such a huge raise. If it happens I will be pleasently surprised but I do not expect that to happen. I will personally be happy if we even get the XJ contract at this point.
Also keep in mind its about more than just pay rates, work rules and benefits are also important. Colgan has no work rules right now besides FAR's.