AVCANADA

All this talk about 80%, WJ 737 pilots feeding of their own young is COMPLETE and uselesss nonesense. If you could seee our forums, you would see there is nothing but concern being shown towards the pilots that would be flying the q400. NOTHING but concern. We want the new hires on the q400 to feel a part of the famly. Full equals. Maintaining culture is paramount. I personally think if the current pilots feel the culture is going to be sacrificed I think there would be a NO vote for the new venture. This won't work if culture is sacrificed.

We havent seen any numbers yet so lets not jump to conclusions. But lets say starting pay is 80% of the MEDIAN (1,2,7,8,9.........what is the median? Hint: it isn't 5.4)? But then lets say year 3 is 110% of the median? Just remember this is the Executives coming up with a preliminary plan. Do you really think they are going to say right off the bat, "Let's start the pilots at 120% median". Obviously not. And I am glad they don't. As an Exec that wouldn't be very responsible of them. If this venture is as successful as we all hope, the future will be very bright for the pilots.

Hi,
Please re read my post. In particular the set in stone piece....

First thing that you need to stop doing is referring to 'median'. Why not try replacing it with the word 'fair' And then go one step further - define what 'fair' means in the context of both a current WJ pilot and a future WJ (and I use this word with disdain - 'Regional') pilot.

Rudder, that sounds like a threat. Grow up.

We're building a company that will be strong and give pilots lifetime employment and will be here for a long time, free from the chains of antagonism that most other outfits suffer from. Too bad you weren't on site to separate the wheat from the chaff.

How much longer do you give Jazz, Porter, and AC in their present form, if at all?

Stu, what do you propose, have management give away all the numbers before you set it up? We're in a fight for the marketplace, not for the 'movement'?

Any of you guys ever read ANY non-fiction business books?

The pilots at Westjet have earned the respect of their peers through a great contract with industry leading wages. The company benefits by your industry leading productivity. Westjet can start a regional carrier with an industry leading pay-scale and still have a lower cost structure than the competition. This can be done by having a contract with a higher pilot productivity. In addition during the first few years of its existence everyone will be at the bottom of the pay scale adding to the companies cost advantage during the start-up phase. I am confident that the pilots I know at Westjet will not let this thing happen at 80% pay-scale, but if by chance it does, not only will you loose the respect of your peers, but this will be the beginning of the end of your great corporate culture. This venture is nothing like the early days of Westjet getting by on their start up capital and fighting it out with two established carriers. This is a venture being started by the number two by market share airline in Canada with the healthiest balance sheet in the industry.

(WJA) bought some battery booster packs. They're in the crew room. Use them to get your car started.

I am confident that the pilots I know at Westjet will not let this thing happen at 80% pay-scale, but if by chance it does, not only will you loose the respect of your peers, but this will be the beginning of the end of your great corporate culture.

One last thing.

In reality Gregg is betting his job against this. If this idea goes down in flames, there is a good chance Gregg could be out of a job. The last 2 outside CEO's left after making some big mistakes. On at least one other occasion, rumour has it that the pilot group lost confidence in an EVP. The pilots approached the BoD who removed the EVP. At your company's, your CEO's have made huge mistakes and instead of being shown the door, your BoD has given them giant golden handshakes.

BTW, we didn't negotiate a good contract last time around so it would benefit Jazz or Air Canada. If you get a better contract because of our wages, than I'm genuinely happy for you guys, but stop trying to dictate to us what we need in a contract and how our company needs to be structured just so you can ride our coattails.