Well thats just it. Companies like Pasco don't need to treat people the way they do, and a union environment will change that for the better.

Please correct me if I'm wrong...

Conair is hardly a good company comparison to Pasco. One gets it's revenue from the traveling public (who are looking for the cheapest ride) and is in direct competition with other operators on several levels. The other gets government subsidized contracts, which involve minimum's for crews & aircraft. They get income when airplanes are sitting on the ground, & a lot more income when the fires are blazin'. I do believe Pasco must get a couple bucks for dropping the mail off at Bella Bella out of an otherwise empty 1900 though... I would love to see the books for both companies & see what the profits (or lack thereof) really are. Both are very good, yet different companies in my eyes.

A union isn't going to help much if it runs margins into the red.

Making a profit at the expense of the employees isn't the answer either. If the money just isn't there, than that's another story but a FAIR compromise must be made, but when one side doesn't play fair, well than, a union has to be brought in.

Is it just me or should you change your name to 1900bitch....Bitch ,bitch, bitch that's all you ever do. You must be one awesome pilot if you fly half as well as you bitch and complain.

Let's air our grievances shall we. The new credit system is far better than the old. We get guaranteed mimimum paychecks, the ability to earn more, during the summer rush able to collect overtime for more than just being called in. If you do choose to work overtime you earn over 100 bucks more compared to the old 4 and 4 system. The blocks don't get switched around as much as the used to, bringing more stability to the schedule. I got way more one plane, one co-pilot days in Jan then in the past. Oh ya here's the kicker if i worked the same Jan on the old pay scale I'd be $900 bucks poorer come payday, that is over 10 grand a year. What did we give up, we don't get paid to watch Family Guy for two hours.

There are times that we need to be flexible, ie not making it in to Trail for two days, but that goes with the territory. I guess that is a good reason for bringing the float guys down, they do a good job at adapting to daily change and know how to pitch in.

I now make the same amount as I did in my last job workin 80 less days a year giving me more family time. With the 5% company match I am saving 10 % of my salary for retirement. We have a good Benifits package, the passes could be better. We recieved a nice Christmas bonus so no charges went on my Visa for the holidays. The Saab guys got top up pay for last summer. All this from a fairly large family buisness. Two great staff parties. An employee appretiation lunch with Q and Vice Pres out BBQing salmon in the rain. All Westjet got were cup cakes We go union we can kiss all that good-bye.

For the guys that don't like it here I'm sorry and I wish you all the best with your career.

JT

I have to agree with Mr. Pow. I ws steering clear of this forum for most of it coz it was starting to get on my nerves but I just have to add my 2 cents. 1900guy, seems like they could be paying you with bars of gold and fistfuls of diamonds and you'd still be bitching. Personally, I don't think 70 grand is a bad salary for working 16 days a month. It's not gonna buy me a Porsche but then again, we're not curing cancer or saving the world now are we. We're driving planes full of drunken fishermen into Masset.
If you hate it so much, go work somewhere else. I somehow doubt all your problems are gonna be solved by bitching on an online forum.
I like the new pay structure. I did the math for the last month and I'm up about 800 bucks over the old pay scale. No complaints here

i like family guy!!

I fucking love family guy

I do agree at 100% with 805ITT and Captain 152.
What's the best in life : money or enjoying your life ?
Some of you guys just forgot what's the life of a pilot, the pleasure of being in a plane, looking outside and realizing what a beautiful job we have. Instead of that, you just care about numbers : how can you complain of 70000$ ? I would rather prefer that 100 times, than having 100000$ with a boring job.
If the company is good, with safe planes, good conditions of work and good ambiance, why would you consider those pilots as unhappy because they "only" get 70000 ?

so how are things on the maint. side? i am thinking of a move out to the left coast.

Sounds to me like there is a few pilots at pasco that should do a little research on unions
before commenting. For one, please can anybody tell me just one company that went broke
after unionizing? There are many benifits to both the employees and employers. By the way
"angry inch" hows your pention doing or is it dogfood for you once you pull the pin?

I spent my pension on flight training, and I've eaten lots of "dog" food!! ( mostly just drank his beer though )

I really couldn't tell you if any company went tits up because of unionization alone... Sounds unlikely. I do know that Airlines go bankrupt all the time though.

Now, the discussion on Pensions... especially future pensions & Airlines... That is a topic that deserves it's own thread.

Pensions, good topic. Most people I've talked to are on a company RRSP plan.
Some of the terms of these plans are not always in the best interest of the employee,
such as: The employer matched plan, where the employer only has to match what the employee contributes. On the surface this sounds like a not too bad idea, but keep in mind that in order to retire comfortably you must contribute at lest $200 a month. Doesn't sound bad until you take into consideration that your employer contributions have a cap and to achive the total $400 you need in your RRSP a month you have to contribute more. Also, that contribution rate works if your in your 20s, if your older you have to put in more.
The plan I am on is a defined benifit plan, meaning that my employer contributed X many dollars per month into my plan, I can add to it if I want to but it is not required. Every year I get a statment telling me how much I will get upon retirment. I get said amount every month for the rest of my life with no chance of the money running out. Is this true with your RRSP?
Just a few facts to chew on. Have a safe day everyone.

well, well.....
i don't usually read or join these things but i heard some thing through the grape vine and i had to see for myself. what really annoys me about these forums is that an individual can post and say whatever they want anonymously without taking responsibility for it and scuzz out whoever. what i am reading from a certain member disgusts me;

"We actually have a Goose guy that has decided to fly the 1900 for the winter to remain employed, and he CAN'T do it. Can't handle it, can't even understand it! I am definitely not going to say that he is not a good pilot, because he is. Very valuable as a Goose pilot, but he's not worth more than the rest of us."

1900 driver, i can't believe that you would say that about a fellow employee for the entire world to read. i am a long time Pacific Coastal employee and i know exactly who you'd talking about. he's a great guy , doesn't say much and works hard. if there's a problem maybe you should take it up with the CP and the individual concerned in private not public. i'm sure you had a learning curve and somebody helped you out.
also whats all this about a union will solve all your (our) problems. what exactly do you want? the new system is an improvement and has a few bugs. so what , we'll work it out. i'm curious to hear your suggestions. Smith inc would like to hear them as well. i've worked for them for most of my adult life and i've always been treated fairly. what a union going to do for you. take your dues, negotiate what we already have and you'll be out 40 bucks a month.
i think Pacific Coastal is a great place to work. good money, certainly industry standard, full benefits, profit sharing, xmas parties, etc. and you get to live in Vancouver. if you don't like it, get a different job, please. and if no one else will hire you , maybe its time to look at yourself as the source of all your problems. and then go back to school and get a 5 year teaching degree and start at 35 and top at 60 and teach some else's kids.
you're entitled to your opinion but lets hear some real solutions and less scuzzing.
most sincerely
mike godwin

Well said Mike. Well said.

There seems to be a bunch of ppl talking behind backs etc. If there truly is a problem, or a safety concern it should be directed to CP and the individual and certainly not gossiped about around the water cooler or on this public forum. Seriously.

And people wonder why mainline turned down so many a couple months back...

thank you,
he's replied to me privately and i have invited him to respond in public. in fact , i'm not responding to him in private any more.
here's what he wrote;

"Noted!
The post wasnt a reflection of him its a reflection on the company. Why would the company pass him on his ride. And nobody said he wasnt a great guy. Ive flown with him and I know hes a great guy and a good hands and feet guy. Its business not personal.

Theres more wanting a union than you think to.

Avcanada is no place for the thinskinned"



i'm not sure who he's referring to as thinskinned but it can't be me! i've got pretty thick skin!
mg

PMs are PMs...

shouldn't post them.

you're right....
however, if you're going to say something publicly then qualify it privately, doesn't work for me.
its kind of like the newspaper accidently accusing someone of a crime on the front page then publishing the correction in the back pages where no one sees it.
mg

And frankly, when you see that the guy is considering "Avcanada is no place for the thinskinned" and that the same guy is the one to talk anonymously in the back of other people, what a weird definition for a supposed "thickskinned" guy ! I've seen better proof of courage in my life !

1900guy - if the grass is so much greener on the other side, maybe it's time to jump the fence.... here, let me give you a boost.

I've worked in Pascoland for 5 years and it's the best job I've ever had. I've always worked hard, and I've always been well paid - but last year was a rough one even for me. So it's a good thing that the CP and Ops Mgr are good listeners because when I brought up the pay issues they actually looked into it. Q is a good listener too, and I know because I met with him about all this too. Surprise surprise, shortly thereafter DS was nominated to get the ball rolling on a new wage structure. Now that's all fixed up, and the company even went so far as to acknowledge the problems and give everyone a little extra for Christmas.

So now we have a great new pay structure, the same great 15 day a month schedule, and one @#$!@$# 1900guy who can't stop whining.

As far as concern about an accident, you're the only one who thinks it, so what are you doing wrong?

And as far as attacking co-workers anonymously on the internet who the #%@$ do you think you are. If you've got a problem try dealing with it like the professional you claim to be.


You're a pilot, and your job is to get people from A to B safely. It's not monday to friday 9-5, and it's not exclusive of all the other things that go into making it happen like loading bags, working WITH dispatch, dealing with passengers, etc. So if you don't want to deal with people, get your hands dirty, or work shiftwork maybe you're in the wrong line of work.

Thanks to 805ITT, Captain 152, Mabcan, and NGodline and everyone else with the balls not to speak on condition of anonymity!

Best of luck to anyone who doesn't like it here, I hope you find your Utopia - send us a postcard when you get there.

DAM

PS. There's a chance to air any grievances you may have publicly on the 20th and/or 26th.

I would just like to ask all the anti-union pilots, what are you afraid of?
Does the fact that having a union force you to use your skills in the sky to advance
rather than your skills under the desk?

If anything unions require you to use less "skill in the sky", as you are considered competent for an upgrade or advancement based on the order in which you were hired and not any particular merit or skill...If you can stooge your way through a ride when your number is called, you're good to go...

Thats not how it worked for any union outfit I worked for. There was no protection for you if you have no skill. The company still had the ability to get rid of the bad pilots. Most unions will only protect you from unfair labour practices, if your a bad pilot they don't stand in the way as you pilot your way to the unemployment office. I know of only a few unions that will make the effort to see if maybe you just need more training or if your just not good. My advice would be to contact a union and get the answers first hand, in my opinion, the Operating Engineers is the best to contact.

hey jumpteam,
i like pasco just the way it is, non-union. i actually work there and apparently you don't so why don't you mind your own business and leave us alone...

ngodline wrote:hey jumpteam,
i like pasco just the way it is, non-union. i actually work there and apparently you don't so why don't you mind your own business and leave us alone...

I think six pages of this thread is enough.

stl