freezingflyboy

Haha...it was a rant SAAB, my brotha. I just hate those damn little (sp?)s Christ, if you're care enough whether or not you spelled it right and are gonna take the time to seriously type that, go bust out your spell checker! I don't give a dam if its spelld rite, eether fix it or just don't tipe the stoopid (sp?)s!!!

STILL GROUNDED

Here we go again. How does Mesa play into this at all? What is the 70 seat rate at Express Jet? Someone else will answer this so I won't.

One thing I think that needs to stop is this talk of racing to the bottom. As far as I am concerned this is the bottom period everywhere. WE need to start talking about climbing to the top. If someone out there that has been through a successful contract negotiation, sorry this elminates you Travis, would please share with the rest of the group how we can all better our positions I think it would serve a greater good.

For those who posted about the Aerostar/ 747 pay rate comment, I do understand economics obviously but my 3/4 full 1900 earns as much if not more than most half full 50 seat RJ's but for some reason there is a view point amongst the young men and women of the 600 hour club that this is lesser of a postion than the coveted jet FO slot. Reducing any pilot to $25,000 a year is rediculous I don't care what you are flying.

I am still not understanding why and please explain if someone knows a real answer, we cannot as an industry set a rate.

less than 30 seat Turbo Prop.

24/40 1st year FO/CA

over 30 seat

26/44

50 seat RJ

26/52

and so on.... right up to A380/B747 pay rates.

If we can take equipment pay out of the equation and remove it as a bargain chip than companies would need to find ways to compete with out robbing from thier employees. Right now the easy way is to take from those really no longer have it too give.

JetJock16

Sure, let's talk to ALPA and XJT Reps. Their new contract is A+.

freezingflyboy

In addition to our reasonably good relationship with management, I think one of the keys to our successful contract negotiation was that management wanted to get all the loose ends tied up ASAP in order to facilitate bidding on other flying and to help get the corporate thing off the ground (they came to us with the $18/hr override, thats like getting paid as an XJT pilot AND a first year Skywest FO at the same time!). So I guess the key to a successful negotiation is for management to feel some urgency. I think the Mesaba guys had the right idea with their new contract where they continue to get across the board pay increases after the contract expires rather than just having the wage increases freeze when the contract expires.

soon2bfo

What I want to know is how the heck am I supposed to start paying back my student loans on 15K/year? I think that FO's should start at at least 28/hr. so they can pay their bills without living at a homeless shelter.

BoilerUP

Where in the HELL are you going to work that you'll only make 15k the first year, and two, how much debt do you have?

freezingflyboy

Screw that! I think FOs should start at at least $128/hr! That way I can pay my bills without living at a homeless shelter and I can also drive a new BMW and drink away hundreds of dollars a month on beer! Whose with me guys?!

Korean1DR

15K/year? I'm with Boiler on this one... where do you work and more importantly, WHY?

freezingflyboy

Maybe hes a part time ramp rat and some silver tongued devil at ERAU told him that the best place to go to be a ramp rat was Riddle?

fosters

If you can't live off of $24/hr (first year pay here) $28/hr ain't gonna make it or break it...

My first year at a regional I brought in $27,500 including around $3,000 in per diem. Second year I hope to crack $40k-$42k including per diem.