massgflight

Well said. Oscar had fortunate timing too one could say.

Itsajob

People like to talk about senior pilots eating their young when facing a furlough. Could it be that the senior pilots aren’t a bunch of heartless, self centered jerks, but that they have lived through this show several times and have learned through the years that management is going to do what is good for the company and that we can’t stop it? Could it also be that they’ve learned that when facing the very real threat of bankruptcy that it’s better to furlough and go in with an intact contract, than to possibly save a few and then go in and have the cuts made form a concessionary contract?

Freight Dawg

Be careful. Don’t use logic in your argument.

ReadOnly7

yes. That’s possible.

It’s also possible that a lot of senior folks operate with the sole mindset of “I got screwed by Furlough/BK/Merger, so now it’s all about gaining what I lost. (somehow BOTH sides seem to complain about the merger and how screwed they got)

Having said that....I get it. I never believed the “unity” stuff, anyways. Human nature is predictable. When times were great, I am impressed with this place. It’s definitely better than my last gig as far as the senior dudes looking out. Every CA I’ve had has been great, and I’ve had random dudes stop and insist on paying for my coffee, meal, etc.....but a guy who makes $300k a year dropping $5-$15 to be a great guy is a lot different than offering to drastically reduce his income to protect mine. It’s just not gonna happen.....nor do I expect it.

Just protect the integrity of this job, so when (IF) I come back, there’s something good to come back to. Hopefully there is some sort of health insurance fund or something.....because that’s the big thing my family is worried about. I can raid my 401k, take out loans, sell my booty on the corner for cash.....but replacing health insurance really isn’t that easy.

There’s a lot of emotion going on right now. For a lot of us, myself included, we are bitter, sad, and afraid for our futures. It’s VERY easy to misplace that emotion and take it out on the wrong people. It’s not the senior guys’ fault that this happened, and it’s not up to them to protect us. Instead......protect this job. I’m gonna want it back.

Itsajob

I’d agree. People at the bottom have reason to be afraid and they lash out, people at the top can definitely be callous. This could get very ugly, but you are right, we need to protect the integrity of this job. I wouldn’t be very worried about health insurance. I can’t imagine not having an assessment to cover insurance premiums for furloughed pilots. That is something that we can do as a union that doesn’t require negotiations with the company.

Freight Dawg

Last time we went through this ALPA voted in an assessment to pay for COBRA for those furloughed. I would expect the same this time.

cadetdrivr

Yup.

In fact UAL pilots did exactly this the last two furlough cycles for those that were not aware. I'll be disgusted if we don't step up to the plate this time.

Dave Fitzgerald

Have you been talking to your union reps? If not I would encourage you to do so. I'll bet you'll find out they are as concerned as you are about furloughs and the junior guys. The MEC will be looking at all ideas to mitigate possible furloughs, all you have to do is participate in the process and find out what is being done.

What happens now will greatly influence how the junior guys react when they are no longer junior. No one is ignoring their plight. They are the future.

AxlF16

No need to be disgusted. Give it time... I'm sure we are getting the program spun up, but should be thoughtful about when we announce something like this.

ugleeual

The furlough fund is definitely going to pass the membership vote... however, I would not plan on any voluntary concessions to mitigate furloughs other than the company offering VLOA and/or early retirements for those in the last 2 years at United (similar to AMRs).