And where are these pilots going to come from in the future? I can't see too many military pilots wanting to fly for the airlines when they can make just as much staying in the military (and get their military retirement) or by pursuing any number of other careers that are just as lucrative or more lucrative. And if the civilians are going to be lower quality individuals (because the profession no longer pays well enough to attract them), then where are you going to find quality pilots for the majors. You can't just wave a magic wand and... poof... you have a quality pilot!

I fully understand that there are still plenty of quality individuals in the pipeline at regionals to supply the majors for a few more years. But once that pipeline dries up, what will we have left? It seems to me that all it takes is a little foresight on this issue. Look beyond the snapshot of what you see today.

 

Good post. I like short strikes too. Germans are smart. Most important thing - got to have your stike fund. Then you feel willing and ready.

 

What is a scope clause, Alex?

 

They did. What do you think happened in the summer of 2008 when fuel prices went through the roof? Those ticket prices that they just couldn't possibly raise without killing demand... well, suddenly, they couldn't raise them fast enough. And people kept flying! And then there's all those bag fees they've been able to successfully charge the past couple of years. I guess it all falls into the "where there's a will, there's a way" category...

 

Lots of Kook-Aide drinkers in the crowd. I wonder if the stones are there to do it again if required???

 

Hopefully a Cal/Ual merger will help to erase some capacity for a short time. Then we can get that paltry 5 bucks more per ticket. It bums me out when my captains tell me how much more they made when they were FO's.

 

So, why aren't they doing it now? Why are all airlines still losing money?

I guess I should add airline CEO to the list of occupations you can do better than anyone currently in place.

 

I do not argue that. It does prove the point that pattern bargaining is the way we get to where we want to be.

I am would not be surprised to see us doing a little walking in circles. Not sure if it would ever get to a work action, but all must be willing.

 

Just a couple of thoughts on the subject:

Agree with the above 100%. We will definitely get killed on the PR battle because of the way our pay is calculated. Personally I could give a crap what Joe Sixpack thinks about our wages, but in fact, it is a very important factor -management will definitely try to use that against us and we better be prepared for it. We may have to look at differing ways to increase our compensation - ways that don't make us all appear to be living the Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. Especially if some of us are eating macaroni and cheese in a moldy crashpad! (Which fortunately I am not - but just saying .

Just because someone thinks a 20, 40, 60 or even a 100% pay raise is unrealistic does not detract from the discussion. Lets keep the discussion civil and on topic. Management will definitely take this stance so lets start playing devils advocate now - I sure hope the Union guys are doing so.

Lastly - we must be willing to take chances to be effective. If we are not willing to risk anything we will probably not get much. We may have to risk a lot more than some guys are willing to risk - so where is the Union PR telling us to start saving up a "strike fund?" I guess it might be too early and maybe we are going to try the "soft" approach as an opener (I said soft not lowball). Maybe this will work out good, and maybe it won't but personally I will be financially ready to weather whatever storm may come our way.

One thing that I do realize is that we have 12,000 + different personal situations going into negotiations - if we are unwilling to accept and respect differing opinions form within our ranks and allow management to effectively pit us against each other, we are toast.



Scoop

 

Why do you think I am doing everything in my power to be debt free by 2012. It is called being prepared.