Pinnacle asking 7% from pilots
#341
Line Holder
Joined APC: Jan 2008
Position: Musical Chairs
Posts: 74
+1 to the above post. The truth is: PNCL is either going or not going into BK. Our 5% has no bearing on this, we must all accept it. If you were management, how much of a difference can a 5% cut to your pilot's already low pay save per flight hour in comparison to all the other associated expenses with running an airline? Little, if any. VOTE NO.
#342
Been through this before, not been through this before... It doesnt matter.
This is bigger than just "will this prevent bankruptcy at pinnacle". Its a statment to the industry as a whole in my opinion.
/Begin Rant
What are you worth as a pilot?
EVERYONE one working at Pinnacle, or any other regional for that matter, EVERYONE knew that they are entering an industry that is known for extreme ups, and extreme downs. Especially the side of the industry that we are in, the regionals.
No one looking at working at a regional ever said to themselves, "this is forever, I am going to be happy here!".
What happens is that people get cozy with their seniority and dont want to take the pay cut or cut in QOL by moving up to a major like they originally planned.
My point is, we ALL knew what we were getting in to when we signed up for this gig and we all assumed the risks. It is our responsibility to have our own back up plans just in case. Whats the advice we always give to young teens looking to aspire to become pilots? Get a degree in somthing other than aviation, THEN pursue the flying. We cant all be blind to our own advice.
Personally I have a plan B and plan B and a half. Just for situations like this.
In regards to the argument of if we vote no, we lose it all... I disagree.
If we vote yes, we do what pilots before us have done for years. We bow our heads to those who feed our supposed "addiction" to fly.
If we vote yes we bow our heads to those in corporate who are used to the idea of the "Let me fly your jet for free" pilots.
If we vote yes, we are continuing to prostitute, yes prostitute, our hard earned, highly skilled trade out to corporate mis-managment and greed.
As a group of high skilled, well trained, highly capable pilots who take tens of thousands of people from point A to point B safely multiple times a day, WE need to draw a line. because if we dont, we have NO RIGHT to come on to boards like this, go to Nightline, CNN or congress to complain. Because we have been, and would have continued to be the ones to blame.
Our industry treats pilots like dirt because when they shove our face in the sand with pay cuts or say "fly my plane for peanuts", and This is what SM is asking us to do now, those pilots before us said: "yessir, thankyou sir, let me keep flying for poverty wages sir, THANK YOU!"
I for one, say how dare you?
How dare you propose taking 5% away from my salary when I can just barely cover rent for a one bedroom apartment and purchase groceries based on what I make today? Where do you get the audacity to ask that of me? How dare you ask that of me, Sean Menke.
I paid close to $45,000 of my hard earned cash to pay for my flight training. It took me 6 years from my intro flight till I got my first regional job (I did not sell out to the first bidder and chose from three that offered me a job). I am not here to just so I can get my hands on a shiny plane, be it a 900, 200 400, saab or Superjumbostratoliner jet. I am here because its what I enjoy doing, and I do it well. It is my CAREER and deserve to be paid fairly for the level of experience and responsibilty that the position entails.
My 5% did not bring Pinnacle to where it is today. Management oversight did. Redundant positions, poor scheduling technuiqe, lack of proper maintenance and operations like running IAD with 5 Q400s based there with no reserve crews to back it up brought Pinnacle to where it is. And guess what, your 5% is not what got it here either.
Its time to take a stand and set a precedent that I can only hope other regional groups will follow. Look at history, look at how often the pay cuts actually helped and then look at how often then didnt.
What are you worth as a pilot? I can assure you it is more than what our industry standard is today, because people before us, in our position bowed their head and sold themselves out to poor managment decisions.
So look at youself in the mirror and honestly ask yourself:
"What is all of my training, skill and experience worth?"
I know what I am worth.
My vote is no.
/end rant
Disclaimer: Agree with me, or not... I didnt post this to hear you tell me I am wrong or right. I posted this because I feel this issue is bigger than the sum of pinnacle and it has always sicked me that we cant see that our worst enemy in this industry is us.
This is bigger than just "will this prevent bankruptcy at pinnacle". Its a statment to the industry as a whole in my opinion.
/Begin Rant
What are you worth as a pilot?
EVERYONE one working at Pinnacle, or any other regional for that matter, EVERYONE knew that they are entering an industry that is known for extreme ups, and extreme downs. Especially the side of the industry that we are in, the regionals.
No one looking at working at a regional ever said to themselves, "this is forever, I am going to be happy here!".
What happens is that people get cozy with their seniority and dont want to take the pay cut or cut in QOL by moving up to a major like they originally planned.
My point is, we ALL knew what we were getting in to when we signed up for this gig and we all assumed the risks. It is our responsibility to have our own back up plans just in case. Whats the advice we always give to young teens looking to aspire to become pilots? Get a degree in somthing other than aviation, THEN pursue the flying. We cant all be blind to our own advice.
Personally I have a plan B and plan B and a half. Just for situations like this.
In regards to the argument of if we vote no, we lose it all... I disagree.
If we vote yes, we do what pilots before us have done for years. We bow our heads to those who feed our supposed "addiction" to fly.
If we vote yes we bow our heads to those in corporate who are used to the idea of the "Let me fly your jet for free" pilots.
If we vote yes, we are continuing to prostitute, yes prostitute, our hard earned, highly skilled trade out to corporate mis-managment and greed.
As a group of high skilled, well trained, highly capable pilots who take tens of thousands of people from point A to point B safely multiple times a day, WE need to draw a line. because if we dont, we have NO RIGHT to come on to boards like this, go to Nightline, CNN or congress to complain. Because we have been, and would have continued to be the ones to blame.
Our industry treats pilots like dirt because when they shove our face in the sand with pay cuts or say "fly my plane for peanuts", and This is what SM is asking us to do now, those pilots before us said: "yessir, thankyou sir, let me keep flying for poverty wages sir, THANK YOU!"
I for one, say how dare you?
How dare you propose taking 5% away from my salary when I can just barely cover rent for a one bedroom apartment and purchase groceries based on what I make today? Where do you get the audacity to ask that of me? How dare you ask that of me, Sean Menke.
I paid close to $45,000 of my hard earned cash to pay for my flight training. It took me 6 years from my intro flight till I got my first regional job (I did not sell out to the first bidder and chose from three that offered me a job). I am not here to just so I can get my hands on a shiny plane, be it a 900, 200 400, saab or Superjumbostratoliner jet. I am here because its what I enjoy doing, and I do it well. It is my CAREER and deserve to be paid fairly for the level of experience and responsibilty that the position entails.
My 5% did not bring Pinnacle to where it is today. Management oversight did. Redundant positions, poor scheduling technuiqe, lack of proper maintenance and operations like running IAD with 5 Q400s based there with no reserve crews to back it up brought Pinnacle to where it is. And guess what, your 5% is not what got it here either.
Its time to take a stand and set a precedent that I can only hope other regional groups will follow. Look at history, look at how often the pay cuts actually helped and then look at how often then didnt.
What are you worth as a pilot? I can assure you it is more than what our industry standard is today, because people before us, in our position bowed their head and sold themselves out to poor managment decisions.
So look at youself in the mirror and honestly ask yourself:
"What is all of my training, skill and experience worth?"
I know what I am worth.
My vote is no.
/end rant
Disclaimer: Agree with me, or not... I didnt post this to hear you tell me I am wrong or right. I posted this because I feel this issue is bigger than the sum of pinnacle and it has always sicked me that we cant see that our worst enemy in this industry is us.
#343
As long as my W2 is not affected, I will more likely be flexible. otherwise its NO for many of the reason bzwebner pointed out.
#344
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2011
Position: Taco Rocket Operator
Posts: 2,485
I understand your sentiments but....are you implying even in the slightest that your pilot pay at any airline was even a sliver of a reason the airline liquidated? Your pay was to high to keep the airline in business and if you would work for cheaper it would still be in business?????
My point is that if this goes to a bankruptcy situation, it is not going to be the walk in the park that some of these no cheerleaders like Shyguy think its going to be. For that reason, I have been pointing out why I think some will vote for the cuts in the end, and why it shouldn't be held against them. Likewise, I understand why many will vote no, and that should not be held against them either. This will be a difficult decision for everyone, and each should vote their conscience (if it comes to that).
#345
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2011
Position: Taco Rocket Operator
Posts: 2,485
Kat, don't take this as a personal jab.
I have been through this, and as a result of the "education" of Comair going through BK, voting for cuts, and still shrinking, I know exactly how I would vote given this situation. You can spell it with two letters and one of them is N.
I have been through this, and as a result of the "education" of Comair going through BK, voting for cuts, and still shrinking, I know exactly how I would vote given this situation. You can spell it with two letters and one of them is N.
I don't take it personally. I understand why you feel the way you do. I was working in CS at Comair before the DL buyout, and left there just after the strike because I could see the handwriting on the wall with DL. Still have lots of friends there, and some days it really makes you angry when you realize how Delta has systematically destroyed what was once a great company and a great place to work.
That being said, I also respect the reasons why some would want to do everything possible to avoid bankruptcy, and give DL even more power to decide Pinnacle's fate.
#346
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,916
My point is that if this goes to a bankruptcy situation, it is not going to be the walk in the park that some of these no cheerleaders like Shyguy think its going to be. For that reason, I have been pointing out why I think some will vote for the cuts in the end, and why it shouldn't be held against them. Likewise, I understand why many will vote no, and that should not be held against them either. This will be a difficult decision for everyone, and each should vote their conscience (if it comes to that).
In every single case I can think of where pilots voted in paycuts to "help" the airline, they all declared bankruptcy a short time later to a few years later, WHILE still operating under those cut wages! LEARN FROM HISTORY!
#347
By the way, where does all this talk of liquidation and shutting the doors come from? That's just people letting their fear get the better of them...
#348
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2008
Posts: 939
Uh, no. Because for the lifers, they are lifers. No other lifeline left other than Pinnacle corp. The whiners and upgrade chasers will just run to the next crappy operation that has (relatively) quick movement.
Pilots at other regionals don't decide where the flying comes from.
Pilots at other regionals don't decide where the flying comes from.
You just know it all don't you? Well Hurry your whiney self up and go to GoJet since you want to be a street CA there so bad. I'll write the LOR for you.
#350
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2007
Posts: 520
u see, thats where they get a quick, easy AND free 5%. the stupid pilot group willingly gives up the 5% then they declare bankruptcy - then they take a resonable ( to the judge) 8-10% him not knowing that u just took 5-- SO>>>>>>> after its all said and done- that 5% u gave now becomes 13-15% game over you lose.
thats why you always say no to a peddly 5%--- 5% is a complete joke in the grand scheme of things-- ur payrates arent what keeps pinnancle out of BK- it's what makes them much more profitable, quicker when coming out-- DUH!
thats why you always say no to a peddly 5%--- 5% is a complete joke in the grand scheme of things-- ur payrates arent what keeps pinnancle out of BK- it's what makes them much more profitable, quicker when coming out-- DUH!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Lbell911
Regional
23
04-22-2012 10:33 AM