Originally Posted by
fedupbusdriver
In my opinion, the 48/60 minimum is there to protect us. Without it, the company could furlough every year after peak, then bring the guys back during the next peak. This a little exaggerated, but think about it.
In order for the company to furlough, it must prove that we are so over-manned that they can fly the current system form building lines with only 48 CHs. If this low minimum was not in place, they could furlough 30 -40 pilots anytime, and just turn the optimizer up, and make up the difference with draft.
The company cannot fly the current system form with a 48/60 blg, therefore they cannot furlough.
IMO it also there to prevent the company from arbitrarly lowering the Min BLG below 68/85. Otherwise the company could just declare the need to furlough and reduce the DC-10 BLG to 60 but keep the MD-10 at 73. But stopping that would take a MEC that knows how to say no.