AS Furlough Mitigation

[ClearRight]

NEW Reduced Line Value MOU Fails Membership Ratification - Friday, August 07, 2009
The Reduced Line Value MOU has failed to pass membership ratification, with a vote of 83.3% against and 16.70% for ratification. A total of 1,078 pilots—82.73% of pilots who were eligible to vote—cast their ballot on this issue. Regardless of how you voted, we appreciate that such an overwhelming majority of pilots took the time to participate in the membership ratification process. We realize that there were strong, often emotional opinions on both sides of this issue, especially in light of the fact that this involves the loss of flying positions. Should there be opportunities for other programs to mitigate furloughs or create recalls, we will explore them fully. In the meantime, please remember these pilots and those already on furlough and consider a donation to the recently created Alaska Pilots Assistance Fund, which was created to provide financial assistance to Alaska pilots, including furloughed pilots, in times of financial crisis.

 

[Baze]

This is unofficial, of course, but I just heard that it was voted down overwhelmingly.
Not a big surprise there...

As for the bid results, I don't know. Hopefully they can crank it out later on today.

 

[Baze]

Ah, ClearRight has a quicker trigger finger than me. I hadn't gotten the E-Mail yet either.

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

NEW Reduced Line Value MOU Fails Membership Ratification - Friday, August 07, 2009
The Reduced Line Value MOU has failed to pass membership ratification, with a vote of 83.3% against and 16.70% for ratification. A total of 1,078 pilots—82.73% of pilots who were eligible to vote—cast their ballot on this issue. Regardless of how you voted, we appreciate that such an overwhelming majority of pilots took the time to participate in the membership ratification process. We realize that there were strong, often emotional opinions on both sides of this issue, especially in light of the fact that this involves the loss of flying positions. Should there be opportunities for other programs to mitigate furloughs or create recalls, we will explore them fully. In the meantime, please remember these pilots and those already on furlough and consider a donation to the recently created Alaska Pilots Assistance Fund, which was created to provide financial assistance to Alaska pilots, including furloughed pilots, in times of financial crisis.

"should there be other opportunities...." Ha! I'm sure there will be a chance that there might be something - to the extent possible.

 

[Going2Baja]

As predicted...MOU FAILS with 83.3% of voters saying NO. Kind of like the CBA eh? What a JOKE!

Baja.

 

[Going2Baja]

Posted Today from the VP of Flt Ops:

I have had many questions over the past few days regarding the Line Reduction Program MOU. Some of you seem confused over the timing and the terms of the MOU and wonder why the Company felt the need to amend work rules and the bidding process to mitigate 30 furloughs and 13 downgrades.

First you should understand that the Company told your Negotiating Committee that we did not consider a Line Reduction Program very attractive because the only way to manage the costs associated with the furlough would then be to change or modify work rules and trading processes contained in our brand new CBA. Having this information, your MEC then contacted me over the weekend and asked that a Line Reduction Program be reconsidered because ALPA believed that the pilots should have a say regarding the mitigation of furloughs through a Line Reduction Program under the new language contained in Section 23.A.

After much debate on whether we could manage the costs, a term sheet was developed and presented to members of the negotiating committee as well as the MEC. At this meeting ALPA asked us to reconsider several terms and while we could not accommodate all of their requests we were able to modify a few of the requirements. The Company was not pleased with the MOU but felt your MEC Chairman made some good points so we left it up to ALPA who chose to put it out for vote.

Why the removal of 2nd step trading? The bidding process was simplified to allow the Crew Planning department the time necessary to work out conflicts and trades under the Line Reduction Program. As I mentioned earlier the Company had to feel confident that they could obtain the same or nearly the same cost savings through this program as they could through a furlough. This prerequisite also required removing the provisions in the CBA that allowed a pilot to fly above the monthly maximum for pay only.

The timing of this program admittedly could have been better but the negotiating committee and the Company had been meeting nearly everyday as outlined in Section 23.A to develop programs to mitigate the October 1 furloughs. The cost analysis related to lower bib blocks was given to ALPA within the 30 day discussion period, and although the numbers changed after the 30-day negotiating period the costs savings did not change significantly.

While the rumors continue to fly to the contrary there is no hidden agenda. The Company is not trying to get “things” they could not get in the negotiation process. We are not trying to set a precedent or find a way to take back the ability for you to increase your W-2`s. We are simply trying to find a way to mitigate furloughs and still realize the costs associated with the furlough. The final decision was left with the pilot group.​

 

[Mea25000]

If things don't get better the company wants us at 1250 pilots by Jan 2010... I don't know how many more that would be but I think that might mean there could be a few more. On a lighter note we had more then 200 pilots above 88 this month... way to go guys keep helping out. I am sure everyone is picking up to send money to Sean.

 

[QCappy]

I love how GB put out this message after the voting was closed.

 

[Mamma]

just found out I am furloughed. Found out thru different means. List comes out tomorrow.

 

[Old School 737]

just found out I am furloughed. Found out thru different means. List comes out tomorrow.

TOMARROW?? How about today when the bids are awarded? Sorry to hear that you are getting furloughed. Any word on how many??

 

[Mamma]

TOMARROW?? How about today when the bids are awarded? Sorry to hear that you are getting furloughed. Any word on how many??

No additional info. I was 45ish from the bottom.

 

[Going2Baja]

I hear 47 total....We'll see in the morn. Mamma, Sorry that the Co, ALPA, MEC, & fellow pilots let you down! I'll continue to fight the fight for you!

Baja.

 

[Green Banana]

nevermind.

 

[Old School 737]

nevermind.

I don't see it. Cant get it to work.

Can I file a grievence since its not out yet and donate the winnings to the guys getting screwed!!!

 

[igneousy2]

TOMARROW?? How about today when the bids are awarded? Sorry to hear that you are getting furloughed. Any word on how many??

So what is the "different means" and why the hell didn't the bid post today?

 

[msmb]

Coming from the wife of an Alaska pilot who is barely hanging on to a job.....I am just floored at how selfish so many people at this airline are. I get it that there were reasons for voting down this MOU. The people who voted based on what they read and had valid reasons for it, great. It's the a..holes that saw no more VSA, etc, etc, and didn't read anything past that. I think it is a bunch of ******************** that there are so many pilots out there picking up trips to build their lines up. It's a bunch of crap that these people who shouldn't even still be flying are doing VSA trips. Way to screw the younger guys. Oh wait, I forgot, it's the price you pay as an airline pilot and we should just deal with it. Screw you!! I am really sorry for those pilots that are on the street or about to be put on the street. It's so sad to me that this doesn't even have to happen. Suck it up and drop your lines down to 75 for a few months and see what happens. Yes, it would be hard to lose a little bit of money---I know that. Try losing your entire paycheck for the next....well who knows for how long. Again, i'm not pist off about the fact that this didn't pass, i'm pist off because there never should have been an MOU because there never should have been any furloughs to begin with. Oh, and yes, money is tight for us, but we do donate to the furloughed pilot fund every month. Do you? Thanks for letting me vent. The wife of an Alaska pilot who is wondering what our future holds.

 

[SRMairlines]

Coming from the wife of an Alaska pilot who is barely hanging on to a job.....I am just floored at how selfish so many people at this airline are. I get it that there were reasons for voting down this MOU. The people who voted based on what they read and had valid reasons for it, great. It's the a..holes that saw no more VSA, etc, etc, and didn't read anything past that. I think it is a bunch of ******************** that there are so many pilots out there picking up trips to build their lines up. It's a bunch of crap that these people who shouldn't even still be flying are doing VSA trips. Way to screw the younger guys. Oh wait, I forgot, it's the price you pay as an airline pilot and we should just deal with it. Screw you!! I am really sorry for those pilots that are on the street or about to be put on the street. It's so sad to me that this doesn't even have to happen. Suck it up and drop your lines down to 75 for a few months and see what happens. Yes, it would be hard to lose a little bit of money---I know that. Try losing your entire paycheck for the next....well who knows for how long. Again, i'm not pist off about the fact that this didn't pass, i'm pist off because there never should have been an MOU because there never should have been any furloughs to begin with. Oh, and yes, money is tight for us, but we do donate to the furloughed pilot fund every month. Do you? Thanks for letting me vent. The wife of an Alaska pilot who is wondering what our future holds.

I agree. My negative endorsement of the CBA last spring was based solely on the fact that we did not get furlough protection and strong scope. (There is no guarentee we would have an agreement as of today, but IMO those to items are work striking for) FACT: We are in a mid-term negotiation and who knows what angle they will try next. Contract 2009 is a failure in that it allows the company to use furlough, E-190's, and other items to collect mid-term concessions. This was ALA ALPA's first negotiated contract in 30 yrs and there is a learning curve... WE HAVE TO DO BETTER NEXT TIME.

Assuming 47 is the magic number... heard it from the same source as BAJA, I will remain a bottom dweller but ready for round 3. As I always have, I will fight for every pilot who has a name on the Alaska Airlines senority list to make them whole. We are 1 pilot group... not 1400 pilots.

 

[heywood jablome]

I'm so glad this thing didn't pass! We really showed management this time. Plus, now I can manipulate my schedule just a little bit better, and build my line up a little bit to pay for my Super Cub, Cabin, and snow machines, etc., etc. I really do think it is bad that management wants to furlough so many guys, but there is really nothing I could have done about that.......


Jeeesh...

My sympathies to the FAMILIES that have to deal with this SELFISHNESS. I'm sorry.

Disgusting

 

[Old School 737]

Looks like the NEW bid post date is now the 10th. Must have just changed it since it said the 7th up until about a hour ago. What BS!!

 

[igneousy2]

Looks like the NEW bid post date is now the 10th. Must have just changed it since it said the 7th up until about a hour ago. What BS!!

Are you sure you didn't read the original bid post date...and not the results date...the date still says 08/07/09.