Are you ground crew?

 

I can't really comment on what I do. It's a unique position and will identify who I am in a hot second.

 

Sounds like you're an FA

 

He works in the IAH hangar for Mesa. Looking at his post history it isn't difficult to get an idea of what he does.

 

With the union phone calls coming out again in the next couple weeks, it would probably be good to get some ideas thrown out there for what pilots want in the next contract.

- Pay. We're still the lowest paid with the least benefits. Since the last negotiations, other regionals upped their pay for first officers while ours still get $22/hour starting. That's not to mention pilot retention bonuses for all pilots (Endeavor) or hotels for commuters (Commutair), among other benefits.

- Hotels. There needs to be some language in regards to the quality of hotels, and I'm not talking microwave and fridge in every room (damn FAs). There needs to be some sort of clause where we shouldn't stay there if other airline crews don't stay there, at the least. Our crews for some reason don't complain enough on the API website so we end up getting left in dumps that compromise our safety and quality of sleep. You would never see any other airline allow their crews to stay at the damn ATL airport.

- Health benefits. Still an overpriced joke.

- Upgrade train is screeching to a halt so they can't use that excuse to keep kicking the can down the road.

- Deadhead pay.

Among a multitude of issues with our contract. Also, what happened to the monthly conference calls? I can't recall the last time we had one.

 

Non Mesa pilot here looking into the company as first time 121 gig...the only reason(s) I'm really looking into Mesa are for the upgrade times and hopes to get a line quickly and to work my tail off to get hours so I can move on quicker. Can you elaborate on the comment from above in regards to the upgrade time coming to a halt?

Thanks

 

Upgrades are slowing due to a lack of new-hire FOs to fill the right seats that are being vacated.

There will a be a trickle of upgrades into the foreseeable future, but don't expect to upgrade immediately after reaching 1000 121 SIC

 

Is this airframe dependent or across the board? Slowing to approximately what time frame? (you know cause we can predict these types of things ) I'm just debating on if I want to go to a regional with a longer upgrade and higher pay or still go out on a limb for the "quick upgrade" that Mesa has offered in recent past

Thanks

 

Everyone has a quick enough upgrade now. Except xjt and eny.

 

I have ZERO faith in ALPA right now. We are at the one year mark since that last TA piece of crapola. And we don't even have one LOA to show for it since. They could have negotiated at least one by now especially the hotel issues.
You're right that we don't give enough "feedback" thru API. Only reason I see is that our pilot group just doesn't care. Sure, they post on here and Facebook about hotels, pay, deadhead, Reserve, contract language and General QOL.
Everyone is a tough keyboard warrior but when they encounter management or ALPA reps they turn tail and run or they make nice like everything is unicorns and rainbows.