That's why the Delta snap up is so valuable. I hope they knock it out of the park!! Then we don't have to spend 2-3 years trying to catch up. It's immediate.

So isn't that what pattern bargaining is all about? I hope they leapfrog us if the TA passes. Makes going for the other things besides pay rates that much easier. I personally feel it's much more attainable to go for the more vacation/training/sick pay when we're looking at 5% bump in pay vs asking for 20+% raises just to catch up and all the other things that need addressing. To me it's a no brainier.

We could be pattern bargaining 6 mos behind them in a highly profitable period or 2.5 years behind their contract.

Catch up to what? Their pay or their entire contract? They're negotiating an entire contract of which pay is but one part. Whose to say they don't come in $2/hr less than us but knock it out of the park on the rest of the contract. The only thing we'll be snapping then is the sand out of our G string.

We will see what happens. But their first attempt was an abomination. Personally I think it will be quite awhile before they ratify an agreement. And in the meantime we will be making substantially more money while we wait

I look at it as we will be setting the bar for pay rates, and should be something they will easily attain at a minimum to match what we get if not exceed it. Which could get us matching pay rates depending on the situation.

If we go to our next contract negotiations with already matching DAL rates we won't have to go for monster pay raises and can go for QOL issues like reserve, retirement, scope, healthcare, sick and vacation time.

But if we don't and wait for Delta to get a contract we are going to have to go after probably 25% pay raises or more just to match them. Hard for investors and wall street and the average guy to watch that happen which means it probably wouldn't.

Tapping our toes and whistling to the company's tune. Yes sir boss, can I go to the restroom? Just need to make a little water. Kinda makes you proud to be a United pilot - doesn't it?

This ain't personal. Just business. Remember that when this TA passes easily.

http://www.alpa.org/portals/alpa/jetblue2/files/JetBlue%20Contract%20Comparison%20March%202015L%20-%20web.pdf

Comparison with Delta:
1. Their m5:15d beats ours
2. Their sick time is great
3. Our vacation accrual is better
4. Our TA will achieve higher pay
5. Profit sharing equal

Comparison with AA
1. Our TA will achieve higher pay
2. They have Zero profit sharing
3. Their work rules are terrible, they don't have m5D, just m5/ duty day. (My brother flies 13 hour 3 day trips, 77 hours with only 12 days off, as a 16 year 75 FO)
4. They are only 1 year into a 5 year deal! No real work rules and they will miss out on profit sharing in one of the most profitable times for the industry