Originally Posted by PCL_128

My signing bonus at AirTran when we signed our new CBA was around $10,000. It was taxed as normal income, not as a bonus. They're not BSing you.

Originally Posted by Trip7

Spot on. IMO, any FO who votes for this TA is doing themselves a major disservice as the ramifications of voting in the TA will follow the FOs and some of the junior captains to their next job. It is a better financial and career situation for most Pinnacle pilots except for the very senior older pilots to vote the TA down and have the company shut down. I have several reasons.

First, many FOs see the severance package as an attractive reason to vote yes. That severance package is actually your own money that will be taxed higher. If you vote no and just throw 9% of your money into a savings account every month til shut down you'll have a severance package just as good.

Next, if PNCL shuts down 81 900s will have to be placed elsewhere at a higher rate and therefore compensated better. PNCL FOs will be first in line to benefit from those jobs not only because they will be furloughed first during a wind down but also because the top 400 or so at PNCL who are older and haven't been an FO in decades will likely either retire, switch careers or apply to majors/lcc's etc. Doubtful many will apply at another regional. Vote in the TA and those now senior to mid level captains will occupy 400 captain slots and 400 FO spots at very low pay rates for several years(Not sure how long the TA contract length is). Even with the "flow to the interview" it's still doubtful many will move on.

Lastly a wind down of PNCL will cause several other regionals not in bankruptcy to grow quite quickly. 41 900s and many 200s(at least until the 717 fleet starts reaching a significant size) will go to a regional not in bankruptcy very quickly, then another 40 firm to potentially 70 900s in the long run. Skywest, XJT, Air Wisconsin and GoJet is all that is left to operate these aircraft. Each would have to hire so many so quickly first year pay would likely be thrown out. Vote the contract in and Not only would FOs be furloughed anyway, there would be at at least 800ish jobs less to go to as they would be occupied mostly by pilots who have been at PNCL 10 years+ locked in at payrates other regionals pay their junior capts,FOs.

PNCL FOs and very junior captains, dont vote yes and give yourself a significant paycut to get furloughed anyway and paid a portion of your own money as you exit. Don't vote yes and dampen your own career prospects to save the job of only the very senior who will be paid as junior pilots while hindering your own pay at your next job if it be another regional.

Just vote no and save yourself in the long run.

Good luck with your decision

Originally Posted by Trip7

I agree that 6 months is impossible. A wind down in a year can be done if split between multiple regionals. Air Wisconsin would likely be brought in as a DCI carrier to help out.


QUOTE]

No likely about it... They have already been told to be ready, they ARE the one if Pinnacle dies.

Originally Posted by Trip7

You make good points but I differ on some.

First, I don't think management will go back to the judge. I think I remember reading an article where they stated that they don't intend to go back to the judge. I believe that Delta will do as promised and wind down in the event of a no vote.

2nd, Delta's thirst for cheap contracts has caused a bloodbath in the industry that doesn't have many CRJ operators left. There is only a few options left and most are not cheap except for GoJet. I believe Delta sees this and has used the PNCL bankruptcy as another "once in a lifetime opportunity"(DL management nicknames for oil refinery and Virgin deals) to control costs by attacking senior regional pilots. Delta basically is telling senior PNCL pilots that they can keep their jobs if they accept junior capt/fo pay at the expense of 60% of the pilot group, who will be bribed to vote yes with their own money as severance pay.

IMO, with PNCL gone Delta will not have much leverage to push the remaining regionals into lower contracts.

Originally Posted by Kellwolf

This time. I seem to recall when we voted on the JCBA, they kinda drug out how the bonus was going to be taxed until the last minute. Surprise. Taxed as a bonus. Makes me wonder why they couldn't make that work two years ago but have no problem making it happen now....

Originally Posted by Skypilotsv1984

So instead of taking a hit of $4-5/hr and hanging onto a job for another year in hopes of finding something else I should vote no, lose my job within 6 months and then go to another regional and make $20 less per hour to fly the exact same plane? All for the good of the industry?

First off, helping out the industry or saying burn it down on principle will not pay my bills.

Second, the people who want us to vote no because of the ramifications of this TA on the rest of the industry also stand to gain quite a bit if we shut down such as better schedules, upgrades, movement, etc. They are licking their chops at our airplanes, which also does not pay my bills.

Third, Delta has some very smart people running the show, if we vote no they undoubtably have a plan to get the cuts they want among the DCI carriers. It won't matter that we fell on the sword.

I'm not an automatic yes vote but as a mid-level seniority FO on 5th year pay I have accepted the fact that there is no future for me at this company but I see the next year or two being easier with a yes vote than a no vote, giving me time to find something else. By something else I mean NOT another regional, I just can't get excited about starting over at 50% less pay, commuting to sit ready reserve, and all the other garbage that new hire regional FOs have to deal with.