Proposed Cuts At Continental.....

[brokea$$pilot]

In yesterday's article about proposed cuts at Continental airlines, many of you know their management is asking for $500,000,000 from its employee groups. $200,000,000 solely from its 4100 pilots at CAL mainline. Im not sure if thats the exact number of pilots there but 4100 was quoted in the USA today article.If 4100 is an accurate number, then that would be an average cut of approximately $48,800 per pilot. Having to take paycuts is never a joyous task, but im sure the CAL pilots and other groups will vote for what is best for them. I dont have an opinion on this issue but with my inaccurate math skills i think that the $200,000,000 management is asking for equates to a 35% paycut for the pilots. The top pay as quoted in the AIRLINEPILOTPAY section for CAL states the TOP widebody Captain's earning $204hr. Taking 35% out of that leaves $132.6hr FOR THE TOP PAID PILOTS AT CAL. Please correct me if i'm wrong on this issue because this paycut will put the CAL pilots way below any other Major/legacy airline with the top pay of $120,000yr based on 75hrs per month. This is a serious issue and again the CAL pilots will do what is good for them. More info. on this matter will be appreciated. Preferably by the CAL/CALEX pilots(even though it affects mainline pilots only)

 

[NEDude]

Posted by RichardFitzwell on the majors side. I added the bold where it says wage reductions of 8.9%. The rest looks mostly like productivity improvements.

Let's post the lowlights for fun...

Bullet Points of CAL ALPA Tentative Agreement (subject to MEC review and approval)

- Effective date of agreement if ratified by MEC and membership: April 1, 2005

- Amendable date of agreement: Dec. 31, 2008

- Effective date and duration are the same as all other employee groups.

- Wage reduction in hourly rates: 8.9%

- Wage build-back in hourly rates: 2% July 1, 2007, 2% July 1, 2008

- Establishment of Defined Contribution Plan, hard freeze of Defined Benefit Plan.

- Company contribution levels phase in: 6.75% - July 1, 2005, 10% - July 1, 2006, 12.75% - July 1, 2007 and thereafter.

- Additional variable DC contributions based on company profitability.

- Additional contract modifications to conserve short-term cash effective July 1, 2005:

** Deadhead paid at 50% (full credit for line construction); will increase to 75% value on July 1, 2006, and full value on July 1, 2007.

** Vacation pay values will decrease April 1, 2005, to 3:15/day, with a further decrease July 1, 2005, to 3:00/day and restored to 3:15/day on July 1, 2007.

** Pay value for a training day reduced to 2:24; line construction credit 2:45.

** Parking allowance eliminated.

- Pilot group will be given options for 6.8% ownership (up to 5.8 million shares).

- CAL prohibited from stock buy-backs or payment of dividends on CAL stock until $500 million has been placed in to Pilot-only DB Plan.

- CAL ALPA will be provided with access to CAL Board of Directors level review of strategic business plans and all BOD briefing materials.

- Established more structured and detailed seating assignment priorities for Deadhead segments.

- No un-seating of Deadheading pilot without pilot concurrence.

- Complete re-write of Reserve Scheduling section to allow for long-call and short-call reserve lines. All reserve pilots will be allowed aggressive pick-up of flight assignments.

- B-787 will be paid as Widebody pay; ALPA and company will jointly develop crew rest facility.

- Major enhancement of Section 1–Scope (ratio aircraft and ASMs, limits on foreign flights)

- "No furlough" provision for all CAL pilots on the seniority list as of the effective date.

- When hiring, preferential interview to pilots of Express Carriers.

- Make available open cabin seats to additional jumpseat riders.

No, No, NO!