I've heard of that stuff on the Gojet side. I've had to take medical leave at TSA before and the Chief Pilots were great. Only had to pay my normal monthly payment while out on medical leave with no limitation. As long as I am on a medical or workers comp leave they pay their portion. So my information is very current as I still work there......

Hello everyone, first off, I am not a pilot for RAH, and I have been resisting joining this forum for years, but I am so disgusted with what your managment is doing to you guys I just wanted to voice my support for all of you so I finally signed up against my better judgement. I have been commuting on Chautauqua / Shuttle America for most of my almost 10 years as an airline pilot, and I have seen how awful you have been treated in that time, but what has happened in the last week is disgusting and your managment has proven that they have no souls or shame. To do this stuff publicly like this is a cheap shot at the pilots, and a pathetic attempt to pressure you into signing a contract that, from what little I have seen, is an insult to you. We are in a market that should be showing you guys lots of love and instead, only showing you a steaming pile of crap. For you new hires who might be considering voting yes to this, you should really think long and hard before you sign up for this. I admit that I am being a bit hypocritical, as I voted yes to a bankruptcy contract a couple years ago that similarly had a gun to the head of us pilots at Endeavor (then Pinnacle Airlines), but we were being threatened with a shutdown and I firmly believe it would have happened. That being said, there are distinct differences in the situations. Again, I am speaking with very limited info on the LBFO, but it looks pathetic from the minimal things I have seen (Please correct me if I am wrong). Other than short term financial gains, I have seen nothing positive. For you newer guys considering voting yes, consider these things :

1. If you include bonuses, the payrates are still sub-standard.

2. Other situations similar to this had some other big "carrot" like new airplanes
or growth to give guys hope of upgrading or getting off reserve.

3. RAH has no career progression, so you're not losing the possibility to move
on unlike Envoy, PSA, or Pinnacle, which was a big deal for all these carriers

4. This won't solve your problem for getting new pilots.

5. Accepting this contract takes away your ability for self help, and you will be stuck with it instead of possibly being able to negotiate much better terms.

6. There are a lot worse things than bankruptcy, Endeavor was terrible for awhile, but eventually the market dictated we would have to get better pay and treatment to be solvent, and because of that. Endeavor is hands down one of the best, if not the best regional to work at right now.

7. Filing bankruptcy is unlikely to cost you your job, pilots are a commodity and you are needed. Period.

8. Mesaba, Colgan, and Pinnacle emerged from bankruptcy a wholly owned carrier by Delta, which has proved to be HUGE in improving our airline. We were flying for 4 airlines pre-bankruptcy, similar to you, and emerged as regional serving only Delta and it was instrumental in paving the way for an improved operation and getting career progression.

9. Maybe the most important thing, signing this contract in NO WAY guarantees you will stay out of bankruptcy. American Airlines had a 5 billion cash reserve when they filed chapter 11, at PinnaColAba we were in the process of negotiating give backs when they filed bankruptcy. Signing this contract means nothing, and if they file bankruptcy, don't be shocked if they come looking to take back parts of your shiny new contract.

In closing, I am sorry to be sticking my nose in your buisness, as I certainly have no right to do so, but RAH pilots have been getting screwed way to long, and signing this only guarantees you one thing, you will keep getting screwed even longer. Yes, maybe not signing the contract could have negative consequences, but signing it certainly will have negative consequences, and I would like my chances better either pursuing self help, or just letting nature take it's course and letting them get even more deperate for your services. What can I say, time took care of the problem at Endeavor, we just had to be patient while managment tried all kinds of stupid things that ultimatley failed miserably such as the ETD program, it sucked, but it was well worth the wait. Good luck to all of you, sorry to be so long winded, if I have mispoken on any facts I appologize as I am not nearly as familiar with your situation as you are, and please feel free to correct me in a reply. You are a great group of people and I wish you nothing but the best, and many thanks to for all the rides to work. Good luck guys and gals......

Excellent post. Someone (or mods) please make this its own thread and sticky it up top. This has to get read by ever RAH pilot

The way I see it is Republic is going into bankruptcy within 12 months. Seabury doesn't mess around with the speed they make these things happen and theoretically increasing the cost to the airline by voting yes to this contract will speed this up just like it sped up Pinnacle, Mesaba and Colgan bankruptcy when they signed their "industry leading" contract. You are playing right into the hands of Bedford who stands to save millions by going into bankruptcy.

He will emerge with a notable bonus and raise in income just like the board voted in for the CEO at the old pinnacolaba a week before they declared bk.

The company will go to the court system and try and gut the new contract which will be taken down to what you have now while allowing jr manning and airport reserve with the increased health insurance costs.

You guys are in for some turbulent times.

Republic Contract killers!!! Vote no gents!!
 

If you have any media friends please feel free to share. Especially if you live in the Indianapolis area. The Republic company made this public so all pilots and media can see what is in it. Lets see how all regional pilots feel about this! Pay rates are not everything!!!

Proposed Contract With IBT | Republic Airways Holdings

Article 14 pg 10:
b. Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance (A.D.& D.)
(i) Benefit equal to four times each Pilot’s current basic annual
earnings, then rounded to the next higher $1,000, to a maximum
of $1,000.000

Yes that is $1,000.000. Copied exactly from the on-line contract. Do you think they did this by mistake? I am hoping the old contract doesn't have the same.

Pilots now service and load the aircraft too. Since I have never run into a Republic under wing service in my time in the regionals. I am assuming they contract all their ground service. I hope for these guys this definition never gets put into play otherwise you will be loading bags and servicing lavs. This industry does not need to go lower. Did you have this in your old contract? Guys read your contract. I read just the definitions and compensation and family protections and was disgusted. The fine print will burn you or your family in this case. I think every regional pilot would agree this is in the wrong direction why put this in a new contract?

See definitions in the contract:

Duty – Any task that a flightcrew member performs as required by the Company, including but not limited to FDP, flight Duty, pre- and post-flight duties, administrative work, Training, deadhead transportation, aircraft positioning on the ground, aircraft loading:mad:, and aircraft servicing:eek:.

That right there is funny.

1. I think saying Endeavor is the best regional is a bit of a stretch.
2. Some have career progression here, some don't. The SSP has been basically a coin flip.

More like 12 weeks or less. They can't survive for 12 months in the current state.

The company is in for some turbulent times.

Republic is destined to shrink, all regionals are. They will just be among the first as they are not wholly owned and have the resources of their major partners. Eventually regionals will all die as there simply are not enough pilots in the training pipeline to fill the void created by all the hiring that will occur over the next 5 years.

I would expect a trip through bankruptcy. Also, I would expect Republic to possibly eliminate one or two of their partners and focus on a single mainline parter. ie do a good job for one partner as opposed to a poor job for three partners.

I've been considering that United has no wholly owned regionals and have publicly indicated their desire to stay that way. But I suspect even United may be willing to consider the purchase of Republic for their own feed. Currently Republic is trading down 77% since Jan 1.

I want to say that "Act 1" of the pilot shortage is over, the "great FO reshuffling". I think we are now on to Act 2, "the great shrinkage". I think RAH thought they could be a player in the FO reshuffling but that time has long since past.

A year from now this entire landscape will not look anything like it does today.

Alternately, RAH could consider becoming their own airline.

My feeling as well. And I agree with the theory that United will take a close look. Others say American, but I don't see it that way. I think United, as much for the airframes themselves as the feed.

Every member of the Teamsters Airline Division should pay close attention to what Republic's Management is trying to do to the Republic pilot group. Management is attempting to circumvent the bargaining process, and directly send a “contract” to the pilot group for a vote. They are twisting the language of Article XII, Section 1 of the IBT Constitution in order to do this.

Article XII
STRIKES, LOCKOUTS, WAGE SCALES, DISPUTES OVER JURISDICTION
Strike Action by Local Unions
Section 1(a). When any difficulty or dispute arises between the members of any Local Union and their employers, it shall be the duty of the officers of such Local Union to use every possible means of achieving a settlement or resolution of the difficulty or dispute through the processes of collective bargaining.
(b). Agreements shall either be accepted by a majority vote of those members involved in negotiations and voting, or a majority of such members shall direct further negotiations before a final vote on the employer's offer is taken, as directed by the Local Union Executive Board. During negotiations, the Local Union Executive Board may order a secret ballot strike vote to be taken and when, in the judgment of the Local Union Executive Board, an employer has made a final offer of settlement, such offer must be submitted to the involved membership for a secret ballot vote as hereinafter provided;
(1) If at least one half of the members eligible to vote cast valid ballots, then a cumulative majority of those voting in favor of the final offer shall result in acceptance of such offer; and a cumulative majority of those voting against acceptance of the final offer shall authorize a strike without any additional vote being necessary for such strike authorization. In the event of a tie vote on either a motion to accept a final offer or to strike, the Local Union Executive Board shall conduct a second vote. If the result of the second vote is a tie, the Local Union Executive Board shall have the discretion to either accept the final offer or reject the final offer and authorize a strike at such time as it determines.


The company is ignoring various parts of this section. The Local Executive Board did not decide this was a “final offer of settlement,” nor is the company willing to except a strike as the result of a “cumulative majority of those voting against acceptance.” This section of the IBT constitution was not intended for those members who fall under the jurisdiction of the RLA. The company is trying to use only the first half of this paragraph to force a vote.

If Republic management is successful in circumventing the Local’s Executive Board and Negotiating Committee this will set a disastrous precedent for all Airline Division IBT members. What will happen to the negotiating process currently underway at Allegiant or GoJets or any other pilot group? All members need to pay close attention to this and voice their concerns with the IBT Airline Division.


Call 202-624-6848 or 800-635-3961 and let the ALD know how important it is to not let management circumvent the process.