whereRwe

That last email from Tulsa reeks of desperation. The CEO has stated several times over the years that they won't just take any contract to move the plane, it has to make them good money. That being said they don't want to pay us more in the lines of industry standard because it will cut into their (managements) piece of the pie. The rest of the contract will be abused like the first one.

I love the timing of the hail mary from DR, right after OAI bombs at a job fair, the negotiations have stalled, certain people in Tulsa already promised higher wages to new hires and they are losing QUALIFIED and EXPERIENCED pilots quicker then they can replace them. If all else fails, blame the union for managements short comings and closed minded approach to employee relations.

Drywallguy

There is no question that beyond second year pay, Kalita and Atlas offer superior wages. Large increases on jumbo and light aircraft, which we do not operate and do not seem to be in our model, have no impact on the pilot group. A "average 41% increase in wages over the current wage scale" is meaningless if the majority of raises apply to non-existent aircraft and pilots with junior seniority status. Pilots are smart enough to see through the 41% average smoke and mirrors. They will not sacrifice their future years for industry leading first or second year pay. A simple spreadsheet illustrates to any pilot considering a move to one of Omni's competitors they will be left with a larger balance in the bank after a short time. Kalita, Atlas, ABX, and ATI are all adding contracts, flying, and airplanes while Omni has stagnated. How can Omni attract or retain employees when there is no growth locally within an expanding industry?

Mr. Rose's most recent letter states, "Omni’s non-scheduled business coupled with pilot home basing is different than other business models". Yet, it sure seems identical to that of Atlas. Unquestionably there are other carriers that operate a non-scheduled business coupled with pilot home basing. For pilots considering employment opportunities with Omni, Atlas, or Kalita Omni's compensation and benefits pale in comparison. When all other similar carriers are offering their pilots business class travel , superior health insurance at significantly lower cost, better pay, and reasonable retirement plans why would anyone choose to begin or continue a career at Omni?

An additional pay of $500 on deadhead days exceeding 16 hours is hardly sufficient to compensate for the atrocious and worsening conditions in economy class. If the extra pay is meant for us to be able to upgrade tickets, it is useless. Frequently, the class of ticket Omni purchases is sub standard class of ticket and cannot be upgraded regardless of how much money one offers to pay. Additionally, Omni continues to purchase tickets so close to departure time that those with status and point have already consumed the available business class seats. Frequent travel in economy class on flights often exceeding 12 hours is intolerable. There is no other company that subjects its pilots to to this travel and is another reason pilots continue to choose employment with carriers other than Omni.

$1,000,000 may seem like a massive amount of money. However, if equally divided amongst the approximately 280 pilots it is a signing bonus of just about $3500 per pilot. Pre tax! That is equal to a few days of extra work and is hardly a carrot sweet enough to entice a pilot group to sign a substandard contract. Like the offer of $500 on days over 16 hours, this money would be better spent on appropriate and industry standard travel accommodations, retirement, and other compensation.

A lack of a competitive contract in the new year has prompted many current Omni pilots to begin ardently seeking new employment opportunities. Combined with the difficulty in recruiting qualified pilot candidates I don't see how Omni can continue to operate. Doubling, or more, Omni's labor costs may be what is necessary to continue to operate the business in today's environment. Times change and so do business models.

I question Omni's motives with their letters to the pilot group. Several years ago the pilots decided to have the representation of the Teamsters. As such, approaching the pilots with letters and pleas can accomplish nothing. If any progress is to be made to secure the future of Omni it must be done through the negotiating committee.

Drywallguy

Omni is trying to sell an average of a 41% pay increase with the new contract. The majority of pay increases are in the light aircraft category which Omni does not operate. Beyond that the raises go to the first officers on the large aircraft. Omni's proposed pay scales were identical for first officers on both large and jumbo aircraft making no distinction between the two class of aircraft. Finally, there is no pay increase from the first to the second year. The pay then increases a substandard 1.5% from the second to third and again from the third to fourth years. A 3% cost of living increase over four years is insufficient. 3% per year is more appropriate at a minimum.

I've made some charts showing the percentage pay increase for both captains and first officers for light, large and jumbo aircraft for each of the years of longevity. I'd like to attach them here, but cannot figure out how to attach images. Can anybody help with that?

atpcliff

Kalitta pay rates would be a great start for Omni!

GTipilot

You need to upload them to a photo website, say Picasa or Google photos, then copy the URL and using the button that looks like a photo, paste the URL link.

Rolloutflare

So,

The company is wanting the union to allow the pilot group to have the option to vote on a proposal, right? A forced "this is all your going to get" proposal and not a negotiated TA. And we got a letter from the company about what was offered. I say lets have a vote on the company proposed offer, but with one condition. On each item the company has proposed. Let's have a comparison to what the pilot negotiation committee proposed so the pilot group can see what was on the table. This process seems a bit one sided if you ask me. The company doesn't want the pilot negotiators to give item specific details on the table, but will tell the pilot group this is all your going to be offered. This way we as a pilot group will se what our union is trying to get us and how far off the company offer is to industry standards. I smell crap, and where you smell crap there is usually poop. A Federal Mediator will agree.

Packrat

Don't confuse a Mediator with an Arbitrator. They're two completely different animals.

whereRwe

Everyone needs to remember that this is nothing more then a numbers game for them. They are counting on pilot greed to win in the end; because it did the first time around.

We rejected their first TA and they immediately came back with a 2nd TA in record time. I'm sure they had a 3rd TA sitting in the desk drawer and were so surprised that the 2nd one passed they didn't know how to implement it.They have an end number in mind and they will continue to low ball us and threaten furloughs and to park planes with their "leaked" info from Tulsa. This is the same play book they used last time, they are just trying it on the FO's that weren't here for the last contract.

Drywallguy

In consideration of a move to Atlas, Kalita, or ATI I had considered it lateral. However, somebody just made it clear to me. If people go both ways it is lateral. But, how many have come from Atlas or Kalita, etc to Omni? None. The movement is only from Omni to elsewhere. There is nobody coming from other similar operators to Omni. A move from Omni to any of the competition is not lateral it is upward in every aspect.

Alaskanrenegade

Actually, there is at least 1 in Omni that moved from one of the three you mentioned that I know of.