My understanding from the announcement letter was raises for all. Now on Dec 1st we XJ people got a raise + snapbacks from the bankruptcy. Now that was 4% I think. If we got $.10 what would I complain about? I think it's more than that but maybe not. But think about this...
My Dec 1st rate is something like $8 an hour more than someone at Pinnacle and over $10 an hour higher that the Q rate at Colgan (XJ Q rate is same as 200). Granted I'd like a $8-$10 an hour raise too but I think I am happy with a smaller raise and then have everybody else raise to that. Making EVERYBODY better is where the effort was. 2000+ Pilots are going to be a lot better off by a lot more than $.10. I am giddy. Truly
I certainly don't expect to be happy with everything. I suspect that 9E and 9L won't be happy with everything. I am very confident that stopping the abuse was a very big issue with the 9E and 9L guys. I think XJ brought a pretty good contract to the table as a brick in the foundation.
Did we lose? I am sure there were gives and takes. Until the union sends out the details I will just take the word of my MEC. Ground breaking, Trend setting...I don't know. Honestly I hope some other pilot group takes whatever we agree to and goes higher. Was it a home run for XJ I doubt it.
Split the FO rates is huge. A lot of other stuff in the TA is stuff we already had.
I am REALLY happy because I believe Colgan is coming out GREAT. Pinnacle will get what they deserve. Does this contract pay for all the pain from 5 years of abuse? Nope, nor do our rates and snapbacks help us recover from the torture from the bankruptcy. But you get over it.
As a XJ 200 Capt I want to thank the 9E and 9L negotiators. This TA couldn't have been easy.