BrownGirls YUM

It's not about profit, it's about keeping labor costs down. That grossly profitable company that's seen it's stock plummet 30% over the last 6 months is going to look to reduce costs at every turn.

Make no mistake about it; Profitable or not, the moment the beancounters say it makes financial sense to furlough 1, 10, 100, or 1000 pilots, it will be done.

It ain't about profitable or not...it's about HOW profitable.

Ask a guy from Hawaiian or Aloha whether or not profit kept them from furloughing every fall for several decades.

How was Bacarra?

Spur

I'll buy that, but we are supposedly 200+ overmanned. Furlough 100 and you still have 100 extra to cover SIBA. At your 3:1 estimate that will cover 33 FDA slots.

I'm not saying all FDA flying would be done by SIBA, just the flying that can't be covered due to lack of 15-20 FOs at the FDAs.

Gigity1

Here is a thought. How about, for a few months, nobody in MEM fly any extra. No m/u, vlt, drft. Just fly your BLG. And then we will see how overmanned the Co thinks we are.

Oh yea. How silly of me. Most of the MEM guys could not even do that after 2 years of contract negotiations.

FR8Hauler

Nobody is saying sell your vacation or fly disputed pairings. Are you listening to what you are saying? You are argeeing to take up to a 30% paycut. Enjoy your days off? What color is the sky when you wake up in the morning?

Spur

Here is a question. How do you "just fly your BLG" without m/u?

Drop a trip you can't trade (lack of open time) for a birthday, anniversary, etc... and just take the hit? Whatever...

Also, when is the last time someone in MEM got called for VLT/DRF?

nightfreight

This thread is nonsense. Fdx is not going to furlough, and if BLG goes down a couple of hours for a few months, what's the big deal? Geez... We aren't that overmanned. People are flying makeup like a crazy these days (which is ok, we aren't in negotiations). If people just actually flew roughly 75 hours in a four week month and 90 in a five week month, we would have some open time out there.
For someone that has been furloughed, this constant fear mongering does no good. Management has accomplished their goal. They cancelled a bid, which helps them realign their staffing better. Now we aren't ****ed about that, our focus is now about loss of Blg and furloughs.

KnightFlyer

Don't hire
Reduce C/O
Retirement incentive (no early ret. penalty if YOS >= 25)

subicpilot

Spur - Just thought you'd like to know that quite a few of the Subic guys commute from the states.

Gunter

DW said this, if and when offered by the company, would go to the MEC. I am thinking it would go to the membership for a vote.

So once again it will be up to us. The union is us. How do you recall us? How do you think we will vote? I didn't think the LOA had a chance at passing, yet it did. I am still scratching my head how the CBA, with vague scheduling (work rule) provisions, passed by 96%.

I think a BLG cut would NOT be accepted in a vote. I think there will be those who say to your face yeah I support you junior guys/gals and I'll vote for the BLG cut who will actually vote no. That is the issue here. I predict a strong majority who feels they are immune from furlough will once again vote for themselves and just say no to a BLG cut. They already feel deeply hurt by the 65 stuff and will not take another hit.


nightfrieght---

Not overstaffed? Who are you trying to kid? Just look at all the folks on the DC10 SO list and 727 SO list. DC 10 SO 50 overmanned, or more. 727 SO list 100 overmanned. Consider that the 727 FO list is 40 overmanned. 727 CA list is also overmanned. Wait until the DC10 excess bid. Many more will be excessed this spring/summer than were in the original excess bid that was canceled since we will be deeper into accelerated airplane reduction. Expect talk about BLG reductions to begin in earnest around that time.

Gunter

DW also said in the hub turn meeting that early retirement options may make the most sense to the company. He mentioned the cost to the company for the over 60 crowd. High pay, a lot of vacation, lots of sick time and almost no notice for retirement. DW thinks this will wig the managers out.

Since it takes a long lead time to do a bid and train up an MD11 CA (after all it's all about the MD11 CAs) the uncertainty with a 30 sick and retirement for an over 60 guy may create shortages. The company does not like that.


Where I buy into DW arguments is when he refers to what the company views as the cheaper alternative. IF the company thinks early retirement options are cheaper, they will be offered. If not cheaper, they will not.

BLG lowering is another cheap option to a problem but will have to get by the membership. Good luck with that.