Ok but if they want it, why can't we negotiate for something to make our QOL better in the contract?

 

Tony, that mentality is so short sighted that it forced me off the side lines to comment.
While it's true that pilots have always ate their young, we are entering into unprecedented times. We no longer have a lengthy list of young candidates, eager to be consumed. If we can't attract new pilots, the pain that is normally felt by the newly minted, junior, pilots will begin to work its way up the list. Let's not forget, two pilots are required for all flights. Without a steady stream of new hires, upgrades that put more cushion underneath existing captains, move long over due first officers into the left seat, and advance those suffering on reserve to line holder status, won't happen. In fact, the opposite is more likely, i.e. displacements and further stagnation.
Our company is situated horribly right now. We have a very senior, expensive, pilot group, we don't have any money, don't offer a flow or preferrential interview, can't offer a quick time off reserve, not even to mention upgrades. All of our competitors can offer some, and or, all of the above. We need something to make us an attractive option, and pay is about the only card we can play, and that might not even work.
Now is not the time to get puffy chested. The union is here to represent the pilots, but you've got to be kidding me when you say that it should not help the company. All of our QOL will improve if we are able to attract new pilots, and last I checked I've never received a pay check signed by ALPA. The health, viability and success of this company matter to me.
Try to see the forest through the trees.

 

+1 here but another thing is movement. You can't have movement when you're parking airplanes and not getting new ones. and unfortunately, SKYW is getting them all. A non union pilot group is getting new jets, and upgrading and managing to get new pilots to fill the right seat slot. Face it thats what gets pilots. when they see movement. pay can help for some but others its exactly what was stated, getting off reserve and getting a line. because lets face it, reserve is god a$$ awful. No matter how you slice it.

 

When I face the prospect of holding a line as an FO at a regional in the timeline it takes for someone to get hired somewhere else and upgrade to captain, something is screwed up. It's quite apparent from the hiring numbers at other places that movement > pay. We should probably do something about that. Woe is the 20 year+ guy that had couldn't take his boat out every weekend because owning a light twin was getting expensive.

 

Without new hires, this dues paying pilot, as well as every other dues paying pilot junior to about #200 is adversely affected. ALPA doesn't sign my check, and every time I have looked to ALPA for help, except once, they were no help. Our Chief Pilot's office, however, has been very helpful. This is a power trip for our MEC without regard for the overall benefit of the pilot group.

 

So you are all suggesting the pilots who are on property give something up to help pilots who aren't on property yet?

It's management's job to manage. You want higher new hire pay? No problem! We want a bunch of things in return. Get it?

 

God, regional union lifers are the worst.

 

Raising new-hire pay will not attract pilots that don't exist, not as quickly as we need them. It's not a matter of getting them to come here instead of somewhere else because they don't have them either.

Movement will attract pilots, but is a problem that won't be solved without growth. That's mgmts dilemma because they want to shrink to become more manageable.

 

Movement will happen, regardless of whether or not we are awarded additional flying. The attrition we saw in 2014 will easily be exceeded in 2015. I honestly believe that if we had a pipeline of new hires that could satisfy our stated goal of hiring 40 pilots a month, we would see, by the end of 2015, upgrades extend all the way to 2010 date of hires, and be as low as a 2 year upgrade by the end of 2016. However, if we can't back fill our departed pilots, it will force management to park more airplanes and size the airline to the level that they can staff.
Attrition without replenishment= contraction

 

I'm sorry friend but when FO and CAs leave in parallel, there are no chances for movement. We need CAs to leave more than FOs so there is room to upgrade and then make room to be hired.

Also Denver is/was/has been rumored to close by June. <~Anyone clarify?