Need some Virgin America Info...

[Lake Alice]

Keep in mind kids it's not just about pay. Consider an adequate match for a 401K. Consider a B fund. Consider adequate STD/LTD. Consider monthly health insurance premiums. The B6's and VX's will increase hourly pay $5 in the hopes the rest of the package is forgotten about or acceptable even though it is substandard.

 

[tzskipper]

Exactly. And a "growing" narrowbody airline getting away with paying Regional wages puts pressure on all other management teams to do the same.



Yeah, and in 9 years, you'll qualify for that pay rate. And, BTW, why are you so sure the new pay scale will include a raise? You have made money ONE QUARTER in 4 YEARS of operation. Without a CBA, your "new" pay scale could be a pay cut. And what will you have to say about it....NOTHING.

The ONLY reason your pay will increase is that people are leaving due to recalls or are getting jobs at other airlines. If you're not hemorrhaging pilots, what's the incentive for them to pay you more? Because you look good in your sloppy Johnny Cash uniform?

Fubi-

Just an opinion, but your argument becomes tarnished when it sinks to the level of blowing crap about how a uniform looks.

S

 

[Fubijaakr]

You know what they say about "opinions."

 

[tzskipper]

You know what they say about "opinions."

Don't be so sensitive. You make good points, only to have them deducted through immaturity.

Have a good weekend.

S

 

[HalinTexas]

Why do you people argue with him? Like arguing with parking brake.

 

[Snapshot]

Damn!!!!! I should have gone to a legacy carrier so I could wait 9 more years to make what I make now. What was I thinking?

I'm not saying you should have done this or that. All I'm saying is that many of the FO's you see as you're walking through the terminal already make as much as you ever will as a Captain.
That's great that you're one of the golden boys. That instant gratification is a wonderful thing. Perhaps there are other people out there who aren't?

Keep us posted how things are going in nine years. You've already essentially hit the wall at year four, selling back vacation. This is it. No future. I wish you good fortune with your upcoming raises.

Keep in mind kids it's not just about pay.Consider monthly health insurance premiums. The B6's and VX's will increase hourly pay $5 in the hopes the rest of the package is forgotten about or acceptable even though it is substandard.

I heard that if you're sick for more than a few days, VA will dump you onto the CA disability system. Please tell me I've been misinformed.

 

[Fubijaakr]

All I'm saying is that many of the FO's you see as you're walking through the terminal already make as much as you ever will as a Captain....Keep us posted how things are going in nine years. You've already essentially hit the wall at year four, selling back vacation. This is it. No future. I wish you good fortune with your upcoming raises or pay cuts, whatever the Board decides to give you.

Fixed it for you.

I heard that if you're sick for more than a few days, VA will dump you onto the CA disability system. Please tell me I've been misinformed.

WOW! Another benefit of the non-Union system. You guys sure have a sweet deal!

 

[NEDude]

I'm not saying you should have done this or that. All I'm saying is that many of the FO's you see as you're walking through the terminal already make as much as you ever will as a Captain.
That's great that you're one of the golden boys. That instant gratification is a wonderful thing. Perhaps there are other people out there who aren't?

Keep us posted how things are going in nine years. You've already essentially hit the wall at year four, selling back vacation. This is it. No future. I wish you good fortune with your upcoming raises.


I heard that if you're sick for more than a few days, VA will dump you onto the CA disability system. Please tell me I've been misinformed.

More non-union fear mongering from a person who has probably never been non-union. Guess what - management at non-union companies rarely make work rule changes and in my experience at two non-union companies they don't cut pay either. The only time I have ever taken pay cuts was at an ALPA carrier. Your arguments sound great in theory, but they do not match with reality.

In my time at Virgin we have had two pay raises and have been informed by the CEO that the BOD has approved another pay raise for this year. We all agree the pay is not where it needs to be and that the raises were not what we have hoped for in the past. But the point is you do not need a union to get pay raises and in fact often times a union contract serves as perfect ammunition for management to NOT give raises in many years - refer to USAirways.

The only FOs out there making $120/hr are legacy FOs on widebodies. 16 year FOs at USAirways east on the A320 are topping out at $85/hr (and captains are topping out at $125/hr - less than VX captains). United FOs show a yr 12 rate of $94/hr on the A320, and captains are showing yr 12 at $137 on the A320. Even the mighty Delta has 12 yr fo's a $119/hr on the A320.

In real world math $85, $94 and $119 are less than $120. Don't know what math looks like in your world.

I am kind of curious as to how you argue he has "hit the wall". He has annual hourly raises coming, just like at any other carrier. And there is another rate increase coming this year. So how do you arrive at the logic that there is no more coming?

The simple facts are that while a union may be able to give you some bargaining power in some circumstances, in the end the only thing they can guarantee is to take 1.95% of your pay - they cannot guarantee anything else. Argue all you want but there are plenty of examples of to prove every point you make wrong. A union cannot guarantee job security, a union cannot guarantee pay raises, a union cannot guarantee against pay cuts, a union cannot guarantee seniority protection in a merger, a union cannot guarantee solidarity among the pilot group. I fully agree that a union may be needed at times. But your argument that we exist fully at the whim of management and that somehow being in a union means you are not shows extreme ignorance of the realities of the world in which we exist.

 

[Flyer1015]

or pay cuts, whatever the Board decides to give you.

or whatever your ALPA airline wants, just as soon as they declare a sham bankruptcy and file motion 1113 to void your contract. Same end result.

 

[Snapshot]

More non-union fear mongering from a person who has probably never been non-union. Guess what - management at non-union companies rarely make work rule changes and in my experience at two non-union companies they don't cut pay either. The only time I have ever taken pay cuts was at an ALPA carrier. Your arguments sound great in theory, but they do not match with reality.

I never said anything about pay cuts. Calm down Nancy.

I am kind of curious as to how you argue he has "hit the wall". He has annual hourly raises coming, just like at any other carrier. And there is another rate increase coming this year. So how do you arrive at the logic that there is no more coming?

His hourly raises currently max out at 111K versus the 108k he currently makes. Selling vacation back? Not something to be bragging about. Simple math indeed.

Even the mighty Delta has 12 yr fo's a $119/hr on the A320.

Their LOWEST paid FO is on par with your HIGHEST paid Captain, and you think that's a talking point? Really?


Tell yourself whatever lie you please, but $120/hr and $133 aren't that much different. Especially when $133 is the most you'll ever make and FO's make that anywhere else.

Me? I could care less what you choose to accept as a paycheck.

However, please don't insult us all by pretending VA pay is something that it isn't. It's better than a Beech 1900 paycheck, to be sure....the thing is....you're driving an Airbus, for Christ's sake.

Current scales are less than Virgin pilots got paid in NIGERIA.....That is, of course, before Sir Richard decided to cut his losses and abandon the Brand there..... Good thing you have an absolute guarantee that will NEVER happen here. After all he wasn't making $ in Nigera, so it's apples v oranges.....

Seriously, though......You've got the inside scoop. Please enlighten me... Do they dump you on the CA disability system when you get sick or not? I'd like to know the truth. Who pays your bills if you break your leg and are out of work for six weeks?