Astar

[SiouxMD11]

Just curious, with all the ABX news today. Are all Astar pilots still on payroll? I see no furloughs. And 500 pilots for like 15 airplanes. What gives? Are they still contracting with DHL?

 

[Fly Astar Jets]

Just curious, with all the ABX news today. Are all Astar pilots still on payroll? I see no furloughs. And 500 pilots for like 15 airplanes. What gives? Are they still contracting with DHL?

Not sure what you're referring to when you say "all the news". The only thing I've seen come over the wire is the announced finalization of the lease rates for debt forgiveness deal of which the particulars have been known for some time now. Is there something else??

There are no furloughs at AStar and will not be until next year. Yes we are still under ACMI with DHL.

 

[Whistlin' Dan]

Just curious, with all the ABX news today. Are all Astar pilots still on payroll? I see no furloughs. And 500 pilots for like 15 airplanes. What gives? Are they still contracting with DHL?

500 for 15 is about right. The company has a contractual obligation not to furlough before March of 2010. However, the same contract also contains a force majeure clause that allows them to walk away from ALL their obligations under the contract in the event that DHL reduces the need for their services, which they obviously have.

The company would like to settle (for pennies on the dollar, of course) but because there's NO language in the contract covering severance or early termination, they're under no obligation to do so. So for the time being at least, they're paying guys to sit.

Bottom line - Pilots know they're getting screwed, but don't want to rock the boat while they're still collecting a paycheck. DHL knows they're getting screwed too, but doesn't want to rock the boat until they've finalized a deal with ABX for 767's.

 

[Fly Astar Jets]

500 for 15 is about right. The company has a contractual obligation not to furlough before March of 2010. However, the same contract also contains a force majeure clause that allows them to walk away from ALL their obligations under the contract in the event that DHL reduces the need for their services, which they obviously have.

The company would like to settle (for pennies on the dollar, of course) but because there's NO language in the contract covering severance or early termination, they're under no obligation to do so. So for the time being at least, they're paying guys to sit.

Bottom line - Pilots know they're getting screwed, but don't want to rock the boat while they're still collecting a paycheck. DHL knows they're getting screwed too, but doesn't want to rock the boat until they've finalized a deal with ABX for 767's.

Dude, you are so a day late and a dollar short. Did you not get the Fastread??

 

[Whistlin' Dan]

Dude, you are so a day late and a dollar short. Did you not get the Fastread??

I read it right after I made the above post. Rather than edit mine, I'll leave it intact, so that your response will make sense to anybody who reads it later.

From the May 29, 2009 ALPA Fastread -

"ALPA was able to reach an agreement with DHL that would keep all of the ASTAR pilots hired prior to March 2008 on the payroll at least through March 2010.

DHL agreed to honor the no-furlough clause in the pilots’ existing contract signed between ALPA and ASTAR in March 2008. The settlement also ensures every protected pilot their current pay status through March 2010 or for six months after they stop flying, whichever is longer."


In other words, all they're agreeing to is 1) not to invoke force majeure before March, 2010, and 2) to pay 6 months severance to any pilot still flying after October of 2009. Not enough, IMHO, but probably the best that could be expected under the circumstances. Had the MEC stood fast on scope, none of it would have been necessary.

For the record, my second paragraph should have read;

"Astar pilots have agreed to managements offer of settlement, which factored over the life of the contract, their ages, career expectations, and projected remaining years of service, will amount to a few pennies on the dollar."

 

[Fly Astar Jets]

For the record, my second paragraph should have read;

"Astar pilots have agreed to managements offer of settlement, which factored over the life of the contract, their ages, career expectations, and projected remaining years of service, will amount to a few pennies on the dollar."

Well aren't you the whiny little biatch.

Pennies on the dollar of nothing equals nothing for you.

 

[DC8CRIVER]

I read it right after I made the above post.

Well, aren't you the clever little (well ... fat little) rodent. Your boarish rantings celebrating your delusional exuberance over what you continuously misconstrue as our failings have grown far too tiresome. Give it up already. Bashing your former coworkers really won't make you feel better. You are always wrong and you will never again have the true understanding about what goes on here.

Stop pretending.

Get a life.

 

[Whistlin' Dan]

Well, aren't you the clever little (well ... fat little) rodent. Your boarish rantings celebrating your delusional exuberance over what you continuously misconstrue as our failings have grown far too tiresome. Give it up already. Bashing your former coworkers really won't make you feel better. You are always wrong and you will never again have the true understanding about what goes on here.

I'm no doctor, but I think you may be evidencing the early stages of "The Frasier Syndrome," a disease wherin the victim's mind is slowly taken over by the personage of actor Kelsey Grammer.

I'd put down the remote and get that checked out if I were you.

 

[Whistlin' Dan]

Well aren't you the whiny little biatch.

Pennies on the dollar of nothing equals nothing for you.

nice post. Way to go, Astar!

Gee, I just can't imagine why nobody else in the business has stepped up to offer you preferential interviews

 

[hvydriver]

nice post. Way to go, Astar!

Gee, I just can't imagine why nobody else in the business has stepped up to offer you preferential interviews

ROFLMAO! Here's an idea. 'Cause everyone has either furloughed or is thinking about furloughing. Did you ever get enough time to get your certificates back?