maxjet

Frank, the thing I think most people forget about when they mention how hard the pilots work for companies success is the other employees. K4 is a small private airline. The other non-Union employees are not going to just sit around and watch the pilots be the only beneficiaries. Small companies=more individuals get the bosses ear. Not saying you shouldn’t be asking for better or that you shouldn’t get better. What I am saying is that in a small company things are going to happen much more slowly as said company struggles with balancing the rising tide that union wage and benefit increase.

newb2

I don’t have a crystal ball, but I do have some self-respect. If this is what you think your worth as an airline pilot flying a widebody across the globe so be it. I won’t change your mind and you won’t change mine. This contract is an insult, you know it, I know it, and so will the rest of the industry were this to pass.

ocskyguy

Like Maxjet says, remember that this is a private company. There is no outside money funding us via the stock market. So, growth in all phases comes from within. Literally, from Connie's pocket.
This airline has grown exponentially during my time slaving for the man. And, I am confident that the exponential growth will continue. In all negotiations, voting down an agreement always results in months, and possibly years, of renewed negotiations. The collective tribe is always better off taking a decent deal versus an amazing deal and waiting for the next contract to bring more advancements.
Just sayin'

Palmtree Pilot

I don’t know if you actually work for K4, but if you do, you went there thinking you were worth what they were paying, which is less than the TA rates.

Lockheed

i wish I'd a thought of that....funny and so true

Lockheed

plenty of self respect for all 42 years flying 121....1.5 more to go..than its all yours

newb2

An interesting perspective but I need to question the motivation for your assessment.

Like you when I came to work at Kalitta I knew what the compensation was and I also knew that in a few short years we would be looking at a new contract. If you work at K4 than you already know what was important for the pilot group as a whole, because you participated in the survey and had an opportunity to speak to your fellow crewmembers. So I must ask, is this contract good for our new First Officers? Does this provide you with the language to address some of the shortfalls that exist in our current contract? Is this what you envisioned for your future?

I know that the airline industry is not what it was last year, but do you really believe that we will continue to face the same situation two years from now? I can’t know for sure, but let me just say that it was the company that came to the union to discuss finishing this contract. I understand their motivation, but I don’t understand how this benefits the crewmember when virtually nothing important was addressed. That is an individual choice, obviously we don’t agree. You must do what is good for you, and I will do what is good for me.

Palmtree Pilot

I have zero motivation to my assessment, if you insist on calling it that. I was just pointing out the obvious hypocrisy of your statement on not having self worth as a pilot for accepting the TA rates, when you clearly came to work here for less.

I am not trying to change anyone’s mind on how they vote or get into a ****ing match about why. I tend to agree, that this TA doesn’t address some major down falls of the current contract. I’m not leaning to the yes side of things yet either, but it sure has nothing to do with the pay rates. If the airline industry is gonna be in dire straights for pilots very soon, then its time to get in on the bottom floor somewhere, maybe Spirit. If you want UPS/FedEx rates, they are hiring. Many of us are on airlines #4-6 in our careers and have watched and been victim to the crazy swings in this industry. If this airline couldn’t expand anymore, bedsides a few airframes from DHL, would it be able to continue profitability in normal or bad times if we had the pay rates of UPS/FedEx? Probably not, with the likes of National, Air21, Western Global, Mesa and now Sun Country coming in to do the same flying at much cheaper rates. I consider MYSELF lucky, that I work for a private company that has a very diversified stream of revenue and pays me the highest rates in the ACMI sector.

That being said I’m not very happy about this TA and am still on the fence on which way to vote. I really admire people that are very principled in their decision making, I try to stick to my principles in life’s choices, but the over dramatization of how bad the pay rates are... well its getting old.

ducgsxr

Well said.

pangolin

Very very very few if any vote based on what is good for the industry.

Should pilots take 2 pct now or hold out for 3 pct, 3 years from now? Most do the math and accept what they can get now. Bird in the hand and all.