Chuck D

...and don't take a job or newhire bonus from RAH.

We've been put on notice that management was greatly saddened, disappointed and troubled by the "No" vote on the TA and must now prepare for what could potentially be a 5 year period of no growth.

The 2003 RAH contract, amendable in 2007 continues to be only a few steps ahead of indentured servitude and steadily losing ground with miserable FO pay, rising health care costs, scheduling, vacancy and pay protection language that's light years behind peers, and expensive and sometimes useless travel benefits, to name just a few of its many failings.

In light of that, 85% of the pilot group still deemed the TA dangled in front of us as inadequate or in some cases even worse than our current situation. 85% "No", but you won't find that in an RAH press release.

85% are that dissatisfied so it's worth a long hard think at other regional options - there's not a lot of green grass in the regionals but RAH is a barren desert in comparison and it would seem pretty foolish to come here before we find ourselves with a TA that over 50% can get behind.

CBreezy

Sounds like they are trying to panic the pilot group so they can push a "marginally" better contract down your throat.

rcfd13

Don't give into scare tactics. Management wants to scare the pilots so they accept a bad contract.

Chuck D

Couldn't agree more rcfd13, and I should emphasize I'd like to see whatever we eventually settle on be acceptable to far more than 50% +1 pilot.

My suggestion is for those hitting that 1500 hour point or looking for a good regional to work for. Nothing worth seeing here at RAH currently - move on. In my opinion it's not even worth considering RAH until the company shows an earnest desire to worth WITH its pilot group rather than actively against it, and there are myriad examples of the latter.

A worthy contract would go a long way towards addressing that key concern, but we're not there yet. It could be a while, so look for someplace that places greater value on an FOs essential role in passenger safety, customer service and operational efficiency. Go somewhere where the company believes that's worth more than $36.63 an hour, max.

Firsttimeflyer

Same drivel from XJT management. Even neat charts that show all the aircraft that come off lease over the years.

magnus0322

Don't forget the ALD (Airline Division) of the Teamsters also believe Dispatchers are highly trained professionals jointly responsible for safety of flight. Unlike the First Officer who is just an entry level position. As such our compensation will continue to be the lowest in the industry and lower than our dispatchers for years to come.

For anyone looking to come here, don't. The seniority list is about to start shrinking. There will be furloughs. Count on it. Once we park more airplanes, if you're junior, you'll be on the street. Count on it. If I was a very junior (read less than a year property) I'd bail for SkyWest now.

tom11011

Ultimately that is what would need to happen for a major to say screw it and fly 70+ seats themselves in house. This would be a desirable outcome, eliminating this rung on the career ladder you have found yourself at. Hang in there, this shortage is just in the very beginning stages. There are a few pilots in the training pipeline that will likely figure out a way to get themselves hired in 2014. Then, Silver and GLA will most likely have to fail thereby forcing those pilots to come to work for larger regionals such as yours. But after that, come 2015, there is literally nothing in the training pipeline that will satisfy the true shortage which doesn't even peak until 2020, a mere 6 years away. In 2020, 1/3 of all airline pilots will retire.

There is not a signing bonus in the world that will help any of these airlines come 2015, there simply is nobody to give this bonus too. The real need is in retention bonuses, not signing bonuses. Signing bonuses do nothing but shuffle pilots temporarily from airline to airline.

beeteeaye

Move on to where...in your opinion? For some, east coast operators are the only choice. It is a short list.

rcfd13

Almost every regional is an east coast operator. West coast operators would be the short list.

beeteeaye

Not to get into an east/west argument, but in the OP it was stay away from XXX, and honestly there are not many other options that will not involve some similar contract issues.