As stated elsewhere, they already have a mechanism to reduce BLG's-- it just says before not how long before.

Likewise postulated in this forum, 48/60 is probably less than the target BLG for the circumstances we currently face to avoid both furloughs and hiring.

So if lines are generated with less than the contractual minimum of 68/85 (Sec 4.A.1), they must pay the difference as stated above and as the company has already done.

Public math is problematic, but a min RLG is guaranteed and that means that as an absolute worst case, if all the lines go to the minimum 68/85 that RLG will be 65/81 (not very likely IMHO) .

I am sure there is a setting on the optimizer to assure that a 63CH regular line will work 15 days in a 4-week month. But it seems more likely that regular and secondary line holders could get extra pay (pay up to 65CH min) and maybe an extra day off; while reserve guys will have to work all 15 days (as normal/usual).

My point is that the bean counters may have postulated that the best/cheapest path is to "pay up" to the 65CH min on several lines in order to buy a little more time to assess the this unique conflagration of events. But then again, what do I know. We all will know more next week when the Feb bidpacks hit the street.

No arguments. I have said the same thing myself. In the furlough section it talks about what has to happen before furlough and that is where the union gets its input.

My point is the company probably would love to see a 727 or DC-10 BLG reduction but would like to keep the other jets flying. I am sure they are tired of paying 200 S/0 RLG to sit on our rumps. Bottomline no one should be forced to take BLG < 68 if there are still people flying BLG + 30.

But I still think this is all smoke and mirrors to fill the FDAs.

PS, I'll bet it works.

The bean counters don't care about "divide and conquer", but I'm sure that the other mgt folks aren't going to go out of their way to correct any misconceptions on our part.

But the bean counters do see too many pilots sitting around in the back seat and not enough bidding over seas.

Not true. RLG in the bus has not gone below 68/85. Not to mention I think you were using Avg. BLG minus 3CH to get to your 65/81 numbers above. RLG is arrived by taking 96% of the specific bidpack avg BLG. While we've been running "light" bidpacks (low blg's) they've bought up some lines BLG to bring it up to minimum. They have also had to give Reserves the same "min bid period" protection.

For example, my Bus Jan reserve line pays 85 RLG, but the computed value of RLG is 84+16 (96% x 87+47). I know that's only 8 minutes, but point being the "min" of 68/85 applies across the board to all crewmembers: line holder, vto, rsv.

I said public math was problematic and worst, I absolutely hate public Math Word problems. You've got 4.C that says no less than 4.A.1 (68/85) and you've got the 96% of BLG. So I guess the min is the min until it ain't and then it is 96% of BLG. Yep, I agree with you a300fr8dig and can only offer the weak excuse that I am a little cross-eyed from watching football all day long.

The BCS has really done well so far. Thank goodness for the Gator and Capitol One so we had some good games.

I'm starting to wish for the old days when we just had conference tie-ins and didn't care about trying to prove who was number one.