NWA Pilot Staffing Shortage
10-17-2006, 08:15 PM
#11
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,002
I received my recall about 3 weeks ago and promptly bypassed it. NWA management has never, in its history, understood the concept of "cultivating relationships" among its employees or business partners. It is one the most incompetent organizations in this matter.
The MEC has created class warfare by freezing the define pension and having junior pilots "subsidize" it through reduced 401k contributions (as compared to UAL, US Airways and Delta) and receive only the PBGC minimum. Yet, senior pilots retain most of their benefit plus gain in an increase in 401k contributions. Work rules for wide body pilots are also far less drastic than narrow body pilots. Any premium pay (over 80 hours) was eliminated and even if I was crazy enough to fly over 85 hours I do not get paid for it. The extra goes into a ridiculous bank which I never was able to withdrawal from in 8 years! I had 14 days of vacation due me every year but I only get 11 days. The other 3 are assigned to me at random. What sane person agrees to rules such as these?
At JetBlue I am paid a premium over 70hrs, if I am nuts, I can fly 90 plus hours (like many do) and be compensated well. On reserve, I actually get released if they don't need me and are only put on call for 14 hours unlike NWA which is 16. NWA called me on every single day off to fly up until the day I was furloughed.
JetBlue is not without its problems but the scheduling, atmosphere and treatment among its employees is light years ahead of NWA.
The MEC has created class warfare by freezing the define pension and having junior pilots "subsidize" it through reduced 401k contributions (as compared to UAL, US Airways and Delta) and receive only the PBGC minimum. Yet, senior pilots retain most of their benefit plus gain in an increase in 401k contributions. Work rules for wide body pilots are also far less drastic than narrow body pilots. Any premium pay (over 80 hours) was eliminated and even if I was crazy enough to fly over 85 hours I do not get paid for it. The extra goes into a ridiculous bank which I never was able to withdrawal from in 8 years! I had 14 days of vacation due me every year but I only get 11 days. The other 3 are assigned to me at random. What sane person agrees to rules such as these?
At JetBlue I am paid a premium over 70hrs, if I am nuts, I can fly 90 plus hours (like many do) and be compensated well. On reserve, I actually get released if they don't need me and are only put on call for 14 hours unlike NWA which is 16. NWA called me on every single day off to fly up until the day I was furloughed.
JetBlue is not without its problems but the scheduling, atmosphere and treatment among its employees is light years ahead of NWA.
I'm assuming you are not just bypassing now but don't plan on going back at all.
How do senior pilots make out better than the junior pilots in regards to benefits?
10-17-2006, 08:22 PM
#12
On Reserve
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B757 First Officer, DAL
Posts: 22
Eric,
The benefit I was describing was the define benefit plan only. Insurance benefit cuts were shared by all. As far as coming back, I will wait until the dust settles. Nor will I even consider returning until NWA is out of CH11 and/or recalls have progressed to the level where I am forced to make a decision.
It would be a bad business decision (in my opinion) to give up 2 seniority numbers for 1. Like I said, JetBlue is not without its problems and the risks are still quite high. The situation I was describing was concerning the treatment of NWA employees and comparing them to how I am treated at JetBlue.
I really want JetBlue to be sucessful. It would make my decision to stay that much easier.
The benefit I was describing was the define benefit plan only. Insurance benefit cuts were shared by all. As far as coming back, I will wait until the dust settles. Nor will I even consider returning until NWA is out of CH11 and/or recalls have progressed to the level where I am forced to make a decision.
It would be a bad business decision (in my opinion) to give up 2 seniority numbers for 1. Like I said, JetBlue is not without its problems and the risks are still quite high. The situation I was describing was concerning the treatment of NWA employees and comparing them to how I am treated at JetBlue.
I really want JetBlue to be sucessful. It would make my decision to stay that much easier.
Last edited by Airbus_Driver; 10-17-2006 at 08:34 PM.
10-18-2006, 08:21 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Mar 2006
Position: retired
Posts: 567
E S . A little off on your explanation. The top seniority guys get zero additional 401 contributions. The way it was explained to me top gets zero bottom get a little and the people in the middle get the most . All has something to do with making everybody whole whatever that means.The scary thing is it all controlled by ALPA.Doesn't really go to you.
10-18-2006, 11:08 AM
#15
Line Holder
Joined APC: May 2006
Position: CA A320/A319/A321
Posts: 72
Its not Happy place to be!!!!
I agree with you 100% AB. I am still trying to figure this new contract out and just how bad it really is on a everyday basis. To much gray areas and company open ended workrules. I can manage the paycut but the work rules,is what really destroyed this place, once they gave that up. Its a job, thats about it. No light to see at the end of the tunnel to make life bearable. Looking out side the NWA box for a better life myself. I wish you the best, and keep both numbers as long as possible. Play your cards to the end.
10-18-2006, 11:51 AM
#16
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,750
I would someday like to work for NWA but for the sole reason that it is the only major that would let me live in the domicile I want to live in. I have been following NWA for about 20 years and have always been stunned at how badly they manage the relationships with labor. It is unbelievable to me as an outsider that NWA management is not capable of seeing that happy employees are productive employees. Of course, that applies to almost any company, but NWA seems to be at the extreme when it comes to poor labor/management relations. Seems like a textbook example of how NOT to run a company. But I also have never seen NWA management as a company which was running it for anyone other than themselves.
10-18-2006, 12:21 PM
#17
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Nov 2005
Posts: 184
I received my recall about 3 weeks ago and promptly bypassed it. NWA management has never, in its history, understood the concept of "cultivating relationships" among its employees or business partners. It is one the most incompetent organizations in this matter.
The MEC has created class warfare by freezing the define pension and having junior pilots "subsidize" it through reduced 401k contributions (as compared to UAL, US Airways and Delta) and receive only the PBGC minimum. Yet, senior pilots retain most of their benefit plus gain in an increase in 401k contributions. Work rules for wide body pilots are also far less drastic than narrow body pilots. Any premium pay (over 80 hours) was eliminated and even if I was crazy enough to fly over 85 hours I do not get paid for it. The extra goes into a ridiculous bank which I never was able to withdrawal from in 8 years! I had 14 days of vacation due me every year but I only get 11 days. The other 3 are assigned to me at random. What sane person agrees to rules such as these?
At JetBlue I am paid a premium over 70hrs, if I am nuts, I can fly 90 plus hours (like many do) and be compensated well. On reserve, I actually get released if they don't need me and are only put on call for 14 hours unlike NWA which is 16. NWA called me on every single day off to fly up until the day I was furloughed.
JetBlue is not without its problems but the scheduling, atmosphere and treatment among its employees is light years ahead of NWA.
The MEC has created class warfare by freezing the define pension and having junior pilots "subsidize" it through reduced 401k contributions (as compared to UAL, US Airways and Delta) and receive only the PBGC minimum. Yet, senior pilots retain most of their benefit plus gain in an increase in 401k contributions. Work rules for wide body pilots are also far less drastic than narrow body pilots. Any premium pay (over 80 hours) was eliminated and even if I was crazy enough to fly over 85 hours I do not get paid for it. The extra goes into a ridiculous bank which I never was able to withdrawal from in 8 years! I had 14 days of vacation due me every year but I only get 11 days. The other 3 are assigned to me at random. What sane person agrees to rules such as these?
At JetBlue I am paid a premium over 70hrs, if I am nuts, I can fly 90 plus hours (like many do) and be compensated well. On reserve, I actually get released if they don't need me and are only put on call for 14 hours unlike NWA which is 16. NWA called me on every single day off to fly up until the day I was furloughed.
JetBlue is not without its problems but the scheduling, atmosphere and treatment among its employees is light years ahead of NWA.
If you fly over 85 hours, you literally do not get paid for it at all, or are you referring to not getting paid extra, such as at JB, 150% for anything over 70. Just curious
10-18-2006, 03:42 PM
#18
On Reserve
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B757 First Officer, DAL
Posts: 22
Chris,
Anything over 85 hours goes into a bank account of sorts. You can used the extra hours to credit yourself in future months if, lets say, you wanted to fly less. NWA calls it "negative bank flyback". It can take years to accumulate and NWA doesn't let you use it whenever you want. For years they prohibited the pilots from even using it. That translates into working extra for free in my opinion.
Anything over 85 hours goes into a bank account of sorts. You can used the extra hours to credit yourself in future months if, lets say, you wanted to fly less. NWA calls it "negative bank flyback". It can take years to accumulate and NWA doesn't let you use it whenever you want. For years they prohibited the pilots from even using it. That translates into working extra for free in my opinion.
10-18-2006, 03:49 PM
#19
On Reserve
Joined APC: Feb 2006
Position: B757 First Officer, DAL
Posts: 22
HotMamaPilot,
No, JB does not make you resign your seniority number. They do, however, make you sign a contract which states you will not return to your Part 121 carrier for a period of 2 years. Not sure if they have enforced it though?
No, JB does not make you resign your seniority number. They do, however, make you sign a contract which states you will not return to your Part 121 carrier for a period of 2 years. Not sure if they have enforced it though?
10-18-2006, 04:52 PM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Right Seat 744
Posts: 946
Chris,
Anything over 85 hours goes into a bank account of sorts. You can used the extra hours to credit yourself in future months if, lets say, you wanted to fly less. NWA calls it "negative bank flyback". It can take years to accumulate and NWA doesn't let you use it whenever you want. For years they prohibited the pilots from even using it. That translates into working extra for free in my opinion.
Anything over 85 hours goes into a bank account of sorts. You can used the extra hours to credit yourself in future months if, lets say, you wanted to fly less. NWA calls it "negative bank flyback". It can take years to accumulate and NWA doesn't let you use it whenever you want. For years they prohibited the pilots from even using it. That translates into working extra for free in my opinion.
A-320 copilots have been at 88 hrs max since Nov'05 (except for 2 months). You can now fly as much as you want with no premium pay. You get paid for the time flown 88 - 92 hrs. Anything over 92 hrs will go into your bank. I had a positive bank of 8 hrs since Mar (flew my butt off so I could fly minimum time during a few months, but still get paid a full month).
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