That sounds like the old tanker base in Fort Nelson. Or Ft. Simpson. Or... sound familiar, Cat?
Sounds just like High Level Alberta Xsbank the only thing you left out was while the tanker crew ate canned ham and cheese sandwiches with orange cool aid on the ramp like captive animals the elite first nations ground crews ate stake and potatoes in the cook house.
Is the same cave man mentality still prevelant at the Alberta Forest Service tanker bases today or have their management finally evolved past the stone age?
---------- ADS -----------
The hardest thing about flying is knowing when to say no
After over a half a century of flying no one ever died because of my decision not to fly.
You give money up front. It sits for the allotted time-frame in their bank account. They pay you some form of interest. If you leave within the first anniversary of your training event or hire the money is theirs. If you stay after a year the money is still theirs. You get it back if you leave after your year is over and you do not retrain. So your first year pay would be $36000 - $10000 = $26000 on the King Air as a Captain. $66000 - $15000 = $51000 for the overseas position on the RJ based on the 8 on 8 off schedule. You would make more on paper the second and third years because the money you gave them in the first year would just revolve back.
They secure a loan for you. They co-sign a loan for you with their bank. They get the $10K or $15K and you pay interest only payments for the allotted time. If you leave in "Good Terms" you get your money upfront. If you give receipts you can claim back your interest expenses. The hidden issue here is that your credit has a $10K - $15K loan on it. If they paid the loan on your behalf so the balance was zero at the end of the contract would be one thing but they do not do this.
It doesn't take a business degree with a bit of homework to see that this is a really great deal for them. Low interest loans for their training department and operations. I wish I could start a business where I charge my employees to finance my costs.
Wow... so by this document... if you quit 1 day before the year is up you're still on the hook for the full amount... that's brutal... but thanks odinga
---------- ADS -----------
Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac. George Orwell
Disclaimer: The above post was not meant to offend anyone.
I am really sorry. I swore I'd stay away from this subject. But I only have one little question.
WHAT KIND OF FRICKEN MORON WOULD SIGN SOMETHING LIKE THAT????????
I done mow.
Doc wrote:I am really sorry. I swore I'd stay away from this subject. But I only have one little question.
WHAT KIND OF Fricken MORON WOULD SIGN SOMETHING LIKE THAT????????
I done mow.
simmer down Doc... simmer the f@ck down!
---------- ADS -----------
Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac. George Orwell
Disclaimer: The above post was not meant to offend anyone.
Isn't that special - prime plus one = 5.75%. A one-year GIC = 2.25%. You lose 3.5%. Great deal!!
So if they "fire you with cause" or you "Don't attain a professional standard" or some such thing, a week before your year is up, you have to sue them to get your money back if you don't agree?
Let's see, hire ten new guys this year, could be $100,000 to $150,000 per year! The bank makes $3500 - $5200 (about) and Voyageur (oops, No-Name) gets a low-interest loan and a point-spread if they re-invest it. Why even bother selling tickets, just make sure there is a good turn-over. No wonder they treat interviewees with contempt. Holy crap.
GO FOR IT, GUYS! WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY!
Xsbank just left the building.
---------- ADS -----------
"What's it doing now?"
"Fly low and slow and throttle back in the turns."
If you give them cash, they hold it for a year and refund it to you IF you still work there. NO interest, it's NOT put into a GIC, it's NOT put 'in trust' so if they go tits up, you're FUCKED. Essentially you are providing them with an interest free loan for 12 months with NO guarantee that they will repay you.
If you don't have the cash, they will 'help' you arrange a loan from CIBC and the money will be directly deposited into Voyageur's bank account. YOU make the monthly interest payments for 12 months, you ARE NOT reimbursed for those interest payments, EVER - even if you stay for the full term of the agreement. If you get the loan, they will 'park' $15000 in a GIC and pay you the interest it accrues after 12 months, IF you still work there. There is NO guarantee that the interest accrued in a GIC will equal the interest that you paid over the course of the agreement.
If you cease to work there for ANY reason (other than layoff due to shortage of work), you're FUCKED. If they decide to fire your sorry ass before the 12 months is up, you're FUCKED. They OWN you, there is no recourse for a screwed over employee - it's completely one sided. You WILL NOT have an effective voice as an employee. If you see things that you don't like, will you push for change knowing that pissing off the boss might cost you $15000?? I can't believe there are pilots out there stupid enough to agree to this.
I have no issue with companies that utilize training bonds. I wish they didn't exist, but we have to live with them now thanks to scum sucking pilots who do not honour their word. A bond should only commence after the training is successfully completed, should last for a reasonable amount of time for a sum equal to the actual amount the company has invested in the employee - not a penny more. NO CASH/LOAN SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO BE PUT UP BY THE EMPLOYEE AS A CONDITION OF EMPLOYEMENT. The amount the company can bill you for (if you quit) should be pro-rated and should decrease with each month of employment. The document should protect the employer, but also the employee. It should read 'if your employment ceases as a result of your own resignation', or something along those lines. If they decide to terminate your employment they should not be able to chase you for the balance of the agreement.
I knew it was a shitty deal at Voyageur, but I had no idea it was this bad. I am astounded that they have anyone willing to agree to such nonsense. There’s a sucker born everyday I suppose.
---------- ADS -----------
Back out on that road again
Turn this beast into the wind
There are those that break and bend
I'm the other kind
You know what? At least now you can make an honest judgment of the company.
The only thing I'm wondering about is... if you have some sort of experience, does this bond still apply? I can't see anyone sticking around.. ANYONE past X amount of time on type (or after a year) but there are SOME that do... is the grass greener once the first year is over?
---------- ADS -----------
Every war when it comes, or before it comes, is represented not as a war but as an act of self-defense against a homicidal maniac. George Orwell
Disclaimer: The above post was not meant to offend anyone.
Hey Odinga. I really hope your not within your one year. If VAL finds out who you are, they are gonna terminate ya for breaching the confidentiality agreement, and now you owe $15k. GOOD LUCK.
I don't feel so bad about getting PFO'd... Its even worse than I thought. I wonder if CRA knows about this type of stuff? There is income that must be declared here for tax purposes.
I've read the above agreement. If an individual intends to stay on-board with the company in question, and is able to pass the training and the company doesn't face a financial downturn then he or she has nothing to worry about. However, having faced situations in my life that were beyond my control due to 'time and unforseen occurence' I would be very apprehensive to gamble with $15,000.
Some advice for the company in question: I don't know everything and I don't expect anyone to listen to me. However, it seems that your company is under an unusual amount of derogatory remarks. Whether these accusations are accurate or not the old adage comes to mind "Where there is smoke there is fire." When it comes to your training bond perhaps some adjustments are in order.
Shortly after being turned down to fly a King Air 100 by your company I was hired to fly a Dash 8 somewhere else. Of course, there were training costs incurred. Yet, the only thing I had to sign was a training agreement pro-rated over a certain amount of time. No money upfront or talk about a GIC. My company, who by the way has been very good to me and treats me with respect, is never talked about on AvCanada. Perhaps a similar plan will work well for your organization.
The biggest room in the world is the room for improvement.
simmer down Doc... simmer the f@ck down! 
