Look at what Virgin America has done with pilot wages

[Ralph Cramden]

clearly the pilots are getting paid what they are worth if they choose to work there

Are you saying I should have applied at CAL and accepted first year pay and bennies there? After 30 years in 121 ops, I'm not what they are looking for to sit F/O reserve in EWR, then get furloughed.

What I should have done is take dad's advice years ago and get into computer science or engineering management. But no, those magnificent flying machines were just too cool.

 

[febtober]

i was actually defending your job choice. i was simply saying that pilots complaining about pay is ridiculous. there are many jobs out there that pay better, find one. the job market for pilots will not bear higher wages, supply of pilots is far above demand so either enjoy the job or get another one. you seem happy with VA and its crazy that people would complain about what YOU get paid at a job THEY dont have

 

[UALjan15]

....its crazy that people would complain about what YOU get paid at a job THEY dont have

It's not really that crazy. It's been pretty well documented in this industry that when you go to the mat with management for higher pay in contract negotiations, they pull out a powerpoint slide showing all of the lower paying airlines there. They will whine and complain about giving airline X a "competitive advantage" in labor costs, and then paint the picture about how that will slow growth and upgrades, risk bankruptcy, etc. Do I really need to explain this?

So.....yes, we do care what you get paid. It matters to everyone.

 

[waveflyer]

It's not really that crazy. It's been pretty well documented in this industry that when you go to the mat with management for higher pay in contract negotiations, they pull out a powerpoint slide showing all of the lower paying airlines there. They will whine and complain about giving airline X a "competitive advantage" in labor costs, and then paint the picture about how that will slow growth and upgrades, risk bankruptcy, etc. Do I really need to explain this?

So.....yes, we do care what you get paid. It matters to everyone.

If you really cared, you wouldn't give away your flying to disenfranchised regional pilots. VA should get their rates up--- but you are the one who created a market of well qualified jet pilots for whom VA is a step up. If you looked out for the younger- you wouldnt have this problem.

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

If you are quite senior and you have the desire to know how far you can fall... just look at first year working conditions, pay, bennies etc..... on your own property....

It is allot easier to control/influence something in house than hoping someone else will on theirs...

 

[waveflyer]

good point.
but major airline pilots directly control how much flying gets outsourced. that can only be brought back in house by major airline pilots.
but again- good point... raising the first few years of compensation is a good fix to our leverage problem

 

[Rez O. Lewshun]

Well I am sure first pay at the majors is factored into the pay at VA....

The best way to get pay at VA up so it is not used against all pilots is to get our own pay up....