More Alaska Furloughs

[ImbracableCrunk]

Up to 80 more by October.

Of course this had absolutely nothing at all in any way with new incentives to fly more. None. Zip.

 

[lumax]

Is this for sure? rumor? up to 80 based on what? early outs?
Anybody flying over 75 hours or VSA'ing should be called out on it? Complete BS to be doing either with guys on furlough. Yeah its in the contract but common decency and respect for your fellow employees should make you think twice about doing it.

 

[Fubijaakr]

The number comes from a company memo to the Union regarding anticipated further furloughs. The Company and the Union are negotiating furlough mitigation language.

That said, VSA with guys on furlough is unacceptable.

 

[Ocity]

Hmm. What did 199 Alaska Pilots know that the Rest didn't?

 

[Fubijaakr]

I don't think this is a matter of who is right or wrong on the contract. The fact of the matter is that the contract passed by 84% of the votes cast.

You could just as easily say that an overwhelming number of the 199 were very junior F/Os who voted out of fear of furlough. I guess that makes them "right" for their personal interests. The other 1065 voted for what was "right" for their interests.

 

[spacecadet1]

You can thank age 60 (and Depends).
Consider the upside for those furloughed: You can go work for Republic and get paid $60 -$70 to fly a 100 seat jet. The future is indeed bright!

 

[turbodriver]

That said, VSA with guys on furlough is unacceptable.

So you're saying that you voted no??

This *ussy two-facing pilot group voting in a contract keeping VSA possible is unbelievable. When are we going to grow a pair?!?!

 

[AKMD80GUY]

I voted no. For two reasons this was a bad contract. The first being more efficient in order to let the company be more flexable. The second was scope. The ink hasn't been dry for two weeks yet . Every pilot must fly only to 75 hours and under no circumstances fly VSA.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Listen, I'm not opposed to VSA per se. However, when there are pilots on furlough, exercising that particular section of the contract is personally unjustifiable. That said, one can never judge the conditions of another's life unless you've walked a mile in their shoes.

 

[AZFr8tPilot]

Hmm. What did 199 Alaska Pilots know that the Rest didn't?

And add the 60 of us on furlough who didn't get a vote! But of course this has nothing to do with the ratified TA! Not at all...LOL!

The writing was all over the wall. The only aspect where I miscalculated was how long it took the company to announce the prospect of more furloughs. They beat my estimation by several weeks.

 

[45000BTU's]

The union's response for not telling membership to drop lines to 75 in step trading (contractural right) and not pick up VSA was that "in negotiation this might be construde as a job action". We're not in negotiation anymore! If the union doesn't come out and demand this contractural right is immediately excercised then they have indeed failed this pilot group.

 

[Fubijaakr]

One of the things the union should demand is that the company quit building blocks to 82 hours with people on furlough. That would be furlough mitigation.

 

[turbodriver]

One of the things the union should demand is that the company quit building blocks to 82 hours with people on furlough. That would be furlough mitigation.

This very issue was addressed in a little grievance that was out there but our good union sold us out for non-rev passes!!! Now, the company has the go-ahead to violate this contract cause they know we won't strike. (At least we got health care though, hopefully you 80 will get it too, but you may have to file your own grievance on that one and hope that you won't get sold out either.)

This union is full of it.

They won't tell people not to VSA and they won't put out anything that helps the furloughees. They didn't demand that the company reduce flying to 75 hours under the old contract, why would they do it now? They'll make another excuse like the last one. "We tried to get the company to do it but they wouldn't budge." Now, the excuse will be, "oops, its not in the contract, so the company doesn't have to reduce anything." That's where something called a STRIKE comes in. But they *ussied out, as usual. They already failed us when they sold us out in terms of the furlough grievance.

Screw ALPA & Alaska.

 

[Hpilot]

Sorry to hear, but not surprised. Sometimes I'm glad I'm no longer in aviation. I remember being at America West and having a guy at Alaska tell me to quit riding the wave into the rocks and go to Alaska. He looked at me strange when I told him to look to his left because we were on the same wave. He's back on reserve and I haven't had to worry about screw scheduling for several years. Best of luck to those still ridin' the wave.

 

[clippyrip]

Looks like you jumped off the America West wave just before it became a tsunami.

What did you make the switch to?

 

[sf340flyer]

Turbo and Crunk,

You guys are FULL OF IT!!!!!!!! I heard more crying from you 2 than from a group of overweight mothers when their "Little Princess" didn't win the 5 year old beauty pageant. The COMPANY FURLOUGHED YOU not the Union. I'm sure you would have done a much better job than anyone working in the Union.

AZ, If the new furlough is a direct result of the contract why did the company recall all the FAs to tell them to expect a furlough in 2 months? Actually they were told there would be more furloughs in the fall of '09 than in '08.

 

[turbodriver]

Anyone could do a better job than this MEC. Yes, the company did furlough us but the union could have made sure that our complaints were heard in accordance with the RLA. Would jobs have been saved? Would the company have been forced to recall everyone because of the illegal furlough? We'll never know. Instead, we get sold out for non-rev passes. At least we got the health care, I'll give them at least that much...

ALPA pushing their own agenda to take care of the senior geezers instead of representing everyone makes me sick. ALPA just made my permanent $hit list.

Have fun flying 90 hours a month till you croak. Under this contract, it's the only way there will be recalls.

 

[Wally]

Time to move on

Screw ALPA & Alaska.

So where are you planning on working? Good luck in your new, non-ALPA, non-Alaska and perhaps non-airline career. Your commitment to incessant b!tching and whining is a testament to your character. I have even personally offered you assistance, but you dismissed the offer. Perhaps because you'd rather continue to anonymously wallow in self pity on this board? You need to move on. You will be happier for it.

Good luck.

 

[BeCareful!]

So where are you planning on working? Good luck in your new, non-ALPA, non-Alaska and perhaps non-airline career. Your commitment to incessant b!tching and whining is a testament to your character. I have even personally offered you assistance, but you dismissed the offer. Perhaps because you'd rather continue to anonymously wallow in self pity on this board? You need to move on. You will be happier for it.

Good luck.

Wow, spoken like a true union "brother." You and ALPA are like peas and carrots.

You sign off with "Good luck." Not sure if you've ever heard this, but we pay union dues so we don't have to rely on "good luck."

I wonder if ALPA is involved in funding FI.com. Seems when anyone expresses discontent with ALPA on here they are bi%$# slapped. Anyway, I'm sure the General and Rez, the ambiguously happy dynamic duo, will be on here shortly to finnish the job.

ALPA sucks, and most pilots know this. Why does Prater's secretary make more than an ALPA-represented CRJ900 Captain?

 

[ImbracableCrunk]

Turbo and Crunk,

You guys are FULL OF IT!!!!!!!! I heard more crying from you 2 than from a group of overweight mothers when their "Little Princess" didn't win the 5 year old beauty pageant. The COMPANY FURLOUGHED YOU not the Union. I'm sure you would have done a much better job than anyone working in the Union

SF340flyer,

The company furloughed me, and the union, in my opinion, did not represent the interests of the bottom pilots. Yes, I'm pissed. I didn't want to lose my job. I think the union should have done more to fight for furlough mitigation in the old contract and in the new one as well.

I have worked for the ALPA as a Local Chairman. Have you volunteered? I hope so.

I'm pro ALPA, and I'm pro improving ALPA.