Originally Posted by
Boomer
Take someone that's been here 5-7 years, on reserve for 3 of them, got real close to upgrading in 2007 and 2008, but is still in the right seat and is now looking at commuting to JFnK to sit reserve.
Now imagine this person has real doubts about his future at Comair (I know, it's a stretch
). They know they can't feed their family any longer at Comair, but on the other hand they know any growth will put them in the left seat and the last 5-7 years will not go to waste.
This guy can take a voluntary furlough (assuming ALPA gives him the option), do something else to pay the bills and watch his kids grow up instead of sitting at JFnK, and if Delta has a momentary lapse of judgment and awards aircraft to Comair, he will be one of the first to go back.
Worst case - Comair continues to shrink at 25% a year until it's gone - at least he hasn't wasted another two years here.
Given the circumstances, that might be the best he can make out of a crappy career decision in 2002/2003.
That guy would be in his right mind to take the voluntary.
I understand what you are saying but in today's market why would you give up you're job up after at least 5 years without a guaranteed recall date? From what has been said by the company, if you are furloughed you can basically not even consider a recall for the time being. Not to mention the fact that I have directly heard from JB himself that they are not going to transfer all that have been displaced to JFK. Let's just say on the off-chance there is actually a merger between us and Mesaba. If you take the furlough you will be stapled below others that are active in your own seniority list even though they are junior to you!!! (Considering there has never been an ALPA merger were the furloughed pilots didn't get stapled!!!) Plus, are you for real that after 6 to 7 years you would be on reserve in JFK? I think you would still be a lineholder (especially considering what I have heard about the displacements to JFK not happening.) Take it for what its worth, but after 5-7 years at Comair in the current state of things I would never consider putting myself in that jeopardy.
P.S. Is this also assuming you are allowed to draw unemployment if you take the voluntary furlough? I have had a few too many so if this doesn't make sense tomorrow I'm all ears!