Fubijaakr said:
http://www.airlinepilotpay.com/jetblue/jetblue.htm
Except:
1. There are no 12 year jetBlue Captains. With the 5 year "renewable" contract who knows if there ever will be any. So, today's rate is $121 as per the linked reference. So, let's compare apples to apples.
2. The requirement for companies to expense stock options may eliminate that "perk" for jetBlue pilots, so, once again, your comment is disingenuous.
You can "blue sky" jetBlue's pay scales all you want, but the truth is their pay/benefits are substandard and they're non-union. Any improvements will be at the whim of management with no input required or desired from the pilot group.
Very valid points you have made.
1. Even with the 'Evergreen' automatically renewing contracts every 5 years, there are not any guarantees. Even with a union on the property and no contracts, there are no guarantees at any company that I know of for continued existence and operation.
2. As 'disingenous' as you may find the stock options offered, they are real, valid and not something offered by every operator in our industry. I for one was never offered these anywhere I worked. I have another tidbit which may appeal to your execrable attitude toward us underlings at B6. Regarding our 'perks', before you comment, may I suggest 'Consider Your Options' by K.A.Thomas.
Right you are, we are non union, underpaid, with pitiful benefits, operating at the whim of a glutonous, selfserving corporation which may or may not dole out any scraps to the hungry hounds.
I don't want to bring anything personal into this but after over 25 years of ALPA membership, I wondered where ALPA was at the end when I was standing up to my knees in smoldering corporate ruin with a family who was accustomed to wonderful pay and benefits and all the prestiege of being part of a 'major' named airline. Get a grip on something real here. If you want to talk apples to apples, let's do. Your beloved union is nothing to do with your job security. Your benefits, pay and 'job security' are all guarantees of your union's negotiations with your employer. I assure you that the difference in my lifestyle now and compared with 'then' are negligible. The dollar buying power if I rely only on my airline income may be a little less, but nothing considered pitiful by the yardstick of our country's masses of workers. We are all pitifully paid if you consider the big picture in corporate America. I don't even know what the dues are now but considering it was somewhere under 2% eons ago when I paid, and considering that I am offered 'free' loss of license insurance, which at my age is somewhere around $600. US lucky bucks/month, the hourly pay argument is brought a little closer to even. Considering that I am offered all the health and medical, life insurance I ever had at a union represented carrier for a mere pitance per pay period. Considering that the offers here of profit sharing are actually something that you can 'put in the bank' and have equalled a substantial amount of money each year for several consecutive years. The company actually matches a portion of our retirement contributions, (what a concept). Considering the open door policy and the availability the headshed has with regular public accessibility meetings and annual surveys of our desires, likes and dislikes which they listen to and act upon, it seems that we do have a very good company in which we may all be proud to work for. Are they different from yours, YES. Am I glad, YES. Do I have to critique you to make myself feel good about myself, NO. Do I have any reason to believe I am at fault for the rest of the industry's problems which existed long before B6. You answer that one... B)
