I’ll take the under. In fact, I bet they have it done By 1 June. This allows them to give 30 days notice of conversion for the July bid period. As mentioned above, the new Jepp software has been essentially confirmed by BS on Skynet that it will be used, and will include projected training dates. I’ll further wager a large number of UNA are “awarded” and converted to that category for the July bid period, not to mention many other conversions without training yet scheduled. After all, when you only need a fraction of the pilots to fly the schedule, why not pay thousand(s) of pilots ALV as NQAT in a Lower paying category. Sorry to say.

IF that happens, it should prove once and for all that the “flexibility” they want, they already have, and they care not one bit about your family, or even discussing win-win solutions, only about slashing payroll to the bone, ASAP. If we weren’t unified before, we sure will be after that...I hope I’m wrong.

 

Not sure if your reference to NQAT was separate from those who will be converted to UNA. Any pilot unfortunate enough to be converted to UNA will collect 717B reserve guarantee at 717B rates. (See 4.D). Anyone else assigned to NQAT is presumably have been deemed surplus in their current category and thus "relieved" of their current responsibilities and converted before training has begun on their lower paying equipment and thereby they would collect ALV.

The UNA does set itself up for an interesting dichotomy where the most junior 717B will most likely be slugging it out in the reserve system (versus a line) while the most senior UNA will be collecting the exact same pay with zero responsibility. Granted, the UNA pilot is closer to furlough than the 717B plug but regardless, crazy times.

 

Yes, I meant the UNA and NQAT as two separate issues. Sorry if I worded it poorly.

I suspect they will convert a large number of pilots above the 12,000 ish cut line quickly (staring in July using their “flexibility “) to their new flying categories, and leave them as NQAT for a while. There will be enough qualified pilots in most categories to fly the schedule, unlike any other time in history. I hope I’m wrong.

edit: As to the UNA, I also suspect they will largely be furloughed on 1 Oct, since the UNA’s are 1. Costing them payroll, and 2. The often-cited 18-24 month payback for furlough is negated since they will have to go through the training center to fly again anyway. Zero incentive to keep them, sadly.

 

So, what you're telling me is that 2567 pilots are going to be furloughed exactly on 1 Oct 2020....did I get that right from your words?

You really believe that? No way dude. Not gonna happen.

Please stop adding to the FUD the Kompany is spewing now - alright? Just stop.

 

Probably not that many on October 1, but I will bet you that come October 1, anyone already converted to UNA will be furloughed. And after October 1, there will be no need for UNA, because they will just furlough pilots instead when they would have converted to UNA.

The only reason we are using UNA is because of the CAREs act.

 

That is biz school for "Hit the bricks, Rick."

 

No, dude, that's not what I said. I don't get why you are so snarky and hostile. As I said, I hope I'm wrong. It's not FUD, this is a discussion board. Having a strategic awareness of what they are doing so WE can all rationally plan accordingly, to include our union response. That is the whole point here. Act, don't react...

Exactly this.

 

This must be your first time right? I get it. It's tough to swallow it. It lingered around in your mind, you've heard about it from others, but given your time here, you probably never thought it would really happen. Now reality has shown up.

I'm not saying we will not furlough. I'm saying we aren't going to furlough 2500+. That's almost 4 years deep into the seniority list. A few of us are going to be hostages. That's the way it always goes. Remember we are in contract negotiations and our CEO has mentioned he's looking for a "pandemic contract" - his words, not mine.

As far as planning, if you are just starting now, you are late. That should have been priority one when you started at this airline - the monetary planning for furlough. That's a whole other discussion.

This thing is going to get tweaked and re-done all the way to 1 Oct, and probably more after. It's a dynamic market right now with much upside potential in the long run. The winner is the most agile airline to react to those changes.

 

It never ceases to amaze me how differently people talk to one another on the internet, especially with the anonymity of sites like this. It reveals one's true character, IMO. I simply hope you don't speak in person with the condescension and hubris you continually use here. Good day.

 

And you've caught him on a good day. Some guys are just .... that way.