FLOPs Furloughing????

[ProFracPilot]

FlOps management is obviously positioning themselves for negotiations. It also appears union leadership was caught totally off guard by the changes announced yesterday. No one in a leadership position has yet answered the question as to how management can legally make these changes while maintaining the "status quo".

 

[gunfyter]

from what GVFlyer posted I would say they have enormous expenses associated with the Ricci "rent-a-wreck" fleet. Lot of those planes are non Raytheon products... so why do they want to operate them at high cost?

...and not a bad opportunity to bust the union either.

 

[ProFracPilot]

...and not a bad opportunity to bust the union either.

It certainly is. And the union is giving them every opportunity to do so.

I'm a bit surprised that FlOps union leadership either a) did not see these changes coming; or b) if they did, they were not adequately prepared nor have they adequately prepared the rank and file for what could happen post vote / pre contract. It appears that the company is not maintaining the status quo. If what the company is doing is illegal, there should be a cease and desist order filed by FlOps union legal counsel on Sheeringa's desk today. Further, there has been no contract questionaire distributed, no organizing committee assembled, etc. We're being told the response by the union is slow because it is an all volunteer group at this point. Did they not anticipate what would be required the day they won the vote? Confidence in the current union leadership is quickly waning.

 

[AceCrackshot]

ProFracPilot-

I'd grade your post as a 8.5 on the rhetoric meter.

The negotiations are going slowly. Granted. That is the company's doing, not the union. The company refuses to accept the existance of Weingarden rights, and will not grant reasonable accomidation for our negotiators.

No one is being furloughed at FLOPS in the immediate future. Essentially, Raytheon is pulling a huge account payable off the company by allowing surplus pilots to burn their accumlated vacation, then after that, being paid their salary until a training date in the Enduring Fleet (I despise the "Go Forward") is available.

This is simply a good deal for the pilots, and for the company.

Other things, like the 30 minute block in and crew meal policy are more problematic. However, if you are hungry, eat. If it takes you more than 30 minutes to clean and prep the aircraft overnight, notify dispatch, lock it up and walk away. Do it in the morning and take the delay and code. Additionally, our POI has said that we cannot be off duty without hotels.

As for your confidence. The bottom line is this: The union is currently the only organized group on the entire Raytheon property that has the future of the pilots in mind. PERIOD.

There is a strategy. Some significant things have been accomplished recently. Some are for public consumption, like the "expect duty on time" issue, and others are not.

We're starting from the ground up here.

 

[Ultra Grump]

...a portion of Retiring Fleet pilots will be placed on paid absence; first using any vacation surplus at their current pay rate and then transitioning to their new, Go-Forward aircraft pay rate for the remainder of their paid absence until called back when a Go-Forward aircraft seat and training slot become available...

Why wouldn't every pilot on the seniority list be scrambling for this deal? A leave of absence at full pay? Sign me up!

 

[ProFracPilot]

The negotiations are going slowly.

Call it rhetoric if you like. The fact is as long as the company is successful in using the unions own bylaws to their advantage, negotiations will not even begin.

 

[AceCrackshot]

Call it rhetoric if you like. The fact is as long as the company is successful in using the unions own bylaws to their advantage, negotiations will not even begin.

That is a mischaracterization of the facts. Negotiations are going slowly because of Raytheon's unprecedented tactics vis a vis our negotiators. It is not because of our bylaws, or anything of that nature.

I would suggest getting in touch with one of our negotiators if you don't take my word for it.

Moreover, we are operating under the RLA and other pertinent labor law, which takes a dim view of disregarding one's own bylaws.

 

[gunfyter]

Call it rhetoric if you like. The fact is as long as the company is successful in using the unions own bylaws to their advantage, negotiations will not even begin.

What you have to do is PROMOTE UNITY in response. Its an uphill battle... they will not just roll over.Why direct your displeasure with the pace of negotiation on the union leadership?How far would you be along without the union?

 

[johnsonrod]

Sorry to hear about potential furloughs. Well, on the plus side, you can leave that place and go to NJA, CS and Flexjet which are expanding instead of languishing at the bottom of the seniority list at Flight Options... Even Avantair is looking like a better option.

 

[AceCrackshot]

you can leave that place and go to NJA, CS and Flexjet

I'm actually kind of surprised that NJA hasn't offered some kind of deal to FLOPS folks. We're all typed and rated in an aircraft they fly, all are CANPASS and TSA cleared, familiar with fractional flying, etc. If NJA offered home basing to the bottom half of the FLOPS seniority list, it would be a race for the exits. Honestly, it would probably shut FLOPS down because there would be no one left to fly the airplanes. The best case scenario would be NJA getting that pool of talent at pennies on the dollar, and FLOPS forced to spend 40k plus to replace each pilot. It would probably put them out of business on training and charter costs alone.

I imagine there is some gentleman's agreement in place to forestall wholesale pilot poaching.