Didn't UAL WB CA back around 2005ish top out at like 330 or 340? Just to get back to those rates we'd 470+/HR just to get back to what was once made. I get where we are and what we are coming from with covid but are people really trying to say getting to just over 400/hr a good thing? If those posted pics are real, there better be some major reworks to work rule language for any hope of that passing.

 

Hysteria? Good lord. The union messages conveyed a lack of optimism. I’m just curious what broke the logjam.

 

OE wait times and lack of LCAs. LCA pay will most likely be addressed in this TA. They will be heavily compensated as they should be.

 

Exactly. Kirby wants to fix his LCA dilemma. If ALPA could give it to him without opening up the entire contract, they already would have. ALPA has applied exactly ZERO pressure on Kirby, but all of a sudden they have an agreement?

Reluctantly, Kirby has offered this deal, which will give you a substandard pay increase, and nothing more. At your expense, they’ll throw some dollars at the LCA problem, then it’s business as usual.

 

Not only has ALPA used little if any pressure or benefited from the ENORMOUS leverage professional pilots currently have, but operationally it seems like the airline is failing. Newark operations, even on VFR days before the summer season, are suffering.

Management has found woke politics to be an effective hiding spot to avoid dealing with their failures and incompetency. As pilots we are exposed to toxic and offensive ideas everyday while our operations and customers suffer. The current culture is inefficient and demoralizing.

Insolvency anyone (again)?

 

I wonder how much of a raise it will take to solve the LCA shortage. Most people that sign up do so because they want the job, others avoid it because they don’t. A bigger override will attract some, but the biggest cost that I see is being locked into a schedule once they assign students. You can’t trade into better trips, move days around, or chase premium pay. It will be interesting to see what that section has in it, and who they get to sign up.

 

All true.

Recently heard from one of the senior guys going through training that they had an LCA class next door. Lots of cheering and clapping, so no shortage of sycophants willing to drink the company Kool Aid. Last he heard was 200+ signed up. Rumor also is $70-90 range for their LCA overrride, so that should be enough to make them overlook losing out on premium pay, etc.

 

I’ve found that being of service and helping others makes me happier than constantly being guarded and strictly looking out for number 1. Perhaps that philosophy drives many LCAs.

As evidenced by the recent LSM positions going unfilled, the majority of LCAs don’t have management aspirations

 

I was an A320 LCA for a couple of years...senior lineholder & commuter. They were right up front and said that you have very bad judgement if you are doing it for the money. I did it because I enjoyed the motivation & energy of our new hires. What I liked best was the initial Captain OEs. Our job wasn't/isn't passing out kool-aid and checking for shoe shines & hats.Easily half of my job was showing how to be a good UNION pilot, how to enforce the UPA, and how to mentor other pilots - without being a wet blanket asshat. Most of that burden should fall on the shoulders of line Captains, but most are either too busy chasing money or are so negative that they are ignored. I spent 22+ years as a line pilot with no input or impact. As an LCA I at least had the opportunity to influence new hires and new Captains on how a smart, professional ALPA pilot should conduct their duties.

 

Best job description of an LCA I’ve ever heard. Too bad the company would like to carve out the “good union pilot” part.