Originally Posted by
jumppilot
I was going to post this in the profit sharing thread but I wanted to avoid that show.
In Dec 2012 people will start retiring again. The way the T&PA is set up CAL hires UAL furloughees.
So what happens when UAL recalls? They will take furloughed UAL pilots from CAL, who will then need to hire more from the furlough pool of UAL. Once UAL recalls more, those pilots will move over to UAL which will start the cycle anew and create a lot of training cycles.
Seems like a lot of wasted money and I'm sure that thought isn't lost on management.
Please spare me the "Pierce will just cut another side deal, as is the CAL way!!!" But I see this as a pressing reason why we may see a contract in the next 6-8 months, giving our pilot groups time to create a SLI.
Thoughts?
Yes, you are approaching this from a one sided sight picture. Mgmt looks at training costs as sunk costs.
Any advantage they can achieve, regardless of the training scenario you provide which could occur, but delays or otherwise deminishes the final JCBA is a plus in thier column.
Expand your sight picture and realize that whatever mgmt does, they do for a reason.
Do you know the number of pilots getting paid full pay for an extended period when UAL parked the 727 and 200 guppy. Waste of money, sure. Helping to push them to Chap 11....priceless.
Learn to look from a different perspective. While I wish it wasn't true, ALPA has always been reactionary and never visionary with regards to mgmts actions.
They look at the "cost" you describe as a potential gain when you agree to something less come contract time. A net gain that runs 5 years probably plus the standard RLA 2 years, or greater negotiation. They won many times over. But "we" showed them, right?
I warned you all that perceived leverage regarding the JCBA was not there and the mgmt will be more than ready to accept the divided airline until the combination met their terms. You all just don't listen.
I hope the best but have history and reality to temper that hope. Thusfar, mgmt has been 2 steps ahead in this process. Time to hire real professionals, not ALPA endorsed professionals, to bring this to culmination.
My 2 cents.
Frats,
Lee