Quote:
Originally Posted by higney85
Nick- honest question... With the reality as it is (Yes I voted "NO" if that disclaimer needs to be made) what do YOU suggest we strive for and do towards a new TA? I have my own views and opinions but you are vocal against everyone trying to secure a deal that treats and compensates us as professionals. The point that has already been made is 6-12 months of negotiating towards a better deal raises the bar for the industry- which many of us will be living under for decades to come. Sure, you may lose a couple thousand NOW- but 5-10-20 years from now you can be sitting on a better QOL (read a family and personal life), a realistic chance of being able to retire before 80, and a paycheck that is far better than the industry as a whole takes home now as a "professional".
I won't flame, just curious of your ideas and motive.
I don't have any motive--I'm merely venting my frustrations at the current state of labor negotiations in the US, and making the observation that us 9E pilots are one more example of how unions are powerless compared to corporations.
If we were governed by the NLRB instead of the NMB, I'll become a believer that we'll get another good TA in the next year.
If we at least had access to the Railroad Retirement pension fund and payed into that instead of social security + company-sponsored 401(k) plans (and didn't have to expend negotiating capital on retirement), I'll become a believer that we'll get another good TA in the next year
The reason I express such cynicism about our ability to get a better TA is that I don't see it happening at this company without major structural changes to the US airline system or airline labor negotiations, or a major business need at our company. Without a release threat or a business need for the company to give us something decent, we'll be mired in negotiations for longer than I'm willing to go.
The only single thing I can see that might lead the company to sign would be a re-distribution of the last TA's overall costs to different areas (which I think we can all agree would include a different bonus distribution).
I don't see the company doing anything that will cost them a dime more--because under the current external environment we live in they don't have to.
If the union can exhibit the fortitude required to restructure the next contract in a way that is more fair to the average mid-to-junior pilot (which will come at the financial expense of the more senior pilots), I'll give you a high-five and vote YES on the next one.
I have a side business that is doing pretty well, and a few opportunities overseas that might be possibilities next year if the economy continues to recover. So many people have convinced themselves that they are doomed to an eternity at Pinnacle that they won't accept anything less than a TA that will satisfy them until they die. I don't hold that same opinion, and will take what I can get while I'm here, within reason.