Jet Jockey 00

What are you trying to accomplish by bleeding all over the forum?

Use the proper channels and contact your reps with your issues.

PeteyT

Can I ask you guys a question? I'm inside the infamous training gap now. Nobody will answer any questions about when I can get to train. I've already wasted five months waiting for an opportunity to go to work for this company, with standing offers from other airlines.

All the behavior lately makes it seem like PDT is trying to drive away pilots. In a time when every other airline is raising pay and improving QoL, PDT is doing the exact opposite: lowering compensation (removing triple) and filling the gap with policies that further chip away at the already poor QoL that the schedules provide.

Is this some negotiating tactic BS that's going to go away, or is the management really this anti-pilot? Ignoring everything prior to right now, just looking forward over the next 5 years or so, is it worth sticking around, or should I cut my losses?

I was going to move to PHL to avoid commuting, but I have no attachment to PHL. I'm happy to move to any domicile provided it results in a good QoL, career opportunity, and competitive pay.

What would you guys do if you were in my (our) position? Cut a check to pay back the bonus and go somewhere else?

I'm not trying to complain, just trying to figure out what's best for my pursuit of a future in the airlines. Piedmont seems increasingly less interested in being a part of that.

MantisToboggan

I've asked this before, and I'll ask it again:

If the forums aren't here to raise questions about the current status of this company, then what is it for?

I came to this very forum to decide whether or not I wanted to be an employee here, and I darn well expected to hear the truth. Maybe you should start a thread about the good things about this company. I'll continue posting the truth about what really goes on. But if you expect me to sit quiet and not let everyone who's thinking about coming here know what it's really like, then my advice would be to not hold your breath.

Otterbox

If your offers are from better than a regional then by all means leave now. One of my buddies left for Delta in training before he finished.

If your standing offers are from other regionals, those are a dime a dozen... get through training get your apps out to higher tier airlines (non-regionals) and take your first best offer. If you’ve reached the end of your first year and are still unhappy then leave for Endeavor or Rah (or whoever the #1+2 in the industry are at that point)... standing offers from other dime a dozen regionals most likely aren’t really going to be the solution you’re looking for in the long run.

MKUltra

Our reps are on the phone non stop with pilots and cps.. trust me.. they know the issues.. unfortunately most of the time they can't do much as the language in our contract is being twisted by management. OR our reps are busy defending pilots that punative action is being taken against them for sick and fatigue calls.

Already this month I've been interfaced to 11 days off.. additional flying and extended.. and ill credit only 77.5 hours this month.. no more bonus and no more trip preems, this year ill make 65k as a captain.. we are the lowest paid airline period with the lowest QOL. I'm hopeful a positive TA can reached but until than.. gtfo...

Flyinguy

You can sue anyone for any reason....that doesn't mean you will win.

If in the past, you thought it was worth your time away from home, to pick up triple frequently (it has been your standard). Then if you decided to not pick up triple (especially in a concerted effort) to "stick it to the man". THAT might a lawsuit loss.

BUT

If you never found it worth your time in the past, nor do you find it worth it now to pick up less than triple. There is not a legal recourse they have against you. It isn't mandatory to pick up it. If they make it enticing enough that you want it, then pick it up, if not, don't.


Even if you did pick up double or single in the past frequently (or it has been your standard), you don't have to now based off of that. Times change. Maybe you were saving up for something then or lived a different lifestyle or get paid less then and needed it....but don't now...then they have zero recourse against you for not picking it up now.

Don't let anyone scare you into picking up double or single if you don't want it or find it worth your time. There is not a legal thing they can do about that.

If I was to say "Do not pick up any open time to "stick it to the man"" which I am NOT saying, THAT would be illegal.

Again, to clarify, this IS NOT a concerted effort tot say, refuse all open time, I am NOT saying that. If you feel it is worth your time to pick up single or double open time, by all means do it. If not, then don't.

That isn't a concerted effort, it is giving legal advice, showing common sense and to those that have been scared into picking up open time they may or may not see as worth it.

That is what open time is, they pay you enough to make it worth it, you do it, if not, you don't. If that demonstrates to the company that they need to either pay more, or keep triple or introduce quad, that is up to them to figure our how to fill open time, it isn't our job. It's like law of supply and demand, it isn't a concerted effort, it is just how things work.

MantisToboggan

I think the point is that they are screwing us over particularly hard right now to try to strong arm us into new contract language that is advantageous for them. If we did the same by doing some collective action, we would be sued and we would lose

MickeyFlies

What kept you waiting for PDT in those five months? Likely, those reasons haven't changed. If they have then you should reevaluate your situation. I'd consider having a really good answer to the question why you left PDT during training for future interviews. They will notice that you were only here for a few months and want to know if it was a training issue. Legacy's seem to like people who show commitment to their employer over the long term as well. I would only leave if something FAR better came up. As much as PDT sucks (and it does), I think it's better to get through training and see the line before making a decision of this nature. Unless of course you have a family situation that has changed the equation.

I think the negotiations that are going on are making people go a bit stir crazy. Combine the all around poor contract with the negotiating tactics that the company is using and people will naturally get fed up. It's like that everywhere. The good thing is there is a defined timeline for ALPA and the company to come up with something and the 120 day negotiating period is quickly coming to a close. I think we'll see something come through in that time period. I'm not optimistic about mediation if it goes that far. Hopefully, whatever they do come up with is good enough for a yes vote. I have my price, as does everyone else. You'll come to find that we've all been on the ledge and had to have someone talk us down with the way PDT operates. Good luck in making the best decision for your situation.

MKUltra

I think people are stir crazy because of the following..

1.. removing triple premium.. obviously giving up time off for 8 hours vs 12 hours isn't worth it for many..

2.. many are being reassigned, displaced, given extra flying or jr manned, or early reports..

3.. the fatigue and sick witch hunt by a particular manager..

4.. the inability of the company to efficiently schedule resources so that 4 day trips with two days off is the only thing available.

5.. the phone ringing off the hook on your days off from scheduling.

6.. splitting up trips in base so commuters are unexpectedly having to find last minute accommodations in Philadelphia.

There are some positives out there right now, but you got a very new pilot group that is fairly p!ssed off right now.

FmrPropCapt

You guys need to pressure your mec to gain QOL changes in this mini opener. THEY WILL NOT PAY MORE THAN THE OTHER 2 WO. I'm very serious about this. Increase to min 12 days off, clean up the work rules in section 25. Make it a better place to spend 6 years. I'll say it one more time.... an increase in pay will be across the board with AA and the regionals. It will NOT be during this process so do not expect it or use any capital to waste time.

Make the QOL better, focus on that. The money will come eventually. Then flow away.