As far as duty rigs. Screw that. Just get the 4 hour min day. OMG is it good.
You really need both. The min day prevents you from getting screwed on a 1.5 hour flight for the day and wasting your whole day, but the rigs force them to schedule days efficiently. For example, we have a 1:2.5 duty rig. If I'm on duty for 12 hours, they have to pay me at least 4.8 hours, even if I only fly 4 hours because of long breaks between legs.
Yep. Management can drag out negotiations indefinitely as we have seen over and over again.
Not true at all. Management can only drag out negotiations as long as the NMB will let them. Under the Bush NMB, they could drag things out for about 5 years before the pro-business NMB would finally step up and do something. Under the Obama NMB, it will be a much different story. You'll probably see a return to the historical standard of 2-3 years in negotiations. The new NMB appointment, Linda Puchala, was just confirmed by the Senate last week. Expect things to change in our favor.
I have not heard any talk lately of ALPA and a national seniority list.
That's because you haven't been listening. Perhaps you should actually spend some time talking to your reps about these issues instead of just bitching about them. Your MEC Chairman is a member of the ALPA CSPC (Career Security Protocol Committee) that is working on the national seniority list concept, so he is quite familiar with it. Perhaps you should talk to him about their progress and get educated.
If we had market based wages you could do just that.
If we had market based wages you would be making a quarter of what you're making now, and that's on the optimistic end of the spectrum. Market based wages would be the end of flying airplanes as a profession instead of just another crappy job.
Is it right that an FO that has been here 2 years less than I have makes $6,000 a year less? NO! He does the same job I do.
Is it right that a CA that has been here for 20 years makes $35,000 more than a newly upgraded CA? NO!
Yes, it
is right. Longevity pay scales reward employees for loyalty and many years of faithful service to their customers. Someone that has served a company for only two years should not be compensated as well as someone who has served a company for 22 years.
Actually, you kind of are. You're just another pilot in the big group of pilots that likes to bitch and whine without getting involved and getting informed. When was the last time that you discussed these issues with you Status Rep? When was the last time you attended a Local Council meeting? When was the last time you attended an MEC meeting? When was the last time you talked with an MEC Officer? Your questions would be answered if you would talk to them instead of constantly bitching about the system.
Let's think about the reasons you might need insurance.
1. Company fires you.
2. FAA action against you.
3. Company doesn't adhere to the established work rules.
4. Company doesn't pay you properly.
5. Company doesn't make proper retirement contributions.
6. Company is purchased or merged with another company.
7. Company tries to outsource you flying.
8. Need I go on?
As for FAA action. If AOPA can offer legal services for the $40 they charge I am sure an enterprising aviation attorney could offer a reasonable rate on services more geared for the 121 world. I am certain it would be a far better deal than what we are paying now.
I think you'd better look into what AOPA actually offers for that $40. It isn't what you think it is. As far as an "enterprising attorney," a relatively decent attorney that specializes in pilot issues costs on average about $400/hr. Good luck with that.
How much longer can this BS go on for? At some point they have to deal with the NMB don't they?
(I'm still a newb so forgive if the question has an easy obvious answer)
From what I'm hearing, the PCL contract will either be settled soon or they'll be released. I don't think you'll see them go past this fall without a new contract.