Hey guys, just wanted to clear some things up regarding the merging of scheduling systems. I've been hearing a lot of incorrect information from ASA guys with respect to how the ExpressJet system is perceived.
1. Initial Line Improvement Window: Many guys feel this is circumventing seniority because it allows everyone to improve their schedules on a first come first serve basis. This is incorrect because all pilots are award their lines in senority order and the senior pilots have no need to trade unless they need to for some reason. You are still awarded the schedule your seniority can hold. Line improvement is simply a tool to improve your schedule should you desire to do so.
2. Add Pay: I've heard ASA pilots who believe this provision had "bankrupt" the company. First of all, ExpressJet was never bankrupt. The reason we lost so much money was not our contract, but the fact that 69 airplanes were cut from our CPA and we attempted our own branded flying. The union has researched this, our contract DID NOT cause a cash deficiency. For those that don't know, add pay is the ability to get paid over guarantee regardless of your awarded line value (even after vacation) in the secondary line improvement window. In a vacation month you can fly 40 hours and get paid 90.
3. ExpressJet is causing the combined company to lose money: Right now ExpressJet (old) is actually turning a nice profit. We are gaining flying and block hours and have upgrade and new hire classes scheduled through the end of July with projections to continue. ASA is losing aircraft and block hours and losing a large amount of cash due to issues with the current PBS system. Furloughed pilots will be brought on at ExpressJet until the lists are merged.
Im not trying to say one is better than the other by any means. Im interested in working together to achieve the best possible outcome for the combined company. I just want to set the record straight after hearing many ASA pilots with misconceived notions about our company and why we shouldn't keep certain valuable portions of our contract going forward.
1. Initial Line Improvement Window: Many guys feel this is circumventing seniority because it allows everyone to improve their schedules on a first come first serve basis. This is incorrect because all pilots are award their lines in senority order and the senior pilots have no need to trade unless they need to for some reason. You are still awarded the schedule your seniority can hold. Line improvement is simply a tool to improve your schedule should you desire to do so.
2. Add Pay: I've heard ASA pilots who believe this provision had "bankrupt" the company. First of all, ExpressJet was never bankrupt. The reason we lost so much money was not our contract, but the fact that 69 airplanes were cut from our CPA and we attempted our own branded flying. The union has researched this, our contract DID NOT cause a cash deficiency. For those that don't know, add pay is the ability to get paid over guarantee regardless of your awarded line value (even after vacation) in the secondary line improvement window. In a vacation month you can fly 40 hours and get paid 90.
3. ExpressJet is causing the combined company to lose money: Right now ExpressJet (old) is actually turning a nice profit. We are gaining flying and block hours and have upgrade and new hire classes scheduled through the end of July with projections to continue. ASA is losing aircraft and block hours and losing a large amount of cash due to issues with the current PBS system. Furloughed pilots will be brought on at ExpressJet until the lists are merged.
Im not trying to say one is better than the other by any means. Im interested in working together to achieve the best possible outcome for the combined company. I just want to set the record straight after hearing many ASA pilots with misconceived notions about our company and why we shouldn't keep certain valuable portions of our contract going forward.