CARES Act End Run
 

It looks like Expressjet is planning to move quite a number of people from the left seat to the right seat, and rather quickly too. How is that not a reduction in pay rate? Semantics maybe, but it certainly doesn't meet the intent of the payroll protection stipulation contained within the act, does it? Are any other airlines doing this before October?

As far as all the news that has been released, XJT and RPA have yet to receive funding from the CARES ACT.

I haven't seen anything official either, but they are operating under the assumption that they will receive the money.

It isn’t a reduction in the published rate, just which rate is used. It meets every restriction. The protection was in the published hourly rates and the inability to furlough before October, not in a persons historic take home pay. My company just parked the entire 756 fleet for May. This could be temporary, or we could announce a big displacement bid soon to get the pieces in place for the October furlough. If that’s the case, people all over the system will get bumped down to lower take home pay, but the published hourly rates haven’t changed.

It sounds like XJT is getting their pieces in place for the October furlough as well. If they are displacing a bunch of captains, I’d be willing to bet that those TSA planes aren’t going to see the line any time soon, if ever.

It doesn't surprise me that they are pulling this stunt. But they aren't the only ones doing it. United is trying to reclassify many of their ground support positions as "part time" now, which will reduce their pay rate and eliminate their employee benefits. Total scumbag move! In any case, moves like this certainly violate the spirit of the act which was to protect worker's paychecks at least until October.
I'd say to hit up your ALPA representatives and ask them to resist this, but I'd be willing to bet that most of them won't be hit by the downgrades.

Where exactly in the act does it state "published hourly rates". It just says "pay rate" in everything I've read. Getting your pay cut in half is certainly a change in one's pay rate. If the Act wasn't meant to protect people's historic take home pay, why did the application for the government money require applicants to document historic salaries?

Well they eliminated the E175 and haven’t grown by the airframes removed. Are they supposed to just be generous and stay over staffed?

I don’t see this as an end around, they are adjusting their manpower based on need/airframes. Would you prefer they did nothing, burned thru the $$ and furloughed?

Seriously.....you guys have to understand that the goal is to save the jobs in the long run....not save take home pay in the short run. But whatever....go ahead and burn through all that cash and shut the whole thing down even sooner 🤷🏻‍♂️ Uncle Sugar’s bailout isn’t gonna be able to sustain the status quo through all this. Adjustments have to be made.

Wasn't that the intent of the CARES act? All airlines are overstaffed at this point! The Act isn't going to prevent furloughs, they are coming in large numbers. Has any other airline downgraded anyone at this point in an effort to save money?

What happened to "full pay to the last day"? Do you really believe any of this will save jobs? If the flying isn't there come October, the jobs are going away. Regardless of what is done right now!