APC225

But that doesn't mean we or they can't spin it.

"Dozens of Continental flights were canceled Wednesday because too many pilots called in sick. Officials said about 21 flights were canceled because of the illnesses. Airline officials did not release a list of the cancellations, but said they were primarily out of the New York area. No Houston flights were affected."
Continental cancels 21 flights due to sick pilots - MSNBC Articles

No one's fooled that this isn't directly related to the pace of negotiations and the merger.

For the company, it's a way to establish the foundation for alleging an illegal job action and start playing hardball.

DaveNelson

This is not a withdrawal of enthusiasm, a sickout, or anything like it. The cancelled flights are a direct result of deliberate short staffing by the company, which has worked for them in the past and isn't working now.

The company has been offering a voluntary junior manning premium of 150% for straight pickups for most of the summer. Many pilots have responded, but apparently not enough. Those who haven't are not part of an organized conspiracy. The union is not telling people to refrain from picking up open time. The decision to work voluntary overtime is an individual one that rests with the employee.

Nobody is doing anything against the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, or the 2008 injunction against United's chapter of ALPA. Continental is simply reaping the fruit of the seeds it sewed by not hinging enough pilots.

No unfair labor practices are occurring!

APC225

You are right. My use of the phrase "withdrawal of enthusiasm" was incorrect as it implies an organized or directed job action. I should have said that in these challeging times people are being especially careful about safety so they're not coming to work sick. They are also choosing to spend time with their families by flying just their assigned schedules. That the airline is under staffed is a problem, just not a pilot problem.

Daytripper

+1 to the above posts, and If the union doesn't take the ball and run with it....shame on them. Frankly, I've gotten tired, (literally), of a now photographed in uniform Pierce, offering updates upon updates....with no substance other than a sermon to the choir. I think Fred and his merry band of minions have served one up on a tee myself. We'll see.

HSLD

This reminds me of summer of 2000 when there were allegations of an organized job action. It was BS then, just like it's BS today. Pilots aren't doing anything except making the individual decision to fly their contract, and the system is imploding around the edges due to inadequate staffing models. When the contract includes language like "voluntary" and "at the pilot's option" it doesn't take a labor union for individual pilots to determine what goodwill looks like.

SpecialTracking

It is even more maddening that ALPA told the company six months prior to the summer of 2K that their manning levels were inadequate for their upcoming summer schedule.

On the other hand, it doesn't matter whether you are right or wrong, it only matters what you can get someone else to believe.

intrepidcv11

There's no way that CAL ALPA isn't prepared for this. I credit JP for keeping in mind the UAL injunction pretty much hangs over the CAL side as well. I know they have everything saved from last year when it was clear there was no freaking way Summer 2011 would ever work. We all know these cancellations all hang squarely on Fred's neck. Now for god's sake CAL ALPA don't blow it. See you in court Harvard Law.

gettinbumped

ALPA's response was: "No comment"

???????????

NFLUALNFL

Agreed; this and many other actions can make one think that the company is trying to goad us into some rash, angry act that will violate the injunction. 70 seaters in IAH & EWR, the creeping RJ affect into our mainline gates in ORD, the 767-200 sale and as of today, the fish-wrap "Update" mailed to our homes ?!? Everybody stay cool and don't take the bait; these geniuses have turned to another chapter....

johnso29

Management sure seems to have a hard time realizing pilots get sick. We can't chug DayQuil & come to work. Plus, when companies already fly their reserves to the max in normal ops what do they think will happen when the poo-poo hits the fan?

Like someone said earlier..... IMSAFE. If ya can't complete that checklist, ya shouldn't be coming to work.