If anyone thinks there isn't a shortage of pilots, they can't do simple math or haven't been paying attention.

Over the next 10 years (actually less now, maybe closer to 8), the majors are going to retire somewhere around 19,000 pilots. There were something like 17,100 regional pilots. There is a reason that airlines are buying flight schools, partnering with flight schools, buying airplanes, paying for ATP programs etc etc. and most regionals are hiring DECs, giving hiring bonuses, they are literally begging for people to go work there.

If management and unions at these companies aren't paying attention, they are already getting left behind. NJA might be totally happy getting R-ATPs through the door. Granted, that is about all that is left for everyone to be honest. My guess is that the top 3, and places like NJA are waiting for the next downturn. Hoping actually...

Management won't care until they can't fill classes. Watch how hard it is for everyone to hire in 2023...

Is it hard to find uniform shoes in children’s sizes?

On the MB people are advocating not to recommend potential applicants as a way to apply pressure to the company to do an IBB. If we really want to apply pressure, stop doing VED's.

Hopefully the results of the survey we took last month will be that we don’t extend the LOA past December. I voted to give the 14 day notice to terminate also but I understand why some didn’t want to lose the ones that were already awarded and budgeted. That and people need to stop bidding for the VEWD also.

So we refuse to pick up VED's which results in more thrird party lift which severely impacts the profit margins, right when we're about to negotiate for more compensation. Does that really make sense from a strategic standpoint?

The company has indicated that it intends to engage in negotiations early next year, so why shoot yourself in the foot in the meantime? Wouldn't it be smarter to keep your powder dry and save the VED card for if and when its needed?
There are some new hires that took a pay cut to come here and rely on some occasional VED, (although it has been slim pickings lately anyway.) Those that need the extra days will still bid for them regardless.

I think the fact that they want to hire 700 next year while they have to compete with the new compensation at the regionals will be enough incentive to come to the table. Why not allow the junior guys (who won't be receiving a $30k IBI signing bonus) to earn a bit more in the meantime?

You know that a lot of the junior guys are the ones complaining about not getting the fdp that they were told to expect. There is also no transparency on how VEDs are awarded. The VEWDs that have been being used more are awarded by seniority. How does that benefit the new guys?
When did it become our responsibility to work harder to make the company more money(refused VEDs=more third party lift)? Has it occurred to you that the company saying that it intends to come to the table with us NEXT year is them just squeezing more and delaying the inevitable? You have seen the articles about them talking about how we are sold old through next year right? That isn’t them coming to recurrent and hyping up the troops, that is them making statements to the public.

"Lobster or the cracked crab?"

"Can't we have both?"

You're absolutely right, but we're not in negotiations, yet. Why not save the tools in our arsenal until we are? Unless of course you're trying to bring them to the table sooner, which both the company and the union suggest isn't going to happen in 2022.

My arguement is that they could easily come out and say that they'd love to give us all a substantial raise, but since they had to sub contract so many flights due to nobody picking up extra days, the money just isn't there.

I am trying to bring them to the table quicker. The pilots have bailed out the company for the last two years and have only been treated worse for it. You can't tell me you haven't had longer days, more legs per day, harder time getting crew meals or time to go get food. The company isn't saying it won't come to the table until next year. They are saying they want to wait until next year. The union leadership is saying now isn't the time but have made a distinct change in tone about the relationship with the company. The union leadership admits that issues that they bring up to the company are falling on deaf ears. Why do we need to keep helping the company when they have stopped helping us? They can say that they can't give us substantial raises because of sell offs and we can say they we are tired of working extra days and good luck manning all these planes they are selling.

I agree, either make the VED permanent or end them. There most likely will be a fair share that will still volunteer, history has showed. There comes a point when enough is enough.

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