MKUltra

Well there is a need for someone to fly a few 70 sweaters as republic is reducing some more of the 170/175 flying for AAG. So there will be a few airframe in the scope allowed to be flown. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for yas.

buddies8

Source for the republic reference.

272922

It's just proof they're getting the stapler out.

Lawn

Not really. It's photoshopped. Moving on.

272922

Actually, the reg really is 599NN, and the airframe really is owned by American, just like the 53 other 900s being flown by PSA.

Now, whether or not that's proof of a red swingline heading our direction (probably not) is a completely separate issue.

Grumbletrousers

Wonder if it was shooped by the same person that did the C-Series picture.

Einstein2014

You know , it's a shame that the company have us so beat down that even if those pictures were true we wouldn't believe it until we could bid for it and start training. Thank god we still a 70+ seat pay scale. We should never get rid of it. It would around $55 an hour to fly something like that. We would not have trouble finding pilots on that pay and the company should know that. You gotta pay to get the experience. That's how it's always been in any other market and thank god it's back to that in aviation (pilot side).

WhiskeyDelta

Yeah, you'd think they would want pay to be the best pay at the regional level. However, my guess is if they could secure cuts to the rates in another long-term contract with the pilots they could turn around and offer a signing/retention bonus outside of the CBA. The latter has the benefit of being cancelled whenever management feels like it or if demand were to somehow plateau for a while. This is the danger of other pilot groups not having these bonuses codified in their contracts. It's all a temporary ploy to get bodies in the door and a smart management group would never get them written into a contract. I'm surprised more unions aren't grieving the bonuses since they aren't negotiated pay.

I remember when I was at ZW, ALPA several years ago rose a stink over the raffles that management was running for completing the IBT before a specific date. They saw that as compensation outside of the CBA. I can't remember how far that got but it's the same principle.

Einstein2014

I agree. Bonuses in my opinion are band aids as you mentioned and the evidence can be seen everywhere. I am glad PSA made the deal they did because both pilots and management now know that more airplanes at lower cost can only get you so far. I would like to think AWAC still practices its core values and one of my favorites it's "smart choices". Signing bonuses wouldn't be worth the hassle in my opinion. It's money that will create issues with the pilot union and money that will just be a loss at this point due to the higher turn over rates. Retention bonuses however would be a smart choice but if it's negotiated and it won't come easily. I would imagine if anyone would chose to cash in on it then it would require a commitment of maybe let's say a year or six more months. The best plan would be to have a steady long term contract with the union which would include higher pay. People go above and beyond when they are compensated properly.

whoooooooocares

I MO, I think we need to be careful of negotiating higher pay. This is a bargaining chip I believe we need to keep. The company knows they have to pay us more or they won't be around much longer. No one will come here even if we sign another contract for more flying if our pay rates aren't competitive. If we negotiate for higher pay, we will get it and feel as though we have won something. The company will use that against us in other areas of negotiating.
If we were to focus on compensation as a whole, I think this would be a better approach. Trip rigs to 3.5:1, hard reserve values for days not used, higher min day value, increase per diem, commuter hotels. Retention bonuses would be icing on the cake if we got the things listed above. Not to mention this would make us competitive in a cut throat environment. Our upgrade time would go down because we would have people coming through the front door. We could staff the flying that we are hopefully getting in the near future. And most importantly people would be happy here.
I don't want us to get lost in the trap of the super senior guys looking towards retirement and signing something sub par (I am not stating that our senior guys will do this) while the junior guys sign something because they don't know any better (I am not stating that we have an uneducated junior group). I'm just saying I think it gets more plausible as time drags on and the general mood of apathy wears on the pilot group that something moderatly better being signed is better than this s*&! sandwich we're snacking on now.