CAL 8th best company to work for!

[Ben Franklin]

Some questions:

1. Which "MAJOR"/"LEGACY" carriers were interviewing and mailing "congratulations, you're hired" letters in 2002/2003 time frame?

2. What does anyone hired at CAL 5/2005 or after have to do with negotiating/casting a vote on/condition of the current CBA?

3. What was the economy looking like in 2002/2003?

4. Has anyone seen the CALMEC contract proposal that was just put across the table to the company? Are any of the problems with the current CBA addressed in the new proposal?

I find it hard to call really any CAL pilot hired since 5/2005 "part of the problem". Pilots like "SFR", myself and the other 1400 or so hired were faced with a choice of not having any insurance for 6 months - faced with that choice back in 2002/2003.

You took the job and no insurance for 6 months or you didn't. I don't think any one of us sat there and threw a party or were happy specifically because we were taking a job that didn't provide insurance for 6 months.

I, too had an infant at home. I paid $600 for a 6 month policy with a $3,000 deductible (full coverage). I spent $150 for 3 Dr. visits for my son in 6 months. The same 3 visits, WITH INSURANCE would've cost me $45 in co pays plus $540 in premiums for having company insurance.

I spent an extra $165 out of my pocket for "not having insurance for 6 months" with the potential to had to have spent an extra $3,000 if something "bad" happened. Not saying it's right, just saying it happened.

I hope someone can respectfully, factually and sincerely answer the questions I posed above.

Sincerely,

B. Franklin

 

[densoo]

note: CAL employees selected from a completely random sampling at director level and above making one million annually in salary, with retirement benefits imputed at a rate of 17 years to one only after at least three days of employment, have health benefits that accrue retroactively to when they were zygotes, live in gated communities with an unlisted zip code, are provided full-ride college scholarships for four children (if they didn't have four children, they were provided free of charge), and have one of roll of "forever stamps" in their possession at the time of the survey, not after

This wasnt in the reuter's article.

Must be a typo.

 

[Ben Franklin]

Cal sucks... At Express, I had better work rules and had a better quality of life and made more money...

A brief history, as I'm sure you already know:

XJT: Young pilots eager to excel in the industry, then Contract '95 + Contract '97 + Contract '04 in a rapidly expanding segment of the industry coupled with the strongest and most unified pilot group since Comair went on strike.

CAL: Start with a weak pilot group... then, Contract 95 then Contract '97, then they elected a bunch of strike-breakers into powerful union positions, then 9/11, then some folks on committees sold out the pilots for their own management position(s)... and now you have contract '04 to live with until contract 08?09?10? is settled.

You mention DAL? Interesting to note that they've been successful at pattern bargaining for over 70 years and they finally have to take a couple of cuts? of course they are still going to be better.

There's a lot of history in this industry and within each airline that cannot be ignored. Why so many keep taking individual items, like one payrate out of context .. it's just absurd.

Sincerely,

B. Franklin

 

[lookin4better]

They going to call back furloughs in 2010? Or should I lay off the glue?

 

[100/hour/5y]

SFR: I am waiting for SWA or FedEx... I will be around 5-6 year pay at cal and would still leave... better quality of life beats pay! 6 crossings in the summertime sucks if your are a EWR FO above 50%.

 

[SFR]

SFR: I am waiting for SWA or FedEx... I will be around 5-6 year pay at cal and would still leave... better quality of life beats pay! 6 crossings in the summertime sucks if your are a EWR FO above 50%.

You are 100% correct, 6 crossings would suck (I do about 1 crossing a year and I don't like that!) That is why I don't do them.

I am not part of some special club. Anyone senior to me could have sat at home this year as much as I did.

I hope you do get hired with SWA or FDX, especially if you are senior to 12/6/05.

Honestly, you won't be happy there either. Everyone I know that is a complainer will complain anywhere, regardless.

Either way, I still only have 210hrs YTD.....

 

[100/hour/5y]

The problem is IAH... I would love to sit rev on the 756 in IAH but it's too dam hot and too many scabs!

 

[Crucianpilot]

Well lets see, it snowed here 2 wks ago and its been raining and 40 to 50 since. Not many of those left so you just deal with it when you have to. I'm 45 and been thru 7 airlines so I don't plan on going anywhere else. Once we get a new contract, this should be a great company to work at. IAH base has been great for me the last 5 yrs and I don't plan on changing anytime soon. Unless of course they open that Orlando base.

 

[Captain X]

They going to call back furloughs in 2010? Or should I lay off the glue?

I don't think they test for glue.

 

[nimtz]

You are 100% correct, 6 crossings would suck (I do about 1 crossing a year and I don't like that!) That is why I don't do them.

I am not part of some special club. Anyone senior to me could have sat at home this year as much as I did.

I hope you do get hired with SWA or FDX, especially if you are senior to 12/6/05.

Honestly, you won't be happy there either. Everyone I know that is a complainer will complain anywhere, regardless.

Either way, I still only have 210hrs YTD.....

Sean have you ever considered politics. Looks like the Republican party could use some serious leadership down there in Houston. I'm mean golly they just elected a lesbian mayor! They need young talent to kick the party into line. With your business savvy, free time, and pipeline to solid RNC supporters that populate the left seat, there is a major opportunity to be had...

 

[Mike man]

8. Continental Airlines Inc (CAL.N) (note: CAL employees selected from a completely random sampling at director level and above making one million annually in salary, with retirement benefits imputed at a rate of 17 years to one only after at least three days of employment, have health benefits that accrue retroactively to when they were zygotes, live in gated communities with an unlisted zip code, are provided full-ride college scholarships for four children (if they didn't have four children, they were provided free of charge), and have one of roll of "forever stamps" in their possession at the time of the survey, not after)

If it is number 8 they definitely didn't ask any front-line employees.

 

[EMBpilot]

Simple - hire substandard people who can't get a job anywhere else. Treat them like garbage and keep propaganda going on how lucky they are to be there.
They'll vote you number #1 employer.

 

[Jetjockey]

Simple - hire substandard people who can't get a job anywhere else. Treat them like garbage and keep propaganda going on how lucky they are to be there.
They'll vote you number #1 employer.

That's a mighty big paint brush your using there, second only in size to your ego I'm sure.

 

[SFR]

Simple - hire substandard people who can't get a job anywhere else. Treat them like garbage and keep propaganda going on how lucky they are to be there.
They'll vote you number #1 employer.

Actually, CAL pilots have the best skill in the industry. I have jumpseated on all the majors and have found this to be true. That is one reason I came here.

If you don't believe me check the accident stats within the past 10-15 years.

 

[SFR]

The problem is IAH... I would love to sit rev on the 756 in IAH but it's too dam hot and too many scabs!

Are you fat? If you are then I understand that. If not, you are nuts.

Lets see, I sit around by Lake Conroe, go out on the boat a bit and wait for the phone to ring. Play golf a lot if I want to, or go ro Rio 24 in the Woodlands and walk the river with a cigar in my mouth, all while sitting reserve.


Yeah, I think you are better off in CLE or EWR for sure!HA