Your PEA guarantees only 5% 401K matching contribution. Other airlines 13% to 18% no matching required. The rest 5% and now additional new 3% is at company discretion - the board can take it away whenever they decide it's too expensive; just like your joke medical insurance keep changing every year. Without CBA, this will continue for ever. Right now JB management gives more on one side, but takes away from the other side.
Now, just because you liked what you got when you came to JB, it doesn't mean we should stop there and don't try to improve. I'm sure 5% 401K with 100% matching in your previous airline was a dream, but this is not TSA, ASA, or Republic, this suppose to be a major airline with benefits of major airline, and because people are willing to fight for better compensation package, individuals like you will benefit from it.
Attitudes like "Don't like it here - leave" keeps airlines like Republic in business, because pilots are not willing to step up and complain. If I want to stay in JB, I want JB to improve, and offer me a better compensation for my experience, and hard work, otherwise I'm leaving for a better deal, just like board of directors and other managers, and investors do. JB is making record profits, they promised to share those profits with employees, that made it happen. What we get, another empty promise and carrot of Orgazmic Growth and investment in the future, instead a reward for job well done, an old corporate trick. In the mean time our CEO's base pay has risen almost 50% since last year based on JB performance, and he makes, in one year, more the an average pilot will make in entire lifetime, if that pilots makes $100K entire time . But, it is difficult to convince those pilots, who get hard on, by only looking at bigger the RJ plane, and willing to fly for free.
One day, some pilots will understand that providing for your family is not achieved by only showing up to work and working hard, but have self respect and demand recognition for your skills and dedication, and keep advancing in your career until you achieve a deserved recognition.
I think all those posts represent a true JB pilot group: 50% juicers, sold on everything CEO and VP sells them, and 50% realists, that saw all the tricks in the industry and are tired drinking blue juice. There is a hope in upcoming 2013, that finally we all may see an airline industry recognition for experience, when retirements in US and demand for pilots in Asia will hit the market.

 

Great post, you made some good points but I think it is more like 40 % juicers 40 % sceptic/realist and another 20 % that are somewhere between the two. That's why the vote didn't go thru last year and that's why it would still be a close vote even thought I think it has moved towards the direction of recognition for a need for a CBA. I realize that management is willing to do just what is enough to keep pilots at JB. Management recognize that giving a little here and there gives the perception that things are getting better for pilots. Until we get a mass exedous of pilots (which I think will happen in the next couple of years due to mainline carriers hiring needs) or we get a CBA nothing will really improve. I am not looking forward to the October health care issue but I am pleased that they added that extra 3%, they have given the 5% since the early days of JB I doubt they are going to stop giving it now that we made 52m last quarter. It would be nice to see it in a CBA however I am more interested in addressing our LTD and our health insurace thru a CBA. Hopefully we will continue to grow and get some of these issues fixed. As for the ASIA issue, they are training pilots as fast as they can over there I think the need for ex pat american pilots is slowing down over there as they are slowly replacing us with there own pilots. I wouldn't hold my breath for that one.

 

I'm glad, that you realize we need CBA and the importance of CBA.

 

In 4 years your JetBlue insurance will cost you close to 80% more than it does today. This coming from a company that used to claim that if they took care of their employees they in turn would take care of the customer.

Welcome to a non-union carrier.

 

Holy FU&&&*G broken record.

 

usually when you have a broken record you do something to fix it, right?

 

Apparently not.... He just keeps playing it. And playing it. And playing it.

 

Any new poolie info? I'm guessing with the recent news, the rubber should hit the pavement soon, and classes should be announced....Any words? Plus, does anyone have a clue about how many Cape Air Guys are in the pipeline in front of us? Not trying to stir the hornets nest, just trying to get a realistic expectation, if that's even possible???

 

OPINIONS will vary widely. I know some classes are starting soon. Small at first, but increasing as the months go on. I have heard only a few (2-6) Cape Air guys ready for class. I don't think the swim will be significantly longer.

But wait for the guys to come on and tell you that this place actually went bankrupt and closed its doors 4 days ago, and the press release is coming to confirm their predictions "any day".

 

2 gateway guys in the front of the group. Classes start on Wed. 29 but it is only 4 or 5. Heard from a Boston assistant CP.