Airtran and hiring furloughs

[Blue Dude]

As far as the jetBlue "non compete" letter. It still is a pair of "handcuffs" in my opinion. Maybe a looser set, but still limits your options if the company turns out to be a lemon to work for.

BTW - "Non Compete" clauses were originally designed years ago for top corporate executives and technology people to keep form taking themselves and their work to the competition, because after all there is occupations out there that involve alot more skill, knowledge, and expertise than flying airplanes.

I know, that can't possibly be true....

The non-compete contract was only necessary because neither the pilots nor the airlines would honor a traditional resignation letter. Many airlines require pilots to "resign seniority" but there are problems with people keeping their word. If more pilots actually meant what they said, then such a contract wouldn't be necessary.

If two years have gone by, then you can accept recall at any time with no repurcussions at all, without even the fiction of your company "accepting" your resignation letter in the round file. And you can go to any other airline at any time. That seems pretty reasonable to me.

 

[FL717]

That does clear up my perception of the non compete letter. Thanks Blue Dude.. and stop staring at me!

 

[DAL737FO]

From Trainer Jet:

I really have no dog in this fight, but I do find the commentary interesting. It brings one question to mind, and anyone who feels like it can answer. Did Delta make the AirTran guys that came over resign their seniority?


Actually TrainerJet no one was given anything to resign their seniority when they were hired at Delta. Now keep in mind that there weren't a load of furloughee's on the street like there are now. I guess technically I would still have my seniority number at EJA except for that little letter giving them two weeks notice that I was heading out the door.

 

[Ty Webb]

Hey, FL717:

Thanks for giving me the benefit of the doubt.

After thinking about it, though, I see your point-

If we didn't have people leaving prior to the new contract, we wouldn't have gotten the contract we did.

Since it is not likely that the new hires will be leaving before we re-capture their training costs, I guess that takes care of my concern regarding the training costs.

I still think we would do better to hire people based on their desire to work at AirTran, instead of those who are only biding their time until their primary job calls them back.

As for my earlier commnts. . . didn't mean to tar everyone with the same brush, but guys like FlyDeltasJets and some of the others make it very clear that they think that somehow we AirTran pilots are "hurting the profession" and are "Stealing their customers" and blah, blah, blah, blah and I don't want someone like that poisoning the atmosphere here.

If you can show up with a good attitude, and appreciate the fact that we took you in, welcomed you aboard, and spent $25K training you when your own company won't even let you non-rev on them, then, hey, by all means, "Welcome Aboard".

If not, don't let the screen door hit you.