Originally Posted by
captscott26
They are taking back the longevity that we all accrued while on furlough. So, however much time you had left on probation when u were furloughed will also be the amount of time you will have to be on first year pay when u return. They cannot change your date of hire, that is what it is, but they will adjust your longevity date do make up for the time on furlough.
FWIW, the union is going to fight this, and if the company doesn't give I believe this will go to the top of the arbitration list.
I don't think the union is going to win this one. I don't know of any contracts that have 'longevity' accrual during a furlough. 'Seniority' (date of hire) still accrues, but 'longevity' does not. If it did, we wouldn't need both terms, there would be no difference between them. I seem to recall some carrier made a deal to give furloughees their longevity as a side letter or something (maybe united?). Our only hope is that they try to use "past practice" and say that when Spirit furloughed before, they let everyone keep their longevity.
In sec 2 of our contract, longevity is defined as "that period of time commencing on a pilot's date of hire and continuing
while in active service of the company except as otherwise provided for in this agreement."
"In active service" is where they get us.
I think it will be an uphill battle.