Negotiating job offer terms?
 

Interviewing with a regional next week. If I’m given a CJO, is there any negotiation? For instance, I’ve got health care already. Can you use that to negotiate benefits in other areas?

I understand that the pilots are represented by a union, but want to make sure I’m not missing anything.

Thanks

LOL

nope. Take it or leave it.

maybe Skywest, since they aren't union.

If it’s a union shop you either buy into the existing contract or not. Unless there is some provision in the contract allowing you to pick and choose, it’s all or nothing. About all you might be able to negotiate is class date and aircraft type, and perhaps not even aircraft type.

Nope. Almost all (if not all), airline pilots are covered by CBAs. They might give you wiggle room on a class date. That's it. Everything else- bases, aircraft assignment, pay, insurance- is covered by the CBA. Some companies do get around the new hire bonuses by making you sign for them before you are an employee, but I really don't recommend trying to bargain about those if you want the job.
As for insurance, you don't have to take it. If you don't that isn't deducted from your pay.

Thanks for the quick replies. Wanted to make sure this wasn’t one of those ‘don’t know what you don’t know’ situations. Have spent my entire adult life in the military.

Again, thanks.

Every mil ret guy is going to use their own health care. I don't know if there is a Regional that does this but most mainline companies will offer you a small amount per month if you use your own health care, but it is not that much.

This is not an industry where negotiating your hiring terms goes over well. At least not in this hiring market.

Generally, no it's take it or leave it.

Almost everything is determined by either the contract, seniority, or both. They cannot offer noobs more money or other financial incentives than the contract allows.

They cannot offer other incentives such a specific domicile because that would violate seniority, and thus the contract again. Even a non-union shop will be loathe to violate the seniority system because that would be the fastest way management could acquire a union they'd probably rather not have.

One thing they usually can do... if they operate multiple fleet types, you might be able to request a specific fleet type. You might even be able to drop an ultimatum (in an even-keeled professional manner), ie threaten to take a job at another airline. This is not the historical norm, but might work in today's market conditions. Be prepared to have your bluff called, also likely that the plane you want will have a later class date. The only good reason to hold out for a specific type is if it's the quickest path to the domicile you want, or if it has a faster upgrade that you'd be legal to take advantage of.

Depends on the regional. Almost all mid to large ones have union contracts or a sort of student council acting as a union to create one set of rules for all. Some of the much smaller regionals and on demand operators can be negotiated with, but in general you will find 121 and better 135 jobs to be with established labor contracts.

As everyone has answered, you are hired under a contract and there's no negotiation of terms.

But to your specific issue mentioned above, you can choose to opt out of various benefits like the health care, saving you whatever amount that is per month.

I know plenty of guys/girls, retired mil or a spouse that has a better/cheaper plan than what the company offers so the opt our of the airline's.