I just read it, i don't know how to take it..but i don't think that'd be the case...that would be about the biggest betrayal by ALPA in forever.

Think it was for more of the "loose ends" that ALPA works and does with Comair.

 

Yes, but this, combined with the previous email makes me suspect to what they're doing. They last email they got basically said they will deal with problems in the order that they arise. So, since the furloughs are the latest talks, they will get to that when they can. I'm just baffled. I really don't know what to think or expect.

 

Aghh.. nevermind.

 

Guys this is going to get ugly. Real ugly. I think ALPA is doing the right thing here. What else can they do? I hate to say it, but until Comair/Delta gets rid of Dave Soaper we are not going to see anything change. According to him, nobody at this company has put more into it, or cares more about it than him. So he is going to ride this ship all the way to the bottom.

Know your contract and don't be affraid to defend it. If you find the company in violation, hold them accountable. They will pressure you and tell you that you don't have options. However, you do have options and ALPA WILL defend you. When I was on probation, I would treat things as small problems and usually do what the company wanted me to do. Knowing it was wrong, but for fear of getting in trouble I would just bite the bullet and do what was asked. After years of working here though I can tell you that I don't let them get away with anything now. I simply tell them no. This company asks you to take one for the team each and everyday and to go that extra mile and go to 15 hours for them. Do you think that when you need something they are going to rememeber that one time you took one for the team? NO WAY!

When in doubt, contact your reps. They will give you great advice and a peace of mind about your decisions.

As for the voluntary furloughs, I would agree as previously stated. I don't see many people taking them when gas is at $4.30 a gallon and the airline is so unstable.

 

Kind of a historical note on the voluntary furlough issue.

Last time we furloughed the choice was voluntary or involuntary. Initially, those who chose voluntary furlough were going to receive benefits during the furlough and those who left their fate up to the displacement (involuntary) would receive nothing. So most of the people who chose the voluntary option were junior FOs who knew they were going to get cut anyway and just wanted to keep the benefits (me). Somewhere in this process they changed it to where every furloughed pilot received benefits.

I guess the futile point I am attempting to make is that, as the previous poster mentioned, I wouldn't expect many people to take the voluntary option. COLA's are a different story.

 

Even though I despise Mesa with a passion, it's not really fair to blame the Freedom pilots for this. Delta is 100% responsible. They let the Freedom into DCI. They said ramp up your flying and make sure your staffed, and they're the ones who retracted. As long as Delta owns Comair, it's going to be like this. We're the ready reserves of DCI! Most of Comair's decision making come from down on Atlantic Ave in Atlanta. Selvaggio is just a puppet and has minimal control over Comair and it's operations.

 

Yes, but if you are near the bottom of the list, and you know furloughs are coming your way, are you willing to risk your benefits? Just because they turned and gave everyone benefits in 2005 doesn't mean they're going to do the same thing today. The industry has changed vastly since then.

 

Whats up with the VARS sent out late last night? What duties are ALPA going to suspend besides ASAP? How noticable will it be to us?

 

Sounds to me like the union isnt doing much of anything with mitigating furloughs... makes me sick to think that the senior guys are just sitting around picking their battles one by one, while some of us are on the brink of being thrown out on the street. The company says furlough, and the union pretty much hasnt said anything.... where is our representation when we need it most?

 

This is a bit of a double edged sword. Though I am glad that ALPA is shutting out the company in this Blackout, we will feel the effects. Still not entirely bad, because we can somewhat defend ourselves by knowing our contract. However, I pay FULL dues each year for FULL services. If I am not going to get FULL services, then I don't believe I should be paying FULL dues.

Is that wrong to think that way? I am not going to pay full price for Cable TV and Internet if my Internet doesn't work, so why would I pay full price for a union that only looks out for my best interest half of the time.

Like I said before, know that contract inside and out, because that may be your only line of defense.