Originally Posted by
boxboy
Folks,
It is very important to read the contract carefully. The company can reduce the BLG to any number they want to avoid a furlough. All it takes is 30 days notice in writing to the Union, and the company willing to take the bad press when DW is on CNN telling the financial world and our stockholders that FedEx is in such bad shape they are laying off employees, their stock price is down about 30%. They just reported their worst fourth quarter etc. I think the company will do all they can to avoid sending that letter to the Union. If they do send it things are really bad. The cut to 48/60 comes before anyone leaves the property. That is very expensive as well, a pilot flying 48hrs still accrues years of service, gets medical benefits, long and short term disability it goes on and on. Lots of bennies for very little productivity (kinda like France). The company is very avare of the cost of sending that letter.
After reading it, I agree. I seems they merely have to notify of the intent to furlough. But from the language, the way it is written, it could be interpreted to allow the company to reduce BLG to any number between (I'll only use the 4 week month) 68 CH and 48 CH indefinitely to "delay" or avoid a furlough. As long as they don't hit 48 for at least one bid period, it could be interpreted to mean they could keep the reduction below 68 to continue to delay a furlough.
The way I'm reading (and of course I may be WAAY wrong), it seems the CBA allows the company these options:
1. Normally BLG is 68 CH minimum and they must pay that according to CBA
2. They decided that going less than 68 is advantageous so they notify of "potential furloughs"
3. They begin to reduce below 68 CH as allowed by the CBA. Now they have 2 options
a. Go to 48 CH min for at least one bid month and then furlough (that is the option everyone has been debating on here with the 13 CH spread, too many flight hours to allow that etc)
b. Go to somewhere between 68 CH and 48 CH to "delay" the furlough (there is no time limitation for this option)
I may be wrong, but it seems this can happen. Remember, the company has a history of liberally interpreting the CBA --- (ie if it's not prohibited specifically, then its allowed)