rvr1800

That's something we're working on. We just took a big step on Tuesday. When we see something that's not right we admit to it and try to fix it.

maddogmax

It was a long time ago, but as I recall, NWA did not pay for lodging for any part of initial training. Someone will correct me if I am wrong.

NERD

Maddog,

Your memory is correct. I don't understand the angst. It wasn't that big of a deal. Find a furnished place, split is with 2-3 classmates and you are out a whopping 500-600 bucks while being paid 3750(it was 1800 when Ferd, NewK and myself went thru).

To the posters wondering why it is not in the contract. All items have a cost(piece of the pie so to speak). If we negotiated paid hotels during new hire training it would have come from some other place in the contract. What about when the company is not hiring for years? Yep, some other part of the contract gets shorted.

maddogmax

Your point about all items having a cost is spot on especially about the years there was no hiring. ($1500 a month for me but that was Jan. of 85)

MCFlyer

Great discussion Gentlemen on the history of new hire pay and the impact of the contract if the cost were to be included.

If anyone with additional information on crash pad options would care to share their knowledge with the crowd, I, along with hundreds, maybe even thousands of current and future new hires will definitely appreciate your input.

Thanks to all for the info provided!

-MCFlyer

Justdoinmyjob

Yes, we get hotel rooms for CQ, even Atlanta based guys. Also get a room for initial on new equipment, even if you live in Atlanta. You can decline it if you want.

Is it something we should fix? Sure, but there are more important, pressing issues that need to be dealt with first, which have a far greater impact on lifetime earnings than what a NH had to pay for a room during initial. There is only so much negotiating capital available. Even newbs would prefer better work rules and hourly pay over their career rather than a paid room for 15-20 days.
Saving $600-1000 but costing you several hundred of thousands down the road isn't smart.

tom14cat14

This is very true. I do understand why it is not there I just thought it was weird. I only hope I have to deal with this issue. With the record profits you guys are getting I look forward to your guys next contract. Of course I hope I will be apart of that but I would have to win the lottery outside of the SSP.

gloopy

I'm sure we could trade that for $25/hr and maybe no insurance for 6 months if we really wanted to.

I agree that the company should spring for it though. I actually think its the right thing to do to even provide a room for the interview as well as buy the the initial uniform. And one day most or all of that will likely be standard.

But for now you'll unfortunately just have to settle for one of the best first year pay rates, one of the highest pay scales over all, rapid advancement and a diverse choice of planes and bases.

Baby steps I guess.

gloopy

Whoa, slow your roll there hoss.

Do a search of first year pay and get back to us. DL is among the best and that was something negotiated into the contract by everyone.

FWIW I'm in favor of providing rooms for new hires and I think we will one day (probably sooner than later but who knows). I'm also in favor of completely eliminating the "first year pay" mini-B scale at every airline industry wide as all it does is weaken us in the long run by amplifying the already large hit you have to take whenever "starting over" thereby putting most pilots into a "can't say no" to whatever propaganda an airline's anti-labor law firm (and they all use the same ones) claim is their "last final offer" or whatever the implied threat ends up being. IMO first year pay should only be a standard 2-3% "step" below second, which should be a step below 3rd, etc. Whatever "negotiating capital" a pilot group wins in the short term for having a much lower "first year pay" they more than lose in the long run through pattern bargaining, but now we're getting a bit more cerebral with this than most posters likely intended.

Anyway some places that provide hotel rooms for new hire training more than make it up in lower pay and benefits. A (very) few out there are net first year wins ahead of DL. I'm in favor of making things better for new hire pilots, partially out of empathy and altruism but mostly because I think it benefits us all in the long run. Its also a built in way the company can essentially raise compensation without actually changing the PWA. If we can keep the hiring/retiring trend vectors where they are headed, I suspect they will do it all on their own though.

Herman

Please don't encourage him G...it kills brain cells. Besides, the image of two Canadian commuter pilots sleeping together is gonna require some scotch to delete. Cheers H