Originally Posted by
gloopy
Its also important to note that the concession store will be open by default for at least 2 more years anyway. They company can use that time/money to pay down debt and re-fi, as well as look at credit options for future needs on better terms. As strong as we are today, we will as a company be stronger in 2 years. Add in another year to negotiate a contract and the company will have no excuse. If they start the book-keeper trickery today (which so far it appears they have refrained from) and we are a much better company on paper in 2 years but for the sake of arguement we still aren't where we need to be, then they should have no problem offering us an immediate bridge contract. Like a 2 year contract with an immediate 10% raise across the board followed by another 7-10% raise, a percent or two every year in the DC, and at least get in writing that the next several large RJ contracts will be significantly drawn down and/or not be renewed and either way the number of permitted 70-76 seaters will be reduced accordingly and substantially, yet at a manageable pace over years. Then say we will get a minimum COLA per year after that even during section 6 to remove a lot of the incentive to stall and trash labor relations as a result. Throw in a few bones for per diem COLA and a few positive work rule changes and the company will have 4-5 years from now with very "manageable" cost creep and an ever improving bottom line.
Saying that we aren't going to get a billion per year of "restoration" isn't exactly going out on a limb. In fact, I would worry about anyone on the pilot side of negotiations who even makes that claim because history shows us that when tough talk like that is talked, scope concessions are always right behind the corner because they find that as awesome as it sounds, they can't bring home that much bacon yet want to save face by bringing home as much as they can to live up to their promises, so they sell today's flying for tomorrow's raise. But tomorrow never comes because of downturns/wars/epidemics/etc and the raise goes away and the scope sold to fund it doesn't come back.
10%!!! Are you kidding me?? Sounds like someone's expectations have already been effectively managed.
Sorry, but it's time to pay the piper. We took draconian cuts to our pay as an emergency measure to supposedly save the company from BK and then liquidation. It wasn't supposed to be a permanent reset of what this profession pays. And we did all that with no contractual provision to recover any or all of that pay when the crisis was over. Bad business on our part to negotiate and accept a contract like that! But equally bad business on the part of the company to not recognize that this deal of the century (for them) would not last forever. They should have been planning for at least partial restoration of our compensation all along. If they haven't done this, well tough toenails! I only feel bad for them just a tiny little bit because our MEC over the past few years has led them to believe they didn't need to prepare for it. But that's not my problem. And that is the way I expect my representation to be handled. If ALPA's not willing to admit this and is therefore not up to the task, then I will not hesitate for a second to vote for DPA to get some folks in place who at least understand the situation correctly. Sorry, but it's just business... and I have a family to provide for.