Vingass

I know all of you were asked prior to being hired if you could live with this very situation. All of you answered no problem.... it's better than where I am now. Life at Xj could be much worse. IMHO- coming on APC/FI/Alpa web board and bit*hing about it makes you have the "entitlement attitude ". Go get a PT job on your days off if you need extra cash (we all know you have 11 days off you could be working).... that’s what most of the real XJer's did when times got real tough. Or they just quit.... your choice.

xjsaab

No sympathy here for lack of flight time. This is one of the first summers I can remember that management didn't cancel vacations. Don't look at other fleets usage/senority you're wasting time over something you couldn't control in the first place. Enjoy the summer get a second job if you really need the money. When it comes to contract negotiation time remember these days, advocate for better pay for first officers. Keep your fingers crossed that mother delta will miraculously give us more flying in the fall.

Plan your life around 75 hours a month. Any amount extra is icing on the cake.

Colnago

...and hey man, I'm NOT disagreeing with you on that. That was never my point. Comparatively, we do have it well.

Again, we signed up for the job knowing exactly what we were getting into so even if someone wanted to *****, he/she would have no right.

However, you mentioned it yourself...your first few years weren't exactly the greatest. That is all.

As humans, we usually want better. We can't blame ourselves for that. It's human nature.

You didn't see me jumping into this thread saying, "Mesaba sucks, I hate this place." I'm actually pretty comfortable right now. I'm not getting called, getting paid to sit on my ass, I get to move my off-days around. I managed to get 8 days off in a row this month, went to see the gf overseas for cheap. I'm rather happy right now besides being tight on cash. I can't live the life I desire but that's beside the point. Oh, and I hate DTW.

I replied because I'm trying to relate to some who don't feel so well.

Colnago

Yeah, I answered, "You manage and live frugal," and we all know that's the only way to do it. You know what you're getting into, but it's far from "no problem." You get a 2nd job and you deal with it, but it's far from being an easy lifestyle so don't try to make it sound like cake.

joethepilot

Exactly my point. Better does not equal good. Also I would like to point out that I have previously and continue to acknowledge that people before us had it worse.

Secondly, I'm not complaining, I was simply responding to your post, and all I ask is that you step into our shoes for two seconds and understand that being on reserve and not getting used as a 1st year FO is not the vacation you all make it out to be.

joethepilot

Amen brother!

jeeps

Time and money. When you have one you won't have the other.

All you can bet on is the 75 hour guarantee. If you're counting on more you aren't living within your means. It's sad but true, I don't like it any more than anyone else, but look at it this way: twenty-five years ago you may have been grinding your teeth flying checks for the same wages with a much worse lifestyle. I get your position, I share it, but I'm really trying to find the positive in the situation because I know in the future, at some point, it's going to be turned around and I'll be working my ass off--so I better enjoy it now because I won't then ...

Have a good weekend everyone.

bored

Joe - did you read my post? I walked in your shoes for a long time. You've been at this for about a year now? TRY 6. At a much less wage I might add.

Again... I know exactly what it's like to be a struggling FO. Many captains do. We were all FOs at one point. I'm not telling you, that you can't be frustrated or stifled. I'm just trying to put it into perspective for you. Things could be a lot worse. Again... my question to you all is what do you want from Mesaba? What's the alternative to what you've got now?

joethepilot

Bored, I read, understood and appreciated your post. my reply was more to a few of the other responders. Like I said, I understand it could be worse. I think we can all agree that the wages we are getting paid are pretty despicable.

What do I want from mesaba? I think they should pay every last one of us a livable wage.


I don't know about that... I don't work a second job because I live beyond my means, I work one because Minneapolis is not a cheap city to live in. Apartments in a non-crime infested neighborhood cost a little over a dollar a square foot, winter is hard on the utilities, and student loans aren't cheap either just to name a few.

How about instead of attacking each other here we stand together and seek to improve our situation. For real this time. Bored is absolutely right next time Contract negotiations come around fight for the rights of the bottom guy, no you may not be him ever again, but we were all there once.

Colnago

I agree. It sometimes almost sounds like my father and I when I was younger:

"Son, you have no idea how much harder it used to be back when I was your age."

"Dad, I understand, I respect you for the troubles you went through, and I believe you. However, there's no reason anyone should have to go through what you went."

"You're right, I'm just trying to give you a different perspective."

"Yes, I understand, thank you."