Originally Posted by
DaveNelson
This is not a withdrawal of enthusiasm, a sickout, or anything like it. The cancelled flights are a direct result of deliberate short staffing by the company, which has worked for them in the past and isn't working now.
The company has been offering a voluntary junior manning premium of 150% for straight pickups for most of the summer. Many pilots have responded, but apparently not enough. Those who haven't are not part of an organized conspiracy. The union is not telling people to refrain from picking up open time. The decision to work voluntary overtime is an individual one that rests with the employee.
Nobody is doing anything against the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, or the 2008 injunction against United's chapter of ALPA. Continental is simply reaping the fruit of the seeds it sewed by not hinging enough pilots.
No unfair labor practices are occurring!
You are right. My use of the phrase "withdrawal of enthusiasm" was incorrect as it implies an organized or directed job action. I should have said that in these challeging times people are being especially careful about safety so they're not coming to work sick. They are also choosing to spend time with their families by flying just their assigned schedules. That the airline is under staffed is a problem, just not a pilot problem.