That would still be accepting less than what we're worth.

UA/AA/DL all got loads of QOL fixes in addition to these rates.

Retirement DOES need to be fixed as well.

We deserve a top pay rate, improved retirement, and targeted QOL fixes.

Hey wait a minute, that sounds like our openers.... the ones we didn't even get close to achieving.

 

Let’s work on TA2 first

 

Fair enough, this TA vote will be razor thin in either direction.

 

Pay us more now instead of promise to pay more later. Goodness. It’s the most basic principle of finance, the time value of money. But we sold ourselves out for a bump in retirement. Totally unconscionable. There is not a valid reason to vote for this terrible TA after United’s AIP.

 

I believe the “bridge contract” of 2011 just focused on pay rates was the least contentious contract since 2006, however, retirement should be fixed now within the current framework

My proposed solution has always been,
Keep current A & B plans with these improvements:

A Plan - High 5 FAE raise and indexed to annual IRS417 limits - currently $330K for 2023

A Plan - YOS maximum
increased to 35 YOS, with years 25-35 paying at 1% per year. Thus, 35 YOS would pay out at 60% (60/50 = 20% max improvement for guys who chose to work that long). 30 YOS would pay out at 55% (55/50 = 10% improvement)

B Plan - increase contribution from 9% to 12% with Cash Over Cap. (12/9 = 33% percent improvement for everyone, and an even greater improvement for those earning over current IRS cap)

Such improvements would benefit all on property now - and those to come. They would reward those senior guys who’ve worked more than 25 years, and those who chose to do so in the future. They would be better than our current TA.

In Transparency, Integrity & Unity (for Everyone),
DLax

ps - No scheduling/QOL concessions 😘

 

But how are we going to make that cost neutral for the company?

 

Our current A plan has become substantially cheaper for the company since the regulated age was raised from 60 to 65, because while pilots work longer their longevity during retirement doesn’t change. Working longer doesn’t make you live longer, and the contrary may even be true.

The company has enjoyed a longer time period to invest towards a pilots A plan fixed payout, and less years to actually pay it out.

Our failure to raise the FAE cap above $260K saved them money too.

Admittedly, the long decline in US Treasury/Bond yields from 2008 until 2021 did not help the company. Fixed pensions become more expensive / more valuable as bond yields decline.

 

Sorry, it was a joke. There's a strong contingent here (especially in our union leadership) that believes our TAs shouldn't be anything more than cost neutral for the company and never hurt their bottom line.

 

Sorry - I knew you were joking, but I wanted to point out that our sustained inability to raise the A plan cap hasn’t been “cost neutral” to the company the past 15 years. They’ve been saving the whole time as guys steadily worked longer towards age 65.

It’s precisely why they will always agree to any “fly until you die” incentives, especially those which reward pilots for NOT using all their sick bank or all their vacation. 😉😉

 

I think the only reason is because the only people defending this turd TA are senior and going to retire under it. Sucks for y’all that get lumped in with that but that’s their fault.