Airborne TA

[abexpilot]

The pilot's of ABX Air and Management reached a TA this morning at 8 am. I haven't seen the entire proposal but this is what was on the union hotline:

1) 5% retro signing bonus for each year based on last 2 years W-2.

2) 4% raise first year; 2% second year and 2.5% third year.

3) Improvements to 401K match.

4) Much improved scope and successorship language.

5) Increase in pilot contribution to health plan.

All in all not bad considering the state of the industry.

 

[knightfreight]

abexpilot, Thanks for the update. Any indication on whether the Pilots will vote YES?

Also, have you guys make any progress in allowing Off-line jumpseaters back on your flights.

Any other information would be helpful such as pilot hiring rumours, etc?

 

[abexpilot]

My personal opinion is that the pilot group will sign off on the new TA.

Regarding the jumpseats, our union tells us that they are currently working with other unions along with the feds to work out a system to allow all pilots back up front in all carriers. Our union is a member of CAPA and I'm pretty sure that they are quite involved in the process so you may check out their website. Not sure what the address is though.

Hopefully when the contract is behind us, we can get the rest of the guys on furlough back. New hires? Who knows? I'm sure a lot will depend on the volume of freight that is generated by the DHL purchase of Airborne Freight.

Hope this helps.

 

[LR25]

Offline JS'ers, Im a mechanic with ABEX, I cant ride unless its company business.

What about me, Im an employee too.

 

[abexpilot]

Hopefully we can get that back for you guys too. Lord knows you deserve it for the great job you guys do. Ultimately, I think It's going to be up to the feds.

 

[rudderdog]

Hey abexpilotgod, is that 5% retro signing bonus before or after the allowence for Scoal Bandits and beer?

 

[GoABX]

It is NOT retro pay, it is a signing bonus of 5% of W-2 wage (i.e. includes overtime). Don't know if it will include per diem (my guess would be no.) Per diem additive is relatively insignificant, approximately $150 per year. The difference between Retro and a Bonus is $196 million over the next 25 yrs.

My guess is the TA will pass, but it certainly won't be at 95+%, there's a lot of people that are pissed about the pay.

 

[UPSer]

You guys should just be thankful for any pay increase and not a cut. With ABX set to soon become just another ACMI carrier your current payscales are lightyears ahead of the other bottom feeding ACMI airlines.

 

[rudderdog]

So, about this retro pay.......Will that be in the form of a direct deposit or TWA stock certificates?

 

[Meat n the Seat]

You guys should just be thankful for any pay increase and not a cut. With ABX set to soon become just another ACMI carrier your current payscales are lightyears ahead of the other bottom feeding ACMI airlines.

I guess its people like you who can claim responsibility for the "Frieght Nazi" moniker

 

[UPSer]

Just stating the facts.

 

[wingnutt]

Just stating the facts.

perhaps...but when spoken with such pretentious overtones, it does makes one sound a bit "holier-than-thou"

 

[Smoking Man]

Or an A Hole.

Just stating the Facts.

 

[rudderdog]

Word!

 

[madison2]

Abexpilot,

Thanks for the Info, I use to fly for ABEX(Jan 27 99 hire date) and when I left the pay scales were for the captains:

dc9 $186/hr
dc8 $200/hr
767 $220/hr

if my memory servers me correctly, can you update these?

And for those thinking about ABEX if I had to do it all over again I would never have left! They are a good company, great pay, and great pilots.


Madison2

 

[GoABX]

John O.

Good to see you are still flying at AA. If you still have an old copy of your old contract take the last column and multiply it by 4.5% and by 4% and you will have the current rates.

In the next 1-3 years we'll see whether we will be the next FDX/UPS or the next Emery.

 

[wingnutt]

And for those thinking about ABEX if I had to do it all over again I would never have left!

yeowsa...are you serious? youd pick Abex over AA? just curious if youd care to expound on that...if not, no biggie

 

[madison2]

wingnutt,

I flew for ABX for about two years, second year I made about 80K, and was quite happy there flying the dc9. ABX has incredible work rules. Here is a sampling

1. Jumpseats can be booked 45 days in advance, first come first serve.
2. Per diem is payed by the day $45 not by the hour.
3. You don't normally fly on weekends or holidays. I was home every christmas.
4. They have approximatedly 900 pilots with good upgrade times.
5. Pay, the year I left the top paid 767 captain made $356,000.
6. They have unlimited overtime and can sell back their vacation.
7. You can bid reserve two months in a row and get four weeks off, if you want.
8. They have a vacation slide meaning you slide your vacation days to work days. This means for one week of vacation you get three weeks off. Two weeks vacation 5 weeks off. If bid properly.
9. retirement, they have a A fund 50% of your high 5 of your last ten years. For 25 year employees this equates to 130K to 150k a year from the A fund. They also match on their 401K 35cents to 55 cents on the first 6 percent of pay put into the 401K. So if you put in $10000 they match between 3500 to 5500each year.
10. Other benifits were as good as My curent company.
11. They also have something called a split trade. A split trade is for example your going to fly the jet back to wilmington ohio on your last leg and the guy on your jumseat is commuting in to work, he can fly the jet in for you and you can stay at home with no change in pay. Your are expected to return the favor in the future.
12. Trip trading can be done upto 1 hour prior to departure. So say you are sitting and waiting for the sort. you can get together with friends and trip trade around so every flies to their home instead of a hotel for the day.
13. Schedulers were really Cool. I had Wendy and she would watch out for us. Its nice to work with people who care.


Wingnutt, I want to make it clear I am not comparing the two companies I like AA alot but ABX is a darn good company.

As for AA they have 2135 pilots on furlough or announced, they plan on 1000 more. I will be in that 1000 more if they happen.


Madison 2

 

[Eaglepuke]

Anyone have any info on what the new first year pay will be?

 

[Bitter]

out.