FLB717 said:
Ok, I admite Im not the sharpest tool in the shed, but someone other than a Traditional Major Pilot tell me this.
1. Regionals (no such thing withan Small Jet) are MAKING MONEY for thier handlers (NWA,DAL,USA,UAL etc) and you get paid crap.
ALPA’s self-created framework has erected a world of alter-ego unionists; this is the catalyst of our profession’s demise.
Fact: Economics rule the world – always have and always will. The market place will always dictate, therefore we must work with this truth or our efforts will continue to besiege us.
When only one airline exists inside in a market, it can enjoy the fruits of monopolizing power; thus, it is able to demand strong rates from the passenger. However, as soon as an additional airline inaugurates service inside of this market, the monopoly is lost and ticket prices diminish to the point where revenue struggles to meet cost. This is the reality of the free-market.
Competition is everything. If we are the only group running a race, applying for a job, or selling a product, we will get what we want. But as soon as another enters our arena, our world is transformed.
The same can be said when demanding wages as a unionist. When you are the only union the airline may employ for its labor needs, you will get what you want. If another Union is able to perform your work, then you must compete or lose your job. And do not be fooled, scope clauses don’t work if it creates separate groups.
You ask. “why do we get paid crap”? The answer to your question is simple. It's because ALPA, from a free-market perspective, has created separate groups that compete for a finite amount of flying.
FLB717 said:
2. You are asked to take a pay cut. 20% less of crap is still crap, it just sticks to the shoe longer and smells worse.
There is nothing wrong with being asked by your management to take a pay-cut; this is a request, not a command. Remember that we are ultimately the ones who decide whether or not we acquire a reduction in pay. Heck, we may offer a contractual concession without a request by management; I’m sure any airline would embrace this bizarre decision.
Allow me to ask - would you capitulate to your management’s solicitation for a concession, or would you deny it? Your answer will depend on the following:
1. Do you want job security and/or growth?
2. Do you want to earn better wages?
Fact: Under ALPA’s structure you cannot have it both ways; this is a business certainty – so you must pick your poison!
FLB717 said:
3. The Economy is turning around now so why take a cut when your Company is making money?
The economy is not turning around; it is in a steep nosedive. What do you consider to be the economy? The employment rate, inflationary rate, housing costs, stock market, trade deficit, consumer debt, energy reserves, et al. make up our economy – and according to most, it is not showing any signs of bouncing back, not even a trend.
As for accepting a concession, I (like most at Comair) will vote against any pay cut when invited to do so. And yes, we will be asked very soon.
Of course, I happen to have the advantage as I work for Comair. While my ALPA unit competes against many other ALPA units, I am lucky to be able to compete against the ALPA unit of DAL. The majority of us are well aware of the “ALPA whipsaw”, and we will use this to our collective advantage. This is not because we are evil; this is because we are in competition for business.
Allow me to explain:
If the Delta Airline pilots vote “NO” to concessions they will still pay, only in a different way – furloughs and lost retirement.
If Comair pilots vote “NO” to concessions - the Delta Airline pilots still pay the price – again via furloughs and lost retirement.
There is only so much money in the Delta Inc whipsaw, therefore I’m sure you will attest to the following:
A. The more fuel costs Delta Inc, the less that’s available to the DAL pilots
B. The more Delta Inc’s old 727’s hemorrhage earnings, the less that's available to the DAL pilots
C. The more Maintenance workers cost Delta Inc, the less that’s available to the DAL pilots
D. The more Comair pilots cost Delta Inc, the less that’s available to the DAL pilots
This begs the question, if Comair pilots take a concession, who are they “really” saving?
Make no mistake; it is every ALPA unit for itself – Period!
You know, it’s too bad my ALPA unit was unsuccessful during our strike to achieve “parity on scale” with the Delta pilot’s PWA. I find it ironic that we were unable to bring our contract up to the Delta pilots level but will easily bring their PWA down to our level. We will simply hold our ground during these hard times and achieve parity on scale after all. Again, this is a market certainty. The free economy will not allow different cost-structures. The highest price tag will always incur an ignominious death. And need we forget; the race to the bottom has no finish line. If the Comair pilots ever take a pay cut, the race starts all over again with DAL pilots right back on top.
Thus, here’s how my ALPA unit sees it.
We realize Delta Inc operates many different airlines with different operating certificates (DAL – Song – CMR - ASA). But we also realize that Delta Inc. isn’t the only whipsaw in town; ALPA has its separate units playing the game as well.
Fact - The more groups that exist, the more we will fight for jobs. This means job security for one ALPA unit equals furloughs for a seperate ALPA unit.
At present, the DAL/Song pilot list is in the very early stages of complete meltdown. This is largely due to the fact that Delta Inc is failing and the DAL ALPA unit is the most expensive under the Delta Inc. umbrella.
In the past, Delta Inc was able to rob Peter (ASA/CMR) to pay Paul (DAL). This will no longer happen as we are no longer willing to sacrifice this job in hopes for their job. And we know If we take a concession, we are really only saving DAL pilot jobs, not our own.
ALPA has structured a “dog eat dog” world, thus we are forced to deal with this rule. We don’t like these rules, but these are the rules nontheless. And a greater number of pilot groups means pilots will earn less and passengers will pay less.
If only one pilot list existed worldwide, we would simply take whatever we wanted and each airline would be forced to deal with this cost on an equal bases, just like landing fees. And since this great cost would be equal amongst each airline, passenger competition would be uneffected.
There’s in old saying that states “necessity is the mother of invention”. It’s really too bad this adage isn’t holding up in our case, isn’t it?
Are you getting it yet? {The fact that ALPA’s self-created framework has erected a world of alter-ego unionists}
Enought about the ALPA whipsaw, what about the Delta Inc Whipsaw?
Delta's bag of jokes:
Did you hear the one about the DCI whipsaw?
Delta Inc swapped ASA’s most lucrative routs with Comair’s least lucrative ones. Delta Inc remained unaffected because the exact same routes still existed. However, when ASA went to the negotiation table, the pilots were told their company did not earn as much as Comair and therefore would not be compensated as much.
Did you hear the one about Comair losing money?
The year was 2002; Comair earned a profit of $50 million dollars and ASA was flat. That same year Delta Airlines lost $750 million. Therefore, it is easy to conclude that Delta Inc lost $700 million.
Next came the year of 2003; this year Comair lost $50 million dollars, but again ASA remained flat. To no surprise, concessions were directed towards the pilots flying at "money losing Comair". During this same year Delta Airlines improved slightly, only losing $500 million dollars. Therefore, it is easy to conclude that Delta Inc lost $550 million, which was $150 million better than the previous year(2002).
During 2003, Delta Inc used Comair's RJ as a sacrificial lamb, mothballing mainline's fleet and backfilling it with CRJ's. Comair took a $100 million hit to save Delta Inc $250 Million – and that’s why Delta Inc continued to grow the Comair unit during 2003.
I ask again, if Comair pilots take concessions, who are we really saving?
I could write pages upon pages of the Delta Inc / ALPA whipsaw game, but I’m starting to ramble on.
So, who want’s to play?
Good luck!
, ALPA dues (AKA spending cash for mainline guys), 62 bucks for medical ins, and 15% into 401K, and some other crapola.
