TallFlyer

JB was in the IAD crew room yesterday and his response to that arguement is that the pilot group as a whole is not privy to the negotiations going on behind the scene. Basically, this LOA is the result of many offers and counteroffers between the Union and the Company. Suggest contacting JB, MC, or DM and ask away with all your questions.

Again, I'm not saying at all that you're wrong, but as has been stated above, there is a whole lot to gain by making this current LOA the floor for negotiations for our new CBA, which should start sometime next year.
If that were to occur, expect FOs to be ticked off en masse and leave. In the short term that would be very painful for the company. And JB is on record that the Union is vehemently against sign-on bonuses. In any event, I'd wager Captains are leaving faster than you think; a massive sign on bonus certainly wouldn't help matters.

Ultimately, if the Captains aren't satisfied with the pay this LOA is going nowhere.

TallFlyer

According to the FAQ put out by the Union they can also be used between trips in base.

In short, if you're a lineholder it's great if your trips aren't commutable on the front end; if you're on reserve it doesn't do a whole lot.

csh405

If this gets voted down expect to see downgrades by the end of the summer, it's simple math. We are hemorrhaging FOs and need to stop the bleeding ASAP. If they start to downgrade goodnight nurse...

Duke990

You ARE getting money upfront in the form of a raise. The hotel thing should be looked at as a bonus. We don't have any provisions for hotels and essentially a non-existent commuter clause now. I understand you may feel like it's not enough, but I just can't see turning away a gift horse. It costs us nothing to vote this in. And in the meantime, your FO coworkers might actually be able to make ends meet.

Ultralight

Out of interest, where are the majority of the F.O's going? Other regionals or LLC's / Majors?
If they are bailing for other regionals an increase in F.O. pay would surely help with retention.

As previously mentioned, this isn't contact negotiations, its an offer of free money like a 401k match.

"Hello, I'd like to pay you more than you are earning now and ask for nothing in return from you. How much time do you need to think about it?"

TallFlyer

Again, the underlying problem with this LOA is the majority of people it's designed to help can't vote. If the Captains don't think it's enough of a raise for them it'll never see the light of day. I guess we'll find out on the 28th.

TallFlyer

Mostly other regionals, Compass, SkyWest, PSA, and Mesa are the names mentioned, although we have one going to Frontier.

I'm undecided on whether or not this will help with retention if it were to pass. Sure, it'll help some, but I know some west coasters here who have gone to SkyWest so they don't have to commute cross country, and others that see other regionals with "better" equipment and similar, if not potentially shorter upgrade times.

Call it SJS if you'd like, but the truth is sitting in a Dash cockpit when it's 100 degrees outside is not fun.

csh405

Forgive me if I sound crass, but what these captains fail to consider is that they'll be out of a job in two years if it doesn't pass. The one and only intent of this LOA was to prevent FO's from leaving the company, and get new guys in the door.

TallFlyer

Honestly, probably less than that, or they're thinking that they'll be on to bigger and better things in short order, or they're assuming that the company is willing to sweeten the pot if it doesn't pass.

As has been said by a few people, my crystal ball is MEL'd.

Ultralight

Whether you think it will be effective or not, a <50 seat turbo prop operator paying $30 an hour first year can only put pressure on everyone else to raise pay.