Originally Posted by
JetJock16
We at SKW are overstaffed by around 200-300 pilots as well. Will OO furlough? Who knows but Mgmnt/SAPA is now telling us that they are extended VLOA’s from 1 month to 7 months and we should have part time pilot lines by February. I know that 100’s of pilots will bid on the part time position and it should go extremely senior. Which is what the company wants (& I agree), get the expensive pilots to work less and the cheaper pilots will pick up the slack. Also the part time position means that the company won’t have to pay full time benefits for those pilots.
As for the ASA furlough language, forgive me seeing that I am not that familiar with its intricate details but others have stated it contains protection form energy cost, company health, etc. Now if mainline cuts capacity then this has nothing to do with the company overstaffing, their inability to remain healthy or energy cost (oil’s at $37/barrel today). Its mainline that has caused the overstaffing which was interned caused by the economy, this is and was completely out of Mgmnt’s control. Surely a TA can’t protect against this?
I see what you are saying but the company isn't just going to furlough because they have "too many pilots". That isn't the problem. The problem is lost revenue due to reductions in flying from Delta. If Delta was paying for all this lost block, then the company could care less because they have the money to pay all the pilots, so let them sit around and do nothing. But Delta just cuts and therefore ASA looses revenue resulting in a poor financial status within the company. Well the no-furlough clause states that reasons in which the company has no control does not include the "Financial Status of The Company". Another good job on ALPA's part.
So they are going to have to look at other non-contractual employees to let go like they said they were going to do in the first place. Like a few other guys said and something I did notice is that if they wanted to furlough, why wouldn't they approve ALL of the COMA lines (zero block hour lines)? I know of several CR7 pilots that put in requests for them and weren't awarded them. For Jan they approved something like 3 pilots on the CR7 to take a COMA line. COMA's are they same thing as a leave but you are able to keep your flight benefits and you have to pay for your health insurance. It's got me confused.