CAL GUYS, PAY not as they stated in writting.

[pkober]

Another non CAL pilot who is an expert on CAL.

If you make more in your current position than the same position at CAL then fire away. If you don't, than maybe you should come to CAL for the big bucks.

What airline isn't about saving money? I haven't seen any that say "Let's lose money so our pilots will work less days!"

As far as the planes we gave express jet. I hope we hold firm and will not allow any more jets to go to non CAL pilots. We need to maintain our scope and make sure any new planes come to CAL. The company wants bigger jets and as long as CAL pilots fly them then that's fine with me. I think our current MEC will not allow the mistake of RJ's to happen again at CAL.

 

[Pocono Pilot]

I have a lot of friends that have gone over to CAL. None of them are happy with the decision, especially now. Apparently the PBS bidding system is so bad that seniority no longer exists with regard to bidding a monthly line of time.

Also, forget about taking a nice vacation. The minimum seven days off with a 4-day built on each side is practically a guarantee from what she told me.


And apparently the scabs are trying hard to stay in control, especially by getting the union to help fast track the age 65 limit.

It will pass, and when it does, it will be business as usual at CAL for another 5 years at least.

 

[pkober]

The age 65 rule passing has nothing to do with the scabs at CAL. It's a decision made in Washington DC, not at some scabs house in Houston.

I have vacation next month and got days off before it, as I asked for.

Please tell us all you know about CAL PBS. It's just what you heard from your friends who probably spend there days bitching about everything.
I bet they bitched at EXJ and they bitch now.

You're out of your league here so please stop before you make yourself look like a bigger fool.

 

[hoover]

just want what I feel I am owed.

There is a difference between what you are entitled too, and what you thought you were going to get. You are not losing anything, you are just not getting what you thought you would get. You are only owed whatever the contract says. If the letter you received was a mistake, and it sounds like it was, then forget about it and move on. Everyone makes mistakes.

 

[CAL to T-1A]

I have vacation next month with three days off before it starts and three days after.

 

[Captain Overs]

Another non CAL pilot who is an expert on CAL.

If you make more in your current position than the same position at CAL then fire away. If you don't, than maybe you should come to CAL for the big bucks.

What airline isn't about saving money? I haven't seen any that say "Let's lose money so our pilots will work less days!"

As far as the planes we gave express jet. I hope we hold firm and will not allow any more jets to go to non CAL pilots. We need to maintain our scope and make sure any new planes come to CAL. The company wants bigger jets and as long as CAL pilots fly them then that's fine with me. I think our current MEC will not allow the mistake of RJ's to happen again at CAL.

Its not about the money. Its about liking the people you work with and being at a place that treats you with dignity and respect. I make plenty of money and would never go to CAL just because I could make more.

The guy above had a good post. All my friends at CAL are second guessing their choice to go there. Why do you think so many get there and then later apply to SWA?

I don't have to be a CAL expert to observe what is happening.

 

[pkober]

You made the comment about big bucks. If you make more now than you would at CAL, then you are making the big bucks. If not, then CAL would be the big bucks.

I agree, it's about job satisfaction. I like it here and have been at two other majors. Your results may vary.

 

[Pocono Pilot]

I think our current MEC will not allow the mistake of RJ's to happen again at CAL.

ExpressJet and the RJs saved your butts at CAL. We were making you guys money while you guys were losing millions. And if you were furloughed, you were allowed to flowback and fly those dreaded RJs. A simple thank you would do instead of constant XJT and RJ bashing.

Oh, and your MEC. LOL. We all know how united they are.

I predict a CAL contract sometime in 2012. That will get you back to the 97 rates. You are in for a long negotiation, I'm sure.

 

[zonker]

ExpressJet and the RJs saved your butts at CAL. We were making you guys money while you guys were losing millions. And if you were furloughed, you were allowed to flowback and fly those dreaded RJs. A simple thank you would do instead of constant XJT and RJ bashing.

Oh, and your MEC. LOL. We all know how united they are.

I predict a CAL contract sometime in 2012. That will get you back to the 97 rates. You are in for a long negotiation, I'm sure.

Ahahaha...you got bumped down to a little gear pulling RJ b!tch FO.

That's what all of these idiotic posts are about. Have fun in that little 50 seater for the rest of your career. LOL

What a putz.

 

[Pocono Pilot]

This cracks me up. If you have only been at XJT for a few years and you won't go to CAL, and still look for a "better" airline while you're there, you're nuts. It's a lot easier to leave CAL for another airline then it is from XJT. Why someone wouldn't make the move is beyond me.

First year pay does suck and no insurance for the first 6 months is total B.S. That will change, I guarantee it. I wish you could see our private message boards. That's one of the hottest topics. I also guarantee that our pay is going to go up substantially on the next contract. If it doesn't you will see pilots leaving everyday.

I don't think I am nuts. I will be making much more than you people at CAL and will have a better quality of life well before you will. That is my point.

A new CAL contract is literally years and years away. I say at least 4 to 5 years.

I will probably be on with Southwest, UPS or FedEx by then.

 

[zonker]

I don't think I am nuts. I will be making much more than you people at CAL and will have a better quality of life well before you will. That is my point.

A new CAL contract is literally years and years away. I say at least 4 to 5 years.

I will probably be on with Southwest, UPS or FedEx by then.

I'm sure the reason you haven't been hired anywhere is quite simply because you're not very good. Certainly your skills as a pilot are substandard and you can't make the transition to larger aircraft.

Face it, you're just a loser and you're stuck in a dead end job with zero prospects.

 

[Pocono Pilot]

Face it, you're just a loser and you're stuck in a dead end job with zero prospects.

No, that would be a CAL pilot. And I am not a CAL pilot.

 

[zonker]

No, that would be a CAL pilot. And I am not a CAL pilot.

And for that we are all supremely grateful.

 

[Pocono Pilot]

And for that we are all supremely grateful.

Don't be mad at me, just because you are stuck there.

I really feel your pain. The next 5 years is going to be rough. Especially with that PBS system.

 

[zonker]

Don't be mad at me, just because you are stuck there.

I really feel your pain. The next 5 years is going to be rough. Especially with that PBS system.

Yea, it's pretty rough.

Today I got my schedule for June. 18 days off. I don't know how I'll get by on that.

Have fun doing your 20 leg 4 day. LOL

 

[Pocono Pilot]

I mainly do Mexico stuff now. Easy legs. Nice overnights.

If you honestly like PBS System, you are the first COW pilot that I have heard this from.

Are you pulling my g-string? You honestly don't like PBS do you?

 

[BID]

I am so glad you do not work for CAL!

There is so much potential here, many of us who came over are committed to making this a great place to work. I am sure you would of hurt this process. Quite frankly I wish you were in no way affiliated with Continental Airlines.

Maybe when we ammend our contract, we will be good enough for you? But by then you will be at the best airline a pilot can work for, so it should not matter.

Now here is what I really want to say, I am a CAL pilot and not a cow. I think you all your wisdom need to show some respect. Or maybe you are not as bright as you think you are? So far many on this board have not been impressed.

 

[Skywriter70]

Agreed

Ditto...

 

[pkober]

PP,

It's nice that you say CAL pilots suck and you are a superb aviatricks. You are a women right? If so you should be able to walk into any airline and demand to be hired. For you it's got nothing to do with ability, just your biological make up. Why haven't you left? It's because you aren't as good as you claim. I'm sure there are planty of people on this board who have flown with you and will agree that you below par.

Once again, please explain how our PBS works, you seem to have so much knowledge about CAL. Tell me why you think it will take until 2012 for a new contract.

 

[pkober]

Correction, "plenty of people"

She or he is just flame baiting us.

 

[Uniform Shop]

It's pretty obvious that most of the people bashing CAL are Continental Express pilots. Its unfortunate but maybe I would feel the same way if I was at XJT. I don't know all the details but I know you guys saw the "business" side of what CAL will do to save money. They run a great airline though because of their decisions. The awards speak for themselves.

There is a lot of the same thing going on over at AA too. The AE pilots are saying the same exact things you guys are with the exception of PBS. Things aren't that great anywhere right now.

If you take SWA, FEDEX or UPS out of the equation then working at CAL is no worse than UAL, AA, DAL, NWA, USAir etc. Everyone keeps comparing CAL to the only three airlines that consistently made money even after 911. I guess it's because we were the only airline hiring for the past couple years.

We are still operating under the same contract that was negotiated in the worst downturn in aviation history. How could anyone think that things won't change. Just look at the history of the airlines. It's cyclical and it will get better.

Good Luck.

 

[Captain Overs]

I seriously hope it works out for you guys.

 

[The Victors]

I am so glad you do not work for CAL!

There is so much potential here, many of us who came over are committed to making this a great place to work. I am sure you would of hurt this process. Quite frankly I wish you were in no way affiliated with Continental Airlines.

Maybe when we ammend our contract, we will be good enough for you? But by then you will be at the best airline a pilot can work for, so it should not matter.

Now here is what I really want to say, I am a CAL pilot and not a cow. I think you all your wisdom need to show some respect. Or maybe you are not as bright as you think you are? So far many on this board have not been impressed.

I'm guessing that you're not one of the new hires making 25k with no bennies?

 

[Spectre]

I am not going to criticize you for what you have said. Like they say, to each his own. However, I have been here for almost 2 years and this has been the best job I have ever had in this business. This is my 6th airline so I do have a lot to compare it to. Yes, there are some issues that need to be addressed in our next contract negotiations (PBS, compensation, etc..) but every company has its issues. There are a lot of things that we do here that were never done at some of the other places that I worked at. I am very happy with my decision to come here and I plan to finish my career here. By the way, there are quite a few people leaving other airlines to come here also (Airtran, Jetblue, etc..) so it is happening to all airlines. Everyone has their reasons.

What comes around, goes around. Remember all the SWA pilots who left SWA in 1999-2000 to go fly with legacy carriers in search of the higher pay and pensions? They ended up losing everything. It's much easier to live with your decision to go to another airline because you were furloughed. If you hop from one airline to the next in search of better benefits, you may end up with nothing. IMO, looking at current events, SWA is the new "legacy" carrier.

 

[MECH]

ExpressJet and the RJs saved your butts at CAL. We were making you guys money while you guys were losing millions. And if you were furloughed, you were allowed to flowback and fly those dreaded RJs. A simple thank you would do instead of constant XJT and RJ bashing.

Oh, and your MEC. LOL. We all know how united they are.

I predict a CAL contract sometime in 2012. That will get you back to the 97 rates. You are in for a long negotiation, I'm sure.

When did you get hired at with XJT? The RJ's did not save CAL. CAL managements decision on what to do with the RJ's and XJT, saved CAL. CAL management made a great decision to spin off XJT when they did. XJT was an asset that CAL owned. They decided that there was more value selling XJT then keeping it. They were right.

It wasn't long after the XJT IPO that NWA and Delta came to the same conclusion as CAL. Only they were a little late.

As a former XJT pilot I am glad I left. XJT is a great company and I wish them well. But I think the future for CAL is brighter then for XJT.

Only time will tell.

 

[BID]

I'm guessing that you're not one of the new hires making 25k with no bennies?

You guessed right, but I was hired during the concessionary contract.

Just curious, but what in my post would make you guess that?

 

[fly4HiR]

My New Hire acceptance letter for CAL stated exactly word for word, "Pay begins the first day of training. Training pay is calculated at 76.00 hours per month for a full month of training. First year pay is $29.97 per hour, regardless of equipment flown." Now, I was in training during the entire month of April, and I was compensated for 72.00 hours. I called payroll and they said that the correct compensation is 72.00, not 76.00 as stated in the letter, and that the letter was wrong. HMMMM????!!!!???? They also told me that I was to reference Section 3 Part 8 Para C..... of the contract if I had any questions. Seems to me that this letter is legally binding, and no contract was given to me ahead of accepting the job, and starting training. If it changed somewhere along the lines, hiring dept did not make the changes, but that's not my fault. Secondly, if you read section mentioned, it is geared towards not a newhire, but someone flying the line, one who might be losing pay during training because it references (2:24) or trip lost, whichever is greater. I am certainly not new to airline contracts, but would like the money that I feel I am owed. Not much, but a great deal for a newhire here. CAL guys, your input, and best course of action please.... New guy and realize that as well with regard to being a squeaky wheel, just want what I feel I am owed. Keep in mind, this also effect 100's of newhires even though they havent realized it until now.... Thanks for the input...

If this is true than ALPA should file an MEC Grievance and fight to get all the pilots who had this offer sent to them and took the job.

 

[pkober]

If this is true than ALPA should file an MEC Grievance and fight to get all the pilots who had this offer sent to them and took the job.

Bingo.

ALPA doesn't really care much about new hires. They don't pay dues yet. That's why pay is so low for first year pilots at most ALPA carriers.

 

[MECH]

I don't think first year pay is an ALPA National issue. I do think it is an issue of greed. The senior pilots wanted more and never tried to improve the life of new hire pilots. These senior pilots, all happen to be ALPA members!!

We now have the choice, keep the status quo or make life better for new hires.

 

[pkober]

I think an "international" pilots union should be able to set an industry (ALPA) wide standard for entry level pay rates and benefits. We have never acted like a unified group of pilots, it's always been every airline and every pilot for themselves. The whole concept of probation is ancient and should be done away with. Most pilots entering the majors have already completed a year of ALPA probation somewhere else and should be given credit for that service. All of us have paid our dues.

ALPA national can stand up and demand better treatment for new hires instead of making sure the ALPA president gets almost $500K/yr.

I agree that most senior pilots give a rats a$$ about new hires and there problems. It's hard to take when a scab tell you that "you just have to pay your dues." Like a scab has paid his dues. Stepping from a C182 to a 727 is really paying your dues.