.....What if a pilot group worked at a non-union frac and made $20,000 a month in the right seat and $80,000 a month in the left seat with free medical, 20 days off a month and full pension. Would you be for those professional pilots or would you still insist they get a contract? Seriously, I'm curious.
Dave, I've quoted Glass to make sure that this is the question you had in mind. My answer was ---
Glass, it seems to me that their wages and work rules are much more secure when the company is willing to put it all in writing and sign their name to it. That represents a commitment to their pilots whose skills and experience are helping to build the business. The only reason not to sign it is so that they can change things at anytime.
The figures proposed weren't grounded in reality. His scenario brings to mind the expression "too good to be true" and should make one extra cautious, so
yes, I'd recommend a contract. I
did say that I'd want the deal
in writing. Nevertheless, I'll expand on my original answer and cite Options experience with their medical being jacked up over night.
Have you noticed that executives always seem to have a contract that
even pays off if they get fired?? How much paper work goes with buying big ticket items like houses and cars? Who doesn't have to sign an agreement to pay the bill when they go to a doctor or dentist, even if you have insurance? Which you must produce evidence of, right?
I can't understand why pilots would provide their skills without a written agreement when so many other businesses and professionals require it as a standard practice. There are very sound reasons to sign an agreement, but the reason not to should tell you how little commitment management has for the pilots. They want the freedom to change things at a whim. Tell me, could the Options pilots change their financial obligations quickly when the company cut their wages via health insurance rates?
That is a very realistic situation that hits close to home for too many pilots in the industry. Given their considerable contribution to the success of the frac companies, the pilots deserve much better. A written contract
isn't asking too much. If they weren't so
common there wouldn't be expressions like "sign on the dotted line"....

NJW