Naven

The message we are actually sending is, UPS pilots are willing to work less! The lines suck and we should all want to spend as little time around this place as possible.

notadog

Stand back and look at it from the company's POV. The same amount of work is getting done for less money spent.

What would be your opener if you were them?

I hope I am wrong...

IPAMD11FO

On the contrary, less work is being done. Block hours are down, aircraft are being retired, hard line count is down, flights are being consolidated, reserves are sitting around, etc. Obviously, each seat/fleet may vary, but as a group, we are working less than we were a year ago. Did you see the slide presentation the IPA site?

SaltyDog

I believe you are wrong. The money spent remains the same. The details is how this money is provided. The same amount of work is being 'shared' by the same number of pilots and costs them the same if the MOU passes. UPS answer was a standard furlough to maintain the same level of productivity and costs. Business. The company is surprised that another pilot would voluntarily sacrifice pay to keep the other pilot on the payroll.
The opener is easy. We already declined to take a contract concession, that stymied them and further encouraged the furlough response. The unique opportunity is that ATL accepted the IPA view with a "let them try".
They have some flesh in the outcome. (Say 'supervisors' a union focus for representatio if UPS furloughs).
So when they come to the table in 2012, they will now face a more unified group, one that will take no contractual concessions on benefits, work rules, or pay. The MOU is a temporary application to protect our own, not a permanent CBA revision.

notadog

You are right. However, is there an unintended consequence here?

There are still x amount of block hours to be flown. The cost (to the company) to fly them is reduced. Why would they want to increase their cost in the future?

PAX2Cargo

$30 Million??? I added the three years total. We need $100 million. Remember, its all or nothing.Maybe I'm reading the first page of the MOU wrong.

IPAMD11FO

This quote from the latest EB email says it better than I can:

Their costs will increase down the road as volume returns. More flights, block hours, aircraft, etc = more cost.

notadog

Fair enough.

notadog

That is an interesting quote...particularly the part about it not about saving the company money. How can that be? We are saving money while saving jobs.

J Dawg

Remember, there are additional deadlines on Dec 31, 2009 and 2010, for the following years. There is an "important dates" link on the IPA's furlough site. If we fall short for the last two years now, I believe we still have another shot at those during the subsequent sign up deadlines. But if we fall short for 2009, then its over.

So the 2009 period ($40 million) really is all or nothing. For that reason, I'm kind of surprised 2010 already has more commitments than 2009. If someone wants to volunteer, but their situation is flexible as far as timing, seems 2009 is the time to do it. Even if we are only successful for 2009, it still gives the economy almost 1 year to turn around (including 90 day furlough notice), and takes almost a year out of the savings UPS would get from a furlough.