I worked at a restaurant while in high school first as a cook, then as a waiter. About 6 months into the job as a cook I told the boss I was leaving for a better paying job unless he paid me $X/hr. Guess what happened, he paid me more money, because I was worth two of the people that worked with me (they were lazy, I was not).
So, your justification for everybody being able to renegotiate is when you were living with mom and dad in HS, you negotiated a $0.50 raise as a cook?
You know as well as I do that renegotiating your pay rate as a hotel front desk clerk is a completely different ball game then renegotiating your contract under the RLA, so you trying to make the connection just well, is stupid.
Apparently, you are not understanding my logic...I am saying you, as pilots, are skilled labor. It takes a lot of money to train you, and have supposed quality employees, than it does a front desk clerk. Most places, if you go in there and say "I'm leaving if you don't pay me $X, then I'm leaving", especially at a low skill job, will say good luck. Have fun at the new job.
If the front desk clerk or mx guy was hired to be a front desk clerk or mx guy, he will be paid a wage that reflects not getting tips. If he gets tips for doing a good job, bonus, that's gas money. My issue, again, is tipping for poor service. If you automatically tip a guy for being late, not warming the van up, etc. where's the motivation to do better? C'mon, I'm not being evil, I'm being realistic. I'm just saying what others are thinking. You can hang me out to dry, but I know there are other people that feel the same way.
Let me tell you a little story...when I first started this run, it was interesting. I always overnight in MDW on Saturday. When I get in, it's usually 0230L, and the airport is dead. I always called the FBO ahead of time, giving them arrival times, even though they know when I was due to get in. The first month, it was like pulling teeth to get a ride to the hotel. I would walk over to the FBO, have to find chalks, etc., and then finally 20 minutes later, I'd be heading to the hotel. I always tipped them anyways, since it's expected, whether you believe in it or not.
Fast forward another two months. We are getting into winter. Now, I still call in to the FBO, and guess what, the van is waiting for me where I park, I have chalks provided (instead of wandering the ramp looking for some to "borrow") by the guys, and the van is always nice and warm.
Why the difference? Was it because it was starting to turn to bad weather? NO. I was tipping, and let them know what I wanted every time. They finally got a clue and the service has been great for MDW (at least on Saturdays, other days are a whole different ballgame :banghead: ).
Now, let's expand on this for a whole pilot group. Your flight arrives at the same time, different crews, but same flight and airline. Some tip, but most don't. How's your service been???
As far as the mx guy running the van, yes, he gets an hourly wage, more than likely. He also has a job to do. Maintain the grounds, rooms, etc. Now, throw in a bunch of crews who gripe and moan about everything, and don't tip while not letting him finish his work. How much thought will you put in to warming the van, stopping your work that must be finished before you go home, and providing whatever else those "elitist, cheap pilots" want. I know after a while, I'd get pretty tired of it, and would provide minimum service.
Also, I'm not trying to hang you out to dry, just trying to understand each other.
