proskuneho

So you just grinned and bore it like a good soldier? You just paid your dues? The dues aren't getting any easier. The price for a right seat job at mainline is much higher than at any other point in history - for MOST people.

pagey

This is a more controlled response at least.

I don't come on here and complain about wages but........

The argument on this thread was started by a mainline pilot yelling at us for taking his job. We just went with it.

Like I said a couple posts ago, Other than the military, the regionals have become pretty much the only reliable way to get to that mainline position. This essentially forces us to accept those wages if we want a lucrative career. This is due to scope relaxation in the previous decade.

So yes we are 50% of the problem but it is not a problem that was caused by us.

proskuneho

Some of us didn't go the the regionals with 250 hours. I had almost 2000, but the mainlines want the turbine time - as well they should.

AlaskaBound

So you're basically bragging, and admitting, that ALPA national spent a hellovalot of money to come up with, and support, an offensive crap sandwich of an agreement (TA). Talk about being out of touch.

ALPA National did more harm than anything with the ASA/XJet agreement. They wasted TONS of money, resources and, time on pure crap. Another reason ALPA National is a giant joke. Keep your ALPA...we need our own regional union. One that can fight for us...not "settle" because sometimes we need to take what's given to us.

National's attorneys, financial specialists, and benefits specialists did NOTHING to help anyone in the ASA/Xjet agreement. I can't believe you're making an argument that they did so much to help. I just don't get it...simply baffled .

AlaskaBound

I suppose when you were a regional pilot the major airline pilots weren't throwing insults in your face and telling you you were the problem with the airline path of progression. I'm sure you didn't scream at mainline guys because they probably weren't screaming at you telling you you were the problem. Times have changed and it's hardly fair to compare. And just because things were crap then doesn't mean things have to stay the same. We need to stand up and make a change. Why settle? We don't have to be like the generation before us.

PCL_128

You're baffled because you don't understand the difference between what national does and what your local MEC does. National provides the resources. But you local leaders make the decisions. You don't think the guys at national are baffled by idiotic decisions at local MECs? Happens all the time. But it's not national's job to step in and tell individual pilot groups what to do. It's national's job to just provide the resources and let the local guys decide what they want to do. Even if it doesn't make much sense.

And for the record, I'd have voted against that POS contract, too. I just know better than to blame ALPA for it. Just like I don't blame ALPA for the craptastic SLI at my airline.

johnso29

You bet I did. I took the first upgrade that came my way. I bid crappy 0300 call out lines. And I picked up all the crappy 17 hour 4 days that no one wanted. I commuted to the East Coast, and endured 6+ hour delays along the way.(no 3 hr DOT rule yet) I won't deny that luck played a part in where I'm at today, but I also had to work for where I'm at today. And today, I don't look down on regional pilots. Regional pilots ARE my peers. I have never had to, but I will fight to get them in the jumpseat. And if I had my way, I'd bring every single one of you to mainline. Because as far as I'm concerned, you belong at mainline. And I believe the opportunity to do this is coming. Part 117, plus the new ATP rule is IMO going to crush the regionals. And I believe that this will cause severe staffing issues at the regionals. Unless they start sponsoring work visas, they'll have no choice but to bring them back in house. JMHO.


I don't disagree. And to be clear I never said regionals guys were to take all the blame. But as a post 9/11 regional guy myself, I do feel regional guys are partly responsible. More of my feelings are expressed above.

johnso29

Your supposition would be incorrect. I most certainly DID experience such things. The solution, is to get the flying where it belongs. In house. I will continue to strive for that. I will not pull the ladder up with me. I've been there. I have friends that are still there. We should all be belting the same call sign that is painted on our fuselage. But at the same time, we are ALL to blame.

AlaskaBound

Anyone that believes National doesn't have any influence, pull or say in the local MECs is naive. The politics within the ALPA leadership, local along with national, are deeply intertwined. Local MECs take direction from national. If national is going to spend TONS of money on local MECs affairs you better believe they will have a say as to what happens or what the local MEC does. You put WAY too much faith in National and their intentions.

And the Endeavor seniority list was a result of arbitration because there was no way the 3 carriers were going to agree to an ISL. Just assuming you were or are with 9E since you go by PCL. Ya can't blame ALPA for binding arbitration.

johnso29

National doesn't spend money on local MECs. That's why local MECs have their own treasurers. So that the treasurer can manage the local MEC's budget.