Originally Posted by
unitedcop30
I have a friend furloughed from spirit...recall went mandatory...no option for leave of absence. And the spirit contract states no full retraining unless you've been out 36 months...so the furloughs would get a measly three or four sims then check ride....after they've been out 2 years. Totally not cool in my book...actually bush-league!!! They have no regard for their furloughed pilots and their families/situations. There are furloughed guys flying in the middle east that can't break their contracts, and now they will lose their seniority number because there are no leave of absences being granted. I find it funny how spirit all of a sudden needs All their furloughs back due to extreme growth. I'll believe it when I see it. The way spirit management runs the airline all it will take is a stiff breeze in FLL to furlough again..and trust me...Baldanza does not give two craps about any pilot at spirit. And it would have been nice to see spirits mec fight for the leave of absence for their furloughed guys. It's also funny that with the new contract first year pay actually DECREASED! Are you serious? I am furloughed from united...and although united has their shortcomings..the pilot group would NEVER let this occur.
My feelings are this. Your "friend" has a right to be upset about the way the recalls went down. But to expect this airline to care about its employees and frankly seem upset that they don't give a crap surprised me. Where have they been for the past 2.5 years while all the mistreatment went down over and over again? Did they not stay in the loop on what was going on in the company? Not only does this company not care about its employees, it does it on purpose. This is common knowledge. To expect anything more than being treated like garbage is asinine. The company "may grant" personal leaves of absence. Nowhere does it say they have to. I have worked for good companies who have done close to the same thing. Sad but it is common to the airline business.
This pilot group will allow it to occur. Why? Because they are fractured. Some are happy, some ashamed, some extremely angry(ram
). The unions response to this situation is questionable. Were they aware it was an issue? Were the correct MEC members and reps contacted?
Please do not say that I am part of the problem. I support your "friend" in her quest. I am a realist and have completely accepted what NK is and what they do. Will I try to affect change? Maybe one I get back, but until I reach that point there is nothing I can do.
Good luck.