So delta is reducing the number of 900's over all in your fleet? I thought they liked those? Also, you guys aren't wholly owned like comair. Can't pncl look to alocate those airplanes elsewhere? I'm guessing they will. After all, I'm assuming the pending TA makes their cost structure more appealing to the likes of UAL/US/AA.

 

You will get paid on furlough?!

How does that work??

 

Why would you vote yes if you are getting furloughed..not like the flying will be coming back. I think the ones going out on the street should pull the rug right out from under this mess.

 

However, because some of our pilots will face furlough as a consequence of the planned reduction of the CRJ 200 fleet over the next 2 to 3 years, the Bridge Agreement provides for furlough benefits packages that include pay, health care, passes, and an ATP for those with the requisite number of hours. Long Term Leaves (including Enhanced Long Term Leaves) will continue to be offered over the next several years, and we believe these leaves will greatly reduce the number of furloughs. The total number of projected furloughs for all of 2013 is approximately 150 pilots.

Okay, I am Forest Gump.

What does "pay, health care, passes, and an ATP" really mean? And only 150 furloughs when we have about 1400 more pilots than we will eventually need? How can that be... especially considering that Delta has no plans to hire in 2013?

Explain it to me like I am a six year old.

(I really want to see this TA.)

 

Your last statement says it all.

Wait to see the darned thing.

 

Knock it off. Talk about sour grapes. Grow up.

 

I said elsewhere that assuming I was still at 9E, the only way I would vote "yes" was them to give me pay and health care while on furlough. Then they actually say something about it. My question is, what are the terms of this? I HIGHLY doubt you'll get paid to sit at home plus medical and flight benefits for a year or two. They wanted to CUT costs. This wouldn't do that. In fact, with fewer airplanes flying, it means less income. Makes no sense to have less income but pay people for not flying. Isn't that one of the major reasons Pinnacle is in the situation they are?

This, to me, screams of the only way they could get this to pass, and I'd be very interested (and cautious) of the language that goes along with it. Still doesn't change the fact that a LOT of CAs are going to be downgraded, then furloughed. That pay while on furlough is certainly going to be at the FO rate....

 

It will probably be something like 2 weeks of pay per year of service to a furloughed pilot and a month of insurance per year of service. Comair was something like that.

Severance packages are common in the business world. Pilots shouldn't be any different.

 

Delta is obviously bank rolling this thing and it's pure genius. Evil genius, but still a brilliant move. They are sweetening the pot just enough to do a couple things.

1. This will reduce a mass exodus now, which will keep costs down. I'm sure attrtition would be far more than the 150 planned furloughs this year if they didn't throw the benefits package in there.

2. They are obviously going after the junior vote. You are getting furloughed either way. They could shove any work rule/wage concession they want in there and 1500 of the pilots voting on them won't be around to see it very long. You're essentially voting on something that'll only effect the top 800 long term. What does it matter then? The bottom 1500 will still get something out of it.

3. If this TA passes, Delta will turn around and use it against the other DCI carriers, furthering the race to the bottom. Please remember the implications of this passing will reverberate far beyond the confines of Pinnacle Airlines.

Remember the word HOPE. It's a very strong emotion that management uses brilliantly against its work groups. They're giving you just enough hope that many will probably vote this thing through.

I wish the best for Pinnacle. Good luck to all you guys and your decisions.

 

If that's the case, then the union is doing a huge disservice to the pilot group wording it in the manner they have. A "severance package" is not "pay while on furlough."

I would imagine the end result is likely excactly as you've described.