CommutAir Rumors and Info
12-02-2011, 09:16 AM
#131
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2009
Posts: 519
Originally Posted by Crawl
As much as I would love to have a contract similar to theirs, it is unrealistic to assume that we could have achieved something close to those rates/work rules. You are also referencing a Canadian carrier.
I'm not saying that the contract we did get is anything to brag about, but do you really expect a 170-180 member pilot group of a privately owned turboprop regional, currently with no contract, in the middle of a struggling economy, to negotiate industry leading wages and work rules?
Had we voted down the TA, it would likely be years before we would even have the opportunity to vote on another one. At which point we could have already been 2+ years into the one we voted down. Four years from now, when negotiations open up again, we take it further. At that point at least we will have a contract to fall back onto. For now we've made some much needed improvements that we can build upon later down the road.
I'm not saying that the contract we did get is anything to brag about, but do you really expect a 170-180 member pilot group of a privately owned turboprop regional, currently with no contract, in the middle of a struggling economy, to negotiate industry leading wages and work rules?
Had we voted down the TA, it would likely be years before we would even have the opportunity to vote on another one. At which point we could have already been 2+ years into the one we voted down. Four years from now, when negotiations open up again, we take it further. At that point at least we will have a contract to fall back onto. For now we've made some much needed improvements that we can build upon later down the road.
12-03-2011, 02:05 PM
#132
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Position: SF340 LCA
Posts: 112
guys, I don't have a dog in this hunt but my humble opinion is that you guys did just fine. Everybody has to start somewhere. This looks like a pretty good first contract to me. This is probably about what we would have gotten until our situation changed with the Mesaba merger. It's also not fair to compare any US regional with a Canadian regional. It's apples and oranges plain and simple.
12-05-2011, 10:02 PM
#133
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Posts: 825
Nice work, guys.
For those raining on their parade, it's a lot easier to negotiate when you have an existing contract as a starting point. When you start from scratch, it's a lot harder to make any headway. Compared to where they started, I think they did just fine. Especially when you have a guy like John S. running the place -- he told me to my face that CommutAir is, and would always be, "in the top percentile of pilot pay." So when you have someone who actually believes he's paying people well, when the reality is far from it, it's that much more of an uphill battle.
When I started there, it was $16 an hour, no deadhead pay, no cancellation pay (even for weather or mechanical), 8-hour overnights as the norm, no block-or-better (just block, which was never adequate), no per-diem unless you did one of the few overnights, upgrading reset you to "first year" captain no matter now long you'd been there, and plenty more. This new contract is night and day from that.
Had your predecessors in 2002 not foolishly voted down the union the first time, you'd be further along, but I'm just glad to hear it finally happened. Good work!
For those raining on their parade, it's a lot easier to negotiate when you have an existing contract as a starting point. When you start from scratch, it's a lot harder to make any headway. Compared to where they started, I think they did just fine. Especially when you have a guy like John S. running the place -- he told me to my face that CommutAir is, and would always be, "in the top percentile of pilot pay." So when you have someone who actually believes he's paying people well, when the reality is far from it, it's that much more of an uphill battle.
When I started there, it was $16 an hour, no deadhead pay, no cancellation pay (even for weather or mechanical), 8-hour overnights as the norm, no block-or-better (just block, which was never adequate), no per-diem unless you did one of the few overnights, upgrading reset you to "first year" captain no matter now long you'd been there, and plenty more. This new contract is night and day from that.
Had your predecessors in 2002 not foolishly voted down the union the first time, you'd be further along, but I'm just glad to hear it finally happened. Good work!
12-09-2011, 03:02 PM
#134
On Reserve
Joined APC: Jul 2011
Posts: 21
Hey guys, thanks a lot for your help with the interview. Pretty much everything you guys said was going to happen at the interview, happened (except labeling the airspeed indicator with different speeds). Anyway, it went really well, and I was offered a job.
Now, I am definitely looking forward to start the training, so I'm interested to hear from somebody who went through the training recently. Any good advice or heads up would be appreciated. Thnx
Now, I am definitely looking forward to start the training, so I'm interested to hear from somebody who went through the training recently. Any good advice or heads up would be appreciated. Thnx
12-09-2011, 04:21 PM
#135
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2007
Position: Errplanes
Posts: 367
Originally Posted by starvinmarvin
Hey guys, thanks a lot for your help with the interview. Pretty much everything you guys said was going to happen at the interview, happened (except labeling the airspeed indicator with different speeds). Anyway, it went really well, and I was offered a job.
Now, I am definitely looking forward to start the training, so I'm interested to hear from somebody who went through the training recently. Any good advice or heads up would be appreciated. Thnx
Now, I am definitely looking forward to start the training, so I'm interested to hear from somebody who went through the training recently. Any good advice or heads up would be appreciated. Thnx
12-09-2011, 04:26 PM
#136
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2011
Posts: 44
Originally Posted by starvinmarvin
Hey guys, thanks a lot for your help with the interview. Pretty much everything you guys said was going to happen at the interview, happened (except labeling the airspeed indicator with different speeds). Anyway, it went really well, and I was offered a job.
Now, I am definitely looking forward to start the training, so I'm interested to hear from somebody who went through the training recently. Any good advice or heads up would be appreciated. Thnx
Now, I am definitely looking forward to start the training, so I'm interested to hear from somebody who went through the training recently. Any good advice or heads up would be appreciated. Thnx
Last edited by Squawk2112; 12-10-2011 at 06:45 AM. Reason: .
12-09-2011, 07:29 PM
#139
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Position: Just a city boy, born and raised in south Detroit
Posts: 108
Originally Posted by Squawk2112
starvinmarvin,
I think I have an idea who you are. Congrats on getting offered the new job. You will really enjoy your time at Commutair. The training is top notch and they will help you get through training. Not like the training you were used to in charlotte in the dash. Pay may be a little lower but its nice to know you are flying newer equipment and have job security. Unlike JK and company. Congratulations again and good luck!
I think I have an idea who you are. Congrats on getting offered the new job. You will really enjoy your time at Commutair. The training is top notch and they will help you get through training. Not like the training you were used to in charlotte in the dash. Pay may be a little lower but its nice to know you are flying newer equipment and have job security. Unlike JK and company. Congratulations again and good luck!
I think I have an idea who you are.
Pumps pumps baby baby.
12-09-2011, 09:08 PM
#140
On Reserve
Joined APC: Jul 2011
Posts: 21
Originally Posted by Squawk2112
starvinmarvin,
I think I have an idea who you are. Congrats on getting offered the new job. You will really enjoy your time at Commutair. The training is top notch and they will help you get through training. Not like the training you were used to in charlotte in the dash. Pay may be a little lower but its nice to know you are flying newer equipment and have job security. Unlike JK and company. Congratulations again and good luck!
I think I have an idea who you are. Congrats on getting offered the new job. You will really enjoy your time at Commutair. The training is top notch and they will help you get through training. Not like the training you were used to in charlotte in the dash. Pay may be a little lower but its nice to know you are flying newer equipment and have job security. Unlike JK and company. Congratulations again and good luck!
I think you got me confused with somebody else. I've never flown a dash before nor have I ever been to charlotte, but thanks for the insight.
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