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Old 12-09-2016 | 11:05 PM
  #231  
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That record on time performance was bought and paid for by over blocking the flights. Smoke and mirrors to create infighting.


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Old 12-10-2016 | 01:41 AM
  #232  
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Originally Posted by Ed Force One
So, it's time to order my leather jacket. Is the Calfskin upgrade worth $100? Can you tell the difference?
Absolutely not worth it. I bought the more expensive. I wish I hadn't.
Old 12-10-2016 | 06:06 AM
  #233  
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ULCC even is self explanatory. Ultra LOW COST carrier. Labor is the most expensive or second (depending on oil at the time) cost. If we paid every employee the same as peers we would just be another airline, one with tiny seats and a dubious reputation. Perhaps not even be around anymore. Its extremely frustrating we are vastly underpaid in line with our peers, but that eventually will change. A company trying to increase revenues and lower labor costs isn't war. Its business. Its not personal, its business. Dont like being labor and feel executives make too much? Go be an executive. Our goal is to work as little for as much as we can, and their goal is to have us work as much as possible for as little as possible.. Thats how it works.
Old 12-10-2016 | 06:32 AM
  #234  
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Just a reminder as winter takes its icy grip. Safety always
Taxiing more than a brisk walk is asking for trouble.
Old 12-10-2016 | 07:18 AM
  #235  
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Honestly what the cube warriors make is not my concern. Most of them are completely replaceable and honestly if they want to make more their best course is to gain a skill that makes them hard to replace or to unionize. That's the sad state of corporate America today and why the middle class has disappeared.

We are both unionized and becoming much harder to replace in large numbers. That gives us leverage if we choose to use it by working together instead of an every man for himself. Fly safe. Legal and safe is our concern. If going out late is a byproduct of that then oh well.
Old 12-10-2016 | 07:21 AM
  #236  
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Originally Posted by Qotsaautopilot
Honestly what the cube warriors make is not my concern. Most of them are completely replaceable and honestly if they want to make more their best course is to gain a skill that makes them hard to replace or to unionize. That's the sad state of corporate America today and why the middle class has disappeared.

We are both unionized and becoming much harder to replace in large numbers. That gives us leverage if we choose to use it by working together instead of an every man for himself. Fly safe. Legal and safe is our concern. If going out late is a byproduct of that then oh well.

Agreed!



Originally Posted by Macjet
I had a long conversation with an interior employee at Spirit on the infrastructure support side of the company this week. Not director level but not a 9-5 Joe either. After my conversation with them I left feeling even more depressed than ever about this company.

Forget pilot pay, we don't pay anyone market rate. Not HR. Not benefit administrators. Not IT. Not accounting. Not payroll. No one. Everyone is making 50% of going market rates. And the Mirimar turnover rate is atrocious. And Spirit couldn't care less. Loyalty and longevity is meaningless here. It's all dollars. Bendo and Euro were both mentioned in very little regard.

Their assessment of this company was that it'll take a merger level of an event to see the wholesale changes need in management to ever get anyone paid market rates. And that assumes that our management is shown the door with golden, I mean yellow, parachutes and we're managed by someone else.

I think very, very few here realize the kind of fight that we are in. This company doesn't give a damn about your green lanyard (I wear one proudly), picketing (I've walked), or the industry average ask from our negotiating team (I support them). Why don't they care? Because airplanes are moving, we're making record profits, and IMPROVING our on-time performance. This is war and Mirimar is the enemy. The only way we will get anything that resembles what we deserve is if airplanes stop moving. And they need to stop moving today. Not intentionally or through sabotage but by following the manuals and regulations that we have before us.

Do not fly an airplane with an undocumented discrepancy. If it isn't in the MEL, DMI, or NEF then write it up. Exposed metal on the fuselage, horizontal stabilizer damage, missing hoist coupling covers, portions of an LED light inop, torn seats, missing luggage tie downs, foot rests that won't retract, mismatched cowl covers, seats that won't retract upright on their own, damaged ACP's, and anything else that isn't working as installed. This is their airline, make them fix it or document it. We should not be moving airplanes that are not legal to fly.

This is your job and your career. It's time to quite fighting amongst ourselves and time to take the fight to the enemy. Grow a pair, properly preflight your airplane, don't extend, and quite picking up open time. This is going to get ugly so be where you're supposed to be when you're supposed to be there.

FSHF
EXCELLENT POST!

In regards to Labor Costs, look at this article. Its almost criminal what we allow our management to get away with. Also, I do feel somewhat sympathetic to the HR folks and Crew schedulers who are making less than market rate but we our highly trained professionals and there is no excuse for us to be paid less than market average. Its the cost of doing business in today's environment.


Why Are Airline Labor Costs Set to Rise? - Market Realist

Why Are Airline Labor Costs Set to Rise?
By Ally Schmidt | Dec 7, 2016 12:24 pm EST

Airlines Are Flying High: Is It Robust Earnings or Warren Buffet? PART 9 OF 13
Labor, the second largest cost

When crude oil prices were at their peak at $100 per barrel, labor costs were an airline’s second largest cost. Thanks to the substantial fall in fuel costs, labor is now the largest expense for any airline.

Why Are Airline Labor Costs Set to Rise?

In fact, Southwest Airlines (LUV), which has the lowest margins, has the highest labor costs. In the third quarter of 2016, labor costs made up 37.0% of Southwest Airlines’ revenue.

American Airlines (AAL) has the second lowest margins but the second highest labor costs. In 3Q16, labor costs accounted for 29.0% of AAL’s revenues. United Continental has the third lowest margins and the third highest labor costs of 26.0%.

For 3Q16, JetBlue Airways’ (JBLU) labor costs were 24.0% of its revenues. Delta Air Lines’ labor costs were 23.0% of its revenues, Alaska Air’s (ALK) were 22.0%, and Spirit Airlines’ (SAVE) were 19.0%.
Other costs


Spirit Airlines’ labor costs are lower than Alaska Air’s. But Spirit Airlines has lower margins than Alaska Air. That’s because aircraft rent accounts for just 2.0% of Alaska Air’s revenue, while aircraft rent for Spirit Airlines is 8.0% of its revenue. For all the others, this cost is 1.0%–2.0% of their revenues.

Aircraft maintenance makes up 4.0%–5.0% of revenues for all airlines except JBLU at 9.0%. Landing fees and other rents account for 6.0% of revenues for all airlines except Delta, which is at 4.0%.
Labor costs to rise

Most airlines, including Delta Air Lines (DAL), Southwest Airlines (LUV), United Continental (UAL), and American Airlines (AAL), have recently renegotiated contracts with pilots and other contract workers. According to the contracts, pilots will receive a good pay raise over the next two years, followed by decent pay increases for two to three years after that. That means peace on the labor front for at least the next few years. That’s good news for both the airlines and its workers, especially for Southwest Airlines, which has been struggling to reach an agreement with its pilots for the past four years.

Another factor driving profitability southward is leverage, which we’ll look at in the next part. You can get exposure to travel stocks by investing in the iShares Transportation Average ETF (IYT), which invests 22.0% of its portfolio in airlines.
Old 12-10-2016 | 07:25 AM
  #237  
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Originally Posted by Qotsaautopilot
Honestly what the cube warriors make is not my concern. Most of them are completely replaceable and honestly if they want to make more their best course is to gain a skill that makes them hard to replace or to unionize. That's the sad state of corporate America today and why the middle class has disappeared.

We are both unionized and becoming much harder to replace in large numbers. That gives us leverage if we choose to use it by working together instead of an every man for himself. Fly safe. Legal and safe is our concern. If going out late is a byproduct of that then oh well.
Exactly. I can't make anyone else do their part but I will be doing mine. Little things count
Brief crews on the priority of safety/legality vs on time performance.
Taxiing at safe and AIM recommended speeds
Spending time with family as much as possible.
That's all I can do but if everyone helps we'll be on our way to good things.
Old 12-10-2016 | 07:34 AM
  #238  
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Originally Posted by AirbusA321Pilot
I looked at both and went with the goatskin. I was going to go with the calfskin but the lady I talked to at Perone said "save your money you will be just as happy with the goatskin and it will be more durable."

That was six years ago and my goatskin leather jacket still looks like new.
All true, had mine for 4 1/2 years, like new
Old 12-10-2016 | 10:47 AM
  #239  
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Originally Posted by macjet
i had a long conversation with an interior employee at spirit on the infrastructure support side of the company this week. Not director level but not a 9-5 joe either. After my conversation with them i left feeling even more depressed than ever about this company.

Forget pilot pay, we don't pay anyone market rate. Not hr. Not benefit administrators. Not it. Not accounting. Not payroll. No one. Everyone is making 50% of going market rates. And the mirimar turnover rate is atrocious. And spirit couldn't care less. Loyalty and longevity is meaningless here. It's all dollars. Bendo and euro were both mentioned in very little regard.

Their assessment of this company was that it'll take a merger level of an event to see the wholesale changes need in management to ever get anyone paid market rates. And that assumes that our management is shown the door with golden, i mean yellow, parachutes and we're managed by someone else.

I think very, very few here realize the kind of fight that we are in. This company doesn't give a damn about your green lanyard (i wear one proudly), picketing (i've walked), or the industry average ask from our negotiating team (i support them). Why don't they care? Because airplanes are moving, we're making record profits, and improving our on-time performance. This is war and mirimar is the enemy. The only way we will get anything that resembles what we deserve is if airplanes stop moving. And they need to stop moving today. Not intentionally or through sabotage but by following the manuals and regulations that we have before us.

Do not fly an airplane with an undocumented discrepancy. If it isn't in the mel, dmi, or nef then write it up. Exposed metal on the fuselage, horizontal stabilizer damage, missing hoist coupling covers, portions of an led light inop, torn seats, missing luggage tie downs, foot rests that won't retract, mismatched cowl covers, seats that won't retract upright on their own, damaged acp's, and anything else that isn't working as installed. This is their airline, make them fix it or document it. We should not be moving airplanes that are not legal to fly.

This is your job and your career. It's time to quite fighting amongst ourselves and time to take the fight to the enemy. Grow a pair, properly preflight your airplane, don't extend, and quite picking up open time. This is going to get ugly so be where you're supposed to be when you're supposed to be there.

Fshf
Finally someone that gets it!!!
Old 12-10-2016 | 11:00 AM
  #240  
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Originally Posted by Macjet
I think very, very few here realize the kind of fight that we are in.
Absolutely correct! And that is true even regarding some at the helm of the union. A year and a half into negotiations (plus the prior illusory "focused negotiations" joke), and we still seem complacent and content. "Wow, cool, we're getting more NEOs this month!"..."Man, my quality of life is pretty good! I love it here!"... "Na, I'll write it up later." NEO's? Who gives a damn!
This doesn't seem like a war at all... Why? Because our "generals" really don't want one because there's so called "progress." Remind you we're way far away from addressing the economic sections of a possible TA. Watch what happens when we get there.
Contract 2019. You heard it here first...
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