FYI, This was posted in the Poolie thread.
From the ORD ALPA Scheduling Committee Report (4/3/14):
The 737 fleet is scheduled to increase at ORD and possibly the Company may open a DCA 737 base next year.
The Company is expecting pilot shortages this summer, especially 737 Captain and 756 FO positions. If you hold one of these positions and have been awarded a vacancy bid, the Company has said that they will not release you from your position for training until September or after. You will be pay protected or you can take a displacement per the UPA.
For those that have received a 737 FO vacancy award, training will be pushed back until at least September. No new hires will be offered 737 FO positions until after the summer. All recalls and new hires will be given 76T and 320 positions. All 737 training thru August will be for Captain positions only. Captains will be paired with Captains on all 737 training until at least September.
The Company had anticipated winding down training by June to have all pilots available to fly the line for the summer. Because of poor planning, that has been pushed to July.
The Company will take a look at manpower levels after August. At that time, they will start the realignment of the staffing to try to properly allocate the pilot manpower. This may entail vacancy bids and/or displacements.