The PBS language as written will force PBS down your throats. The final paragraph allows the company to claim operational necessity, and they will, and the arbiter will consider that per this LOA.
It's not just the $5M to $7M it eliminating the conflicts to get more utilization from the pilots, to get more flights done. You bet you *** they'll claim operational necessity. The LOA also says the intent is to implement PBS which again favors the company. Much better chances arbitrating an almost decade old never implemented PBS LOA where the company didn't perform either.

Demand the right to a pilot vote. Threaten a DFR lawsuit if not for the significant changes to the work rules and compensation.

 

I’m struggling to come up with a reply that doesn’t come off as negotiating in public. I’ve emailed my thoughts to my reps. Let’s hope everyone else does the same.

 

AA WO and Operational Necessity are like oil and water.., The two don’t mix…

 

when it’s a turd this bad, you should go public. The LOA is done.

oh, and their claims of following ALPA national policy is ridiculous. National policy doesn’t dictate when the pilots vote. The Envoy MEC By-Laws specify that. Unless they’ve changed it recently, it last said any significant changes to work rules or compensation require a pilot vote. The ALPA lawyers tell them (MEC) that they (MEC) decides what significant means. Well, that BS. File suit for failing their Duty of Fair Representation with an immediate injunction preventing ratification until the case is heard…. And let the judge decide what significant is. PBS is a huge huge change all by itself. They (MEC) have played fast and loose with that “significant” language since 2004. The lawyers like it because it makes their job easier. Reps and MEC officers come and go…. But the lawyers and staff have been there for decades. It works great for them.

their argument is if every LOA requires a pilot vote they won’t get as much from the company…. That’s BS too. If they want it, they’ll wait for a pilot vote. Heck, go look how many contract violations are still occurring with this management team. They can not be trusted.

 

they used operational necessity language about 20 years ago to give 10 planes to TSA. They claimed operational necessity to let TSA fly the planes because Eagle was in maximum hiring and training mode and couldn’t staff the 10 extra hulls worth of flying. The the arbiter sided with operational necessity, which they ALWAYS will since the primary purpose of the airline is to OPERATE a transportation system. The RLA puts maintaining operations as a very high priority.

 

So I did listen in on most of the call, and I heard that the two LOA's are independent of each other. For the bonus LOA, I never did hear exactly what the commitment for repayment is. On the new bonus option, it looks like pilots with over 12 months get $15,000 within 45 days of signing LOA, then $30k when upgraded to Captain, the 40k on 1 yr Anniversary of CA,. then another 40k at 2nd yr CA anniversary, then $25k at time of flow. Is there a 24 month commitment at each step/bonus, or just 24 months total from first bonus? For example, when you get the 40k for t5he 1 yr CA anniversary, does your 24 months start again (for just 40k) or do the previous bonus commitments "drop off" over their time expiration?

 

Want to represent us?

 

Each payment triggers a commitment. That’s the whole point of it being a RETENTION bonus. It does potentially give an opportunity to work some of it off, but the whole idea is to get you hooked on the crack so you stay. Giving you just a nibble of that carrot so you don’t decide you’re just going to starve to death and find somewhere else to feed you, even at the cost of paying back that paltry $30K initial payment.

 

Don't agree to anything that results in handcuffs on your career. All 3 WOs are trash. Don't get stuck at any of them.

 

The bonus structure is a joke and won’t change attrition. There is literally no amount of money or bonuses that would keep me at the regionals unless I was 60 yrs old. I love working 17 days a month flying 4 legs a day pulling down $5k per month. Imagine if I could continue to do this and get a $40k bonus. No thanks. I’ll take a pilot job with an airline where I can progress to flying less days and fewer legs for a lot more money. Oh, and I’ll actually get a respectable retirement contribution on top of it. Well gotta go, I have to wake up early for my paid flying internship tomorrow. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for age 67 so the geezers can stick around a little longer and slow the opportunity for the rest of us because you know they never benefited from the age 60 and 65 retirement rules!