Southern to furlough

[dakotaHC8]

OCT/NOV was the time frame when we were told to expect training to commence on the B777, which at last word was still being delivered as sched.

Not sure if either the recall or new planes will actually happen then, but at least it is more positive than "we have no damn idea when you might be coming back"

On a positive note, there has been no real word of a fleet reduction (yet) at Southern either, so who knows... Planes gotta have pilots. If they do park a few birds, obviously it will be a longer furlough than what they plan now, so that is what we will have to wait and see.

 

[Front Office]

Best of Luck...

I just want to wish the best of luck and a speedy return to all.

From your Brothers at Kalitta Air. We are one big family.

Plus, you owe me a beer.

 

[Dream2fly]

I strongly believe some of the guys will be back in a month from now.

 

[dutch747]

OCT/NOV was the time frame when we were told to expect training to commence on the B777, which at last word was still being delivered as sched.

Not sure if either the recall or new planes will actually happen then, but at least it is more positive than "we have no damn idea when you might be coming back"

On a positive note, there has been no real word of a fleet reduction (yet) at Southern either, so who knows... Planes gotta have pilots. If they do park a few birds, obviously it will be a longer furlough than what they plan now, so that is what we will have to wait and see.

You guys take delivery of the 777F's in 2011. And your training this year?

 

[Dream2fly]

You guys take delivery of the 777F's in 2011. And your training this year?

They were saying B777s will show up 1st Q of 2010.
I hope this is true.

 

[dakotaHC8]

They were saying B777s will show up 1st Q of 2010.
I hope this is true.

2 in 2010, another 5 in 2011... Supposedly.

Better to hear than "order canceled"

 

[Guam360]

I just want to wish the best of luck and a speedy return to all.

From your Brothers at Kalitta Air. We are one big family.

Plus, you owe me a beer.

was up dude

 

[unwashed]

OSHA News Release
2009 - 04/07/2009 - U.S. Labor Department's OSHA orders Southern Air Inc. to withdraw retaliatory lawsuit and pay more than $7.9 million to 9 whistleblowers

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OSHA News Release - Table of Contents
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National News Release: 09-346-BOS
April 7, 2009
Contact: Diana Petterson Ted Fitzgerald
Phone: 202-693-1898 617-565-2074

U.S. Labor Department's OSHA orders Southern Air Inc. to withdraw retaliatory lawsuit and pay more than $7.9 million to 9 whistleblowers

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has ordered Southern Air Inc., a Norwalk, Conn.-based air cargo carrier, to withdraw a lawsuit it filed against nine former employees and pay them more than $7.9 million in wages, damages and legal fees.

Southern Air filed a defamation lawsuit against the former employees in Connecticut Superior Court in May 2008 after some of the workers raised air carrier safety concerns with Southern Air, OSHA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The workers, all former flight crew members, subsequently filed a whistleblower complaint with OSHA.

OSHA's investigation found that the company's lawsuit was filed in retaliation for the workers' protected activities under the whistleblower provisions of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR21).

"This order sends a strong and clear message that these and other workers have the right to raise safety issues with their employers and regulatory agencies without fear of retaliation and intimidation," said U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "The Labor Department will vigorously investigate such allegations and, where merited, order appropriate remedies for workers."

As a result of its investigation, OSHA issued a notice of findings and order to Southern Air directing the airline to do the following:

Withdraw its lawsuit.


Pay the complainants $6,004,000 in lost future earnings, $1,800,000 in compensatory damages and $129,789 in legal fees and costs.


Purge each complainant's personnel file and other records of all warnings, reprimands or derogatory references resulting from protected whistleblower activity.


Refrain from mentioning the complainants' protected whistleblower activity or conveying any damaging information in response to third party inquiries.


Provide all Southern Air crew members with copies of the FAA Whistleblower Protection Program poster and OSHA's notice to employees, and post these in each Southern Air facility.


The complainants and the airline have 30 days from receipt of the findings to file an appeal with the Labor Department's Office of Administrative Law Judges.

In addition to AIR21, OSHA administers the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Act and other statutes protecting employees who report violations of various securities, trucking, airline, nuclear power, pipeline, environmental, rail, public transportation and consumer product safety laws. Detailed information on employee whistleblower rights is available online at http://www.osha.gov/dep/oia/whistleblower/index.html.

Under the OSH Act of 1970, employers are responsible for providing a safe and healthful workplace for their employees. OSHA's role is to promote the safety and health of America's working men and women by setting and enforcing standards; providing training, outreach and education; establishing partnerships; and encouraging continual process improvement in workplace safety and health. For more information, visit www.osha.gov.

Note: The Labor Department does not release names of employees involved in whistleblower complaints.


I want on that gravy train!

 

[waka]

What does this have to do with Southern Air furloughing?

 

[DOVPILOT]

What does this have to do with Southern Air furloughing?

I think he is hinting that Southern may have bigger problems than trying to find additional flying

 

[ironspud]

Southern Air Inc. Refutes OSHA's Findings; Company to Appeal

• Tuesday April 7, 2009, 6:27 pm EDT

NORWALK, Conn., April 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern Air Inc. today said that it will vigorously refute the findings by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ("OSHA"), and it will appeal the findings and seek a full evidentiary hearing through the appropriate channels within the Department of Labor.

Brian Neff, Southern Air's president, commented: "We strongly disagree with these findings and believe the underlying claims on which the OSHA Northeast Region based its decision are completely without merit. We are also disappointed that OSHA's investigators chose to release these findings without first performing a thorough investigation into the matter, including notifying Southern Air of any facts upon which they were relying to support their findings and providing Southern Air with a full opportunity to respond. It is our strong belief that we will prevail in our appeal once we have had the opportunity to present all the facts in the matter." The Connecticut Superior Court recently upheld the Company's position in a ruling issued on February 17 in a related state court action. This state court action was the genesis for the litigation involving former Southern Air employees that is the subject of the findings OSHA released today.
It should be noted that nowhere in OSHA's Findings is there any allegation that Southern Air did not operate safely or violated any safety rules or regulations. Mr. Neff noted that, "The Federal Aviation Administration has conducted numerous safety inspections over the past 12 months, and Southern Air has been found to be fully compliant with all applicable FAA regulations."
Mr. Neff noted further that the claim that Southern Air "retaliated" against the former employees in question is specious. He stated that the Southern Air lawsuit against the former employees was filed only after these former employees made unprotected defamatory statements directed to Southern Air's customers and the business community that were intended to harm Southern Air's operations. In fact, in the Connecticut Superior Court's decision, the court found that defamatory statements made outside of the OSHA context were not necessarily protected and upheld Southern Air's right to pursue such claims.
"This is not a case of 'whistleblowers' being dismissed or retaliated against; this is an issue of Southern Air exercising its right to protect its reputation and business against false claims," Mr. Neff said.
"Southern Air remains fully committed to best practices in its business and operations. The Company is dedicated to maintaining the highest safety standards and to complying with all applicable government regulations, as supported by the multiple FAA audits that show we are in full compliance with all applicable FAA regulations. These findings are reinforced by a recent report from a respected independent consultant, concluding that customers shared the view that Southern Air was a leader in safety and reliability in the air cargo industry. We are certain that when all the facts are fully known, the Department of Labor and the courts will agree with our position," Mr. Neff concluded.

 

[unwashed]

I think he is hinting that Southern may have bigger problems than trying to find additional flying

I think if you are on furlough you had better get your resume sharp and out there. Yes I think SAH has bigger problems than just finding flying, don't all of the third tier cargo companies.

 

[jehtplane]

I think if you are on furlough you had better get your resume sharp and out there. Yes I think SAH has bigger problems than just finding flying, don't all of the third tier cargo companies.

Resume to where? There is virtually nothing out there.

 

[unwashed]

Everywhere you can if you want to work.