Originally Posted by
80ktsClamp
This coming from the person who so accurately predicted that all junior folk were getting furloughed this month.
How's that looking glass working out for you? Last I checked, I'm not going to be relying on you for futures info on our company.
... and ...
Originally Posted by
Bill Lumberg
No, we need raises---actually RESTORATION. We have been taken advantage of for too long, and there are plenty of other things or "one time charges" the company could do to "prepare for the future", like buy 10 million biscoff cookies and store them in a warehouse. That may save us money in the short term, but we need to be paid better NOW. Start at the Southwest 737 rate---for our 737s, not for our 777s or 744s. That is the new benchmark. The Airtran guys are going to get the SWA rate, and so will we. If they don't like it, they can raise fares or fees even higher. Too bad. And, I won't give anything up for scope either. We are coming off of a BK contract, and times are better. Will we ever get the pay back from the C2K days? I don't know, but it will be darn close.
These, plus all the other guys on the board who's opinions I respect and appreciate. ...
I do my own analytical work and frankly, did not anticipate the economy doing as well as it has. 300 is a skinny margin & does not actually cover attrition since we've stopped hiring. Pulling more capacity out of a declining fleet count is a magic trick that can only be sustained for so long. Delta does it better than anyone else. An issue on the 737 is "cold tires." I suspect some jets go days without "cold tires" on the ground.
My coming concern is the need for 250 billion worth of airplanes if we truly replace the 757's and a couple older 767's with airplanes of similar capacity and capability. The engineers tell me there is not a viable way to extend the life of the 757's airframe. With all the other pressures to outsource, we don't need a crisis on the capital expenditure side weighing against us. Management seems to be thinking the same thing as they are putting their money where their mouth is by being very disciplined on fixing our balance sheet ASAP.
I'm not in the negotiating committee (obviously) but I'm the worst case prognosticator you NEED writing job protection and scope language. Apparently not the guy you want writing the headline number on pay raises.
As for "restoration" I'm not sure what that means. I hear a lot about pay, but pay has a lot to do with upgrade potential. When you look at the stove pipe effect on first officers getting a command job, there are significant pay opportunities by restoring scope and our job protections. But not much (anything really) is pursued in restoring Section 1 and we only take nibbles at Section 23. We need stricter limits on "SkyTeam" and Alaska, maybe percentages, maybe a threat to flip the switch, but we compromise our position when we agree that our jobs are for sale but we want to quibble over the price, IMHO.
80 knots ... as I wrote then & I repeat now ... hope (glad) I was wrong.