Quote:
Originally Posted by Paid2fly
There would be "an incentive for mainlines to pay more" if you and others that are trying to get into the regionals, would refuse to consider employment at the worst regionals(especially the ones that just voted in concessions during a time of record profits)! If they couldn't staff at the bottom feeders then they would have no choice but to offer better pay and benefits to keep the A/C flying!
OK, so you are saying for an outsider (i.e. me) looking to get into the industry now... I go to APC and look up first year FO pay and see a range of $22-$26/hr and a cap of $37-$49 (usually somewhere around 7-8 yrs, and only AWAC and SKW are over $44). Per diem is within a few cents (not breaking the bank). Even SKW doesn’t really break out from PSA until year six. (TBH, I won’t be in the 121 world if it takes me six years to upgrade, my earning potential is much higher on the outside, BUT I love to fly!)
PSA is in the middle of both ranges and is in a base that was tailor made for my family situation. How am I supposed to know anything about a vote that happened way before I got there, to vote in a contract that isn’t significantly different from the 'best' regional contract? You realize that by the time I walk through the door (even if they would hire me) 50-60% (or more) of the guys/gals that voted in the contract will have moved on.
Like I said, I know it’s a hot topic and an emotional one. BUT…There are a ton of people willing to work for regional wages, BECAUSE mainline pay is so high. It is too big of a carrot. AND… You can’t ask a new pilot (i.e. CFI) to pass up a job offer with a quick upgrade in lieu of MAYBE getting hired to a regional with a stagnant upgrade just so he/she can show camaraderie with a group of guys he isn't part of yet and doesn't know. Especially if he has a wife to provide for and a baby to feed.
I'll tell you now, I am sure I would love having a beer with 99% of you guys and I will bust my rear for any company that will hire me, but my wife and children will ALWAYS be my first priority and should be yours too. Feel free to vote yes/no/maybe/abstain for anything that will not cause your children to go hungry, but you can’t ask someone else's children to skip a meal so that your check stays the same. Even if he/she did, someone will come along and take food off of both of your tables in hopes of getting your spot with mainline.
Wanna fix it? Create a single union and standard contract. Barring that, there isn’t an incentive to bring up pay because there is always a company (maybe one that doesn’t even exist yet) that will undercut everyone else to get the routes (and the mainlines will use them because it saves them money).