Ha god no. I’m sure there are outliers here and there but the reality of it is that most 135 operators are scraping the bottom to try and keep employees.

I think the message is/should be, “don’t come
to NJ unless you get some kind of thrill being paid 1/3 of your worth with zero schedule or QOL control, all the while using our iron clad fatigue policy like chewing gum.”

At the same time, it’s disingenuous to complain of constantly being fatigued here. Just send a fatigue GM and let SO figure out the details. Don’t fly tired and certainly don’t go home tired.

If you’re chasing FDPP at the expense of your own fatigue, that’s a personal problem.

Look, NJ and FLex are still the "majors" of the 135 world and most other positions you are staying at until either 1. You get hired by Flex or NJ 2. You find a Unicorn job that for whatever reason fits your QOL (assuming you are talking about making a career at a 135-ish job vs. going to the airlines). Most other operators will be far behind in either pay or QOL (you can make the same pay but you need to work 20+ days a month). The current "Dont come to NJ" speak is the same speak you are hearing about Southwest and heard about UAL, AA, DAL during contract negotiations. Any Major is better than the regionals (even if your only option was "insert name of company having contract negotiations"). NJ and Flex are better the best of the 135 operators. NJ does have a pretty poor contract right now compared to others however, there is no doubt that once a new contract is negotiated (could be as far away as a few years from now), it will be a very good contract. Regardless, NJ or Flex are still the best places to be for the long term.

I am not at NJ, so FWIW...
I did 91k for 8 years and really liked it, but CS burned, so I was forced to look around. Got a 121 LCC job, more secure, better pay, more boring.
I am advising all the new guys to keep their eyes open and consider trying a legacy instead of staying at the LCC. Do you really think I should lead by example before I can tell the new guys to keep their eyes open?
I am at 16%, with 9 years to go. Senior line holding captain. If I go to a legacy, and if I upgrade, I will be on reserve till I retire, for less pay, and less vacation.
If they stay, they will probably have to wait 10 years to just hold a line, because growth has slowed a lot. If they go they will probably hold a line as a NB captain sooner, for way better pay (remember I am on year 11 pay, they aren't), more vacation, better benefits and the option of wide body if they want after 20 years.

If he took his own advise, I would probably consider him a fool, and not listen to him. And since you advice him to do so, maybe you are one.

Why don't you resign? If it's so bad, if you're treated less than a coal miner, if you are constantly forced with guns in the back of your new, to fly fatigued, if all you do all day is clean leftover poop all over the toilet seat, why don't you resign?

It's a good job and it will get better. We need improvements, we need compensation increase, some schedules improvement, but it's a good job. Those cry-babies who keep saying it's the worst job in the world are still here....

If the “cry-babies” all resigned, the only ones left would be those of you content to work 11/2 because it’s not that bad.

It amazes me how little some of our pilots value their own time.

Never worked 11/2, never extended ever, will never do, I have other things to do, but I respect each pilot's personal choices. Those that choose to exercise their freedom and chose to work 11/2 do whatever they want, freedom, but that's not my cup of tea. What do you even know how do they value their own time, It's their lives, not yours. Mind your own business, who are you to even judge others. Apparently you're still a NJA pilot, you must be some kind of a loser then, not?

I’m one of the crybabies hoping to get you a better contract before they retire me in January.

New contract before Jan. 2024, very funny. Zero new contract before you retire, maybe mid to end 2024, but chance of a sh!!ty +18%-20% increase in 2024 has sailed off with that last LBF.

United TA. Enough said.