AtlCSIP

Everybody wants things to get better when they negotiate new contracts. I don't think their expectations are unrealistic if we, as a pilot group, can increase efficiencies and cost savings initiatives. We would effectively create the revenue for our better QOL and pay, just like Southwest does every day. It's possible for everything to be better, but we have to BE better, not just have a better contract.

johnpeace

I don't really see anything more we as a pilot group can do to increase efficiencies...we're pretty much already doing it. Firing a bunch of redundant, useless middle manager types over in the headquarters building would be a good start toward saving money...but that's above our pay-grade.

Our performance has a lot less to do with the way we operate the airplanes and more to do with: the ramp (which sucks), gate agents(which suck), crew utilization (which sucks), maintenance (which sucks) and catering/cleaning/servicing (which mostly sucks).

I often feel like Delta is purposefully sabotaging our performance...

johnpeace

Because the company I work for already has an unsustainable business model based on how much it costs them vs. how much their customer(s) compensate them.

ASA is losing money.

Yah, they can cut costs elsewhere in the operation to bring costs in line with earnings...but there's only so much more expensive the labor can get before it becomes too expensive for the business model to work.

I expect a raise. I expect this next contract to be more expensive than the last.

I simply recognize that there are limits.

Yes, this is the first time I've gone through this. No, I'm not young or aspiring.

I don't see our pay as being that far off...I want modest pay increases and substantial improvements to work rules. I'll vote for a contract that raises my pay and incentivizes the company to use crews more efficiently and jerk us around less and tightens up some of the scheduling/PBS language.

'burning it down' sounds like something my 4 year old does at bed time.

pullforexit

I agree. US Air had unionized ramp workers that were making over $60k a year to toss bags. With each contract negotiation they would up their pay and benefits. Eventually US Air's cost of doing business exceeded what the market would support and they went bankrupt. The bag handlers were forced to train their sub-contracted replacements right before they were fired. If you "burn the place down" you only hurt yourself.

blastoff

The company (New ASA) is over twice as big as it was this time last year. The Holding Company (Skywest, Inc.) is the most profitable in the industry. They can afford to give us raises that don't even keep up with inflation going back to 2004. Economies of scale. There is a reason they went after XJT not once, but twice. They will make money.

Somehow ASA guys think asking for reasonable contract gains is "Burning it Down." You guys have played the "miser" angle for so long, you forgot what it looks like to act like a normal pilot group.

dojetdriver

Yep, pretty much.

But I gotta ask a question of SOME of our Atlanta headquartered brothers. Did those few forget, or flat out not pay attention that management ALREADY screwed themselves when this whole ASA-XJT thing went through? The point about them saving 70-80 million dollars in "synergies" when the deal is done due to the elimination of redundancies as well as savings from the economy of scale created with the "super regional"

In other words, if they want to use the fear grenade of "hey pilots, we can't remain cost competitive and need to keep our costs in line otherwise we'll lose flying" blah blah blah simply isn't a valid stance.

AtlCSIP

There are things we can do to increase efficiency, although it is true that it has to include the ramp, the gates, management, scheduling, etc..., but we can realize those cost savings and the resultant pay raise. The cost of doing business does have to go down, but by working smart, not by taking advantage of the labor groups.

PBSG

I gotta ask: Are you qualified and trained to read and calculate a companies profitability? Are you a CPA or do you have an MBA?

I am not, and I hear people all the time talking about the companies books like they DO know what they are talking about. Take the latest round of paycuts XJT took - we had 'chicken littles' running around saying the sky is gonna fall when all they were doing was feeding off of fear propaganda.

I fly an airplane from point A to B as safe as I can. THAT is my job. I do not run marketing, planning, scheduling, hedge fuel, etc. - and I plan on raising the bar on this next contract - both in terms of pay and work rules. If you are looking for extra cash for this company then look elsewhere because you are not gonna get it from me.

PBSG

That sucks for them, however I am NOT A F(CKING RAMPER!!!! I am a very intregal part of this company. I didn't take a week long course on how to stack bags in a bin. It took years and a lot of time, effort and money to do what I do!

And no I'm not a hat wearer or an egomaniac who needs to be called Captain by everyone. I'm just sick of seeing and hearing people diminish the pilot group as "just another work group". We are the engine that runs this airline, not some schmuck who filled out an application at the airport. Get some damn pride and sack up!!

surreal1221

We, unfortunately, have a lot of guys who are not ready to bite and draw blood.

Over the next three to five years a great deal of movement is going to occur within our industry. We (speaking for those of us who do not want to make a regional a career destination) need to bite, and bite hard. The time is now to recoup the lost time with families, the furloughs, to poor reserve utilization, poor pairing / line construction, the ridiculous behavior of management over the past three years - in the form of significant contract improvements FOR those of us who will likely remain on property (so long as the company exists) over the next two to five years...and even for those who will fill our shoes when we finally can escape this place.

So...no point having a good attack dog if it won't draw blood.

Passive negotiations get you nothing of substance.

Contact your status reps, voice your concerns, attend LEC and MEC Public meetings. Reach out to your volunteers working on YOUR behalf on the ASA and XJT JNC. Call them up, send them an e-mail. Do far more than complaining and challenging an ASA or XJT pilots' opinion on this very forum. Become active.

In the end, we all need to remember that we will be one pilot group - one labor group - doing the work provided to us by our management team. Who will we stand next to when the time is necessary? Each other. One group, one contract. This is still peace time, but if we don't collectively start thinking with a tactical mindset, we all will pay the price.