Newhire CAL Pilots

[Getter]

Where did he claim to be a notch above everybody else? Where did he say civilian guys doidn't pay their dues? What's with the axe to grind?

The reason you don't get MIL Leave or a retirement benefit is that you chose not to serve. Those who volunteer to risk their lives for the rest of us get compensated to do it. FedEx even pays the difference if you're going to lose money on you drill wekend. That's how it should be. Nobody was stopping you from joining up.

Sorry Bro, but you're the one who comes across with an attitude.

I didn't CHOOSE not to serve. I'm another one of those lucky guys who didn't quite have the vision requirement. The taxpayers got a break and I paid for my own flight training and it looks like my own retirement now too. I would have happily risked my life for my country oh high and mighty one. Your burden is one I would have paid for and I doubt I'm the only one.

 

[Oh-ryan]

My wife and two young kids and I are all living with my inlaws. It's not fun. I just hit my six month mark and got health insurance. Myself, wife, and daughter were on the $1000 deductible short term insurance for around $305/month and my son was on Cobra for $232/month because of a pre-existing condition the short term plan wouldn't cover. So from $537/mo we are now down to $124/month with Continental's health plan. That's like a $400 pay raise.

Like everyone said, the pay extremely sucks. I took a $50,000 pay cut but made the decision to come here knowing I have 27 years left in the industry. In six months I should be almost back to what I was making before. Until then it sucks and we will survive. We saved up a bit last year so we have a small cushion but we only get by by living with the inlaws. I've met only one other CAL newhire that has kids and a wife that stays at home. He does it by taking out a huge home equity loan to live off. Everyone else can seem to only do it by having the wife work, not having kids, being single, and/or having the guard.

Check out AirlinePilotPay.com. It'll show that most of the other airlines have crappy first year pay, Southwest and Fedex excluded. But other than these two CAL is the only one hiring. The one thing I vow to do is to push hard for CALALPA in the next and all future contracts to provide a livable wage to first year pilots. Even $40/hr and medical from day one is just a starting point.

I commend you on the sacrafices you've made to get where you are and I hope you do have 27 years of flying ahead of you at CAL, but who knows what will happen 27 days from now in the pax industry.

 

[Uniform Shop]

I commend you on the sacrifices you've made to get where you are and I hope you do have 27 years of flying ahead of you at CAL, but who knows what will happen 27 days from now in the pax industry.

You are right about "who knows what will happen 27 days from now" but you have to try and make the best long term decision you can if you want to work for an airline. As you can see from my Avatar, I am the perfect example of what can happen in the industry. I'm working on my 6th airline in 11 years and I'm only 36. (USAir Express + Avatar Airlines)

If a person is nervous about coming to CAL then they should not look to the airlines for a career. CAL is doing pretty well considering the market and they are positioning themselves for the future. (Building cash and buying newer more fuel efficient planes) I feel more comfortable about CAL's future then any other airline that I have worked for. They are retiring almost half the seniority list in the next 10 years and growing 5-7% on top of that. It could all change tomorrow and the first year pay does suck but I think the reward outweighs the risks.

 

[Plug]

I think Hawk said it, he chose to go elsewhere because of the crappy contract. It is all based on who you are and where you are in life. If you don't want it then move on because there are over 10,000 people who do. With a wife, mortgage, and a kid on the way I'm making it work. It sucks but thankfully I had a strike fund built up because of my previous employer's (ASA) ineptitude to negotiate. It is a short term loss (1 year) for a long term gain (31 years). If you want the job bad enough you will find a way to make it work.

 

[Getter]

Plug.... at 29 (it sounds like), the world is your oyster. It looks like you have good flight time and a good attitude. The only mistake you've make along the way is getting married too young, but with a kid on the way you'll have to suck that up. Good luck getting through that first year and I'll be seeing on the line friend. Welcome aboard!

 

[EMBpilot]

Plug....
...The only mistake you've make along the way is getting married too young, but with a kid on the way you'll have to suck that up. ..

Thanks for the personal opinion

I got married at 23 and started having kids right away and all of my professional dreams came true because of my family. It's sad that so many people think that having a family could slow you down.

Welcome aboard, Plug and good luck!

 

[Uniform Shop]

The only mistake you've make along the way is getting married too young, but with a kid on the way you'll have to suck that up.

Before I was married my career was pretty stable. It wasn't until after I got married and had kids that everything went to sh&*T. Don't put your life on hold for the airlines... If it wasn't for my wife's job I wouldn't have had health insurance or any income a few times in the past 3.5 years.

 

[Getter]

It was kind of a joke. With 8,000 hours I'd think you are well out of your 20's anyway. I've also needed my wife to come through during the lean times and wouldn't have it any other way.

 

[Plug]

Plug.... at 29 (it sounds like), the world is your oyster. It looks like you have good flight time and a good attitude. The only mistake you've make along the way is getting married too young, but with a kid on the way you'll have to suck that up. Good luck getting through that first year and I'll be seeing on the line friend. Welcome aboard!

Thanks dude, starting 6 days of reserve in sewark on Friday!

 

[Uniform Shop]

It was kind of a joke. With 8,000 hours I'd think you are well out of your 20's anyway. I've also needed my wife to come through during the lean times and wouldn't have it any other way.

Did I mention it was my third wife and I'm not really sure if they are my kids? HAHA!! :beer:

 

[pkober]

Hey now that you mention it one of those kids looks real farmiliar!

 

[Uniform Shop]

I thought he looked a lot like you!! Doesn't that mean you have to give us child support? :beer:

 

[pkober]

That goes back to the start of this thread. I'm on first year pay, so I can't afford child support.

 

[Uniform Shop]

That goes back to the start of this thread. I'm on first year pay, so I can't afford child support.

I'll be calling you in three months!! :nuts:

 

[CAL EWR B737]

Junior manning? WTF?

Movable days off? WTF? If you're off, you are OFF

Getting called early on an overnight and having to come in before show time? WTF?

Block in past 1am going into an off day.. you don't get a comp day off with pay? WTF?

No Ins for 6mos? WTF?

24 hrs off in 7 days can count as rest? No calander day off in base? (That's not a WTF if you want to stack your work days in a row, but it can be abused)

What's up with min duty free time in base... it's short... (shorter than where I worked before)..


FBJ, I'm not saying CAL isn't a better place to work for long term (it is better than any regional), but I will tell you that there are some things in the contract that are horrible from a QOL aspect and I was surprised to learn that my old regional airline contract was superior in many ways.

I will also say that I've experienced nearly zero of the above, but some of my cohorts on the 737 haven't been as lucky.

From one on the pilots who was very active to recall our former MEC Officers, Negotiating Committee, Negotiating Counsel and many many others I sincerely apologize. Our MEC lacked the integrity, smarts and plane ass balls to do the right thing. This contract is a huge embarrasement and for that I truly apologize. But I did try and I was threatened to be sued etc. by many I went after. Fortunately for me you can't be sued for liable when your telling the truth. Half of our former MEC were crooks the other half so stupid they made Forrest Gump look like a rocket scientist.

The good news is a major shift in our membership consistency next time around with all the hiring and retirements we actually have a shot at a unifed pilot group with a solid leadership. I educate every new hire I fly with about ALPA, unions, history of our airline etc. There is a lot of talent in our newest arrivals just as long as the majority don't get complacent or apathetic better days ahead.

Frats

 

[seahorse]

Yes, there were a bunch of scabs stealing ALPA union money for pay to themselves, and suckin managements diick. Now we have work rules worse than regionals like 50% and now 75% deadhead pay, only 2 hrs per day pay for training, and a lot of other crap.

I think that by 2008 there won't be many scabs left, and some guys with balls doing the negotiating. I think that guy Prater is good for negotiating. Actually, do we even have any scabs left in CAL ALPA now?

 

[Hutchman]

I think that by 2008 there won't be many scabs left,.....

age 23 in 1983 = 48 years old in 2008

 

[geshields]

I think that by 2008 there won't be many scabs left,.....

age 23 in 1983 = 48 years old in 2008

Just by doing a quick scan of "the list" I found some that were born in 1958. That means that he/she retires in 12 years...

I believe that by the time 2008 comes around, the new hires that are on property now will be a lot more vocal and more than willing to fight for what we believe in (strike)...

 

[CAL EWR B737]

The following were the demographics of our pilot group of those who crossed the picket line based on the July 2000 seniority list. So obviously you have to had six years to each age group figure out today's numbers and in those in the future. I had to interpellate these numbers from a graph so there are not 100% accurate but pretty close.

Most of the first two groups are gone today. Many of the 46-50 will be gone in the next five years leaving a very small minority in the future something we have not had in my 19 years at this company
Age 56 - 60 #80

Age 51 - 55 #290

Age 46 -50 #350

Age 41 - 45 #250

Age 36 - 40 #50

 

[CAL EWR B737]

Yes, there were a bunch of scabs stealing ALPA union money for pay to themselves, and suckin managements diick. Now we have work rules worse than regionals like 50% and now 75% deadhead pay, only 2 hrs per day pay for training, and a lot of other crap.

I think that by 2008 there won't be many scabs left, and some guys with balls doing the negotiating. I think that guy Prater is good for negotiating. Actually, do we even have any scabs left in CAL ALPA now?

Current MEC

EWR Reps NO
IAH Reps NO
GUM Reps NO

CLE NO But these are the only two left overs from the last MEC. Don't trust them and they should be thrown out ASAP. Weak and incompetent

Flight Instructor Rep Do not know

MEC Officers NO

Negotiating Committee

Prater - good man worked for him and I consider him a friend.

Other two negotiating committee members I don't trust they sold the POS contract 2002 big time.

There may be a few scabs intermixed in various committees but not like a year ago.