ABX furlough problem
ABX has informed the pilot group they need to furlough 20 pilots this month. Management is more reluctant than normal to go through with the furlough because THEY have created a situation that has extra disincentives to furlough. There is a large group of pilots who are on the recall list (maybe anywhere from 80 to 160) that are more senior than the bottom 20. That means if they have to do a recall, they will have a different group returning which means more training costs and other problems.
It seems that management and the union have been working on plans to prevent the need to furlough. Some of the plans include pilot work rule concessions, which have to be approved by the pilot group.
The problem with this is, while good for management and the pilots who are on the furlough list, it blocks other pilots from getting a shot at a recall in the future. I don't think the union is intentionally favoring one group over another, but, that seems to be a possible outcome.
Last year, when ABX was recalling and ATI was starting to furlough, a 1224 lawyer wrote a letter to management chastising them for meddling with the furlough and recall process and warned management of possible consequences. In part, the letter said “...It would be inherently unfair to the Crewmembers remaining on the seniority List for the Company to delay their recall in expectation of a potential furlough at ATI, and it would be an error for the Company to disregard their conditional recall responses. Our position is guided by our sense of fairness to the Crewmembers remaining on the Seniority List, and our certainty that the appearance of meddling with the order and process of recall will result in further action neither side wishes to be bogged down in...”
The union needs to take another look at this and consider their role in this process. Let management worry about figuring out how to unpaint themselves from this corner. The union is there to protect employees and treat them fairly.
I will vote NO on any changes to the CBA in accordance with advise from the APA1224 attorney. “...the appearance of meddling with the order and process of recall will result in further action neither side wishes to be bogged down in...”