AirTran Fruloughs

[CatfishVT9]

What does it mean in the letter no bumping rights. Are furloughs based on Airplane or system senority?

I get the impression that the company wants to furlough more 737 guys, but they have hired more 717 guys recently. If they do it based on aircraft then senior 737 FOs will be on the street while junior 717 pilots with hire dates after them remain employed.

When do I start 717 class?

These training costs may be a way to keep more pilots employed.

Straight seniority. If the numbers are out of balance, then that's a problem for the company to sort out. Union Prez called it a "bump and flush".

Same thing for the Captain list. The 737 list is more senior than the 717 list so a bunch of us will move over and the majority of the downgrades will happen on the 717. Sorry guys. Although some will elect to downgrade rather than sublit to another round of training (especially those of us that never flew the 717).

 

[CatfishVT9]

What's DOH for the most junior Capt after furloughs? Just wondering, know a few there just do not have current numbers to call.

4-5 plus. If no one takes early retirement or a leave of absence, junior 717 CA will be a june or july 2004 date. 737 I'm guessing will be around September 2003.

 

[maxblast72]

Assuming every Captain has his first choice to stay as Captain on either airplane if they can, the most junior 717 CA will be a June 2004 hire and the most junior 737 CA will be a June 2003 hire when all training is done.

 

[maxblast72]

I think the training costs of the downgrades/transitions will be covered. Union president said yesterday that our next airplane delivery wouldn't be until sometime in 2010 (I think he said later part of 2010, obviously subject to change). That would give the company time (18 to 24 months) to recoup the costs of these additional training events caused by the reductions.

 

[Lear70]

What does it mean in the letter no bumping rights. Are furloughs based on Airplane or system senority?

I get the impression that the company wants to furlough more 737 guys, but they have hired more 717 guys recently. If they do it based on aircraft then senior 737 FOs will be on the street while junior 717 pilots with hire dates after them remain employed.

What you're talking about is the WARN Act letters that came out.

The WARN Act pretty much doesn't apply to us, given our structure and how many people are affected, but they sent them out to cover their tail.

It also very SPECIFICALLY says "unless governed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement", then talks about "bumping rights". In other words, our CBA trumps the WARN Act.

I'm sure the company would like relief from re-training everyone who is displaced off their equipment and then causes secondary displacements. Yes, it's likely a couple Million in training costs, but they're going to save (according to them) $16 Million a year; I'm sure they see it as an acceptable trade.