NWA NOT so sure of layoffs

[nwaredtail]

From the NWA Q and A:

19. Will there be any furloughs resulting from the merger?

There are no involuntary furloughs of U.S. frontline employees anticipated as a result
of the merger. However, in the current economic environment, with the high cost of
fuel, no job guarantees can be made. It is hoped that furloughs can be avoided
through attrition and that new opportunities will result through the expanded network
of the combined carrier.

 

[DashTrash400]

Looking forward to serving as gear-biatch for the NW guys flowing down to Compass...assuming that few enough come over that I'm merely downgraded and not furloughed.

 

[Flybet3]

Looking forward to serving as gear-biatch for the NW guys flowing down to Compass...assuming that few enough come over that I'm merely downgraded and not furloughed.

What's the flowback agreement with compass?

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

Looking forward to serving as gear-biatch for the NW guys flowing down to Compass...assuming that few enough come over that I'm merely downgraded and not furloughed.

Are you surprised that this may happen??

Your post makes it sound like this is something they didn't tell you at the interview.

 

[Golden Falcon]

Compass???? would they continue to exist??

 

[On Your Six]

If a flow-up is offered, there's gotta be a flow down too... I am sure the Compass pilots were aware of that when they signed on the dotted line.

 

[Golden Falcon]

Wonder what the "flow-up" vs the "flow down" ratio was at AA/Eagle??

 

[luckytohaveajob]

Looking forward to serving as gear-biatch for the NW guys flowing down to Compass...assuming that few enough come over that I'm merely downgraded and not furloughed.

If this does happen, take off your four strips and wear the three.

Nothing looks more stupid than a displaced captain wearing his old uniform because he doesn't understand his new position.

 

[Draginass]

I predict serious layoffs in the fall. You'd better get positioned right on the seniority list or you're going to get screwed by this merger . . . . while the fat cats stuff their pockets right now.

They don't "anticipate" layoffs??? Yea, right. It's amazing how these pirates can tell the same lie over and over again and still many people actually believe them.

 

[~~~^~~~]

Stop scaring the junior guys.

Richard Anderson (who is the person we should be listening to) just pointed out on CNBC that both airlines are very lean as a result of their bankruptcies. Any redundancies will come from management and general office staff positions.

This matches Delta's voluntary program already announced.

There might be some rationalization of NWA's fleet, but it sounds like in the short term NWA's airplanes will be flying. Further, there is more opportunity to fly some of NWA's 747's (they specifically mentioned large aircraft) on Delta routes that need that much capacity. Some of Delta's smaller jets will be shifted to cover NWA's routes where their jets were too big for the current market.

Sounds like Delta saved the whales....!

 

[rudder]

Sounds like Delta saved the whales....!

The era of four-engine passenger jets is over.

 

[Cobraair75drvr]

Sure Fins,

The benevolent dalpa/dal saved us. Looking forward to listening to jr. guys such as yourself remind me of that for my last 27 years. Now I finally get to understand the plight of the green book guys. Yippee, can't wait to get my doublebreasted FO uniform after the seniority cramdown.

Stop scaring the junior guys.

Richard Anderson (who is the person we should be listening to) just pointed out on CNBC that both airlines are very lean as a result of their bankruptcies. Any redundancies will come from management and general office staff positions.

This matches Delta's voluntary program already announced.

There might be some rationalization of NWA's fleet, but it sounds like in the short term NWA's airplanes will be flying. Further, there is more opportunity to fly some of NWA's 747's (they specifically mentioned large aircraft) on Delta routes that need that much capacity. Some of Delta's smaller jets will be shifted to cover NWA's routes where their jets were too big for the current market.

Sounds like Delta saved the whales....!

 

[~~~^~~~]

27 years until 60?

NWA hired pilots at much younger ages than Delta typically does. Your pilot group will be running Delta some day.

 

[JohnDoe]

Looking forward to serving as gear-biatch for the NW guys flowing down to Compass...assuming that few enough come over that I'm merely downgraded and not furloughed.

Well, just like Compass guys like to throw the "you voted for the contract that allowed Compass to exist" at Northwest guys:

You knew the flowback existed when you got hired. Now it may become a reality. You rolled the dice and now may lose.

For those wondering, I may be mistaken but I believe 90% of the Compass list can be displaced by flowbacks. It is not dependant on the number of flow-ups.

 

[PuffDriver]

Sure Fins,

The benevolent dalpa/dal saved us. Looking forward to listening to jr. guys such as yourself remind me of that for my last 27 years. Now I finally get to understand the plight of the green book guys. Yippee, can't wait to get my doublebreasted FO uniform after the seniority cramdown.

If you ever hear that, chalk it up as one Delta pilot who disagrees. I think that we helped each other. I have no doubt that both pilot groups are better off with the merger than without it. Both companies are sound financially, but with the unknowns of how the economy is going to play out, we are both MUCH safer with it. It's going to be tough for your MEC to eat crow, but they are going to have to do it, or an arbitrator will do it for them.

I don't want your seniority. I do want mine. Your MEC wants their and my seniority. Not going to work that way.

 

[JohnDoe]

There might be some rationalization of NWA's fleet, but it sounds like in the short term NWA's airplanes will be flying.

Short term??? Who cares about just the short term?? It's the long term that matters.

 

[~~~^~~~]

I think that we helped each other. I have no doubt that both pilot groups are better off with the merger than without it. Both companies are sound financially, but with the unknowns of how the economy is going to play out, we are both MUCH safer with it.

100% agree.

Short term??? Who cares about just the short term?? It's the long term that matters.

First, we have to make it through the short term.

In the long term we will have new jets and they will be ours.

One of the reasons for the merger was to gain access to the resources to fund the replacement of your DC9's, or MD88's and eventually your Bus's and our Boeings.

 

[zonker]

If I think that we helped each other. I have no doubt that both pilot groups are better off with the merger than without it.

:laugh:

 

[lowecur]

Well I sure hope this deal works for everyone, but I'm skeptical. Anderson will tell everyone what they want to hear to get the approval stamped and out the door. What I would be worried about is right after that.

If my crystal ball is correct, the economy will dictate a rather large capacity reduction at the new airline sometime in the next 12 to 18 months. This will mean furloughs, and a couple of hub closers.

Based on past history, I have my doubts Anderson will be able to bring the unions at NWA into the fold by them. Since both pilot groups are ALPA, does this allow for parity in furloughs or could the NW group suffer in disproportionate numbers because of their existing contract?

Anderson talks about $1B in cuts and synergy savings in the first year which is nominal. AMR is now talking about an increased fuel bill over $2.5B in 2008. The new DL/NWA's fuel bill could be substantially above that. This merger has the potential to make big money, but it also has the potential for even bigger losses if job actions force the new airline to forge even deeper cuts than originally called for.

Hold on to your hats, Anderson will need to pull a Houdini to get the new airline in the black in 2009 and beyond.

imp: ​

 

[ATR-DRIVR]

Did anyone else seem to think Dougie looked like he was nailed to that chair? No movement, expression, nothing. Few words also....

 

[scarlet]

They always say no hub closures and NO JOB CUTS=TO get APPROVAL...AND THEN.....Just start to plan a little for yourself!

 

[zonker]

Anyone who thinks this is going to be good for pilots -or any employee group for that matter- has no idea what they're talking about.

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Gordon Bethune said today it would be good for the employees.

He said that low ticket prices have been subsidized by gutting labor's pensions and salaries, and that it can't go on.

He said the NWA/DAL employees, as well as US airline employees in general will be better off because of these mergers.

cliff
GRB

 

[zonker]

Of course Gordon says that. He's a merger shill and stands to gain financially from a UAL deal.

 

[amcnd]

Wonder what the "flow-up" vs the "flow down" ratio was at AA/Eagle??

115 flow-up 550 ish flowdown!!!

 

[IXLR8]

Did anyone else seem to think Dougie looked like he was nailed to that chair? No movement, expression, nothing. Few words also....

Thats Doug!!! Thank goodness he will remain on the BOD...whew....Doug and Rich back at it again....

 

[Black Hawk]

115 flow-up 550 ish flowdown!!!

and a lot of training costs to go with it.