So they want reduce the pilot ranks, and yet at the same time want to schedule each pilot for more flying!?! Sounds like a raw deal.

If the APA accepts, it should only do so with the clear stipulation that should the company decide to furlough more people down the road, then the previous scheduling rules would apply immediately. Wouldn't want to give them the go-ahead to work you all to death, while more hit the street!

 

The whole thing is complete bull..it. AA will be short of pilots next year. 500 left the seniority list in the last 12months and at least another 300 will leave in the next 12. The senior buggers don't need incentive to leave. Most of them are bailing due to the stock market tanking. This is just a clumsy attempt by AA to get productivity out of us. The APA will tell them to shove it where the sun don't shine.
How stupid do they think we are?!

 

Is it 2003?

 

FF, looks like it will hit anyone higher than sen # 9500 (newly reshuffled numbers), or, anyone recalled after November 2007.

757200ER, you called it correctly, man. You my friend have a gift!

I think it's pretty clear that the APA will tell the Co to go pound sand regarding the early-out. 200 furloughs but yet let's flex from 82 to 87hrs??? What a joke.

I am speechless and truly sorry for those affected.

73

 

Seems to be a lot more than just flying extra hours: Ex TWA will be effected as well (see bold).


This is APA Communications Committee member Captain Kevin Cornwell with the APA Information Hotline for Tuesday, July 15.



MANAGEMENT’S “FURLOUGH MITIGATION SEVERANCE PROGRAM” PROPOSAL: Today at the bargaining table management proposed what they labeled a “Furlough Mitigation Severance Program,” or FMSP. This proposal references “the possibility of up to 200 pilot furloughs commencing in October 2008.” Management indicated today that they would be sending a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) letter to APA by July 31.



APA’s negotiators are now studying management’s proposal. Among its more notable provisions: providing “a severance incentive equal to the amount of furlough pay a pilot would receive in accordance with Section 17 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (maximum of 4 ½ months).” The proposal calls for a total of 200 captains to be offered the severance incentive as follows: 40 B777 captains, 20 B767 captains, 60 A300 captains, 80 MD80 captains and no B737 captains. Management confirmed to our negotiators that those captains who accept the offer would waive the right to set their own retirement date and be terminated with no ability to lock in their B-Plan unit value.


Management’s proposal would also reduce the current Cockpit Crewmember Floor of 7,300 by the total of number of pilots who volunteer to accept the FMSP. If management drops below the Cockpit Crewmember Floor, our contract’s Scope clause gives APA the option of terminating the commuter exception that enables AMR to operate commuter affiliates (as stipulated in Section 1.D.4. of the Collective Bargaining Agreement).



The proposal also calls for an increase in the monthly maximum up to 82 hours. In addition, it would enable management to increase the monthly maximum up to 95 hours “in the event the Company experiences greater than forecast attrition beyond the number of pilots who accept the FMSP.” Bear in mind that increasing monthly maximums would generally be inconsistent with the goal of mitigating furloughs.



The proposal also states that “In the event the Furlough Mitigation Program causes the number of Small Widebody and/or Narrowbody Captains in SLT to fall below the required minimum in accordance with Supplement CC, the Company will not be required to provide pay protection to Supplement CC protected pilots for a period of one hundred and twenty (120) days following the departure date of the last SLT pilot accepting the FMSP.”


Under the proposal, the “target number of furloughs” would be reduced one for one by pilots accepting the program.



In light of the ongoing reliability problems our airline is experiencing, it’s clear that we continue to suffer from insufficient staffing. Although the prospect of pilot furloughs is not a complete surprise given the previously announced flight attendant furloughs, it’s difficult to understand the logic behind any pilot furloughs from an operational standpoint. It would also be hard to make sense of the decision to recall pilots in June if management proceeds to furlough those same pilots again four months later.



As soon as our negotiators have formulated and presented APA’s response to management’s proposal, we will update you. In briefing pilots at today’s DFW Domicile meeting, Negotiating Committee Chairman First Officer Mark Stephens described the proposal as management’s “retirement management strategy.”



That’s it for today. Thanks for checking this hotline message.

 

Gentlemen,

In my opinion this is a shot at taking one of the big items off the list in the Sect 6 negotiations, productivity. They are trying to do this under the guise of concern for potential furloughs.

The company has "targeted" 200. Why in the world would they target 200, allow 200 to retire, and then request flexing from 82-87 hours a month (with exceptions as high as 95 hours) if we were fat on pilots.

There is a huge potential second group pilots that are leaving Aug1-Sept 1. This WILL cause manning issues, it also puts the total number of AA pilots below the "commuter clause" threshold.

This is a straight grab at seeking relief for the commuter floor, and seeking productivity gives to help staff the airline that IS understaffed, and WILL continue to be understaffed.

IMHO,

AAflyer

 

Hear, hear AAflyer! Spot on....

Stop asking me to write your material!

73 "El Cabroncito Supremo"

 

I'm just calling it as I see it. Furloughs might go higher, and I agree that APA probably won't agree to massive productivity increases at the expense of lost jobs. Doesn't make sense.

If you always assume the worst when dealing with AA/APA, you'll never be disappointed.

 

Hey, here's a concept.

Maybe if you guys flew 5 more hours a month (1.2 hours a month), you might make a profit???

You might start by being nicer to your coworkers and customers! Last time I was in the mix of that, not pretty.

 

Under Spanky's concept then UAL should have turned a profit last quarter.

I also have no desire to read more drivel by Spanky an admitted non-ALPA or APA member who bad mouths everyone.
Spanky if your only desire is to vent your negative perspective on this this board, you are succeeding.
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