More Furloughs at CAL/CALEX

[James007]

Perhaps I am missing something. We all know that for the most part management sucks. But putting aside the fact that usually what is good for management is bad for the pilot group whats wrong with them trying to manage their cost. A pilot has to be the most expensive human factor of a flight. It seems to be pretty simple , if they dont have enuff pilots or pilots willing to work overtime to fly the flights it will cost them more than to have a few extra pilots on standby. So why are they bastages ( worse than normal?).
Jim
P.S. This was not meant as flame bait! All I was wondering was how could a company could screw its pilot group with excess layoffs and fly the routes it wants to?

 

[Marko Ramius]

James007.

You aren't missing anything, but unfortunately this game is about power and not common sense. You probably have seen me on these boards grumpily arguing that furloughed major pilots should be given fair interviews at the regionals. Many regional pilots have rebutted me, with financial and logical reasons why this shouldn't be done. Their reasoning is solid, but I don't believe that is the real reason behind management's ignorance of us. This game is about power and positioning, and that's what's happening to us, and is the ultimate answer to your question. For example, ACA says that they are hiring in March. Let's say HYPOTHETICALLY, that they and the other regionals start calling people like me for interviews between now and mid February, and they hire a bunch of us without resigning our numbers. If that happened, most people at my airline would say, hey everything's OK, the furloughees have "interim" jobs and they'll be back someday. The union then agrees to pay concessions, and ludicrous scope ammendments. Seem farfetched, ask anybody who is junior at UAL or any other carrier if it couldn't happen. The pressure is high on people like me right now, if it's released around the time concession negotiations occur, it will weaken UAL ALPA's position and following. Carriers like ACA/Air Wis/Skywest all have their training costs covered by UAL, what do they care about hiring furloughees? The situation is the same at DAL. Comair wants 500 new hires, what happens to the scope sentiment if Comair et al. all of sudden start hiring DAL furloughees. This jig is all a power game on both sides of the ball: management and union. The sooner you pick up the game, the sooner you can be a good player.

 

[Mallard]

I just wish I was furloughed. At Chautauqua, they fired 125 pilots (25%). Time will tell if our union can get that changed, but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Cornelius]

Mallard, did I read you correctly that they fired 25%? I guess that means no recall rights when they need more pilots. Do you know why they did that? Thats a real bummer!

Good Luck.

 

[Cardinal]

Parking two 777's!!! Combined that has to be approx 3.6 million per month in interest/lease payments being pissed away. Oh my...

 

[Mallard]

Yeah they canned 25% (125) of us. They did it in order to get rid of as many Saab guys on probation as possible to avoid retraining costs later, into the jet. Management said it was needed to save the company. Nice morale booster, huh?

And while it would be logical to re hire all of us, there is no guaruntee.

 

[Boeingman]

I don't believe that parking the airplanes is a correct term. My understanding is the first 777's are coming up on heavy checks and the bid reflects a reduction in block hours based on this.

No physical airframes will leave. We should be getting 2 777's still this year in part to cover heavy MX and additional flying.

 

[captjim]

Management was given a perposal by the union that would have saved $25 million and would have mitigated many furloughs. They turn that offer down. This time management basically lock out the union as far as mitigating furloughts this time. They will not compromise at all. Make no mistake, Gordon is taking hostages for contract "02"! This is his way of breaking the union.
This will be managements excuse to keep CAL/COEX pilots below industry standard pay, plan and simple.

 

[pb4ufly]

UAL

Fact: 591 Furloughed
Fact: No future furloughs (if any) until March

Rumour: May reduce to 8000 (from 10,512 pre 9-11)

 

[bigr]

From Avweb.com




United Air Line mechanics have filed suit seeking to block intervention of a Presidential Emergency Board that stalled the union's ability to strike until February 21. Union members voted to strike back in December...


if you don't think this is serious...discuss it with your Eastern Airlines collegues.

 

[Prop Trash]

The latest word...250 more pilots will be cut from the CALEX seniority list. This figure comes from management.

 

[SheGaveMeClap]

100 furloughed from CAL, so they furlough 250 from COEX. What a bunch of bull$hit. I heard it's affecting October 2000 hires. And I'm sure they won't be back for a long time!!!

Hey Colby, you still holding ATR Capt? I don't guess they can send you back to the 1900, they gonna send you to RJ fo school? You gonna stick around through this whole mess???