ASA Training Pay
 

Ok, end of day 1 at ASA. In my offer of employment letter, it states in the training notes that my pay will be "minimum guarantee of 75 hours at $23 per hour." In the first hour of class the instructor tells us that pay is $19 per hour, and that my letter was a mistake. He makes a copy of it and takes it to the higher ups who say they can't make a decision until the person in charge returns on Wednesday. I overheard him tell another ASA employee that HR was aware of the mistake and concerned about it, and do not know how to handle it, but immediately changed it on the form letter so no more letters with that error would go out. Most people in the class have a letter showing the 75/$19, but a handful of us have the 75/$23. Some said they were told $300/week. It seems that I'm the only one in the class who is pushing the issue to get paid what I was told I would. Seems to me that if that is what they put in my offer of employment package, that is what they are legally required to pay me. Anyone else in the past class or two go through this? Hopefully it will all be resolved on Wed. Outside of that and the fact that that they are phasing out all the ATRs with no plans to purchase any new airplanes, all seems ok.

Jeesh - that is rediculous. Call ALPA, let us know how it turns out.

I would think that pay would be governed by your collective bargaining agreement (CBA). Assuming the pay scale listed here on APC is reflective of the current CBA, it shows that you should receive $23/hr for your first year. I'm not sure what the old amount was but I am willing to bet that the previous CBA had first year pay of $19/hr. It's possible that the letters showing $19/hr were left over form letters from the previous contract and accidentally slipped in with the more current $23/hr letters. It is also possible that ASA has a "training wage" negotiated into their CBA. Just some food for thought.

According to the new contract, all new hires in training are to be paid $300 per week during training.........but, the entire contract has yet to be implemented, so you may be entitled to $19 per hour with a 75 hour per month up until the entire contract is in effect. My advice to you is.....let the higher up's work through the issue. DON'T MAKE A STINK ABOUT IT RIGHT NOW. Remember, you are a new hire. If they think you are a trouble maker, they might pin you as such. The bottom line is, whether you get $19 or $23 or $300 per month, it is not worth risking your reputation. Sit back and let them work through the issue. It is very likely that you are not the only one worried about the pay. Keep your head down. Just concentrate on learning and let the chips fall where they may. ALPA will come to bat for you if the company is in error.

Freezing,

My guess is that the "new" contract has not yet taken effect and the Company jumped the gun. In which case the Company will try to abide by the old deal, despite their higher written offer which was accepted.

This would be a three minute trial in Fulton State Court. Hope the new hires hold their ground.

ALPA might fight this battle, or might not. In any event there is no reason not to push it with a written offer in hand. ASA's IP's and LCA are good folks who don't like to see the little guys get screwed by admin any more than we do. Cubflyer's fears of retribution are misplaced.

Was this before or after they asked you to get a $5000 CRJ course, to probably fly an ATR, despite having jet time?

Keep your head down? Have you no pride, maybe "stay low profile" fits this situation better? The OP has a little more experience than the normal new hire at ASA. I wouldn't think that guaranteeing something just to get him in the door is too far fetched of an idea. Either way, cooperate and graduate. Rocking the boat isn't the best thing to do when you are new, but it isn't his fault that ASA made a mistake.

@CitationDrvr, USA Jet would never do this to you, in fact, they recently made first year pay from day 1, vs a lesser some of money per week, retroactive to employees who were nearly 4 weeks into training! However, at USA Jet you will not fly as much as you would at a regional, and be on the pager.

I agree with your post, and I'm all for keeping the company honest, but he hasn't even started training and he is making waves????? Again, the CBA governs the compensation of all pilots, including new hires. Until he flies his first revenue flight for the company, he is not covered by the Railway Act and can be terminated without cause. I'm not trying to defend the company at all....just trying to give a new 121 pilot good advice when standing toe - to - toe with the company.

And what is the ISheep club????????

Ah something dumb, I retracted that comment. I apologize. Google it.


edit: some to sum, in previous post.

EXACTLY! Take them to Fulton State Magistrates' Court and kick a little Ford and Harrison butt. Seriously, I think if ASA's senior managers were aware of this they would fix it. The Company wanted to increase new hire pay outside the contract anyway.

Citationdrvrmob,

Thank you for standing up for what you believe is just. First year pay is a joke, and the $4/hr difference makes $300/month difference. So please keep the company honest and stand up for what is right.


Whatever happens, will you please let us know the outcome?
Thank you.

I didn't realize that confirming my pay and wanting to get what I was offered was "making waves." I haven't and will not say anymore to anyone at ASA until Wednesday, after the higher ups have had chance to review it. I will not, however, just bend over and take what they give me. That, in my mind, is one of the biggest problems with this industry. As much as I'd love to spend some quality time here at ASA, they are not the only game in town, they are not the only one to offer me a job, they are not the great and powerful Oz, and they need me more than I need them. ASA just happens to fit my needs more than the rest do at the moment. When the pay they offer you is already low, and then they decide to tell you "it was a mistake," and reduce that pay by $300/month, I can't imagine why anyone else would not understand my being mad.

Let us know how it turns out. I would suspect that many of your classmates are equally as interested in the outcome. Good luck in your training. See you on line soon.:D

Whow there big fella....I think you have jumped to conclusions. I suffered through low wages for a year, and I would love to make more as a second year F/O. I have no love for the industry that seeks to hire qualified professionals and pay them minimal wages.....but, you and I both knew coming into a regional airline that you would be paid less than a fry cook at McDonald's so spare me your sermon on what you deserve as an AIRLINE pilot. I support your ambition to seek what is right. I'm just giving you some advise. Pull your silver spoon from your mouth. Just remember....there are some that had to PAY for there training AFTER they were hired at a regional. Good luck there Junior.

and the Zero to Hero attitude won't get you far either. :confused:

I'm not saying the company is right or wrong, but this seems like one of those "pick your battles" moments. You're talking about roughly $600. If it is worth $600 to you to raise a stink, take them to court, cheese a bunch of people off, etc then by all means. Just try and keep it in perspective. I understand theres a principle involved but it seems like an awful lot of hassle and grief for very little reward.

I was in the indoc class ahead of you - and the pay situation was the same with us. Our first paycheck should hit the mailboxes soon; we'll see what it actually amounts to.

The problem in implementing the new contract seems to be a struggle across the board. Pilots were calling to invoke the commuter clause the morning after the TA passed, and the schedulers didn't know what they were talking about!

Under the new contract, as I understand, pilots in training will make $300 a week, as opposed to the $19.02/75HR deal before. What seemed to be the most consistent answer is that pilots who start class before the end of the year get the old training rate, the extra money...

We never heard anything about making minimum guarantee at 23/hr.. they said we'd be on training pay until the start of IOE, at which point we go to 23/hour.

Clear as mud? Same here. Let's just see what the first paycheck does in a couple days and go from there.

I agree completely, they know there's a problem, I should let them try to settle it. I guess $600-$900 is worth not having to sign a 2 year training agreement. I'm just glad I have this place to vent instead of actually banging on HR's door (for now :P).

Amen, brother! A place to vent, beg, start unfounded rumors, make smart aleck remarks and ask stupid questions. Thanks, as always to HSLD and Freight Dawg for making this place happen. Even with the flame -baiters and -throwers, the information and comraderie this forum helps develop is amazing.

It's almost as good as Having a TCAS/radar overlay... we can see how the guys just ahead of us picked their way through the storm!

a higher up came into our class a week or so ago and told us that classes that start before jan 1 will be 19/75. after jan 1 goes to 23/75. theres was pleeeeeeenty of confusion with us as well.

Just sounds like some miscommunication... I agree with previous statements that you should just let them take care of it. I am actually hoping to go to ASA here shortly so I am glad to get this info beforehand. It sounds like they are pretty nice people so just let them have a stab at fixing it. If you dont get a sufficient answer, then go to the next step... Never jump over someone's head unless you want to have a target on your head for the rest of your time at that company.

Welcome to ASA. The incompetence you are experiencing is only an introduction to what ASA management is really like. You will be jerked around like this the rest of your time here.

And for those of you saying not to make waves, they tried to screw my newhire class out of continuous per diem 7 years ago, and I was the one who stood up for all of us. We were the only class that got it (loophole was closed after that). I was never retaliated against, and went on to become a union rep. Bravo to you for standing up for yourself and what's right. We need more wolves at this company and less sheep.

Just to give an update... the higher powers in HR have "decided" that pay will be $19.02/hr, 75 hour guarantee until completion of IOE, where that rate will be increased to $23/hr. I am told to just disregard what my letter said and how it is worded, it was a mistake. The also blame poor interpolation of the new contract for why they have had no solid answer, until now, as to how much we are paid. I guess I can be thankful for the fact that I don't have a roommate after being told I was going to have single occupancy. But then again, training isn't over yet....

What a classy move. So much for integrity, huh? Don't worry, I'm sure QX would have behaved in a similar exemplary fashion...:mad: