Pinnacle Hiring Freezes Interviews Cancelled

[BrickTop]

Pinnacle contacted myself as well as all others scheduled for interviews to inform us hiring has been frozen until at least Febuary. Not sure if its of any concern but perhaps persons would like to to analyze its reasons.

 

[Detroitpilot22]

They will start hiring sooner than that, but just because people will keep quiting.
Simply the best

 

[PCL_128]

I wouldn't read too much into it. We are almost adequatly staffed on FOs right now. Also, block hours have been cut for the slow travel season. Happens every year, and a slowing or suspension of hiring isn't unexpected. Also, our Captain attrition is up, but our FO attrition is down quite a bit. We aren't losing FOs nearly as quickly as we were at the beginning of the year.

Anyway, consider yourself lucky. Go to ExpressJet or AWAC. You'll be much happier.

 

[eaglefly]

The Liklihood of a Mesaba contract (if you could call it that) will force the whipsaw process to begin at Pinnicle.

When you guys agree to equal pay/work rule reductions equal or worse the Mesaba or Mesa, then you'll see some hiring. For now, expect to be threatened with aircraft losses and the like, until you capitulate.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

 

[Detroitpilot22]

I heard a sneaky rumour that NWA was supposed to announce the RFP on the 30th of November. They will probably delay it ten times though.

 

[YourPilotFriend]

That's why I urge mesabians to vote no until NWA and MAIR invest back into mesaba.

 

[CrownandCoke]

sad thing is, we really can't go much lower than we already have...

here's the thing. NWA likes us. We do a damn good job at what we do. There is really no reason for NWA to cut our flying, etc. Who would do it? People need to relax. PCL-128 hit it right on the head. Flying is slowing down and attrition is down. There is no growth, so the only reason to hire is for attrition. There are 50 reserves in MEM that don't fly. I have a buddy who flew 15 hours in October. Plenty of pilots.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.[/quote]

 

[CaptETWes]

I heard a sneaky rumour that NWA was supposed to announce the RFP on the 30th of November. They will probably delay it ten times though.

That isn't a rumor because that is the date that has been given to the management where I'm at, but I will definitely agree to the latter part about the delays. We'll see...

 

[Smarta$$]

Pinnacle contacted myself as well as all others scheduled for interviews to inform us hiring has been frozen until at least Febuary. Not sure if its of any concern but perhaps persons would like to to analyze its reasons.

Could also be negotiations related. Now that Mesaba has most likely taken their concessions, PNCL management may be preparing to start negotiating for real. You know they have to make it look real bad.

 

[fiel12]

eaglefly,
Just so you know, the current TA has no real work rule reductions. We kept: 4hr min day, 11 days off, disability pay after 3 days (BTW the best in the industry including majors), 100% sick pay (the company proposed 75%). and 75hr monthly guarantee (the company wanted 72). Also, after the amendable date, (4yrs or 5.5yrs) we will recieve 1.5% annual contract raises on top of longevity, which is a first in the industry. That said, Am I happy about this? Of course not! It is a CONCESSIONARY contract.(remember this is NOT section 6 bargaining). XJ is in chapter 11, and has been given the authority to abrogate our current contract, enabling them to inpose much deeper cuts. They have also been awarded an injunction blocking a strike. I certainly hope eagle never puts you in the position XJ pilots are in, but if they do, rest assured that I will not hold you accountable for bringing the entire regional airline industry down. BTW if eagle currently fails to meet any of the above mesaba work rules (i.e. 3 day disability pay, min day, 1.5% increases after the amendable date.), I trust you will submit your resignation promptly, since it is obvious you would never work for a sub-standard regional carrier.

 

[CFIfornow]

here's the thing. NWA likes us. We do a dang good job at what we do. There is really no reason for NWA to cut our flying, etc. Who would do it?


Yeah, that's what Mesaba thought too.

 

[CA1900]

And XJT with Continental... and CommutAir with US Airways... And ACA with United...

 

[Whataboutbob]

Big bro probably already passed the word to 9E management that when or if Mesaba ratifies their T.A some of the 200's are going over to XJ. Factor that and some 900's at Mesaba. Im guessing you will see some F.O's at Pinnacle make the jump over to XJ, kind of like whats going on with ASA and Skywest. I guess no real need to hire until those F.O's bail in big numbers and Im guessing they aren't bailing right now because they are just waiting to see how much XJ grows and how much Pinnacle is going to shrink. And then we will see the process all over again in about 5.5 years when XJ starts to negotiate. I just wish guys at XJ would ask the union what happens in 4, 5, 6 years from now, are we in for the same ride as we are going through now.

 

[flyf15]

I kind of get the feeling that this is just another sign of an impending major screw job Pinnacle's pilots are about to receive. What happened at Mesaba can happen at Pinnacle too... and it probably will.

 

[xjlifer]

I kind of get the feeling that this is just another sign of an impending major screw job Pinnacle's pilots are about to receive. What happened at Mesaba can happen at Pinnacle too... and it probably will.

It already happened ...remember when 9E was called Express one. NWA really really likes this game.

 

[Lear70]

When you guys agree to equal pay/work rule reductions equal or worse the Mesaba or Mesa, then you'll see some hiring. For now, expect to be threatened with aircraft losses and the like, until you capitulate.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

BZZZ *AAANNNNHHHH" Wrong answer. Please try your luck again, next time.

Pinnacle has done this almost every single year for the last 6 years. I was there for 5 of them. This is nothing new. PCL-128 is absolutely, 100% correct. This is gonna get lengthy, or you can just skip it and take my word for it, this is normal behavior for PCL.

There is ALWAYS a big fall push for hiring when you have a need to fill seats. For 2001-2002 it was post-9/11 furlough everyone, then "oh sh*t, we furloughed too many, how quick can we get them AND MORE back online!! HURRY HURRY!"

For 2002-2003 it was all for growth. Thinking the flying was going to slack off, then having big NWA come down and say, can you take another 400 block hours? Uncle Phil says, "Sure, no problem", then NWA says good, then here's another 300 more, per the contract in addition to what you've agreed to. Uncle Phil says, "Oh sh*t, WTF did I just do..." and suddenly there's a vacancy for 40 Capt slots a month starting in Dec. Merry Christmas.

For 2003-2004, we replayed it again, except NOW we get to add some attrition into the mix with some crappy weather (Ice storm - MEM) and insufficient staffing and it's "Oh crap, our staffing model was wrong. The union guys were right, we have to have more people!", and a big vacancy came out.

For 2004-2005, we have all attrition-based growth, and it was pretty steady. Normal slow-down in hiring at the end of the year, no one wants to be in training in a hotel over Thanksgiving, and it picked up again later.

For 2005-2006, we were in panic mode for attrition. CA's and F/O's both were dropping like flies because we had a LARGE number of F/O's with lots of PIC turbine time already jump ship to NetJets and other regionals with much better pay and QOL. The bailings began in November, right after the announced slow-down, but by the end of Dec, vacancies went through the roof again and stayed there.

Bottom line, no one likes to train over the holidays and new years, and attrition is continuing so hiring WILL pick up again, you can count on it.

I also wouldn't count on losing any large number of airframes to Mesaba, as they have to first be awarded a large portion of the RFP (likely if they cave), ramp back up their own people for heavy training, take the desert birds back into service, and by then might be getting new aircraft from somewhere else. NWA has a funny way of coming up with airplanes out of thin air when they need them.

Don't panic, they'll call you back. Just stay in touch once or twice a month, send the HR people something nice for Christmas (not pricey, just something funny and thoughtful), and call them back the 2nd week of Jan and ask what's up. You'll be in class before you know it.

Incidentally, IF Mesaba announces HUGE growth and airplane deliveries, the FIRST 20% who get on over there will be sitting pretty, most of the rest would probably be better sitting where they are unless you're on the bottom of the list. So, if you ARE on the bottom of the PCL list and can get on at MSA early on in mass hiring without worrying too much about the pay cut, GO EARLY. Remember, seniority is everything.

/rant