thepotato232

This mentality truly baffles me. We are not in contract negotiations. The question of whether Kalitta was going to right the ship and be a stable, career destination carrier was settled in 2021. Why would your threats of competing job offers bother a management team that has stated, in as many words, that they are not surprised or bothered to see you go?

A contract was presented to the pilot group last year, and we just had to sign it because we had no leverage and PS was a really mean guy and it was totally a great deal, actually. I still clearly remember pearls of wisdom from the MEC in those days such as "quit doing your common-core math" and "just because we sign a contract doesn't mean we're done negotiating." The pilot group agreed, by a razor-thin margin, that their labor was worth no more or less than the rates in the 2021 CBA. Or I guess maybe they didn't, because it's almost impossible to find anyone on the line these days who says they voted "yes."

The idea that someone in Ypsilanti is going to swoop in and rescue us from ourselves is infantile. For anyone who was confused in 2021, THIS is what "no leverage" actually looks like. Rumors of "mid-contract talks" and "new pilot surveys" when we still can't discuss the results of the one we did in 2019 are just flailing and rationalization. Management has exactly what they wanted: Cheap labor, locked into a binding CBA. They are clearly and vocally willing to ride the status quo all the way to the next economic downturn, whenever and for however long that may be, so that they can repeat the strongarm tactics that worked so well for them last year. Exactly how and why our pilot group failed so utterly in '21 is a question best discussed in the safety of your next place of employment.

(Edit) I should add: Congratulations on your job offers. I hope to be right behind you.

maxjet

Great assessment of what is probably going on. I write this because it was the same thing that was going on when I was there. Frankly, if you are at K4 for only the money you will never, ever be happy. It is what it is. Stay or go but please don’t ruin the few good experiences this unique job offers by nonstop *****ing. Merry Christmas and stay safe.

jhugz

I mean, other then money, what redeeming quality does the job have? Schedule…nope…retirement…nope…work rules…lol…QoL…absolutely not.

The only reason they’re still able to staff most of their flights is they pay good money. If you’re looking for anything else, I can name you 7-8 other airlines that do everything better.

Hendrix

Former Kallita 747 CA, left for a legacy, took a pay cut. Couldn’t be happier. I’ll make the money back 10 fold. And I’m treated like a respected employee at my current company. That’s worth going to work everyday and feeling like a part of team.

maxjet

As some of you know, I am a by-product of the lost decade. I arrived at K4 in 2011 having had 7 jobs in 4 years and getting 4 types in that 4 years. I was grateful to have landed at K4 and was always a cheerleader for Connie and the management team until my retirement. While I will always be a Connie supporter, The Prince and Princess have poisoned the well. The environment at K4 has become very French Revolution like with the Prince and Princess declaring, “let them eat cake”.

From what I see and hear, they have taken away everything that was good about the job. The 2-3 day stays in Paris, Hong Kong, Dubai, Leipzig, (rail around Europe) are gone. Even when you have days off, they tie you down with endless restrictions. They have taken away the sense of team by becoming the evil crystal palace in YIP, run by the Prince and Princess. All common sense is gone. As the Prince says, “if you don’t like it here leave”. One of the core values used to be, if something serious happened at home, Connie’s people had your back and you are on the first flight home. Now? I suspect it would have to be evaluated.

When I flew exclusively PAX in the middle 2000’s I went home after a 4 day trip tired, had 3 days or so off and did it again 2 more times a month. Beat the crap out of me. When I worked 17 days a month at K4, I flew maybe 8-9 of them and went home relatively rested. There were some months that we had such a good time that guys learned to not tell their wives about it because they were stuck back home taking care of the regular day to day business of raising a family. Still, we always had the reward of points at hotels and upgrades at Airlines and could take our families away on very nice vacations.

Those days appear to be gone and it doesn’t seem that they will return. No amount of money that K4 is capable of paying without going into financial peril, is going to make up for lack of quality of life. I think that this “new” business model created by the prince and princess is unsustainable long term. If you intend to fly more than 10 years, get out now while you can accrue seniority at another carrier.

Christmas Day I spoke with my good friend, who without a doubt has always been the happiest person I know, and has always been very happy to work for Connie. He said, “Tom, I have never seen it so bad. It has gotten to the point where flying the airplane and being with crews is painful.” I never thought it would be capable of beating this man, who is loved by everyone at K4 down. Very Sad.

Happy New Year

jhugz

I don’t say it often Tom, so soak it up , but I agree with you 100%.

maxjet

😊😊😊😊😊😊👩🏻‍🦼👩🏻‍🦼👩🏻‍🦼

goinaround

Yes that was very well said. My first couple years at K4 were probably the best I’ll ever have in my career. Wish it would have lasted…I’d have never left. Loved it.

727C47

so did I , I’m an alumni too ‘11-‘14 , the golden age of Riga , Liege, Halle , AMS , HK need I go on , my wife called the job my “ European Vacation” it really did rock back then , our 747 alma mater

BailRoads69

I quit kalitta years ago, because I was scolded like a child in the simulator by a genuine rocket scientist. That ruined my time at kalitta, does anyone know what happened to him? I’m assured he works at Space X figuring launch trajectory by now since he was so brilliant.