UAL planning recalls

[Boz]

It is planning recalls for customer contacts employees and mechanics, and lets hope that this wil end the furloughing of any further pilots and they too will be on the recall list in the coming months. Keeping the faith that UAL is turning the corner.



Associated Press
United to Increase O'Hare Flights

United Airlines to Increase Daily Flights From O'Hare by 15 Percent, Will Recall Workers
CHICAGO (AP) -- United Airlines plans to increase the number of daily flights from O'Hare International Airport by 15 percent and will recall hundreds of furloughed employees to make it happen.

The carrier also plans to cut fares and eliminate a Saturday-night-stay requirement to help recapture business lost from corporate travelers after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It expects to redirect dozen of jets from other markets to accommodate the increase in flights from O'Hare.

The new schedule is expected to start June 7.

United could not say how much it will spend on rebuilding at its Chicago hub.

Chris Bowers, United's senior vice president of marketing and sales, told the Chicago Tribune that United would also cut ticket prices for all markets by up to 50 percent.

After the September attacks, United slashed capacity by 23 percent and laid off 20,000 employees. It now plans to increase the number of daily flights from O'Hare from 537 to 614.

The expansion will mean that hundreds of the airline's customer-contact employees, ramp workers and mechanics who have been laid off in Chicago and around the country will be recalled.

 

[flydog]

So if I interpret this article correctly UAL which is losing millions a day is going to:

1. Cut ticket prices 50% in all markets

2. Increase flights by 15% at O'Hare

3. Recall some furloughed employees (not pilots)


Maybe I missed the day they taught business in college but if it costs me 50 cents to make lemonade and I sell it for 25 cents it stands to reason I wouldnt make money. The next week I cut the price by 50% to sell more lemonade and hire a salesman because I cant keep up with all the extra sales. Wouldnt I lose a lot more money?

Any MBAs in the house?

 

[Ualexpress]

The increase in flights and reduction in fares is in response to AMR which is increasing flights in ORD it is simply a competetive response to AMR.

 

[F/O]

Boz,

Not to dampen your enthusiasm but I'm afraid the BEST we can hope for here is no future furloughs. Note that the Steve Forte hotline stated that there will be no additional system-wide capacity as a result of the increased ORD flying. He also said there will only be a "very modest" increase in pilot hours for the summer. There could well be more pilots axed over the next few months as they fine tune their staffing levels and people trickle out of the training pipeline.

For now, however, they don't want to get caught with their pants down as they very nearly did before---they were only a day or two from announcing an April furlough when the news came out about American's planned increase in ORD summer flying.

 

[skykid]

F/O is right on. Hopefully the forloughs are over, but don't be surprised if there are 100 or so more in May. Flydog, the reason for the sales and increased flights in ORD is UAL is determined to remain the dominate carrier there. There are benefits to having the largest share of the pie that go beyond what is readily apparent, and that is what UAL and AMR will be fighting over. As to whether United can afford to do it, go back and read all those posts from months ago predicting United going bankrupt any day now. There are still here, they still have 2 bil in cash, loads are among the best in the industry, and revenue is steadily climbing as the economy recovers. A Summer war between UAL and AMR will get more folks moving thru ORD and be good for the whole industry.

 

[Boz]

I agree with you F/O,

I am just trying to stay positive after months of bad news, I realize that this latest announcement is just as it has been pointed out that we are protecting our fortress in ORD, where we once had 48% of the market share, and AA had around 35%.

But since UAL has been distracted by internal problems in trying to settle outstanding contracts, AA has made a move on UAL dominance out of ORD. Today's response is what any Airline would need to do in order to rise to a challenge from a competing airline. I have no doubt that if UAL announced increased flying out of MIA or DFW that AA would match us to keep this long standing rivalry going.

Like you said lets hope this is the end of furloughs for now, I am only worried that in the fall that when the block hours may get reduced that UAL may start the furlough game all over again. My feeling is that UAL is not going to furlough in MAY. Again, just my gut feeling and trust me I have been wrong many times, but again trying to stay positive and hoping that we recall the 844 pilots and other employees back in the coming 6- 14 months.

 

[UAL727]

Boz and F/O

I do believe they won't furlough in May, but who knows about the future.
In another article, don't remember where, somebody in the company admitted that they made a mistake by cutting so much capacity. UAL has lost some market share and trying to play catch up. I hope its not to late.

But on a side note, we must thank our MEC for getting the company to postpone furloughs from Nov, Dec, Jan till the beginning of Mar otherwise UAL would be in a heap of trouble

Only hope we see recalls in 2003.

UAL727

 

[F/O]

Boz,

I agree with you that the company could postpone the next round until fall and I heard rumors to that effect from the flight office as I was checking out. Obviously it would be an extremely bad sign if a year or so into this mess and the better part of a year into our supposed recovery we were letting more pilots go.

UAL727,

One thing that I've noticed is that management has portrayed the delay of the second round from Jan to March as if they were doing the pilot group a favor. The truth is there is absolutely, positively, no way they could have run the airline during Jan and Feb had they resumed furloughs in Jan and they knew it. I'd say they successfully bluffed ALPA into delaying the RJ grievance with the threat of the Jan furlough.

The other thing they are continually touting is the fact that the total number of furloughs will be "significantly less" that the original 1800 projected. It is quite clear that the 1800 was a complete pie-in-the-sky figure to begin with. Once again, there is positively no way we could run the airline with that many pilots out.

 

[Boz]

F/O right again,

The furloughs that have happened this year, are a clear viloation of the contract not to mention that 124 pilots furloughed on Oct. 31st fall into the same illegal furlough. We have the language in the contract plain and simple with our hard faught scope clause. The company has taken full advantage of it and our MEC elected to defer furloughs scheduled in NOV,DEC,JAN, & FEB to come up with a solution, but they claim to still be working on it. Well, we need to step up the process, UAL MEC is starting to disappoint me as we are on the back burner of resolving things wrong with our compnay. I am not happy that we have illegaly furloughed so many pilots and ignored our contract. What's next company does not feel we should get B fund contirubutions. It is the same thing when they just blatently have ignored a section of the contract. Anyway, I am getting of the subject a little. I just think the MEC has been slow to react in certain situations, another example is the cobra vote and assesment. I am not even going to get into this, but the low number of pilots that voted and then the turn out was very disturbing. I just hope that UAL pilots not of furlough will do all they can to bring back the 844 as soon as possible.

 

[F/O]

Boz,

I appreciate your thoughts. I was shocked that 1) only about 50% participated in the COBRA vote, and 2) 28% (if my memory serves me) voted against it. I bet if you asked each one of these individuals how they voted, they'd LIE and tell you they voted yes. Hopefully these 28% aren't going to be looking out for the interests of the junior guys anytime soon.

 

[UAL727]

F/O

Not to but in, but I do agree that the cobra vote was low..It was suprising to say the least.

They funny thing I heard, was that a f/o who would of been furloughed in APR voted for the Cobra fund. When he found out that the APR furlough was cancelled, he was pissed cause he had to give up 1% of his paycheck..

These kind of people really piss me off..all for me.. who cares about the rest..

Another side not..Chris Bowers just issued a statement in trying to justify the expansion in chicago, stating that the business customers were mad that UAL cut to much capacity...Boy the pilots could of told them that..

I guess WHQ did not go to rocket science school..

Sorry to get of the thread..

 

[HvyjetFO]

I had heard that the MEC wasn't pursuing the furlough grievance right away because the arbitrating judge was anti-labor. I'm not sure if that is true or not, but it is frustrating to have so many UAL pilots on the street illegally and not see anything being done about it immediately.

Another thing that makes me irate is seeing pilots with extrememly high credit times and lots of time in the bank. Some people are picking up extra trips and padding their wallets while we have people on the street. Disgusting.

I'm hoping we've seen thelast of the furloughs as well, as one more round puts the nail in my coffin!

Here's hoping.

 

[F/O]

HvyjetFO

Can I suggest you bring some of the offenders' schedules to the attention of the LEC scheduling rep? I think we need to see printouts of some of these CALRECs going up behind the glass on the ALPA board so everyone can take a good look.

 

[Boz]

Excellent Idea F/o, and HeavyjetFO,

Bring the calrec of these violaters that just can't get the message. These selfish &%^$$%^%$*^(& need to be exposed just as those where during the summer of 2000. I think its time to point them out during your next monthly council meeting. I attended the Council 12 meeting on Jan 8th with Creighton and the point was made then. Obviously the point was not expressed deep enough, and maybe a towel party is going to be a great reminder that we have 844 on the street.

Man, it makes me sick to see the selfishness of these pilots! So again, lets expose them and start putting the up on the wailing wall at your domocile. I know I have done it, only to come back from a trip to see that someone has taken it down. But, no worries I will just print it up and put it back on the wall. I will treat these &^@#$%^& like a scab if need be till they get the message. Sorry to come accross like a jerk, but man this is the kind of **CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED****CENSORED** that makes by blood boil.

So, let these selfish, self-serving, greedy f%^'s be known....


And that's all I have to say about that.

 

[HvyjetFO]

I've suggested to the union that we post CALRECs of the offenders up on the wall just as we did those who did it during the Summer of Love. I don't think it will happen because it is not a real important item to those who aren't on the bottom of the food chain. IMHO,when people pick up extra time, they are taking away reserve flying, and over a period of time some bean counter will realize our reserves are under utilized which will result in more surplusses, which will trickle down to more furloughs. But what do I know? ; )

And, since I'm coming off the 727, I havent been to work since October! But trust me, when (if) I get back to work you can bet I will have some tape in my bag to plaster some CALRECs on the wall!

 

[Boz]

HeavyJetFO,

I know its not high on the priority list for the senior guys, and that is just my point. We need to make them aware that there are guys padding there pay by picking up flying, and as soon as we expose these guys like the summer of 2000, will it possibly stop, just as it did then.

The biggest hurdel IMHO is that we were a unified group of probably 95% participation back then, and we just need to spread the word for those who don't fully understand the ramification of those picking up extra flying.

I have talked with several buddies that are on reserve after the bumps and have been through retraing on new equip like the 737 and A320, etc... they have been retrained and doing the reserve thing now. they are telling me that the crew desk is calling and utilizing them as much as they can, and the good news is that when they need to deal these guys are not willing to replace RDO's to accept a flight. Hopefully more pilots approach this with the same attitude so that we can bring the 844 back as soon as we can. Any pilot flying over the gaurantee should take this approch and I am sure once the word is spread it may take place, just as it did in 2000.

 

[HERCDRVR]

Let's face it. Most pilots are greedy. I love the post about the April guy not getting furloughed and then being pissed about having to pay a few bucks. That says it all right there. The MEC is doing it's pilot a great dissevice by not immediately addressing contract issues and not letting it's furloughees in on the information. But, it's probably been that way at United for the last 76 years and will be for the next 76. I will say that I will have a different view when I do return...become an active union participatant (once off probation of course), be a little less greedy, appreciate those junior to me a bit more...
I hope that the pilots will organize themselves as they did during the summer of love and convince the company that they should not have broken contract rules. In the meantime, call your UAL pilot buddies, email them and let them know every other day that you are waiting to be recalled. Email your union reps and ask for more information, let them know you are concerned. When you use your passes (hopefully another 90 extension is in the works), introduce yourself to the captain so he can put a face with the word furloughee. Hope to see you back in the schoolhouse soon!

 

[UAL727]

HERCDRVR:

Unforunately, I am hearing that the grieivance on the off probabationary pilots has been post poned till June 02.. This is allowing the company to negotiate concessions..

I agree with you, once I return I will have a different feeling toward those who are below me..When and if there is another furloughee I will be there for them, giving them my phone number and email so they can ask questions and recruiting another former furloughees to do the same..

I hope we call see UAL soon again. But unfornuately I think it may be a little longer due to the fact I heard another furloughee of about 200 pilots is going to happen.. Lets hope not..

See you all back on property..

 

[Boz]

I know it still is not the recall of pillts, but at least we are not furloughing anymore pilots, as I stated earlier I think we may have completed all furloughs, even though Steve Forte, just said yeasterday that no more in April, I wish who who just say we are done furloughing period. As with today's news i see it as another encouraging sign of the summer schedule.

United Airlines to Recall 1,300 Employees to Support June Schedule Increase

United to Also Hire an Additional 900 Employees in Key Markets
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 22, 2002--United Airlines (NYSE: UAL - news) today said that due to its increased June schedule, it will recall 1,300 ramp service, customer service, and cabin service employees in its hub markets where United is rebuilding - Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington-Dulles.

The company also announced it will seek to fill all positions with either previously furloughed employees or current employees who wish to relocate. After that the airline plans to recruit about 900 new hires through ads placed in major newspapers as well as radio commercials.

``To support the increased operation, we have already begun to recall employees who were placed on furlough status last fall,'' said Patti Carson, vice president-Human Resources. ``United's capacity will still be about 17 percent below where it was at this time last year, so the company will only be able to recall employees in certain markets.''

Carson added: ``While we still have a long road ahead of us, United is very happy to recall more than a thousand of our employees.''

Recalled employees will return to work by the end of May, with new hires being added during the first week of June.

United Airlines offers about 1,700 flights a day on a route network that spans the globe. News releases and other information about United Airlines can be found at the company's website

 

[F/O]

Any one here feel like being a ramp rat for a while??????

At least it's a job....