Originally Posted by oldgb (Post 2396834)

I think Air Group is using Skywest against us. However, if they are willing to pay 200% for open time, and have already cancelled 300+ flights next month, doesn't that show they recognize a higher pay rate for all pilots is justified? Can't/shouldn't that be used in future negotiations? And, why should those that pick up the 200% trips be pressured to not pick them up? Picking them up shows the market rate for pay. Just my $0.02.

Originally Posted by snackysmores (Post 2396955)

Guys I think we can all trust the Chief Pilot when she said the real reason they ended 200% was because they didn't want to divide the pilot group :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by Galaxy5 (Post 2396857)

For the reason you think it'll help in future negotiations, it will actually get used against you. Strict adherence to the contract is what helps when it comes time to work on the next one. The company makes a note of every time a pilot waives part of the contract (here it's the extra pay, but it could be a scheduling issue, fatigue, etc., I'll try to draw an analogy to illustrate this for you), and when the next round of negotiations come up, they'll put all that in front of the union and say "look, your pilots are fine with the rates as they are now, so we don't need to raise pay." 200% is a short term fix, it's not in the contract, but the more people use it, the more the company can argue status quo (that's the legal term) in the next negotiations.

This is also not a "pay rate" as you suggest. Pay rates are codified in the contract and cannot be raised and lowered at the company's discretion. This is a short term fix and will go (and has gone) away as quickly as it appeared. They didn't just magically realize that your services are worth more. Flight completion at the least cost to them is worth more. They've got some pretty bright folks (with numbers, guys, not necessarily leaders, don't flame) who have done the math and told them that paying 200% now and canceling x number of flights still makes more money than actually paying the pilots more.

A little history on this, 200% existed 3 years ago, then it evaporated. Some guys took a pretty big hit because they made financial decisions based on that extra pay. It wasn't a pay rate in the contract, though, so when it was gone, well, sorry guys. Then we were told it'd be a cold day in hell before it ever came back.

The analogy: scheduling sucks and a bunch of guys are fatigued. Nobody calls in, though, because fatigue calls aren't pay protected. The union approaches the company about improving schedules because pilots are fatigued, but the company counters with "well hey, look at this really small number of fatigue calls we actually have...you know, empirical data. We don't have a problem, so we're not changing scheduling." Call fatigued when you're fatigued, and guess what, that's ammo for several things in the next contract.

If, after fully understanding the implications of picking up 200% pay, a dude or dudette still wants to pick it up, by all means, have at it, but don't expect a hero's welcome when you show for your trip.

tl;dr version: Fly the contract.

Originally Posted by Taylor814ce (Post 2396641)

What's the reserve time for Ejet new hire?

Anymore rumors about next Ejet base?

Are there any training gaps/backlog once class starts? Or can one expect nonstop from start of Indoc to finishing IOE?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by snackysmores (Post 2396955)

Guys I think we can all trust the Chief Pilot when she said the real reason they ended 200% was because they didn't want to divide the pilot group :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by snackysmores (Post 2397381)

It looks like senior Alaska managements corporate vision of treating employees and pilots like sh!t isn't working as well as it used to.

Alaska pilot contract going to arbitration, can't staff your regional, having to pay OO a fortune to cover dash routes..we gave them everything they wanted in TA '16 as well as the last LOA and they still haven't figured it out.

Originally Posted by snackysmores (Post 2397381)

Alaska pilot contract going to arbitration, can't staff your regional, having to pay OO a fortune to cover dash routes..we gave them everything they wanted in TA '16 as well as the last LOA and they still haven't figured it out.

Originally Posted by Jonneaux (Post 2397510)

So, what's the answer? How does this get fixed?