PSA to furlough 49 more FOs / downgrade 33

[buxflyr]

Not flaming, just curious what would motivate someone to give up good seniority to go to a company that's in that kind of shape.

The same reason people went to United, NWA, Eos, etc, the last 6-12 months. The grass is always greener on the other side...

 

[Tweaker]

I can tell you why I went.

To stay at my previous job does nothing to further my career. Many who have stayed have stayed far too long by their own admission. "If I had only left for UPS/FDX/SWA." I feel bad for them.

I rolled the dice. To advance and get a fresh start was a good move for me. I got a 737 type and time in the A/C, as well as glowing recommendations from my instructors. To stay would for me personally have been like settling for a fat/ugly chick at the bar, rather than "swing for the fence" like someone else said, and risk getting shot down by someone more desireable.

I also went to US Airways BECAUSE of the contractual provision that requires the company to let me flow down to MY old job at my old seniority. If I went anywhere else, I would be on my own. I knew that furloughs were very likely. I told everyone it was a 75% likelyhood. I still don't regret it. I am treated very well by EVERYONE I meet here. It is a tremendous change for the better.

WScum, you are feeling like a femine hygene bag and I know it, but you are too small to show contrition. You try tell us not to post on this thread because we have nothing to do with PSA furloughs. An attempt to redirect, nothing more.

Again, you try to tell us you want us back, you just want a bi-directional flow to make it OK with you. Asked and answered counsellor. I have stated time and again that we agree on this. You try to say it to justify your self-centered bleatings.

Give it a rest, and stop showing your arse! NO ONE WILL FLOW DOWN WITHOUT SUCH AN AGREEMENT. If it never happens, we never come back to "steal":laugh: our previous positions within our current corporation. If it does, then you too will reap the benefits of the contract we work under, and go to mainline if that is best for you and your spawn.

As far as your request for me to not "preach to you about union bruthahood." REQUEST DENIED. You have a damn big mouth (perhaps one wang to many, one too many times?). You can't reasonably expect to earn anything less than replies in kind. I'm not argueing with you, I know you are not man enough to even meet someone halfway. You are a sad little manchild

 

[buxflyr]

Tweaker,

I cant blame you for going for a mainline job. Your rationale is well respected.

On the other side, was it worth the risk? First of all, are you getting furloughed?

There are plenty of guys who you say are "stuck" at the regionals. Many of them are 15+ yr guys and are making over 100k. They may be "stuck", but unless the company goes under, they 1. wont be furloughed. 2. maintain their good schedule. 3. Continue to make excellent money.

I would rather be flying across the country in a 737, but for the job I have now doing the North Carolina express... its all the same, and pays the bills.

The one thing everyone can do is to make that back up plan. To be on the bottom 35% of a seniority list right now is not a good thought to have..

 

[McNugget]

The one thing everyone can do is to make that back up plan. To be on the bottom 35% of a seniority list right now is not a good thought to have..

1. Sell your ipod on ebay and trade down to a smaller model.

2. Buy supermarket brand hair gel.

3. Color your own hair.

4. Shag your flight attendants in the woods, instead of paying for a motel room.

5. Wash RJs for extra money, on your days off.

 

[buxflyr]

1. Sell your ipod on ebay and trade down to a smaller model.

2. Buy supermarket brand hair gel.

3. Color your own hair.

4. Shag your flight attendants in the woods, instead of paying for a motel room.

5. Wash RJs for extra money, on your days off.

Or 5 backup plans. Look at the ingenuity!

 

[McNugget]

Ooh!

6. Pick up all the open-time you can, then sell the trips to other pilots at a profit.

 

[McNugget]

7. Become a pimp for flight attendants on layovers.

 

[NCFlyer]

I also went to US Airways BECAUSE of the contractual provision that requires the company to let me flow down to MY old job at my old seniority. If I went anywhere else, I would be on my own. I knew that furloughs were very likely. I told everyone it was a 75% likelihood. I still don't regret it. I am treated very well by EVERYONE I meet here. It is a tremendous change for the better.

Tweaker,

It is my understanding that the "Preferential Hiring" program that you and the others went to US Airways was totally unrelated to the "flow through" that is in our current CBA.

The "Preferential Hiring" is a totally different monster. The "Preferential Hiring" has no basis in our contract. It has no provision for flow-down. My own opinion is that it is/was a program put in place by US Airways management to head off a potential injunction to stop any/all hiring off the street until the current battle over "flow through" was settled.

As 1 who argued and fought (unsuccessfully) to get the ALG/PDT pilots who went to MDA the opportunity to return to PDT I don't know that I think the current pilots have any right to expect to return. Can something be worked out? I don't know, but I am willing to work towards a mutually acceptable solution. However it seems that any solution will hurt someone.

 

[ex j-41]

7. Become a pimp for flight attendants on layovers.

Dude noone is going to pay to shag our flight attendents.

 

[McNugget]

Dude noone is going to pay to shag our flight attendents.

Even in North Carolina? I find that difficult to believe, but it's your airline.

 

[McNugget]

8. Network with legacy, FedEx, UPS, and SWA pilots by becoming a caddy or valet car parker at the country club. Wear your regional uniform, and don't worry, they'll be sure to let you know who they are and tell you some great things about themselves.

9. Network with legacy, FedEx, UPS, and SWA pilots by becoming a Pool Boy. You can also gain some extra cash and gifts by servicing their wives while they are away on trips! Giggity!

 

[McNugget]

10. Copper wire broker! Copper is in short supply, and you can make a fortune by brokering copper wire. No need to waste your time and risk your freedom by stealing from construction sites: Just head on over to ATL, CLT, or wherever, and throw some pennies on the floor! The flood-pants wearing, penny pinching legacy pilots will fight over it, and create some nice strands of copper wire for you. Call them off by having a friend positioned near a food stand to call out "Free Samples!"

 

[Tweaker]

Tweaker,

I cant blame you for going for a mainline job. Your rationale is well respected.

On the other side, was it worth the risk? First of all, are you getting furloughed?

There are plenty of guys who you say are "stuck" at the regionals. Many of them are 15+ yr guys and are making over 100k. They may be "stuck", but unless the company goes under, they 1. wont be furloughed. 2. maintain their good schedule. 3. Continue to make excellent money.

I would rather be flying across the country in a 737, but for the job I have now doing the North Carolina express... its all the same, and pays the bills.

The one thing everyone can do is to make that back up plan. To be on the bottom 35% of a seniority list right now is not a good thought to have..

Well as it stands today, furloughs have been announced, but no one has gotten a letter. I expect to be furloughed, but several realities make me less anxious than I might be.
1) I am called EVERY DAY on my days off.
2) I am frequently the only pilot on reserve in my equip/base.
3) We are in negotiations and have a new union. I feel that the furlough announcement is significantly a political one. A game of chicken and an attempt to feel out the enemy's front lines by Dougweiser. Shrewd move and I respect that.
4) We are within a gnat's peniz of the contractual fleet minimums both East and West. This furlough would put that at the threshold.
5) Mid to long term, this pilot group is very "mature" shall we say. Any short term overstaffing situations are just that.

In regard to your other comments justifying remaining in a quality regional, you make great points. In my case, howeverm I don't see PDT as a quality anything, outside of the aircraft, flightcrew and a respectable contract. That same contract is used as toilet paper by management (which I expressed to them face to face). The future is bleak, our fleet was shrunk 60% after the ALG merger, and the pay, while great for the mission, is a dead end, golden handcuffs scenario.

You are right about a back up plan, friend. Mine is the legally binding contractual language that is already written into my contract. I can only hope/wait for the courts or common sense to bear fruit.

Worst case, I will collect unemployment checks, enjoy my little baby girl, jump in headfirst into my new hobby (homebrewing beer), and ride it out.

 

[Tweaker]

Tweaker,

It is my understanding that the "Preferential Hiring" program that you and the others went to US Airways was totally unrelated to the "flow through" that is in our current CBA.

The "Preferential Hiring" is a totally different monster. The "Preferential Hiring" has no basis in our contract. It has no provision for flow-down. My own opinion is that it is/was a program put in place by US Airways management to head off a potential injunction to stop any/all hiring off the street until the current battle over "flow through" was settled.

As 1 who argued and fought (unsuccessfully) to get the ALG/PDT pilots who went to MDA the opportunity to return to PDT I don't know that I think the current pilots have any right to expect to return. Can something be worked out? I don't know, but I am willing to work towards a mutually acceptable solution. However it seems that any solution will hurt someone.

You are right on all counts, NCFlyer.

Any subsequent flow agreement does include those who utilized the preferential hiring program, however.

I am glad that you were on the proper side of the MDA debacle. The PDT leadership was acting out of anger and frustration at the AAA MEC. They were wrong and made us look like arseholes. This led to them being slotted above all CEL Whorely owned pilots.

Between that and $11,000 stock options from management. I would say they were made whole. Of course, they were unemployed for 12 months and had no guarantee they would be captain on PSA RJ's. That is what ultimately happened, as we all know.

Life is a serious of calulated risks. I guess I am personally more willing to roll the dice when the odds are right, rather than stand pat with a poor to marginal hand.

 

[WSurf]

WScum, you are feeling like a femine hygene bag and I know it, but you are too small to show contrition. You try tell us not to post on this thread because we have nothing to do with PSA furloughs. An attempt to redirect, nothing more.

Where did I tell you not to post on the PSA Furloughed thread?

I said the PSA Furloughs have nothing to do with your being furloughed at Mainline.

Please, get over yourself! WScum, now thats orginal. LOL

Good Luck.