I would guess that maybe 10% of our pilots have enough $$ to last 3 months without working. And, every time I hear that down the road the A fund might be gone, I have to wonder why it would be gone. The only answer I can come up with is that we will be weaklings at some point in future negotiations, and give it up. Just like now where collectively we are weaklings during our 4a2b punishment.

Now your talking like your on a bender, do you really think that the company would give us 40% raise? Look at the raise they gave us in 2006, and what they did to the optimizer. If they gave us a 40% raise, with the way they would schedule us, we'd be overmanned by about 2000, and the ones that were left would all die by age 55. I voted yes for contract 2006, trusted our leadership, last time I'll do that. Voted no on the LOA, because I actually read the thing, and have a basic understanding of Econ 101, which, unfortunatly, 62% of our membership don't.

I would enjoy 3 months off (even without pay). What do you think the odds are I could just ask my ACP for the time off?

Survey completed. My negotiating team speaks for me!

No, I'm not on a bender....not yet, anyway. Give it a few more hours.

The 40 or 50% pay raise is, of course, hypothetically speaking. But, when our leadership sold us this last contract, with all of the hidden money, what would that have been worth if we would have just said, "No thanks, we'll just take an hourly raise."

Remember, VS, we're on the same team here.
P.S. I like the Avatar. Still trying to figure out where that is. Don't tell me. I'll figure it out.
Sugarloaf?

The point is the retirement age is currently 60. Anything over 60 is lowering the bar. Could they offer me enough money to change my mind, sure but it would have to be enough to cover the penalty for when I leave at 60.

Agency shop and 4a2b need to go away.

Big hourly pay raise. If working here is going to suck, I want more money. Actual W-2 money.

Oh, and an A plan buy-out option (partial or full) would be nice too. :)

Bingo! That's what I needed to hear!

Now, time to start mixing the drinks.
Happy New Year.

Can someone quote the contract that states the retirement age is 60? All I can find is the "normal retirement age" but it doesn't specify what that is. Is the company being benevolent by allowing us to retire at Age 60 now with no penalty?

The company will make us spend a TON of negotiating capital to get rid of 4a2b - especially if arbitration comes back in their favor.. They can save $75+ million a year by hiring and then "needing to furlough them due to overmanning....."

Same here, this is my last post today, then I'm going to clean up and get my best friend Jack(nickname Gentlemen) out of the pantry...

Somewhat agree, but if we get a good raise, we gotta have the scheduling improvements with it, otherwise the company will kill us in that area. As for "hidden money", only one I've seen in increasing the pay for training, which being in LA, is a nice bump twice a year. Other than that, notsomuch "hidden money" in my bank account.

Wholeheartedly agree, just some good banter back and forth while watching football. I've told my thoughts to the Negotiation committee via the survey, and my MEC rep thru emails. Hopefully others have done the same.

BINGO!!! Spent many couple New Years Eve there, just hanging at the Widowmaker. Kind of wish I was there right now, but hanging out in shorts on Dec 31 isn't too bad either...