They could cut the lifers pay and many will still be lifers.

 

Like I said, nothing stops a unionized pilot group from negotiating something that is fair and good for both the company and the pilots.




So you are saying that management is not being honest with the pilots? Are they just using unethical tactics in order to try to persuade the pilots to vote yes? Would they negotiate a pay raise and then park a fleet? Are they offering a profit sharing plan knowing there won't be any profits?

 

No, that is not what I said. That is what you decided to hear. It specifically states its discretionary and the amount could be up to $20,000 annually. All I did was figure out the cost of going through with the maximum amount.

 

Ahhhhha,
You have just defined the very essence of the SKYW experience. Corporate is like the snake pit in an Indiana Jones movie.

 

The $20K bonus is not part of the pay package, and I always understood that clearly. I think it's a mechanism to...

1) Allow the company to incentivize retention if needed

2) Ensure that the whole pilot group gets treated fairly, ie no targeted bonuses at certain fleets/longevity demographics.

So it's a not a promise or potential bonus, it's just a statement that everybody gets the same bonus if it comes to that.

 

That dress was blue

 

If #2 is true, then it can't technically be part of the pay package since every other pay package we have voted does NOT do this. Every pay package pits the pilots against each other.

 

Grow or shrink it's all the same to me. Since I have made the decision to move on, and SW has made it clear they have no desire to reward those with longevity, it really doesn't matter which direction they decide to go. I have other sources of income so the "be careful or we will go out of business" threat doesn't hold much water with me. Treat me like a professional that contributes to the success of the organization, or make veiled threats about what you will do if I don't comply. See which one works out best in the long term.

If can't even trade trips one day forward or back because everyone is so maxed out right now. If I was awarded 75-78 hours, it is possible I would pick up a local or two day here or there to help out a fellow employee. When I help out someone, I never take the extra money they are offering. I feel that is wrong that people need to bribe others to help them out. I have not once, nor will ever, pick up the phone for a CS call. And I consider it a two way street. I don't ask them for help either.

Last time I asked for anything was to move my 4 day trip to start one day earlier. There was another 4 day that I would have been able to do one last trip with a friend before they moved on. Called CS and they told me I couldn't trade because we were below reserve minimums that day. We had 4-6 reserves every day of the month and the minimum was 20 something. When I informed them they were below minimum everyday of the month, they gave me some story about how my trip would be too hard to break up if they needed to because it didn't come back to base like the other one. Good to know. At least I was reminded why I never talk to them and now I won't feel as bad about not answering my phone over the next couple months.

 

And there was no reason for SAPA or management to include any dollar amount in the proposal. It's misleading and done on purpose. It could stated "any retention bonus will be paid equally and to all pilots"...

 

Except for that you specifically said that management would not fork out $70M. Not once did you ever say anything about maximum amount. But regardless, in essence, they are lying or misleading. Which is it if they aren't going to ever pay out the maximum, as you now say?


They can do that without including it in the pay package. When the time comes, they can pay out the bonus, certainly the new hire bonuses. But you lose a whole lot of leverage anytime you negotiate contingencies ahead of time. Which is ok but at least get a little something out of doing them the favor.