Actually, that's good news. I was hoping they'd have a TA before us. It only helps by making our wages look even more pathetic than they already are.

 

Let's be clear: a path to parity is not acceptable. Parity from DOS only. We shouldn't be waiting through years of meager increases to get what we should get day one. Meanwhile the standard will be changing all around us. Word is delta already has a TA, JetBlue is negotiating, Virgin is now Alpa and will be negotiating, united opens next year, southwest is negotiating now. We can not wait til the last step of a new contract to get what is out there today. AA rates or better because everyone is building on that. Get a clue.

 

I was just going to say the same thing. A path to parity is BS. Parity right from the beginning is the only acceptable way. If we have a path to parity by the time we get it all the other airlines will be leaps and bounds ahead of us again. This path to parity talk scares me.

 

How are the ZED agreements at NK? Good variety of international airlines?

 

I don't know who heard 2%, but I know for certain he said 4% twice with me present. Once in recurrent and once in my cockpit.

 

Ok but not great. New airlines being added that I have to Google because I have never heard of. Not anything in Asia I am aware of.

 

Except that he is trying to harm you and me financially. Lots of people here are not really listening and comprehending what he is spinning. He talks about inefficiencies and tries to pawn it off on the CBA, when most stem from incompetence, poor planning, and a small fleet. He plants seeds about "no Brinks' trucks" so that your expectations are limited. I would gladly drink a beer with him, as long as he is buying, but I'll do so wearing my rubber boots so as not to step in the bs he is shoveling.

 

So true! Cause it's our CBA's fault they build unproductive 18 hour 4 days!!!! I love flying one leg to OAK to sit for 22 hours, I have nothing better to do!

 

I agree, and hopefully the majority of our fellow pilots won't make the decision to go along with it.

It's easy for upper management to casually regard the negotiating process as "It's just business" when they aren't the ones being financially harmed by flying for wages far below the professional standard. We also do more unpaid work "off the clock" than our peers, due to the "operational inefficiencies". "It's just business," and "There's only so much money so you guys have to decide where you want it," and "What are you willing to give up for ____ ?" are all right out of the Airline Management 101 for Dummies playbook.

Considering the number of red eye and nighttime international flights we conduct, along with numerous delays that extend planned flight duty periods and shorten rest, and tearing big pieces of paper into enough scraps of smaller paper to form a complete flight release, I'd argue that we are worth MORE per hour than our peers. Industry average is a bargain for Spirit to have pilots who work harder to overcome operational challenges day in and day out.

I really don't hate working here, but every month seems to feel like a JetBlue January lately.

 

He can say whatever he wants. 2%, 4%, or even 6% is a flat out insult. Not only is there no way in hell but if the union puts something like that in front of us it is time for the negotiating committee to go. For me to achieve parity with my peers I need something on the order of 40 to 45 % plus increases in retirement etc....