Latest from council 44 hotline:

Item 4. MD-88 Staffing (repeat item): Some pilots holding a bid or displacement to the MD88 will be converted on December 1st or January 1st prior to their expected conversion dates and prior to training. These conversions are to maintain the minimum PBS Staffing formula required by your contract. Our Scheduling Committee monitors these requirements continually. Your MEC is committed to enforcing your contract.

The way I read this is that the company will convert guys prior to training to meet the staffing formula. So if we are short in a category the company just types up a new conversion list and its magically in compliance? What am I missing?