Looking forward
There are a couple of potential pitfalls with furloughs. Comair has very little experience with furloughs so we can expect some missteps.
#1. What are the seniority numbers of the two first-officer representatives? If they are slated to be furloughed the MEC may begin to show signs of disunity, disorganization, and confusion.
#2. The pilot-group at large will experience large swings in relative seniority. For example, Captains will downgrade to F/Os. Lineholders will fall back on reserve. People who had expected to be able to hold holidays or weekends off, may find themselves back on less desirable schedules. This will fracture the pilot group.
#3. The pilots scheduled to be furloughed will be looking towards their elected leadership to try and find solutions. The leadership will not be likely to offer much in the way of help. Hopefully they'll have a job-fair, invite other airline recruiters, along with local non-aviation company recruiters. I would also hope they would hire a furlough administrator who will staff a committee to answer phones for several weeks before and following scheduled furloughs to answer questions regarding unemployment, pass-benefits, severence, 401K, etc.
Furloughs are a weapon. Regardless of whether or not Fast Freddy has any intention of downsizing the airline long-term, this single event will fragment the pilot group.
Being prepared for what is to come is time well spent. Hopefully your union leadership will call for a special MEC meeting following Fred's "announcement" in order to answer questions and share information.
Just as the strike tested some of you, so too will this event. Thousands of airline pilots have been furloughed since 09/11. They have survived. Some stayed in aviation. Others have found other paths. You will rise to the challenge as they have.
Best of luck to all of you.