Mesaba Training contract & seat lock

[mycfitrips]

Just got the paperwork for an upcoming interview. Included the training agreement document. Has a 21,000 one year contract that is reduced by 1/12th per month. Also a 3 year seat lock in the RJ. Wow. Guess I won't be going to this interview.

 

[IHateMgmt]

Three year seat lock is only for lateral movements... you can upgrade to CA as soon as you can hold it. So really not that big of a deal, unless you were really hoping for a shiny new pink Saab.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

Three year seat lock is only for lateral movements... you can upgrade to CA as soon as you can hold it. So really not that big of a deal, unless you were really hoping for a shiny new pink Saab.

Saab still makes airplanes?
Besides I think with 170 Saab FO's in MEM with this recall they should be set for a few months.

 

[surplus1]

Included the training agreement document. Has a 21,000 one year contract that is reduced by 1/12th per month.

Does that mean if you have to leave in 6 months you owe them $10,500?

They must be crazy. There's nothing at MSA worth that kind of obligation. If people will just refuse to sign that kind of crap it will disappear in a hurry.

 

[xjhawk]

I hope everyone refuses to sign, but sadly to say, those shiny new 900's will make guys flock here when they realise they will get it.

 

[XJohXJ]

They must be crazy. There's nothing at MSA worth that kind of obligation. If people will just refuse to sign that kind of crap it will disappear in a hurry.

You are absolutely correct. This is an employees' market right now, and employers are nuts to enact this crap. I just hope that people have the juice to let HR know that this is not acceptable.

This is just a job, and only a job, and any "on-the-job-training" is 100% the obligation of the employer. If they want employees to stay, then they must treat them as assets and provide positive incentive to stay. Negative incentive does not fly in an employees' market.

 

[SEVEN]

You are absolutely correct. This is an employees' market right now, and employers are nuts to enact this crap. I just hope that people have the juice to let HR know that this is not acceptable.

This is just a job, and only a job, and any "on-the-job-training" is 100% the obligation of the employer. If they want employees to stay, then they must treat them as assets and provide positive incentive to stay. Negative incentive does not fly in an employees' market.

Well said. The tables are begining to turn in our direction.

 

[xjhawk]

does anyone know the outcome of ALPA's court battle with XJ over its last "training contract" threat with the guys they furloughed.

 

[WMUSIGPI]

The company "graciously" looked the other way for all the impending furloughs and didn't try to enforce it. Hmmm we are laying you off next week but if you find a replacement job this week too bad we aren't laying you off til next week.... yea that went real far.

 

[IHateMgmt]

Saab still makes airplanes?
Besides I think with 170 Saab FO's in MEM with this recall they should be set for a few months.

hmmm... sarcasm is sometimes hard to convey via text. You mean those pink saabs aren't new?

 

[Lazy8]

Is it really that big of a deal? They're not asking employees to pay for their own training, they just don't want to have these 3-6 month time builders taking the job for the jet time then moving over to places like SkyWest. If the contract is only 12 months I don't see why this is a problem for folks serious about working there.

g

 

[OttoPilot]

If you don't want to commit to 1 year they don't want to hire you. They don't want your money they want pilots.

 

[turbinesurgeon]

Is it really that big of a deal? They're not asking employees to pay for their own training, they just don't want to have these 3-6 month time builders taking the job for the jet time then moving over to places like SkyWest. If the contract is only 12 months I don't see why this is a problem for folks serious about working there.

g

It is a big deal. This industry is too unpredictable, you might be with a company for a couple of months and they decide to close the base you work at and now you have the burden of a $21,000 contract. This happens all the time, now you pay the contract, move, or become a commuter. Welcome to the industry. I would never sign a training contract again. There is only one reason companies have training contracts, its because it sucks working there.

 

[n25na]

I would never sign a training contract again. There is only one reason companies have training contracts, its because it sucks working there.

don't u have a couple of those training contracts on your hands?

 

[turbinesurgeon]

don't u have a couple of those training contracts on your hands?

Not one cent!!!!

 

[Lazy8]

It is a big deal. This industry is too unpredictable, you might be with a company for a couple of months and they decide to close the base you work at and now you have the burden of a $21,000 contract. This happens all the time, now you pay the contract, move, or become a commuter. Welcome to the industry. I would never sign a training contract again. There is only one reason companies have training contracts, its because it sucks working there.

I'm pretty sure most regional pilot job descriptions say something about "Willingness to relocate". I don't see how you could have the 'burden' of breaking the contract if you understand the realities of the regionals before taking the job. You can't always have your cake and eat it too... especially if you're one of the folks getting hired into the CRJ900 at 600/50.

 

[Mr. Irrelevant]

How are you getting your cake and eating it for a salary around $22,000 a year?

Mr. I.

 

[SplitBar]

How are you getting your cake and eating it for a salary around $22,000 a year?

Mr. I.

All regional pay sucks for new hires. You might make a few bucks more at a few select regionals but XJ pay/contract is still above industry average. A new up and coming CFI will choose wisely based upon the variables that are most important to him/her. If you want to be based in MSP, DTW or MEM, fly a brand new CRJ900, and you are content with having a realistic upgrade opportunity in 2-3 years than XJ is as good as anywhere else. It's not worth commuting to chase an extra $2 per hour. No upgrade times are guaranteed and XJ new hires stand as good a chance as anyone for a quick upgrade. 36 CRJ900s are just a start and we will see much more than that in terms of growth in the next few years.

 

[fly4ever]

SplitBar,

I hope what you're saying is true but the less confident, 6+ year at XJ, side of me says you're fooling yourself with that line of thought. XJ is no longer above industry average and new hires don't stand as good a chance at a quick upgrade as anywhere else.

 

[turbinesurgeon]

I'm pretty sure most regional pilot job descriptions say something about "Willingness to relocate". I don't see how you could have the 'burden' of breaking the contract if you understand the realities of the regionals before taking the job. You can't always have your cake and eat it too... especially if you're one of the folks getting hired into the CRJ900 at 600/50.

Go ahead sign away and relocate every couple of years. You will probably spend more in moving. After being at two regionals that closed bases, I personaly would not sign another training contract nor would I ever move for an airline. I am just saying there is too many uncertainties in the industry to justify signing a contract that is worth more than a first year gross pay.