Prospective DECs:
 

At close of business today the company published their latest Captain Award, where they awarded upgrade slots to 8 "DECs," and withheld upgrade from 8 active current FOs, all with seniority numbers roughly 1,000 positions higher than the "DECs."

I put DECs in quotes because in all actuality, our CBA does not define DECs or a process to guarantee a new hire an upgrade slot, despite what a recruiter may or may not have told you. In reality, all a "DEC" is at PSA is a new hire who is awarded upgrade while in initial new hire training because there are no qualified FOs bidding for the position or able to be "senior manned." In this case, it would seem that in order to keep promises to new hires not even on property yet they're unilaterally abrogating certain portions of the contract for pilots who have already been here for quite some time, and in some cases have even been furloughed.

To be fair, there are provision for bypass for reasons of "operational needs of the Company," and there are provisions for Bypass Pay, but it is ALPA's position, as stated in a recent Blast, that recruiting promises are not an actual "operational need."

If you come to PSA as a DEC, you should expect the following:

1. You will be on reserve indefinitely, at the bottom of the seniority list. Scheduling will basically own you with little opportunity to pick your days off and given all the sweeping changes in the industry right now, there's zero way of making any meaningful projections about how long you could expect to be on reserve.

2. You will be on probation for your first year from Date of Hire meaning that ALPA will have limited means of representing you should the company bring a disciplinary action against you.

3. If you take the 30K upgrade bonus they've been hyping, understand that also incurs a 3-year, non-prorated commitment for the full amount. You want to leave for a LCC or Legacy carrier in under 36 months? Better be prepared to write a big check. Oh, and the 70K upon flow to AA? There's zero way to know how long that will take but given the massive hiring at AA right now the flow at PSA has become so devalued that it isn't even worth consideration as a new hire, except to add another ten / month leaving the company in addition to the 40-50 other pilots already leaving.

4. Lastly, I fully expect every experienced PSA FO will treat you with the utmost professionalism as they lead you by the hand taxiing around the CLT Ramp, as they will all be aware that as soon as they upgrade, they'll be that much more senior with you around, because every single FO on property will be senior to you when they upgrade.

Let me be very clear: my goal is not to dissuade anyone from coming to PSA and taking a DEC slot if that is what you so desire. My only goal is that you don't sign on the dotted line without knowing exactly what you're getting in to. To be fair to the company, they've been very good to me, but a lot of that stems from when I got hired and how my seniority progressed as the company added over 100 airframes to the certificate after I arrived. A DEC in this environment is going to have a VERY different experience.

In all this, please remember the number one rule of relationships, government, and airline management: if they can do it FOR you, they can do it TO you.

Well said. This needs to be pinned to the top of the forums.

If you don't live in a junior base, its going to be a rough ride.

I hope ALPA is able to successfully grieve this and win. Upgrading outside of seniority order is a slippery slope to start on.

But one thing is certain, with PSA's work rules for pilots on reserve and the hiring that is happening right now, none of them will be at PSA very long. They will jump ship to the first ULCC that calls.

yea assuming they didn't get the pewter handcuffs

If they were smart, they would have gone there in the first place.

Piedmont flow is closer to 4.5 years where ours is 12+ so anyone who wants to flow should go to Piedmont and actually get used for flying vs sitting around on Hot Reserve watching paint dry.

Hey now they'll find a repo or deadhead for you in your last 30 minutes of hot! Super efficient stuff!

I just can't imagine coming on board here and understanding that you've got close to 4 years of constant reserve...

I think you are oblivious to how bad the folks at Piedmont have it....

Well if you’re banking on a flow to AA go to Piedmont. Eat **** for 4 years and you’re set vs sitting around for 10+ years at PSA not flying waiting till flow. Honestly though if you’re coming here as a DEC, your regional is most likely coming from a UA regional and I’m sure piedmonts QOL is better than theirs.