disillusioned

The pay package would have given me $1 over 4 years (or t$2 if I were to upgrade). So if it takes 4 years to negotiate a new one, I have only lost $1. Standing on principal and understanding my value is worth the $60 I left on the table. I would spend that much out of pocket to have some real representation here.

So when the ATP became required, it was up to me and everyone else already on property to come up with that money so we could hire people? I would guess a majority of the "Yes" vote was from those that still feel we need to help the company out to be successful. I really don't think that extra money is the reason people are not coming here. It is the quick upgrades at other airlines and the fact that the pool is starting to dry up. If they were serious about staffing, they would focus on QOL issues and working with the pilots to slow retention down. Those that want to leave would leave anyways, but they are forcing 15 year Captains that probably would never leave to update their log books. May save them a little money, but when they can't back fill all the people leaving, it may not be worth the small savings.

Good news SP. Since we don't have a union and have an open door policy, send your question to MT, TT and SL. Let them know how unhappy you are with first year pay and how you can't afford to live. Let them know you want SAPA to get another offer to the pilots ASAP. They may ask why you accepted the job at a wage that is so unacceptable, but you could also be the hero for us all by getting a new offer by next week.

disillusioned

Early shows, late release. Lots of 10 and 11 duty days. Flying into other domiciles and sitting for 3 to 4 hours. All for an average of 18 hours on our 4 day trips. So when PBS requires you to get 90 hours, it will take (4) five day trips at 18 hours. 30 to 31 days in the month = 10 days off. Zero reserves so you can't drop or trade any trips because everyone else is working just as much as you are. And as bad as that all sounds, it is still 100% better than being on reserve. Because on reserve, the company has decided that it is legal to have you work 18 hours. If you don't agree to the 2 hour extension, you must call in fatigued.

That is probably the most frustrating thing we do. Fly into ORD, MSP, IAH, SLC, SEA and sit for 3 to 4 hours. You are telling me that there is not another flight or segment that I can do while I sit around for that long? The reason they do it is because it only cost them $6 for me to sit around and be a pseudo ready reserve.

Crazy Canuck

No problem. Trips are just kind of crappy right now. There are a ton of 16-18 hour credit 4 day trips. Well, PBS wants you to work 88-96 hours a month. With 16 hour 4 days this just isn't possible. So people are working 20 days per month and getting paid not a whole heck of a lot.

There is much debate as to why-mainline partners scheduling, skywest internal pairing software, bad aircraft utilization? Who knows. This is really what we should be coming together and focusing on as a group, not a paltry 50 cents raise.

Crazy Canuck

I'll add, the one thing MSP does seem to have is some good paying standups. Maybe I'm just seeing things but I've seen a lot of good looking ones in open time/crew posted time. 6-7.5 hours. If you live in MSP and stick it out, you can probably get these in the not too distant future.

amcnd

Agree. All the MSP complaining comes from people that dont live there. (I would say 90% of the CA's dont live in MSP). If you live there its the best base for a Jr. Pilot... Operations smooth, covered parking, ect...

skypilot35

Things at the regional level have been out of balance since the regional model's inception.

I've read your post and you seem genuinely disgusted with this industry. Understand that if you CHOOSE to come here you will be miserable because this airline is not going to change for YOU. A Part 135 gig might suit you better. The last thing any of us want to do is listen to someone on a 3 or 4 day trip moan about the pure disgust he has for the regional airline. Some of the guys you'd be sharing that cockpit with have been here for 25 to 30 years. It will not be tolerated.

Despite all the propaganda being spewed, the effects of a pilot shortage have not hit our mainline partners in terms of reliability or feed. Until mainline feels the pain, the regional pilot does not matter.

Our training roster currently shows more than 190 new hires. There is no pilot shortage.

My .50 cents worth...it'll buy you a cheap coffee....or a payraise at OO locked in for the next 4 years.

Seriously, I would not come here.
SP35

chazbird

What, is there's a special den of misery I am not privy to?? Is it a revered place only for the few? Trust me, I've been there - long, long ago. Its not about changing the place for me. Besides, I know the last thing to do is harp about all this crap while on a trip. Harping about BS on a trip ruins the only good thing about the job - I have no intention of making a trip nothing but a diatribe.

skypilot35

Yes! A revered place for the currently employed.

I find it strange that someone who is looking at a company as a perspective employer would trash it so vehemently on a public forum prior to being employed.
I would say that is a generational thing, but you have portrayed yourself to be of middle-age. Your behavior seems to be more representative of a "millenial".

Just an observation. To each his own.

soakingpilot

so you have no specific points about what to improve? ok then i can just assume that you were someone who expected well i dont know what you want which is what im trying to find out


just curious how exactly would i know when the last vote took place? maybe you can point me to the correct location for this information?
thanks

** oh and i forgot. In choosing this regional well yes I was thinking about longer than the first 12 months though if I get this bitter from working here maybe not but the pay is already better than everyone 2nd year and beyond so what did you want? thats the crux of it.

Cruz5350

Countless suggestions have and are being made about what we would like to improve on. Like others have said it sounds like you're on your first year, everyone knew what they were getting into when we signed up for this. It's not that we don't want to help our people on year 1 it's just we're trying to help the entire pilot group.