Originally Posted by
Fishfreighter
That's EXACTLY the point. What most pilots with SJS don't understand is the damage they do to the profession when they go to work for an outfit like Virgin or Allegiant. They undercut Union contractual pay and benefits.
It doesn't matter why they do it...faster upgrade, bigger jet, furloughed. The bottom line is they are driving DOWN the payscale for like sized equipment. All you need to do is look at UAL/USAir and to a lesser extent, DAL narrowbody pay rates. Those companies went into bankruptcy court and told the judge that in order to compete they had to impose jetBlue narrowbody payrates.
And the judge did exactly that.
And when you talk about work rules, these non-Union companies can change their work rules whenever they choose just as long as they are within the limits of the FARs. Ask FedEx pilots why they joined ALPA. It was because the work rules were in a loose leaf binder so the company could change the rules any time they wanted to.
The saddest thing to hear is when they say, "I have to feed my family." That's the same thing scabs say just before they cross the picket line. Well, I guess you have to do what you have to do. However, don't expect Union pilots to be happy to see you, especially when you come looking for a free ride to work so you can continue to undercut our contract.
I mean you don't see non-Union electricians going down to the IBEW hall and asking for a ride to the job site.
Personally, I think Alaska was right when the legal department tried to strangle Virgin in the cradle.
Sorry buddy, I have been at two ALPA carriers and a Teamsters carrier, and they cost me a lot of money. My last ALPA job paid me
LESS than unemployment. Quite simply I took the job at Virgin America because continuing to fly for an ALPA carrier was leading me to bankruptcy. For me, and most Americans, my first concern is the size of my paycheck. I make no apologies for leaving my ALPA job and getting off of foodstamps. If more than doubling your pay and getting off of welfare by going non-union is undercutting, I will happily undercut all the way to the bank.
You also seem to ignore the fact that most unions work to protect the high paying jobs, and make it worthwhile to remain a member. Not so for ALPA. Since ALPA started allowing the outsourcing of jobs in the 1990s (before the likes of JetBlue and Virgin America), there have been less and less entry level jobs at the majors. You also seem to forget in the bankruptcy courts the airline executives spent more of their efforts destroying scope and outsourcing to RJs than they did trying to put in lower pay rates. ALPA alone is responsible for opening the door to RJs. ALPA destroying the entry level jobs at the majors is the reason pilots are flocking to Allegiant, JetBlue and Virgin America. Because of ALPA, many pilots only choice is slogging it out at rotten dead end, poverty level paying, ALPA regionals like Trans States and Mesa or going to vibrant and growing start-ups that are non-union. To bash hard working pilots for trying to get out from under the oppression ALPA has forced them to work under because it may hurt your pay is an example of blatant selfishness on your part. You honestly think it is better for a pilot to live in poverty and collect foodstamps (which
YOU pay for) because they are at an ALPA carrier, than it is for them to significantly improve their pay?
The quote you posted earlier applies as much to you as you claim it applies to others. You fail to recognize ALPA's vast failures that extend far before the existence of JetBlue, Allegiant or Virgin America. Until you can admit those failures and the extreme negative consequences those failures have had on the pilot profession, your credibility is non-existent.