+1. This is a great way to go.

I'm personally in the silver HSA. Pilots currently have a choice between the two, the company could fully fund either. That is something we would not have to claim as income, which is nice. We each make choices as to which plan is right for us based on our own circumstance.

I am silver HSA too and I would definitely like to see the company fully fund the HSA.

But, off the top of my head, there are a couple of problems that would have to be overcome. 1. We all would like our HSA to be "fully funded." Unfortunately "fully funded" can mean different amounts to each of us depending on whether we are single, married with kids etc. 2. What is a "fully funded" HRA? I don't know.

Yes we do make choices that are right for our own individual circumstances. I was just saying that there is a huge difference between an HSA vs an HRA. One would want to use up every dollar in an HRA before retirement whereas this is not true for an HSA.

I'm sure we all would want this funding to be fair and equitable for all. I'm just saying it would be a lot more difficult to actually implement fairly than to say "let's just fully fund them."

Denny

I haven't researched this but just put a set amount in that's above the worst case scenario for a pilot. So for a single pilot with no dependents or a really good and busy Catholic :D, they get the same. One will have more money there in retirement but both recieve equal amounts.

Let's take a average pilot that makes $190/hr and say he flies 16.5 days a month which would put him right around the 87 credit hours per month (an alpa provided number). A total of $198360 per year.

Under the failed Moakie TA2015 he'd gotten a 8% raise, or $15,868 over the year and let's say that year is in a vacuum and not taking into account a Jan 1 raise and changes in PS which are a yuge factor.

Now let's say in a Malonie TA2016 we negotiate:
+ 8/6/3/3 raise.
+ $10K per pilot for the HSA.
+ 36:45 per week of vacation instead of 22:75 x 4 weeks which adds 56 hours
+ 10:30 for recurrent instead of 7:30, a 5:15 bump per year based on 1.75 events per year.

So in year 1 the pilot still flies 16.57 days per month, makes $205.20/hour after the 8% raise. If I'm right, said pilot will make $10K for HSA, $11,491 more for vacation, $1,077 for training, a total of $38,437 in additional pay over C2012 pay and $22K over TA2015.

THEN, we drop all of the TA2015 scope "improvements", profit sharing "improvements", sick leave "improvements" and work rule "improvements" and call it a day. And that way, we help the company save face because we kept the pay increase but none of the conc... improvements. So the new contract was "worse" than TA2015 just as DALPA and Management had promised us. I mean, those were all sold as improvements, right? So let's just give up those "improvements".

Mark this up over 4 years and we've got ourselves $22k/$24k/$26K/$27K more pay over the much better TA2015 for the same 8/6/3/3. Basically, a 10% increase over TA2015. And that's before we take into account any of our concessions for not taking the "improvements". Concessions like more WB flying, more staffing, more profit sharing, and so on.





You're welcome. A 19% increase in year 1 for you petulant anti-establishmentarian restorationists.

I guess much of your post is a bit "tongue in cheek," but I'll point out a couple of issues with it:

1) HSAs have contribution limits. For 2016 they are (thank you random internet site for the following): "HSA holders can choose to save up to $3,350 for an individual and $6,750 for a family (HSA holders 55 and older get to save an extra $1,000 which means $4,350 for an individual and $7,750 for a family) - and these contributions are 100% tax deductible from gross income."

2) I don't want to fly 16.57 days per month, thank you very much.

3) We're not in the business of "saving face" for Delta. We were violated in bankruptcy and disrespected in C2015 TA1. Saving face is the furthest thing from my mind!

Otherwise, I get the gist of what you're saying.

There is a lot of tongue and cheek. But unfortunately come to the 717, 16 days on buys you a line at less than 87. Less days on and you probably won't have a line since 92% of the trips have been four day trips or five. So pick your favorite four 21 hour four day trips or you're preferred off reserve days. One or the other.

As to the HSA... We'll pocket the rest for life insurance, dental, etc. :D

As to the save face thing, I'm hearing it. I think it's going to be a common thing we hear. So I'm going to hVe fun with it.

That's true for most narrow-body fleets. Productivity has already decimated the bid packages. The constant quest for 0 credit time results in a longer average trip length. Which is why so many more people manipulate their schedules daily.

That's also a reason for more sick time usage. Every time you call in sick its 21 hours min. Not 5:15 or 10:30 to get over the flu/cold.

Maximizing tax exempt money is the most efficient way to go. If we had a 20% retirement those over the retirement contribution limit could still direct pay into an HSA account. I would guess those over the limit could also take advantage of the catch-up contributions.

If we could max out life insurance, then there would be more incentive for the "Mrs. Timbo's" of the world to take out their husbands.

If they do that, we move up a number.

http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.net/...20130512183446


#thinking2stepsahead

We are solving problems here. It's a tradition we have as pilots.

Just like when the company comes to say we want more 76-seaters but the language in the contract requires we grow the fleet by 80 or more airplanes and we have to park 70-seaters. That's no bueno. We want more 76-seaters and everything we already have. Oh and we need a way to get DCI carriers to give up 50-seater obligations.

Do you have a better solution ALPA?

You do? Well, that's great. And since you can solve that, how about a way to end sick abuse? Oh, and we can't hire enough people, got a solution to that too? Pilots. Problem solvers.

Kind of like the mom who joked "hey, I'm going on a cruise, and I need to lose weight. But I don't want to exercise or go on a diet. So what are my options?"

http://fatfightertv.com/wp-content/u...2/06/spanx.jpg