Air force defends bonus pay system as pilots file dozens of grievances, refuse promotions

[daftandbarmy]

The RCAF don't do mutinies; they call it a 'labour dispute'

Air force defends bonus pay system as pilots file dozens of grievances, refuse promotions​

New experience-based pay rate for military pilots was poorly thought out: internal defence report​

A new experience-based pay rate for military pilots — intended to keep them in uniform rather than flying for commercial airlines — was poorly thought out, badly implemented and has resulted in some officers refusing promotions because it would set them back financially, says an internal Defence Department report obtained by CBC News.

The changes were conceived five years ago by air force brass and came into effect in the spring of 2021. They were made in response to a 2018 report by the auditor general that identified critical shortages of trained pilots and technicians that were preventing the Royal Canadian Air Force from meeting NORAD and NATO operational commitments.

The new pay system, which mimics the graduated civilian system of increasing pay for each year of flying experience, whether or not a person gets promoted in rank, has resulted in 85 internal grievances from pilots who consider it unfair and career-limiting.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/air-force-bonus-system-9.6946010?cmp=newsletter_Morning%20Headlines%20from%20CBC%20News_1613_2049892

 

[Furniture]

Who'd imagine paying Capts more than Majs, in the same occupation, would lead to issues?

 

[Halifax Tar]

Who'd imagine paying Capts more than Majs, in the same occupation, would lead to issues?

Crazy eh ?

 

[Jarnhamar]

Who'd imagine paying Capts more than Majs, in the same occupation, would lead to issues?

Is this for captains who are still actively flying or for any pilot-trade captain?

 

[dapaterson]

Who'd imagine paying Capts more than Majs, in the same occupation, would lead to issues?

Why pay someone with thousands of hours more experience and more qualifications more money - is that the question?

 

[Booter]

It’s not unusual for people in my outfit to make substantially more than their higher ranked unit heads. It’s overtime but it’s something our leadership just has to live with. The operators make more for their expertise and demand.

Like to the tune of the next rank leading to you making 40 or 50 grand less.

 

[Furniture]

It’s not unusual for people in my outfit to make substantially more than their higher ranked unit heads. It’s overtime but it’s something our leadership just has to live with. The operators make more for their expertise and demand.

Like to the tune of the next rank leading to you making 40 or 50 grand less.

I suspect its a case of people joining with that as the expectation, not having a new pay scale foisted on them partway through their careers.

Im not arguing for or against anything, I simply pointed out that it was an obvious issue that would come up.

Edit: There is also a big difference between OT and base pay, which may also be a part of some discontent.

 

[Booter]

I suspect its a case of people joining with that as the expectation, not having a new pay scale foisted on them partway through their careers.

Im not arguing for or against anything, I simply pointed out that it was an obvious issue that would come up.

Definitely a point of consideration.

 

[rnkelly]

Why pay someone with thousands of hours more experience and more qualifications more money - is that the question?

The problem is when the same experience/qualifications/time-in but the captain makes more than the major. Over time it will fix itself but for those stuck in the transition years, it’s pretty bad considering there’s easy ways to fix it. It’s a recognized problem but authority is unwilling to fix so multiple people are refusing maj promotion or asking for a rank reduction to capt, its not ideal.

 

[dapaterson]

The problem is when the same experience/qualifications/time-in but the captain makes more than the major. Over time it will fix itself but for those stuck in the transition years, it’s pretty bad considering there’s easy ways to fix it. It’s a recognized problem but authority is unwilling to fix so multiple people are refusing maj promotion or asking for a rank reduction to capt, its not ideal.

Grant the reduction in rank, let them fly. That's the easy button.

 

[rnkelly]

Grant the reduction in rank, let them fly. That's the easy button.

Agree, assuming we have enough majors to do the jobs. De-incentivizing promising prospects from becoming majors is a problem. Personally, I think the new pay scheme is a good idea and has potential. Unfortunately, the execution was less than ideal for those stuck in the transition. I’ll be interested to see how they manage it in the future when qualifications are tied to pay gates but the limited training capacity isn’t allocated equitably. Anyway, not the biggest problem our military currently has.

 

[dapaterson]

Agree, assuming we have enough majors to do the jobs. De-incentivizing promising prospects from becoming majors is a problem. Personally, I think the new pay scheme is a good idea and has potential. Unfortunately, the execution was less than ideal for those stuck in the transition. I’ll be interested to see how they manage it in the future when qualifications are tied to pay gates but the limited training capacity isn’t allocated equitably. Anyway, not the biggest problem our military currently has.

Let pilots fly, and other occupations manage and operate the RCAF.

Pilots are MSE Ops of the air. Commanded by the occasional Log O. Maybe that's the solution - NCM pilots for 80-90% of the pilot occupation who would fly for the overwhelming majority of their careers (who'd be paid more than most GSOs) and a small cadre of pilot officers. And leave the RCAF to be planned, operated and executed by other air ops air trades.

 

[MilEME09]

Let pilots fly, and other occupations manage and operate the RCAF.

Pilots are MSE Ops of the air. Commanded by the occasional Log O. Maybe that's the solution - NCM pilots for 80-90% of the pilot occupation who would fly for the overwhelming majority of their careers (who'd be paid more than most GSOs) and a small cadre of pilot officers. And leave the RCAF to be planned, operated and executed by other air ops air trades.

Anything to bring the flight Sgt rank back eh?

 

[rnkelly]

Let pilots fly, and other occupations manage and operate the RCAF.

Pilots are MSE Ops of the air. Commanded by the occasional Log O. Maybe that's the solution - NCM pilots for 80-90% of the pilot occupation who would fly for the overwhelming majority of their careers (who'd be paid more than most GSOs) and a small cadre of pilot officers. And leave the RCAF to be planned, operated and executed by other air ops air trades.

I’m fine with most of that, I constrained my comments to the current construct. Also, other air ops trades haven’t consistently shown more aptitude than pilots for the planning/executing. Just my biased opinion.

 

[The Bread Guy]

Anything to bring the flight Sgt rank back eh?

From extinction to distinction, right? IYKYK

 

[dapaterson]

I’m fine with most of that, I constrained my comments to the current construct. Also, other air ops trades haven’t consistently shown more aptitude than pilots for the planning/executing. Just my biased opinion.

Not all ACSOs are as sociopathic as the last LGen ACSO.

Just saying.

 

[SupersonicMax]

The issue isn’t the fact some Captains make more than Majors. It is that after a certain Capt incentive, the rate of increase at the Captain rank outpace the Major rate of increase, leading to lower potential earnings.

 

[dapaterson]

So it incentivizes a long career of flying, over rank progression?

 

[SupersonicMax]

So it incentivizes a long career of flying, over rank progression?

Sure except that Capt 5/6 got artificially boosted to 13 during the implementation (to not actually make less than they were making before the new pay scales), which disincentivizes promotion for folks that would have had the potential and desire to progress. The issue is temporary but critical as we’re desperately short of Majors.