Alaska management verbally announces furloughs for

[Baze]

Sorry to hear that you're getting furloughed. Good job securing a job elsewhere.

They may be doing you a favor in the long run. Good luck to you in your future endeavors.

Got the long awaited phone call today...management made the final decision to furlough 9 of us starting November 10th, certified letter is in the mail. Given that I am number 7 from the bottom, I will be out the door next month. Fortunately I had a class date lined up elsewhere. 8 are ANC and one is LAX based....none of us off probation yet.

 

[Chief Pilot]

What a load of horse sh!t!! Management is absolutely ridiculous. Furlough 9 guys---give me a f@*#ing break. What kind of financial sense does that make? These guys are nothing more than hostages. If (and I think it's a big IF) they actually get furloughed, I wish each the best of luck. I also hope that the rest of this pilot group sticks together and doesn't enable a damn thing!

 

[Baze]

It would only make financial sense to Angle Lake if they get the crappy contract out of us that they think they could get. Well, good luck Anglers.

No enabling here. Show up to work, do your job, and go home. Fly the contract.

Do your job and allow others to do theirs.

 

[Going2Baja]

What a load of horse sh!t!! Management is absolutely ridiculous. Furlough 9 guys---give me a f@*#ing break.

Ditto - Of the 6 airlines, one charter co, one tour co, and one pvt flight dept I've worked for, this co has to have the worst mngmt of them all. These tactics may have worked 15-20 years ago - but now? I'm glad I get along with my c/p as I'll be riding bikes with him and he'll be getting an earful from all of us.

I feel for you bottom 9 guys - I'm sorry you left your last employer and put your trust in this group of morons.

I'm also sorry that I thought Tico and and maybe it was mach none, were way over board in expressing their displeasure with our mnmgt. You guys were right on!

Baja.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Just got off the phone with an ANC FO buddy of mine who just got the call from the union tonight saying a certified letter was coming his way. ALPA told him that the company was only going to furlough 9 total. Sounds like bunk to me. How could they only do 9 people total? I guess the numbers game continues as the company works hard for hostages. More to follow, I'm sure.

Its not a furlough. Its called hostage taking. They're just using these 9 guys to pressure the pilot group into another concessionary contract.

"You give us what we want and we'll give these guys their jobs back."

Its just so predictable.

 

[Rhino]

wait and see

Let's let the MEC and Negotiating Committee use the contract (Section 23) and ALPA can prevent the furlough of nine pilots using a reduction in scheduled line flying. Please remember, years ago many pilots received certified furlough letters and nobody was actually furloughed. So I suggest the "nine", and those of you feeling threatened for the "next round" of furloughs, let this run it's course and I'm predicting there will not be any furloughs.

 

[ClearRight]

Just downloaded the Nov. bid packet (BidPro) and our ANC lines went from 72 last month to 59 this month. That's a lot more than 11% reduction in flying.

 

[AZFr8tPilot]

Still out of a job for 24 months starting November 10th. Furlough or what ever folks want to label it, it still has the same flavor to those of us guys/gals at the bottom getting the notice.

The reduction in flying isn't a complete loss of 11% system-wide. Some of the flying went to SEA....their lines increased. ANC just went to pure arctic and Hawaii flying.

 

[QCappy]

The line averages were dropped as well.

LAX: 79.66
ANC: 79.11
SEA: 77.34

As I see it there will be no base changes and they will just use the current ANC guys for the ETOPS stuff and the Arctic. With only eight guys leaving the bottom in ANC and some early outs that takes care of the problem of ETOPS training and moving expenses. They won't be necessary. Seattle was overstaffed before and now the movement of some flying from ANC to SEA takes care of that.

I too believe the "Alaska Nine" will be forever known as the hostages of the great depression of 2008.

 

[Old School 737]

Doesn't this violate the contract since they did not do all the things necessary to reduce block hours, etc, to stop the layoffs? I thought they had to do some more stuff first and the union said they would file suit over this??

 

[QCappy]

All the contract says is:


Reduce Bid Blocks: In the event the Company furloughs pilots, the Company and the MEC shall meet and establish a program for reducing the number of hours in the bid blocks to prevent the furlough.

It has appeared they have done this with the lower line averages for November.​

The other furlough mitigation is just extra.​

​

 

[Z_Pilot]

I am one of the Alaska 9.

My only request is that you guys fight for something worth coming back to...Kasher + and no less.

Wish me luck, there are not many jobs out there.

ZP in Anc

 

[Green Banana]

Today, on the online water cooler, somebody asked why we are giving the Portland Jazz festival $100,000.00 when we are laying off pilots. I love his answer....
"The only alternative to pursuing more revenue is to make deeper cost cuts!
-- Gregg Saretsky, executive vice president of flight & marketing (October 6, 2008) "

 

[turbodriver]

If you 9 actually leave, I'll be surprised........

 

[Baze]

Good answer... for a politician. Unbelievable!

Today, on the online water cooler, somebody asked why we are giving the Portland Jazz festival $100,000.00 when we are laying off pilots. I love his answer....
"The only alternative to pursuing more revenue is to make deeper cost cuts!
-- Gregg Saretsky, executive vice president of flight & marketing (October 6, 2008) "