NWA furloughs again

[Wats]

I just saw a sub title on CNN (yes, I'm on a trip, again) that said NWA is laying off another 150 pilots. That sucks! How many does that bring the total to? My thoughts are with you guys!

 

[WrightAvia]

Looks like NWA is going for the...

...SARS write off on the taxes. Here's an article on how NWA is blaming SARS for 150 layoffs.

http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/3911308.html

Kind of funny considering that "ANDROMEDA STRAIN" is on TV right now.

 

[WrightAvia]

here is some more info...

http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/business/article/0,1426,MCA_440_1998849,00.html

 

[flyboy]

They can't afford pilots but they can afford a new paint scheme?

 

[Bill Mostellar]

I just saw a sub title on CNN (yes, I'm on a trip, again) that said NWA is laying off another 150 pilots. That sucks! How many does that bring the total to? My thoughts are with you guys!

The Union responds:

Union May File Fourth Grievance

Dow Jones Business News
Northwest Pilots Union May File Fourth Grievance >NWAC
Monday June 2, 12:46 pm ET
By Erik Ahlberg, Of DOW JONES NEWSWIRES


CHICAGO (Dow Jones)--Northwest Airlines Corp.'s pilots union may file another formal grievance if the company goes through with its plan to cut an additional 150 pilots due to a travel slowdown to Asia.
The cuts, confirmed by a company spokeswoman on Monday, may affect pilots who work under a 1998 employment contract that specifically prohibits such furloughs, said union spokesman Will Holman.

If submitted, the grievance would be the Northwest Air Line Pilots Association's fourth on file. The three others relate to job cuts after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and the war with Iraq.

The union said in a message to its membership late last week that the company intended to trim its schedules due to travelers' concerns about the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.

Holman said the union couldn't act until the cuts actually occurred and that the number of cuts may actually vary in the end.

"We will act accordingly," he said.

Northwest, Eagan, Minn., plans to furlough a total of 1,093 pilots through January 2004, the union said.

-By Erik Ahlberg, Dow Jones Newswires; 312-750-4141; [email protected]

 

[dondk]

HNL and MSP 747-200 Bases to Close Effective November 1, 2003
NWA management said that October 2003 will be the last month of flying for these two bases due to the planned elimination of 747-200 flying out of HNL and MSP. Management did inform ALPA that it will begin reducing staffing in these bases effective with the October 2003 APA (based on the effective preference listings on file June 5). The remaining HNL and MSP 747-200 permanent position holders will be displaced during November 2003 APA (based on the effective preference listings on file July 5).

Note: Management said the ANC 747-200 pilot base should see a modest increase in size in conjunction with the closure of the other bases. However, due to a large decrease in the total level of 747-200 flying, the number of additional positions in ANC will be slightly less than the current number of HNL and MSP positions. Future changes to the size of the ANC 747-200 base will remain closely tied to Northwest’s freighter operations.

DTW DC-10 Base Closure
Management is projecting to close the DTW DC-10 base during the second quarter of 2004 since the A330 will be replacing the DC-10 flying in the Atlantic.

HNL DC-10 Base
Management said it plans to reestablish a HNL DC-10 base in May 2004.

Additional Pilot Furloughs
Management also informed ALPA that an additional 150 pilots will be furloughed and made slight changes to the June, July and August furlough schedule. If all the projected furloughs take place, some pilots protected by the no furlough clause (’98 contract) will be furloughed. If or when this happens, ALPA will make a decision regarding a grievance.
Management’s Furlough Schedule as of May 29, 2003:
June 2003 = 30 furloughs, total of 738
July 2003 = 50 furloughs, total of 788
August 2003 = 30 furloughs, total of 818
September 2003 = 90 furloughs, total of 908
October 2003 = 35 furloughs, total of 943
November 2003 = 50 furloughs, total of 993
December 2003 = 50 furloughs, total of 1043
January 2004 = 50 furloughs, total of 1093