Originally Posted by
MEMFO4Ever
IMO...YMMV Softening market in Asia, continued flat US volume (even over peak), profits resting on the fuel surcharge. The last thing we need are more bodies. We have plenty of guys, they are just in the wrong seats. 727 needs a massive excess bid before they consider hiring. Leaner is better.
leaner is better for management. For the reserve linehlder it means misery- no drops no trades. Regular lineholders are adversely affected by the lack in schedule flexibility while lean as well. Properly manned there is "room" from a contractual floor BLG to higher blgs as published.
4a2b was exploited far longer than could be justified, at the same time reserves were denied from dropping r-days for insufficient coverage. What a dichotomy- "we're overmanned so 4a2b, but were denying all trades & drops due to insufficient manning?!?" "O" stated this in an email.
Lean could be advantage ALPA for contract leverage, "if", we were unified enough to legally not work on our days off, as the company is Dependent on our singleminded selfish pilots working draft, volunteer, and overtime for straight pay, in order to execute the flight schedule while "lean".
Once the NC is close to agreement, or at a stalled impasse, it would not take long for wheels to fall off the flight schedule wagon if manpower planning is so lean that they must rely on draft, vol, pick-up, and the pilots didn't accept. Properly manned they would not have to worry. Apparently due to our collective shortsightedness, they still dont have to worry.