Watching people argue over which ACMI operator has the better contract is like watching a group of mentally retarded people argue over which one of them is the smartest.

mentally retarded? You sir are a pig. Grow up

Do you include yourself as retired ABX?

Well, right back at you, mj. I recognize that you were happier than a pig in sh#t during your stay at K4. I also recognize that you got accustomed to sh#t smelling good based on your background. Get over yourself already.

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A few thoughts on your comments

1. It's important to Have good scope.

2. It's important to have pay top at $316 all fleets.

3. It's important to have home basing with pay from home to first assignment.

4. It's important to have a non-elective Direct Contribution Retirement Plan - that's going to only go north from here.

5. It's important to have very good health care at a reasonable cost.

6. It's important being a vital piece of a Union with the best contracts and great aeromedical team.

7. It's important to have business class travel.

8. It's important to NEVER be junior manned.

If you think all ACMIs have the same or even similar contracts your in dream land !!!!

That's all good stuff for most of the K4 pilot group. Arguing about K4 vs ABX contracts is pointless though. The majority of ABX flying is domestic scheduled ops mostly for DHL. For that operation, contractual schedule protections for the crews are much more important than they would be for say...K4's 747 operation. With the lower block times, some soft pay needs to be in the contract to ever have a chance to break a (relatively low) min guarantee. That's why we hear about so much malcontent among the K4 767 crews. Our contract caters more to the 74 and trickles down to them. All of the things you listed are important to us here at K4....but doesn't necessarily apply to a different carrier doing different kinds of work. It's like comparing apples and hand grenades. Just my opinion having experienced both fleets. (#8 is very important to me)

You bring up some fair and true points

The part about you can't compare ops and that contracts are inherently different is exactly the point I was trying to make, however poorly

Are these currently items in your contract or items you will address on the next one?

current cba

Thanks Lockheed, sounds like you are very involved in the union issues. And as a hopeful applicant thank you for all the work and chess play you guys do. I have no dog in this hunt and current debate, but it chaps my arse when pilots complain about things they did not actively try and change by participating in the process. Suck it up buttercup or get your @$$ in the game is my motto. I’ve said it before, you guys have it pretty good. And every job has room for improvement. I’m sure you guys can think of a lot since you are flying the line. Good luck in your future negotiations.