SMACFUM

It's not a rumor. It was confirmed on the SAPA website, and 2 reps that I've spoken with. It's in the very beginning stages, nobody really knows what's going to come of it.

Chip and Mike flew out to DEN for the last SAPA meeting specifically to talk about opening up talks for re-negotiated pay before the current "agreement" is due.

According to the reps I spoke with, they were just talking in generalities, no specifics. Chip and Mike make it clear that the company wants to completely corner the market on new hire pilots. They asked SAPA in general terms what they would need to see to make it happen.

Airfix

5 hours per duty day minimum.
12 days off minimum for line holders
Annual pay raises to keep us up with inflation like we used to have starting right now with 5% to make up for the last contract *cough* agreement.
Proffering for reserves.
When switching seats, domicile, aircraft you take awarded master vacation with you.
Predetermined reserve coverage system wide to allow x% people to drop trips or use vacation after bid award for their last minute plans.
150% pay on all open time within 5 day window i.e revoke the 115% and 130% brackets.
Honor seniority during bid awards.
Probably some other reserve improvements that reservists would be more qualified to ask for.

We need to go in for what we want and not accept the first or second offer if it's not good enough. This is a negotiation. If the company has come to us then they need something. Let's not buckle under threats of downsizing or other fear tactics.

We pilots don't need higher first year pay. We need quality of life improvements which include a mechanism to use all the vacation accrued that can never be used.

Airfix

Majerus

Taking master vacation with you when you upgrade or switch doesn't honor seniority. You can't have it both ways.

Everything in open time within 5 days already pays 150%, so I'm not sure you even know what you're talking about.

elmetal

Well, it also doesn't honor seniority when a 4 year fo transfers to a base and loses his vacation because a 1 year fo got it.

Not sure how to rectify the situation though

Majerus

If I can hold master vacation over Christmas as a FO then go and upgrade and get to keep it over a bunch of captains that can't get it, that's doesn't honor seniority.. If your seniority can hold it in your new seat for sure, we should get to keep it but that situation would be the minority.

elmetal

Would it? I disagree. I've faced one situation where that wasn't the case (bro-crj) and am about to face it again (crj-den)

Airfix

I understand that. However by having the 115% and 130% brackets it is an effective pay cut for open time. People picking up trips at those lower brackets are losing out on the 150% pay just because the don't have patience. The company knew that introducing those two extra brackets would reduce their costs and mean they have to pay less 150% pay. In my opinion it was a huge mistake and concession to accept anything other than 150% pay for open time.

With regard to vacation something needs to be done. The bro pilots couldn't bid any master vacation after march 2015. Then with an upgrade or base switch i wasn't awarded master vacation in 2016. That's 2 years with no vacation. I put in for vacation every month. Every time it is denied. I have a whole page of denials on my swol. I know people that have bid for vacation every week of the year and get awarded barely anything.

There is no reason you can't take your vacation with you while honoring seniority if the company had enough reserves. If you can hold it in seat/base then you key your vacation. They just need enough reserves to cover it.

Airfix

rickair7777

Involuntary transfers should keep their vacy.

Also bypassed folks should get vacay they would have been able top bid for if not bypassed (rare situation since most bypassed are going to lower relative seniority positions and are usually better off keeping the vacy in the current position).

Otherwise, make your bid effective after the vacation if it's that important to you.

rickair7777

Also I don't see why we need to mandate overtime rates for VOLUNTARY open time...that's the company's problem not ours. They can either staff properly, or pay whatever rate the market will bear...anywhere from straight-time to 500%, whatever it takes. I'd rather they just staff.

telejet

Upgrade now down to 2.5 years, and the bids still aren't completely done yet. Could go more junior.