My understanding of the RLA is that without it, pilots wouldn't even have to participate in the union, pay agency fees, etc. in Right to Work states. Is that correct? Makes me wonder if getting rid of it would be such a good idea.

 

The majority would still want a union and be apart of one in the airlines. The airlines like Jetblue, Fedex, Allegiant, etc., have joined unions after realizing the benefits it can have and tired of Management pushing them around. Some like Skywest, still go without one, so it still would work fine without the RLA act. Probably even better since we could have more freedom. I am also no expert though so I could be wrong...

 

PSA has already hired enough pilots to staff the 900s with almost 900 pilots on the list now for 79 aircraft (does not include the 47 700s arriving next summer). We have been filling classes with 30-40 people in each class every two weeks. Whoever told you that is way off, if anything we might be a little overstaffed this winter. The last that I have heard is PSA will be doing all of the CLT 900 flying.

 

what squirrel got up your dress dunkin.

 

Don't let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya. Take more of your class mates with you.
No one likes a whiner!

 

I'm not leaving, but I don't blame them.

 

DFW displacement out with 14 upgrades for Nov.

Will be interesting to see how this one plays out.

 

I think you're missing Check Complete's point. We're all professional pilots, and should stop thinking like you and flapshalfspeed. The constant slide in the profession needs to stop no matter what, and that begins with pilot groups refusing any more concessions! Mesa's contract has a whole lot of room for improvement, and if JO claims he can't afford to increase your pay and benefits that's his problem, not yours. I can't think of too many outfits that have lower pay and benefits than Mesa, so don't be so afraid to demand improvements!!

 

Mesa is only getting guys because of the quick upgrade and things aren't as bad as we've all heard. But bottom line Mesa can't promise fast upgrades much longer going to need a decent contract for those stuck at FO.

 

Go spend a few years riding the bottom of the seniority list at a regional with no growth at all, a 99% strike vote, a liberal NMB, and an ALPA MEC who constantly tells you "we're so close, we're so close, we're so close" with no results.

Then, after a decade of the above struggle, finally get a new contract and watch the CEO and VP take 66% of the company's cash on hand as "bonuses," after which your company promptly declares a sham bankruptcy and downgrades you to FO in JFK on a payscale capped at 4 years longevity. Lose your buddy passes, any hope of upgrading again in your lifetime, and essentially every gain your union fought for over the last decade.

Go through all of the above, and tell me it's not smarter to come to a low-paying regional with a fast upgrade time and new airplanes being delivered--in bases that are all relatively great places to live (i.e. not JFK).

Also, can you point to a single ALPA-represented regional that has inked a new contract with even marginal gains who has not suffered downsizing/fleet reductions/reduced upgrade times and/or bankruptcy within 5 years of signing? Find me one example of that in the last 10-15 years and I'll gladly re-consider my experience-based viewpoints on this topic.