ITFL
I am keeping an open mind about it and you are right there are many good things about this TA. Thats not the question, the question is if the TA as a whole is a good thing. This has to be judged free of fear about what will happen if it is not ratified. It either is good as a whole or it isn't. Please tell me how you calculated the 36%. I have been playing with the numbers and have not come up with anything close to that. Using Excel I have tried to make that formula for Supplemental pay work using some simple assumptions and it won't play. So please educate me.
I can't even say the pay sucks, although disappointing on the surface, it can not be accurately measured until someone has a reliable working model of the supplemental pay formula. As there are many good things in the TA that cost the company very little other then making themselves become more efficient, there are many things that at least appear on the surface to be very bad. If it is not voted in and ratified I do not think the NMB mediator, management or the Union would put it on ice. All sides have to much to lose to let the contract go unaddressed. The NJ pilots did have a lot going for them that we don't at the moment and I don't think anyone is expecting NJ level pay. I do believe that all of us expect all that can be afforded and a verifiable way for all of us to gage whether we are getting a fair cut of the pie as the company recovers. I personally do not want to leave it to the "Union", "management", or some "PHD" to just tell me there is none now and no way to truly measure it in the 5 years we will be stuck with this contract.
You said you are P2P and are commissioned to spread the good word. I on the other hand have the luxury of being able to consider the TA in total with no agenda.
Here is the passage from the E-Board announcement from Feb. 12 that I'm using to arrive at that number, "the average active Captain will receive a 37% increase in current salary over 5 years. The average active First Officer will receive a 24.43% increase in current salary over 5 years." First of all I trust our E-Board that that number is accurate, second, since there are only around 30 pilots on the property who will be paid as co-pilots, well you can do the math.
Supplemental pay formula: Above my pay grade dude. Maybe you should post the question on the union board.
Not to put too fine a point on it, but the NMB has sole authority over weather or not negotiations are put in recess.
I think the environment NJ negotiated in was very different. Also don't forget, over there, even in a good economy it took them nine or ten months after the 2004 TA was voted down to finally reach an agreement. Difference is during that period they had the benefit have having a contract and were not at-will.
As far as the P2P committee I think the E-Board guys did a good job of telling us that it was out job to understand the constitution and be able to help people understand it. No one said anything about selling it to the pilots.