Louisville, KY (Wednesday, May 19, 2010) – For the first time in its
103 year history UPS (NYSE: UPS) will furloughed pilots. The first
fifty-four pilots were laid off on Sunday, May 23. This is the first
wave of a plan UPS announced in February to layoff at least 300 of its
airline pilots. The 2,800 UPS pilots, represented by the Independent
Pilots Association, had since April 2009, preserved these jobs through
voluntary cost cutting programs.

“At a time when the number one issue for most Americans is creating
jobs, UPS is creating unemployment,” said Captain Robert Thrush;
President of the Independent Pilots Association. Captain Thrush went
on to say, “What makes this furlough truly unfortunate is that our
pilots took it upon themselves to give-up pay and benefits to produce
$117 million in guaranteed savings for UPS, enough to keep these 300
pilots employed well into 2011.”

Under the Voluntary Jobs Protection Program UPS pilots were able to
generate cost savings for UPS by: taking reductions in flight pay
guarantees; taking unpaid leaves of absence; participating in job
sharing; taking military leave; contributing unused sick bank time;
and taking early retirement.

“This all came to a crashing halt on January 11 when UPS pulled a bait
and switch. They told us that they now needed $244 million in savings
through 2015, and that its preference was for ‘compulsory savings’ –
UPS speak for furloughs,” said Captain Thrush. He went on to say,
“While we were taken back by UPS almost doubling its original request
and tacking on an additional four years, our pilots didn’t flinch.
They were more than willing to step-up, extend and expand the
Voluntary Jobs Protection Program to cover UPS’s demands, and keep the
300 employed.”

On February 8, within days of UPS CEO Scott Davis declaring “looks
like this recession is finally over,” UPS told the IPA that it was
unwilling to continue with current voluntary savings programs, or
consider others; it began the furlough process, and issued a press
release.

“What I find the most galling are the disingenuous statements in the
UPS press release. They mockingly hold out hope that the furloughs
may be mitigated, averted, or eliminated; and shamefully attempt to
place blame on the pilots for somehow failing to act,” said Captain
Thrush. Who went on to say, “At a time when unions are being
excoriated, and blamed for a litany of economic ills it’s important to
remember that one union covered the cost to save 300 jobs – instead
UPS chose to create unemployment and add to local, county, state and
federal unemployment and social services rolls.”

Founded in 1990, the Independent Pilots Association is the collective
bargaining unit for the 2,800 pilots who operate the UPS Airline.
XXX

From the Independent Pilots Association
For Immediate Release
Contact: Brian Gaudet – 301/957-4323

 

Best of luck to all my brown brothers.

 

By sending out the press release, UPS is putting themselves in a position in which they will NOT call off the dogs on Saturday like they did last time. They may actually go through with this which will really really really suck.

 

Be sure to always keep something in your hip pocket.

 

This was put out by the IPA, not UPS.

 

I am very sorry that it has played out this way. I wish you all the best of luck!

 

Hate to say it, but press release or no press release, the furlough will begin this weekend.

 

Sorry to the guys on the street. If the extent of the consessions is true, you guys all did an admirable job looking out for those at the bottom. My hat is off to you guys.

 

Sorry about how this appears to be shaping up for you guys. It's not a done deal yet, and it really doesn't make any sense whatsoever with the economic recovery in full swing. I'm sure your load factors are increasing proportionally to ours at FedEx.

If they go thru with it hopefully FedEx will start hiring soon. I'm sure they would love to send UPS a shot with hiring your furloughs.

Good luck guys/gals.

 

Good to know it was the IPA - missed that. Keeping this in the news is smart instead of the 54 quietly hitting the streets while the economy turns around.

It's a slap in UPSs face. Nice job!