Continental hiring?
 

Let me preface this by saying that I am not one to start or embellish rumors. I am asking this question because it will directly effect me and my family, and I am hoping there is someone with the truth out there.

I am a furloughee from UAL currently flying in the Middle East. I was hired at the beginning of 2000.

I have heard, from several sources, that CAL is planning on having all furloughees recalled and be hiring off the street by the end of the year. Any truth to this?

I keep hearing that being on property is more important than date of hire. Should I apply to CAL as a UAL furloughee in order to become senior to myself, even though I have been at UAL since 2000 (and furloughed twice)?

How will these guys be merged into the joint seniority list if it is true?

Thanks!
Randy

If logic dictates, and that's a big if, CAL should be hiring before Summer's end. I personally, believe that employment should be offered to UAL furloughees before hiring off the street. Should the merger succeed, and after the SLI, you should be allowed to get whichever Sr # is better for you. Should the merger fail, UAL should pay the training cost for the UAL furloughees to CAL and said employee should be allowed to choose which company to fly for. I'm pretty sure this process will be outlined in the new agreement proposed this week, if ratified. Good Luck!

Well I have buds on furlough that have not been called, and other buds on VLOA's that cannot return, so if they are going to hire, they need to get these guys back first.

FWIW, with the DAL merger they used the lists and those furloughed on the Date of Constructive Notice, which is the day the merger was announced. So that means that those on furlough will be that status for the SLI unless you guys agree to do it differently.

Randy,

Hopefully our UAL MEC can work a deal that you guys will be hired at CAL before they start pulling people off the street. I'm confident that your UAL senioity will at the very least place you above CAL new hires. Be safe in the sand box.

For the CAL pilots. Did you by chance hear what out CFO at UAL said about scope? She reiterated that UAL/CAL mgt are completely aligned to the benefits of relaxed scope clauses. Please do not allow your CAL MEC to cave on scope. Do not let them sell scope for contract improvements. As you have seen with UAL, good pay rates and contracts can be taken away. A 70 jet under contract will take years to get rid of. If the new JCBA adopts UAL scope, you will send at least 1500-2000 more pilots to the street.

This is our best and probably only shot to kill the scope and JV issues.

Randy,

Hopefully our UAL MEC can work a deal that you guys will be hired at CAL before they start pulling people off the street. I'm confident that your UAL senioity will at the very least place you above CAL new hires. Be safe in the sand box.

For the CAL pilots. Did you by chance hear what out CFO at UAL said about scope? She reiterated that UAL/CAL mgt are completely aligned to the benefits of relaxed scope clauses. Please do not allow your CAL MEC to cave on scope. Do not let them sell scope for contract improvements. As you have seen with UAL, good pay rates and contracts can be taken away. A 70 jet under contract will take years to get rid of. If the new JCBA adopts UAL scope, you will send at least 1500-2000 more pilots to the street.

This is our best and probably only shot to kill the scope and JV issues.

Fritz,
CAL pilots are all well aware of what SCOPE has done to ravage UAL pilots. Accordingly, our MEC is aware that SCOPE is not for sale. I think that SCOPE is easily a strike issue for our side. I am certainly glad to hear the UAL guys feel very strongly about it as well. It certainly is my expectation that any new 70 seat flying bearing the Globe on the tail and the name United on the side will be done by me and you. It my expectation that the current 70 seat flying being farmed out by UAL will eventually be done by me and you (or anyone on the new UAL/CAL combined list).

As to the newhire issue, the rumor is we should have a bid in the coming weeks that will recall all of our furloughs and may require some hiring. That being the case I have heard that details are being worked out to "hire" UAL furloghees. To me that makes sense because I would think anyone hired off the street at this point will be on the bottom for a long, long time as those on furlough would come back ahead of any new off the street hires.

Sort of off topic to this but very much relevant, can you (or any UAL guys) speak to how you all feel about have a separate JCBA vote. That is to say passing a resolution that would require a JCBA to be voted in by a majority of the separate CAL and UAL pilot groups? My opinion is it works to our advantage in that it would be harder to allow management to appeal to 50% +1 of the separate groups than to just 50% +1 of the overall group.

Finally, it has been pointed out that the combined company will have 8 billion in unrestricted cash. UA and CO posted pretty large profits this quarter. Our expectations for a JCBA should be very high. The two most important acronyms for our collective pilot groups now are JCBA and FUPM!

First, i agree that UAL furloughees should be placed above CAL newhires in the SLI and i hope they are recalled soon. BUT, I interviewed with CAL 2.5 years ago and was accepted but training was cancelled before i could start class, so i have no seniority number. I have been in the pool waiting patiently for hiring to resume for these 2.5 years and would hate to see 1400 UAL furloughees get hired at CAL delaying my hiring if not ending my employment opportunity completely. I'm wondering what others think about this issue.

bluefrog,

I think your point is close to moot, as most of the 1400 from UAL were hired more than 2.5 years ago.

As for offering the "new hire" position at CAL to UAL furloughees, I think it is a good start. (steps onto soapbox) I just don't want that to determine my seniority, as I cannot afford to go back to first year pay at this point in my career with the four kids I have. I can sustain here in the Middle East until such time that I can return to a decent job at the new United with my longevity intact.

If I had a say (and I realize I do not), I have a tough time with anyone that is hired from the street today getting higher on a list that includes guys (like me) who have now been through two furloughs and have been at UAL since the turn of the millennium (term used for effect). That time has seen us give up longevity that was contractual, retirement, bond moneys and a host of other items that were negotiated away when we had no voice. Off my soapbox.

I know in the end, I will just have to wait and see. I appreciate the information you guys have provided, and realize it is all conjecture at this point. I look forward to flying with all of you (from both airlines) again at an airline that is no longer virtual and again proudly leads the industry in both QOL and pay rates.

Randy

Blue,

While I sympathize with your plight the facts are that even if we did hire off the street, you'd be junior to the UAL furloughees as they return after the merger is concluded. These guys were active UAL Pilots previously and have recall rights that exceed your pool ones.