it's like the elephant in the room; it's still there. are you really saying you don't understand the implications of a "renewable 5-year contract"? why not just hire everyone with the understanding it's a career without 5-year chunks? it may not be something you worry about today but the option is there to get rid of anyone who causes problems like, oh, say, union organizing.

i'm amazed that you guys either really don't get it or you think it's completely acceptable.

No, I'm saying that it's as much a check on management as it is on the pilots. Sure the potential for abuse is there. Contract abuse happens every day, but not here. If that changes, everything changes and it'll be airline/labor business as usual at JetBlue. Since they've been as good as their word so far, I give them the benefit of the doubt. But if they ever use the nuclear option on a pilot, no matter how deserving, rather than go through the contractual termination process, all bets are off.

It's called trust, Bill. Only time can tell whether it's been misplaced. You confuse that with naivete, but it's not.

BTW, I explained the value of a fixed term contract on another board just a while ago. I'll quote it here:

It's not a perfect system, but it's not a bad one either. There's more going on here than you seem to be aware of.

Bluey - just an honest question - how are you going to fix those rates without collective bargaining? If the rates were forced on you, how are you going to ever change them? Will management ever decide on its own that the time is right for a pay raise? I'm not suggesting ALPA, just asking a queston.

BlueDude - you're saying here that they have to pay you for the years remaining on your contract, even if you're furloughed? I've not heard of that in any other contract. Is there anything in your contract that says they have to furlough junior pilots first?

Two questions for you Bill:

1) How long are the contracts you work under at your airline?

2) Are you saying you can not be fired at your airline since you have union protection?

Respectfully,

JayDub

once we are off probation, we are considered permanent employees and not subject to the whims of management. sure we can be fired but it has to be for cause, not because somebodies contract ran out. and the union has been quite vigorous in their battles for pilot's jobs.

it is not perfect but it's better than a five-year contract.

yeah, that was my question, too since the post kinda made it sound like they had to buy you out. 10 to 1 they don't.

It's got to be painful when you enjoy a creative entity like Quentin Tarantino and all you have coming out of your own feeble brain is a couple of ad hominem attacks and some meaningless expletives.

Did I read this right, if you get furloughed, you get paid out for the rest of what ever is left on our 5 years?

If this is true wouldn't they just not renew who ever was up with their 5 year contract. That way they wouldn't furlough someone junior and have to pay them for the remainder of their contract.