MORE Furloughs at ACA.

[RJPilott]

101 in addition to the 96 already notified in a letter distributed by Tom Moore today. The letter states that furloughs are required in order to be competitive with other regionals.

 

[T-handle]

What? To see which regional can furlough the most?

 

[Wiskey Driver]

T Handle, or should I call you Jewels?? In the market of today Kmart carriers like mesa are willing to work for free and charge main line carriers like USair a couple of bucks and half of all capt position in the near future and with that it's hard for a REAL AIRLINE PILOT to survive...

WD.

 

[RJPilott]

What? To see which regional can furlough the most?

Hopefully this will help you better understand how the industry works T-Handle. The airlines mentioned in previous announcements by our senior management that we need to be competitive with are, Mesa (pilots just ratified their TA), CHQ (pilots are in negotiations), and Eagle (8 year old contract with 6 more years to go?)

From the letter;

"April 14, 2003

To All ACA Employees,

I know you are aware of the fact that our company is in the midst of a total top-to-bottom cost reduction program—designed to make ACA much more competitive against other regional airlines, and to give us every possible chance of success as we move through this period of extraordinary uncertainty. We are looking at every avenue within all departments for potential cost savings, and have assigned over 40 of our managers to lead these cost reduction projects.

Unfortunately, one of the most unsettling parts of any program like this is the need to reduce our total payroll expenses—through a combination of several initiatives:

· We have reduced salaries and bonuses for senior management, department managers and most salaried employees
· We have indefinitely suspended our $hare the $uccess bonus program
· We have instituted restrictions on hiring—with job postings taking place only with the approval of senior management, and many vacant positions being left open or eliminated altogether
· A total of 96 pilots have been officially notified of a furlough process as outlined by their collective bargaining agreement—and we have notified ALPA that 101 additional pilot furloughs will be required at this point
· A number of other people throughout our entire company have also been notified that their positions are being eliminated as part of a reduction in force (RIF) program. So far, we have eliminated over 50 positions. Through job consolidations, transfers and other adjustments, the total number of people who are actually leaving the company is only about half that total.
· We are also aware that based on our reduced schedule, we have about 90 more customer service employees at IAD than we will need for the ongoing future. These positions will be eliminated as well. Although we are hoping that the majority can be accomplished as the result of voluntary leaves and unfilled open positions, at least some furloughs at Dulles are probably inevitable."

 

[Wiskey Driver]

I'm really sorry to hear about this RJPilot. Did you get caught in the furloughs?? All the best to your borthers and sisters there at ACA...

WD

 

[RJPilott]

Nah, Im good (for now) although I am keeping my eyes peeled for other work. Who knows what will be next. There is no way i'll fly an airplane for Mesa type pay or work rules. I'd rather pay to rent out a 172 on weekends with a decent job and living rather than sweat it out for Ramen noodles being away from home almost 70% of the month. Whats going on at Whiskey? Any more news of cost cutting or furloughs? Can anyone provide info about Skywest also? Is their management coming to them for furloughs or concessions?

 

[CRJ puppy]

One word:

"Lovely".

 

[Beechnut]

Nothing new at AirWis. We have activated our negotiation committee and as I understand it, are waiting for the Company to approach with a request to start talking about concessions. No furloughs. None expected yet.... (of course that can change tomorrow.) We are doing some operational things to help save fuel i.e. reduced APU usage and the like.

Our MEC Chairman told us in one of his update emails, that if we do negotiate concessions, and the Company does present a copy of the Mesa P.O.S. contract, he'll promptly remove the item from the table and dispose of it in the nearest trash can.

We like to make fun of each other at times, but I hope ACA does stick it out and we can fend off Mesa. You don't find many folks smiling at them around Denver these days.

S.

P.S. Here's the exact quote from our MEC chair regarding the Mesa P.O.S.:

"If, at any time during any of my future meetings or discussions with the company, a copy of the new Mesa pilot agreement is put in front of me , I will pick it up, personally escort the document to the nearest restroom put it where it belongs and start the meeting over. I will never allow management to use the Mesa agreement as a benchmark for discussion. We are professional pilots with a quality product and we will never suffer the indignity of being brought down to their level."

 

[Flash]

We are looking at every avenue within all departments for potential cost savings, and have assigned over 40 of our managers to lead these cost reduction projects.

I see about 40 non-pilot jobs that should be cut!!

 

[rightrudder]

Are you guys overstaffed? It seems like 200 positions is an awful lot. Sounds like they are trying to scare you into concessions.

The best of luck to you guys, I hate to see this happening to one of the better regionals out there.