Originally Posted by
Itsajob
All labor is included, it’s just that we are more difficult to deal with since we only operate one piece of equipment and our training takes time. The other labor groups require far less training and can be furloughed and recalled with much less difficulty. The one thing that I have learned from my 25 years is that we can give concessions and then furlough, or enforce the contract and then furlough. Hopefully they think that the revenue will be back for the summer of 2021. I would like to think that an actually worthwhile early out program and increasing demand would save some people from furlough, but Kirby isn’t getting my vote for one dime of concessions.
I would argue it’s not as simple as this either/or scenario. It seems the pilot group could present some version of the following that would be in the best interest of both the company and the pilots:
1) Pilots agree to lower MPG to 55 until July 1 2021
2) Company agrees to not furlough until July 1 2021
3) Company agrees to give up on the scope fight (or pick any priority) once things are back to normal and contract negotiations resume.
This is oversimplified to a degree. But the point is that agreements can be drafted in an almost infinite number of ways and can be as creative as needed. An agreement that would address all the opposing concerns I’ve seen on this thread could likely be reached if the pilot group was on board with the fundamental idea of everyone making a temporary sacrifice for the sake of avoiding job losses for a few. It will be interesting to see how this unfolds. There’s a lot of talk of brotherhood and unity, but you know the old saying about watching what people do not what they say...