SkyWest paints optimistic picture for regionals
- Thread starter Trip7
- Start date
Firebird2XC
Well-Known Member
It's not about progress or 'victory'. How do you plant a flag and claim "cessation of major combat operations" when you have no finite, clear requirements?
I'm just saying, the distinction is different for everybody, but wouldn't you be less inclined to leave your 'regional' carrier if it weren't so uncomfortable?
The so-called 'regional' airlines WANT us to think like the way most of us do these days. It generates high rates of turnover and lowers overall employee costs. It's cheaper for them. They've got us all chasing the 'big time' and laughing all the way to the bank.
The sad reality is we're already doing mainline style (or actual previous mainline) flying at the 'regionals' we're currently at.
I love this whole 'Taking It Back' mentality. Taking back WHAT? Nobody seems willing or able to define that.
Know what I want to take back? A liveable wage, a reasonably comfortable number of days off a month, and the company not trying to stand on my balls every time I'm running a 105 degree fever and can't come to work.
More than anything, though, I want the dignity of the profession back. That's the single biggest loss of having our hats repeatedly handed to us in the last several years. It's the constant marginalization into draft animals.
The only real difference between the average line pilot dragging his bags through the terminal and a tired old donkey pulling a cart is the fact that the donkey has four feet on the ground instead of two.
If that doesn't enrage you at some deeper, primal level, you're not paying attention.
Me personally, this is a core aspect that I won't stand for. This is MY career, MY profession, and MY life. They can cut my wages, work me long hours, and give me crap all they want, but they will NOT take my dignity.
I might lose in the arbitrations, the grievances, and the court room. Someday, I might even lose my job. I will not surrender my backbone to avoid the possibility of conflict.
If I were to spend the rest of my career at Eagle, that's okay with me. That's because I know I'm going to give them raging hell every step of the way when they try to take something from me that they already promised me. I'm going to ask for my due and not settle for less.
That's an awesome attitude and stance to have, and wish you every success in achieving it. One of the biggest hurdles to that though isn't just the company, it's other (current as well as up and coming) pilots who drink the company line, who have no dignity, who have no backbone, and who'd have no qualm in stabbing you for their own gain.
As you're making your movement to contact with the enemy, it sucks to have to constantly look over shoulder to make sure your 2nd echelon isn't about to shoot you in the back.
Way more than $85-plus for a first year captain. Waaaaay more.
We're all more or less doing the same work, so all rates should trend up.
No more of "well, it's a starter job " or "I'm just getting my foot in the door" and "well, I'm just building time to get on with a better paying carrier".
A CRJ-900 is a DC-9, hell, it's bigger in many configurations.
meyers9163
Well-Known Member
YES SIR
! Hopefully the next few contracts that are up for negotiations will get things rolling.... Airtran, DAL, CAL (I believe) and some regionals as well (PSA, PDT, AWAC, Xjet)......
The L Train
Well-Known Member
Didn't the big D just announce they were going to start giving pay raises to all non contract employees starting in October?
Bignellyxx
Well-Known Member
YES SIR
PSA, PDT and AWAC are doing what all regionals should be doing. AWAC specifically is sitting in on negotiations making sure they don't get undercut. Trying to cut the whipsaw. This used to be ALPA's fundamental. Airlines flying the same planes for the same rate. Instead Natl. is too worried about saving 30 sec. in the security line.
The DCA carriers were talking about this for a bit but there was a little feet dragging from the airlines with slightly less aweful pay
USMCmech
Well-Known Member
IMHO,
The biggest mistake that airline pilots have made in the past decade is making a distinction between "regional" and "mainline".
If we were all "airline pilots" and demanded to be paid acordingly, the you wouldn't have 50% of the flying outsourced to "the little guys".
n77j
Well-Known Member
Out there somewhere Exutives of Regional carriers are reading your rates above and laughing their butt off
Hootie
Old Skool
but then the pyrimid scheme wouldn't work properly. that would be unacceptable.
I'm not a non-contract employee.
ppragman
No pasa nada.
Out there somewhere Exutives of Regional carriers are reading your rates above and laughing their butt off
That's what I think first year pay should be for a direct entry captain, or a new FO, I'm sure they're laughing, but that doesn't seem unreasonable. Both are liveable wages which treat the crewmembers with a modicum of respect. Naturally, the legacies should be much higher.
Firebird2XC
Well-Known Member
kellwolf
Piece of Trash
I'd be okay.....until Delta didn't renew the contract in 2017 and I was out of a job because my airplane says "Operated by....." on the side.
It's not always just about $$$ and QoL. Job security comes into play for me, too.
BobDDuck
Island Bus Driver
Section 1 of any CBA is where it's at.
Really? I'm at what I would consider to be a second tier regional. Been there for just less than half a decade and broke 50k two years ago (on CA pay while sitting reserve and never breaking a 72 hour guarantee).
zmiller4
Well-Known Member
Our Brasilia CA pay is better than most (not all) 30 seat turboprop rates, but they're still a lot lower than the jets.
Firebird2XC
Well-Known Member
Well said. As crewmembers all investing in the long-term viability of our carriers based on the seniority system, you're right- job security is a huge issue as well.
The L Train
Well-Known Member
I know. I was saying that if they are taking the non-contract employees back to "Industry Leading" pay, they should start brining back the cuts you guys took. I don't recall alot about the cuts, but was it just staight up cuts? It was like 42% total though right? We took a 20% on the maintenance side of things. I hope they seriously get you guys some cash back!