Originally Posted by TheManager

I'll take an exception to this. My fellow pilots and I want some things that will cost the company $.

* Industry leading duty period average increased from our current 5:15 to 5:42(SWA). Eliminate the back side of the clock carve outs.

* Increasing vacation pay from 3:15 to the industry leading 6 (FDX). Sh!t, I'd even settle for 5 but don't tell them that.

* increasing training pay that is currently 3:45 to the industry leading 4:23 to 4:30 range (SWA & others).

* Oh, and the most important, obtaining a medical plan that is some what affordable. Reference Southwest Airlines PPO plan that comes in way below our plans.

Shiz, your response didn't seem to track with what PD and Check were writing. No one says we should demand they start "unprofitable operations" like that ridiculous 777 service from ATL to MCO.

What they are saying is that we need to negotiate and obtain benefits that will cost the company money. By nature, they will be less profitable. We will have to break some eggs to make this omelette.

They (Pd and check) are taking exception to those who believe that by merely asking and bargaining for such items as listed above, they will cost the company money, and thus they take it upon themselves to try and "tamp down our costs."

In order to have a truly industry leading contract that even gets close to getting our '96 wages back (adjusted for inflation) instead of C2k restoration, it is not going to be one of those "zero cost contracts" that management parrots to Wall Street. It's going to have an impact on their profitability.

Is that wrong?

Originally Posted by LivingTheDream

Currently in the middle of a Guam-o-rama and hearing rumors that the 73 will be replacing the 75, in the near future, for the beach flying. Anyone else hearing this? Hoping to avoid going back to that torture chamber before I retire... (at 6ft tall, "I got no where to go!", in that cockpit).

Originally Posted by forgot to bid

So DHD 737 crews over? Or is that Guam base coming?

How big is that darn island between us and UCAL there?

Originally Posted by ImTumbleweed

Manager,

I like the way you think.

Sadly, the DALPA crowd is out in full force to manage our expectations for the next contract.

I am actually afraid of the next round of negotiations because I am AFRAID of what DALPA is going to give up next time.

The problem is that DALPA thinks they hit a home run with the last contract. How do you change the mindset of an institution that thinks that way. Wish I had an answer.

Originally Posted by sailingfun

You might check on the pay at Virgin. Branson talks a good game but pays his people peanuts.

A study of average salaries by the Civil Aviation Authority put the top earners at British Airways (£107,600), followed by Virgin Atlantic (£89,500), Monarch (£80,100),Thomson Airways (£78,300), Thomas Cook Airlines (£75,200), Easyjet (£74,100), Jet2.com (£69,900) and bmi (£58,300).

Read more: Virgin strike: Sir Richard Branson sends letters to pilots | Mail Online

That means the top earner at Virgin made less then 150,000 as a 747 Captain in 2011.

Originally Posted by buzzpat

I don't know....I had Pete on a flight recently. Pretty underwhelming.

Originally Posted by forgot to bid

So DHD 737 crews over? Or is that Guam base coming?

How big is that darn island between us and UCAL there?

Originally Posted by 80ktsClamp

That's beside the point.. none of those major carriers into MCO are LCC's.

Originally Posted by TheManager

You can't change the mindset. You have to change the leaders.

It would be a profound and largely unstoppable movement if organized well. In the age of instant communication, it's doable. Lot easier now in 2014 than 1994 or even 2004.

If those that supported change organized, it would be way more effective than the circus from Tampa and their hacker gate. TC lost all credibility with that. Who can take him seriously?

The only other event that would take the DPA off life support is TC's resignation followed by the announcement of a credible leader or board made up of credible, rational members.

TC will never hand over the reins. It's not in his personality profile.