We'll never know what goes into the minds of those who are not in our position in life; and have not made the decisions that we have. Likewise, I cannot expect anyone to know why I make the decisions that I do since they have not or will not know the full ramifications of the decisions that I have made or will make in the future.

You weren't that guy they caught in the woods are you? :p

You don't have to be 60 to retire. You need to be over 50 and have 20 years in. Right now, it looks like all the legacy carriers will threaten bankruptcy.
I think CAL will lose 300 or more guys this summer (to get their lump sum) and there will be no talk of furloughs.
Just like at Delta, but let's hope they don't come back as 'contract' pilots.

I've been hearing alot of old dudes talking retirement as well. We also need to remember that the union is about to open Section 6 in the negotiations so let's not buy too much into management's sky is falling furlough rumors yet, it's a scare tactic in my opinion.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few days, I don't think the airlines have to bluff too much......things ARE that bad. Airlines don't just park airplanes to "fake" the sky falling down.

Park them. Mark ticket prices up. I don't give a ****. The money for the company to survive is not coming out of my family's savings account. Look somewhere else other than your employees for revenue. 1500 out of 5000 at CAL hired since 2005. Another 1000 or so hire in late 90's. All of us junior enough to go find another job. Must not be hurting to bad all the bonuses the managment took this year. Don't fall for the bull****...again.:rolleyes:

I would rather go back to troughing than work under another bad contract. True times are tough, but I'm willing to drag negotiations out for another 5 years, then get retro pay.

I don't believe it is bull****, but I do agree with your post. Management always gets theirs; good times or bad.:mad:

Don't wish so hard or you might just get your wish.......... You may be able to start working on your family's savings account if things continue the way they are, and then you'll be PRAYING for them to unpark those planes. Finding a job isn't as easy as you seem to think it is. A LOT of people are scrounging for minimally paying jobs as we speak. I agree that the money shouldn't come out of our pockets, but until our country's leadership gets nasty, and I mean REALLY nasty with OPEC and the speculators who are causing this problem in our industry, NOTHING is going to be done to help us out. Until then, WE, the airlines, will be considered the culprits. I've noticed how all the bad news concerning the airlines is seems to always be undercut by the "dismal" airline rankings and customer satisfaction. The public is only getting PART of the story. Fuel is killing us, but they don't know the airlines are paying upwards of $35 a bbl MORE for oil than the general public. It's time EVERYONE had an idea of how much this jet fuel is REALLY costing us. Then again, it's almost getting to the point where we'll just be priced out of business, then what? I guess all the airlines parking planes should result in an overage of jet fuel, so that should cause prices to drop dramatically, but you want to bet which way it goes?...................:(:rolleyes:

I agree, but unfortunately, when you're the biggest fish on the food chain, you will ALWAYS get your meal first...............:(

Park them. I am not willing to take one cent off my pay for CAL. What other industry comes to the employees for profit?? This is insane. I did not get into this profession to make $80,000 a year. I put in all this time, money, and training to make 200+ per year. Please, do me a favor and save your money now so we can hold out as long as possible to get a fair wage. The execs can kiss my ass if they think they can haul in 7 million in bonuses and then come to me for a pay cut. **** them. They will not shut the place down. They make all of there money off of it. Stand tall and take the things we have been working so hard to get. Don't be afraid to get a new job or start over. This one is only worth having if we make more than we're making now.

Not living under any rocks, I buy gas just like everyone else.

They do park planes they have been planning on parking for quite awhile. Until they start deferring deliveries we are still growing as a company.

I do find it hard to believe you can save money by furloughing the 200 (or whatever the number is today) lowest paid, most productive pilots at the company.

I'm in the bottom 200 so will be furloughed if it happens, I'm just not going to lose sleep over losing a $25000/year, non health insurance providing job. Don't get me wrong, I like the job (the flying not the pay), the people I've worked with, and the company for that matter, and I want to stay and see it get better. I'm just not going to jump when management says, "Boo!"

Amen, brother. Vote 'NO' no matter what threat of the big "F" they throw at us. You and I are perfectly capable of picking up a damn hammer and doubling our pay. I'll take my chances with that until they produce something worth coming to work for. Sad.

I like the way you think. I've been here two years, enjoy the job for the most part. I don't enjoy it enough to stick around for what management wants us to do it for. When I see management taking pay raises, additions being made to IAH terminal (600 million paid by CAL), and 250 million being dropped in one quarter for landing slots I'm not extremely worried. I know fuel is a problem, but why should I pay for it, I already have to pay for the drive to work why should I pay for someone to fly from EWR to FLL. I know some of the above is a long term investment, but I also believe employees are an extremely important long term investment.

SHACK!!! Plumbers out there making $90 an hour to unclog turds from toilets. I think I have the mental capacity to do it. I am in 3rd year pay and still could make more at many other jobs. Never be afraid to go back to "work" for a living. If you are, it makes you weak and suceptable (sp?) to threats from the execs. Stand tall boys!!

I'm right there with you guys. I love the flying, I think the company has great potential. But the bottom line is that it's pretty easy to "give up" a $30k / year job that has no healthcare.

Riddler

Ther power of fear is a great thing...management knows it! All of the new guys at CAL 1998-2008 need to stick together and ride out the storm for the pay and benefits we deserve. My 2 cents :-)

I'm with you!

Why not include the rest of us as well?

You're in! I have to tell you though. At IAH, I don't find many Captains that are willing to stick their necks out very far. Most of them driving 90,000 dollar cars and ex wives, blah blah blah. Pictures of the cars and boats with them (none of their kids' pics). These guys can't last 5 days without a paycheck. That puts them in a very vulnerable situation. Look at how many are flying past 60 even though they lose a butt load off there lump sum every year they go past. This proves they would do the job for 125000 a year. If that were the long term goal, I would have never gone into flying. The good thing is '98 and on hires almost outnumber all of the rest. Guess what....we can out vote them now!! Time for some substantial pay raises.:D

Everyone at Cal is in! We all need to stick together! Hopefully old and new alike have learned the lessons of the past. To be fair most of the older capt's I fly with know how much a screw job the current contract is...lets stick together and change it!

When do we get to find out the details of the economic opener, as in actual numbers? Or is that not until voting time? I've been trying to follow the timeline, but it's been very dynamic as of late.

Everytime we fly with a union guy...remind them that they work for us. US Air proved that a unions can be voted out. My point...keep us informed and let us vote on our future!

We need to negotiate a retirement like this!
In consideration for the non-competition restriction, the surrender of all his outstanding RSUs and the waivers contained in his retirement agreement, the Company has agreed to pay Mr. Misner $2,997,000 on the date of his retirement, which payment is in addition to the benefits he is entitled to receive upon retirement and voluntary resignation under his existing employment agreement.

News coming soon. I can't say anything, but be patient guys. And I know it's not easy to do so.

well is it furlough or not? There are people that are trying to plan their lives.......

Have fun wading in poop working 60 hrs a week.

Could you elaborate a little as to good or bad news and/or to what it pertains perhaps?

Thanks.

heard this on 123.45 this past weekend
 

I heard talk of retirement "incentives", to be announced soon ... perhaps June ... anyone else heard this or other info w/regards to airplane parkings (precise numbers & timelines) or other company plans in response to the new $160ish/bbl for avgas landscape?? ... where's CALALPA???

You're on the right track. COLA's as well..I'll update with more soon.

So it seems that the right track is not really good news for new hires????? or I am off????

How many people are below you?

250ish. I hear that 200 is the magic number.

30 airplanes parked without replacements, if that gives you any better numbers. You may be right at the fence.

I was afraid of that but with COLAs and early outs, it may work out.

Also, fleet type is gonna have nothing to do with it. Straight from the bottom of the list.

Any idea how long the pain will last if it happens? I hear 18mos minimum.

No, but can that really be predicted?

I heard that we learned from 9/11 that you don't furlough for less than a year due to the costs associated with it. Someone from training told me 18mos minimum.

Ouch! So if they get 250 out of early ret. and COLA will lower numbers be ok? Also, where does this put us on negotiations?