Nah, I always tell people that GoJet isn't a good company, and I wouldn't recommend working there, but I'd say the same thing about other companies, as well. The problem I have with the GoJet debate isn't that people are saying not to go there, it's the reasons that they say not to go there. The "scab" word gets thrown around, for example. If people want to talk about crappy pay, bad work rules, and ruthless managers, then please, go right ahead. Those are good things to get out in the open for people trying to make decisions about where to go to work. But claiming that GoJet is some sort of alter-ego, that they're "stealing jobs," that their pilots are pseudo-scabs, or anything else of the like, is just outdated nonsense at this point.
What would you say about silver (gulfstream 2.0)? It's nothing personal (we have met, all good) but it seems to be the same kind of overall industry problem and equally valuable point of discussion. As long as someone (read: 121 carrier) can do it for "less", they grow. The race to the bottom in a time where the bottom should be leapfrogging the top in all aspects contractually, amazes me. We don't have entry into the regional market by growth OR new talent. Let's not go political or "pilot shortage". The issue is simple, we don't have growth but majors are beginning to hire. We don't have "new talent", but we seem to have existing talent willing to do "it" for less with the hope of PIC time. The race to the bottom (read: fight for PIC time with no respect for pay/benefits/QOL) seems to always win. I have never appreciated gojets, and this 121 race has me close to the end of my rope. The whole mindset of ALPA is to "raise the bar" using the rest of the industry. That doesn't work with gojet undercutting everyone. You want a realistic "look and see"? Compass is only 5-6 years old and the "senior" cadre has both flow and relative seniority at Compass. Do I make more right now then them? Sure, but they are ALPA and are negotiating with the idea of "beating" our rates. Their bonus is the fact that payroll doesn't contain pilots who are "topped out" like comair. If you could look into their pool you will see a high number of 9E/9L/XJ pilots. Why? because the view is the fact that the company is actually run as an airline instead of a staffing company at the lowest cost. Where are the comair 700's going from comair? Gojet. Why? Cheap. What was the problem with comair? NOT A DARN THING OTHER THAN MONEY! The pilots at Comair stayed and gave their best to the end. Comair operated a flight from DTW-MEM that I happened to try and hit often to get home, every time, they made it work and got me on (most times up front). I had half the longevity of the FO (Me:CA) and never once was given the 3rd degree.
Seems to me that quality vs. quantity in the regional biz are not the same.
I'm just trying to introduce the pot and the kettle.
I was only once given the opportunity to offer a JS to a Gojet guy (as an FO with the 9E MEM CA that NOTORIOUSLY doesn't allow a JS). I was given the slip and told "It's signed, you talked me into it, but you deliver it". I went up to the gate and the JS'er told me ALPA was a bunch of retards, plus a verbal lashing on a personal level. I was a rep at the time. Ripped up the slip and haven't looked back.
Call me what you want, but Gojets has only hurt the 121 Regional jet model. I tried to understand the G7 mindset and give benefit of the doubt, only to be verbally berated in front of passengers for an ALPA lanyard with a signed permission slip.Call it a fluke, but law of Primacy prevailed.
For once the rest of the group reached a point where a pilot could make a livable and future sustainable wage... Nope, lowest bidder called in from the dirt.
Ban me if you want. Rant over. All this shows is the fact that the regional model is no more guaranteed than a 91 job.
