Hetman

Let me get this straight: This thread was started to complain about someone being held to the terms of a contract they voluntarily signed and subsequent posts are debating whether it is possible and/or how to weasel out of it?

9easy

Typical American mentality. Never take responsibility, and blame everyone else for your stupid financial decisions. Same as the current mortgage debacle except you can replace "big bad bank" with "Republic".

Boomer

Or like when an airline signs a contract with a labor group and then tries to weasel out of it.

jumppilot

Yeah, I don't really see an issue here. It's business.

It's also a double standard.

Airlines sign contracts and then file for bankruptcy and demand concessions, usually in record time and under the protection of bankruptcy laws. Look at UAL's pension default.

When a pilot signs a training contract and is looking at all ways to get out of it he's a scum bag.

Kind of like how a man is a pimp, yet a woman is a slut.

To the OP, I say good luck getting out of it!

Std Deviation

Six years ago when I was hired by Flexjet they had a training contract. incidentally, the first time I was informed about it was day one of indoc in Dallas when reading the paperwork they wanted us to sign. Never was it verbally announced or explained. Heck of a way to find out - with a moving van full of stuff in the drive way. For a second I thought about walking out of training and refusing to sign - not because I wanted a type and was going to bolt - rather, I'm philosophically opposed to the principle in general. I never asked about one in advance and never really thought about it however.

8 months later I resigned for a job that was a BIG increase in salary. I went to turn in my books with a check in hand to cover the pro-rated contract costs. They said not to worry about it and I tore up the check on the way out.

FlyJSH

If said pilot declares bankruptcy, then the company would become just one of his lien holders. Then the court would decide what the company gets, just like the court decides how much of the CBA is cut.

So, if one wished to get out of the contract, try declaring BK. Otherwise, you signed it, live up to it.

Hetman

Ah. So both labor and management lack integrity. Now it makes sense.

jumppilot

Personal bankruptcy laws are significantly different from corporate laws. If a guy files bankruptcy he is screwed right down to the interest rate he'll pay on housing - sometimes for years.

A moral hazard exists since those who file at the corporate level are not liable for the actions of the corporation.

AMR filed not too long ago - the signature of the guy on the paperwork is not personally affected. In fact, he probably got a bonus.

It is what it is. Pay the training contract if you have to. If you can get out of it, celebrate like there is no tomorrow. But be sure you use every available tool you have to make sure you're not just handing over money.

Everyone on here with the "be a better man" syndrome would do the same thing if faced with the same situation.

It's not personal. It's business.

jumppilot

That's exactly how it is. I can guarantee the company looks out for numero uno and a pilot needs to do the same.

I can't tell you how many pay grievances I've had over the years that, due to a difference in interpenetration of the contract, regardless of agreed upon verbiage, has resulted in the company's gain. Make that 'companies', really. This isn't my first rodeo.

Get the flight out on time, fly safe and fly efficient - but make sure you're always looking out for yourself, because no one else is.

globalexpress

Well, if you do end up paying, I am pretty kinda sorta sure whatever you pay for breaching the contract is tax deductible. I had a friend who got screwed over by a contractor and while researching that particular deduction I think I came across a couple of paragraphs that said something about being able to take a deduction for expenses incurred breaching a contract. Anyone know for sure so I don't have to hunt around for a couple of obscure paragraphs?