From October 4 2017 ALPA Fast Read email -

"ENDEAVOR AIR MEC RAISES THE BAR WITH TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ON CONTRACT EXTENSION
At a special meeting Tuesday, the Endeavor Air MEC unanimously endorsed a contract extension tentative agreement (TA) and elected to send the TA to the pilots for a ratification vote.
“The gains we’ve achieved in this tentative agreement are substantial,” said Capt. Jim Johnson, EDV MEC chairman, “and not only restore what we lost in bankruptcy, but establish hourly wage rates far above the current industry standard.”
Key points in the TA, which would extend the existing contract to January 1, 2024, include:
Hourly pay rates for captains and first officers will be the highest in the industry, with many longevity steps reaching over 20% above industry average for captains and 45% above industry average for first officers.
401(k) improvements that include a 1-to-1 company match, with the most senior pilots receiving a 12.5% match.
Incremental per diem increases from $1.80 to $1.95 in 2023.
An increase in sick leave accrual from 2.5 hours per month to 3.5 hours per month, and 4 hours per month commencing in 2020 for all pilots regardless of longevity.
Reserve pilots will receive 12 days off per month.
Restoration of long call reserve.
Long stay/short stay hotel provisions.
Vacation accrual changes.
New fleet commitment from Delta in connection with minimum number of 76-seat aircraft.
The EDV MEC will host a series of roadshows, all-pilot conferences calls, and crew room visits to educate the pilots on the merits of the TA before a ratification vote opens in early November."

They're making it better for their pilots again! I remember reading a news article about them having increased the salaries and introduced signing bonuses last year.

This is an acknowledgement of a model that market forces and a progressive ownership are capable of creating. Others should watch closely. Competitors for CPA pilot labour that do not follow suit will suffer according and will over time shrink and eventually disappear.

Canada is slow coming to the party but is headed down the same road. Status quo will not prevail.

Certainly step in the right direction. Hopefully this positive movement leads to better deals for other pilots groups. I can only hope Canadian contracts are soon to follow.

These airlines are finally realizing that the successful airlines are the ones that can find pilots, not the ones with the cheapest workforce.

I suspect the Canadian industry will lobby to allow the increased hiring of foreign pilots and the government will comply.

A couple interesting notes about the new TA.

From Airline Pilot Forums, it sounds as if the Endeavor pilots aren't all that blown away by the contract. Endeavor currently has a $23,000 a year retainment bonus that is in effect until next year. Yes, that's right, every pilot on property gets a $23,000 bonus (in quarterly instalments). The new TA basically removes that bonus but puts it in wages. That is definitely a positive step as the bonus was due to expire in 2018 and hourly wages are much easier to use as comparators but it doesn't sound like it's actually a huge pay increase from what they are getting now.

The big thing for Regional pilots in the states now is career progression. American is leading the way with directly flow (to bottom of the list) without another interview from their three wholly owned regionals (Envoy, Piedmont and PSA). Currently Endeavor has a guaranteed interview with Delta, but not a direct flow. It sounds like the Endeavor pilots are pushing for direct flow.

A quick sample snapshot at year 5 Captain pay (76 Jet pay) for Regionals.



AIRLINE, HOURLY PAY, PENSION

Endevour new TA, $97.00, max 12% employer match (401K similar to our DC)


Jazz pre Jan 2015, $94.75, (2.5% lower), defined benefit (typically 5% employee, 9-13% employer)
Jazz post Jan 2015, $87.99, (9.3% lower), 6% employee, 7% employer match


Sky Regional, $87.60, (9.5% lower), 5% employee, 5% employer match
(no union protection, inferior scheduling rules to Jazz)

The US regionals have now passed the Canadian regionals in pay, scheduling, pension, and commuting rules with a way lower cost of living. PLUS, American Airlines wholly owned regionals have a direct flow through.(no further interview required) Only Encore/Westjet has it here.

My view on regional airlines is a different topic all together. Anything over 300 NM, in my opinion, is not a regional route. Many routes operated by modern regional 76 jets are well over 1000NM! Major airlines have convinced mainline unions to sell their young for upward gains in their contracts. In fact major airlines are now convincing mainline unions to seperate their own lists now. (in house LCC's) Bring scope back to the floor as we all work for the same brand. However, this would take bargaining capital by the mainline unions which is simply not going to happen. There lies one of the biggest problems with us pilots. Pilots now have the leverage, we just have to realize it.

Art