Wasted training capitol......
 

A bunch of guys in DEN got bumped off the 76T when the base closed. And a bunch of guys bumped to DEN 737 CA. That was the first bump. Then the on this last bump a bunch of guys got bumped out of DEN 737CA. A couple of those guys decided to stay in DEN on either the 737 or the 320 as an FO. So the company is sending those few guys to 737 CA school this month. They will train on the 737 fly one or two legs on OE may be get a full month then go right back to training as an F/O on the 320 or the 737....

That just doesn't make sense. Who makes these asinine wasteful decisions?

Same thing when we furloughed. Sent them to school and then out the door a month later.

Beancounters in windowless offices in a big tall building in Chicago. And Howie rubber stamps it.

This is not news. It is news when they get it right. I am still waiting.

pennies. They're buying back 3 billion in stock. Yet they want us to "apu off" the system to save a few more pennies. Decreased safety, outsourced ramp, failing infrastructure, horrible IT implementation and maintenance. Why in the world are we complying with masters level fuel savings that decreases safety (apu off ops) when they're literally ****ing away money for nothing. Just one example.

Management simply doesn't care. They're printing money for themselves while we keep rowing in a lousy operation. Apparently mediocrity is good enough. Unreal.

"C"apt Stoops,

Don't forget dropping the flaps and the control check as soon as you say disconnect headset. That will save precious time, fuel dollars, and enables you to get into the air sooner and cool off the cabin since Marvin didn't start the APU till 10 prior regardless of the cabin temps.

Don't they have a "training bypass" option?

Got my class date. No way in heck I'm gonna hold on to my Capt seat in den. Guess I'll try my hand at Airbii Capt or 76T Capt when they bump my arse. Weeee. The merrygoclass is fun!

Actually, the stock buyback thing really puts it in perspective. Thanks.
Buying 3 billion in company stock, at the highest United's market cap has ever been, makes everything else pale in comparison.

Complaining about them wasting money with bumps.........sort of is kicked to the margins in the big picture.

It's a bit sad actually. We have incredible potential. We also have a complete void of leadership at every level. Until this corporation realizes that people are the only reason we exist (employees, customers, families) we will continue to struggle. I flew with a Captain years ago that said United management knew the cost of everything and the value of nothing. That has not changed.

That was very well put Scott. Any unit, squadron, corporation, etc. is only as good as its people.

I'm a complete contract neophyte, but what choice did the company have for DEN 76T crews when it decided to close the category? One thing I've noticed since landing here is how fast folks can churn back through training if they so desire. My April Indoc class had a couple of Bus guys who immediately bid to 756 in 15-08v.... meaning they will finish Bus IOE and be off to the 756 this fall. My partner in 737 training was a 737 CA upgrade who spent six months as a 777 FO before bidding up. A lot of $$$ is being wasted on disposable training (and buybacks), and not enough spent on fixing our broken operation. I'd be fine if the next contract reduced some of our flexibility for more $$$ in our pockets, as I'm not planning on visiting the TK very often during my remaining career if I can avoid it. But, perhaps I am missing something?

Note that in all of your examples pilots are moving UP a category.

We have 5,000 retirements in the next 10 years and 10,000 in the next 20. There WILL be upward movement as long as we don't shrink so there must be a mechanism for pilots to use their seniority to move UP the ranks. Every retirement will naturally trigger several training events as pilots shuffle up the ladder. This is one of the major reasons why the company wants and loves "categories" instead of totally individual fleets. For example, when LUAL placed the 747-400 and 777 in the same pay band it was considered a concession with a dollar value assigned.

Meanwhile, there are already existing freezes in the contract for pilots that don't move up a category but still bid for something that causes a training event.

For historical comparison, CAL used to do a twice yearly system bid free-for-all that could trigger massive training requirements (or not, depending) while UAL once upon a time had training freezes so onerous that new hires(!) were able to bid 747-400 FO because all the pilots senior to them were already in seat locks during a period of rapid movement.

Thus, we already have a pretty good "balance" in the UPA, IMHO, and I would oppose any effort to further restrict pilot movement. If the company wants to save training $$$, better management and planning is the answer.

The broken system is of managements making. What's going on is not normal and was created on day one of the merger. Some of what's going on is the normal cycle of fixing those mistakes. Our contract does a good job of handling these types of events during the normal course of expansion and reduction. This is neither, it's just plane stupidity of our management team making really dumb decisions and it shows.

No need to change our contract as was attempted by the Houston LEC carveout - our contract is doing it's job and that's fine.

Very interesting, thanks!

That is incorrect. It was not a "free for all". There were no bumping rights unless there was a displacement based on reduction. The bid was for vacancies/reductions. It was not a great system, and they had the ability to put out monthly bids if they wished. That was seldom.

Yes, poor choice of words on my part.