Cork32

I've been hearing alot of old dudes talking retirement as well. We also need to remember that the union is about to open Section 6 in the negotiations so let's not buy too much into management's sky is falling furlough rumors yet, it's a scare tactic in my opinion.

ewrbasedpilot

Unless you've been living under a rock for the past few days, I don't think the airlines have to bluff too much......things ARE that bad. Airlines don't just park airplanes to "fake" the sky falling down.

reCALcitrant

Park them. Mark ticket prices up. I don't give a ****. The money for the company to survive is not coming out of my family's savings account. Look somewhere else other than your employees for revenue. 1500 out of 5000 at CAL hired since 2005. Another 1000 or so hire in late 90's. All of us junior enough to go find another job. Must not be hurting to bad all the bonuses the managment took this year. Don't fall for the bull****...again.

jdt30

I would rather go back to troughing than work under another bad contract. True times are tough, but I'm willing to drag negotiations out for another 5 years, then get retro pay.

sydney5316

I don't believe it is bull****, but I do agree with your post. Management always gets theirs; good times or bad.

ewrbasedpilot

Don't wish so hard or you might just get your wish.......... You may be able to start working on your family's savings account if things continue the way they are, and then you'll be PRAYING for them to unpark those planes. Finding a job isn't as easy as you seem to think it is. A LOT of people are scrounging for minimally paying jobs as we speak. I agree that the money shouldn't come out of our pockets, but until our country's leadership gets nasty, and I mean REALLY nasty with OPEC and the speculators who are causing this problem in our industry, NOTHING is going to be done to help us out. Until then, WE, the airlines, will be considered the culprits. I've noticed how all the bad news concerning the airlines is seems to always be undercut by the "dismal" airline rankings and customer satisfaction. The public is only getting PART of the story. Fuel is killing us, but they don't know the airlines are paying upwards of $35 a bbl MORE for oil than the general public. It's time EVERYONE had an idea of how much this jet fuel is REALLY costing us. Then again, it's almost getting to the point where we'll just be priced out of business, then what? I guess all the airlines parking planes should result in an overage of jet fuel, so that should cause prices to drop dramatically, but you want to bet which way it goes?...................

ewrbasedpilot

I agree, but unfortunately, when you're the biggest fish on the food chain, you will ALWAYS get your meal first...............

reCALcitrant

Park them. I am not willing to take one cent off my pay for CAL. What other industry comes to the employees for profit?? This is insane. I did not get into this profession to make $80,000 a year. I put in all this time, money, and training to make 200+ per year. Please, do me a favor and save your money now so we can hold out as long as possible to get a fair wage. The execs can kiss my ass if they think they can haul in 7 million in bonuses and then come to me for a pay cut. **** them. They will not shut the place down. They make all of there money off of it. Stand tall and take the things we have been working so hard to get. Don't be afraid to get a new job or start over. This one is only worth having if we make more than we're making now.

Cork32

Not living under any rocks, I buy gas just like everyone else.

They do park planes they have been planning on parking for quite awhile. Until they start deferring deliveries we are still growing as a company.

I do find it hard to believe you can save money by furloughing the 200 (or whatever the number is today) lowest paid, most productive pilots at the company.

I'm in the bottom 200 so will be furloughed if it happens, I'm just not going to lose sleep over losing a $25000/year, non health insurance providing job. Don't get me wrong, I like the job (the flying not the pay), the people I've worked with, and the company for that matter, and I want to stay and see it get better. I'm just not going to jump when management says, "Boo!"

LifeNtheFstLne

Amen, brother. Vote 'NO' no matter what threat of the big "F" they throw at us. You and I are perfectly capable of picking up a damn hammer and doubling our pay. I'll take my chances with that until they produce something worth coming to work for. Sad.