Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilots...

[Maurus]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

I hope the best for your commute Maurus, but not at the expense of my company. Regardless... this doesn't mean there will be growth for the other COEX carrier... just take a look at your line value's and block hours. Overall... the only block hours that seem to be increaseing for the "regional" feeds for CAL this year are Colgan's.

The COLA's will typically end up going senior, and they are being offered to anyone on any side of the business (XJT, CAL, DAL). They are being offered for 1-3 months at this time. With a COLA... the following is true:

1. You keep your seniority.
2. You keep your longevity.
3. You keep you base.
4. You only have to pay the exact same amount for insurance... than you are currently.
5. You keep your travel bennies.
6. You don't accumulate sick time or vacation time.

Man... if you are young... and love to travel, or have always wanted to "try" something new for a temporary period of time... then this would be a nice little thing to have right now. Those who took COLA's after 9/11 had nothing but good things to say about the time they took off.

Not trying to paint too rosey of a picture... but... it's obviously better than the dreaded "F" word. Also better than XJT grovelling back to CAL to renegotiate lower rates that would downgrade the industry as a whole and possibly lead to pilot concessions.

To me... it's Manangement taking the next logical step they need to... with the decrease in block hours for this year... without taking any drastic steps and still being able to keep all pilots on a relatively "short call".

Bob

I currently don't work for an airline. According to Airline Pilot Central, Republic is supposed to be picking up some of the Continental Express flights out of CLE. As I would prefer to stay close to friends and family when I do join an airline, it would just be good to know I have more options than just one in case one of them goes belly up, or just stops hiring for a while. I do realize that I may not get CLE as my hub but, at least there is a chance with ExpressJet and Republic.

Secondly, thanks for spelling out what a COLA is. It isn't bad for the pilots that would want to use it, and helps the company get back on their feet. Win win if you ask me. I just hope ExpressJet wont have to take the next step after a COLA though.

 

[Cruise]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

But, I love to fly and can't see myself ever doing anything else. I'd want my company to do everything in it's power in order to keep me employed, even if it meant a paycut. Those cuts would only be temporary and I'd have lots of time to make up the difference when I get on with a major.

That's a very ignorant way to look at this. Why don't you ask all those legacy pilots how 'temporary' their pay cuts have been? anic:

You need to wake up and join the real world. That being said, I congratulate you for coming to JC to learn and participate in our community. However, the attitude you possess at the moment fits right in w/ the 'PFT/PFJ' and 'RJ course' mentality. I'll give you a hint......that's not a good thing! :drool:

 

[Proud Pilot]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

What happens if you can't get on with a major?

I'm confident' that I will get on with a major. Why is everyone so pessimistic about getting on with a major? Have you tried to get on with one yet?

 

[Proud Pilot]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

Oh yeah, this'll get good!!! Who's making popcorn?

Just an FYI, check how long the majors have had their paycuts...

I've checked their payscales and I could live just fine on what they pay currently, not saying that I'd love to make even more

 

[Seggy]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

I'm confident' that I will get on with a major. Why is everyone so pessimistic about getting on with a major? Have you tried to get on with one yet?

It is good that you are confident, you have to be BUT you never know. If the majors merge, things are going to slow, etc.

 

[Velocipede]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

Sorry, train, but when you have to scramble to replace almost 20% of your business, its a major hit.

But you keep sippin' that Kool-Aid and hope they get enough volunteers, because if they don't, the involuntary furloughs are sure to follow.

 

[Lee D]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

No flaming ( HA HA ) intended. But, I love to fly and can't see myself ever doing anything else. I'd want my company to do everything in it's power in order to keep me employed, even if it meant a paycut. Those cuts would only be temporary and I'd have lots of time to make up the difference when I get on with a major.

Duck and or don your flame retardant suit. Thank you.



No one wants to lose wages and of course employment. However with respect to getting pay cuts back, it can take years. . . if ever. I don't know if you will ever truely "make up the difference." Lost wages are just that.

 

[kellwolf]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

No flaming ( HA HA ) intended. But, I love to fly and can't see myself ever doing anything else. I'd want my company to do everything in it's power in order to keep me employed, even if it meant a paycut. Those cuts would only be temporary and I'd have lots of time to make up the difference when I get on with a major.

Temporary pay cuts? You're living in a dream world, there. Mesaba got a HUGE boon by negotiating snap backs in their bankruptcy contract. Probably one of the best things they could have done. Too bad Delta, United, American, Us Airways, etc etc didn't do it. They took cuts well over 6 years ago (some more than once), and despite an uptick in financials (until the recent blast through the roof of oil prices), not once has the option of getting those wages back come up. See, in order to get those wages back, they have to re-enter negotiations with management. Management has to agree to it. If they don't, well, you're in until the contract becomes ammendable and beyond. Take my airline, for example. We're going on 4 years from our ammendable date with no contract in sight. If we had agreed to pay cuts in 2001 along with everyone else, we'd be looking at almost 7 years of "temporary" pay cuts.

You're also assuming you'll get on with a major. I can introduce you to a whole gaggle of guys that are still at my regional with tons of turbine PIC time that can't buy an interview, much less get a job at a major. If merger mania catches on, fewer majors mean fewer jobs. Those people that come to the regionals thinking of it as "just a stepping stone" might be in for a rude awakening.....

 

[Cruise]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

I'm confident' that I will get on with a major. Why is everyone so pessimistic about getting on with a major? Have you tried to get on with one yet?

As a matter of fact.....YES, he has tried....and continues to try. Many, many people are trying, myself included.

It's great you're so confident you'll get to a major. However, I think you might want to try to finish your ratings before you think about getting on at a major. I'd also check your attitude at the door.....'cause it's not impressive.

 

[FlyChicaga]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

Obviously this is not good news. However, being the eternal optimist, here is my take:

This is a direct result of the current reduction in growth at the majors combined with an adjustment of flying allocation from branded to charter and the new United flying. We were hiring for a certain amount of attrition, and seeing that Continental, Southwest, UPS, etc. has reduced their hiring numbers, we have more pilots than we planned we would need. Rather than directly furlough our lowest couple-hundred pilots (who may or may not have posted in this thread), the company would rather offer Company-Offered Leaves of Absence. This is a much better choice than a furlough... More than a couple JetCareers users would be on the chopping block if that happened.

I have talked directly with the CEO and Crew Planning both in person and over e-mail, and this is how the current situation was explained. It is not due to a failure of our Branded flying... In fact, while some markets have suffered, others have flourished tremendously. We are in a period of transition, and things shall be treated as such. Everything is very fluid. As is our hiring estimations, just like every other airline.

I suggest the naysayers that do work for us send off a few e-mails to those "in the know," like Crew Planning, our Senior Director of Flight Operations, or even the CEO. You WILL get a response.

No other details really worth providing, but things aren't looking so rosy over there.

Over there? Yeah... I'm the ridiculous one.

 

[wheelsup]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

This guy probably lives with his parents and/or receives economic outpatient care. My guess is he's <20 and doesn't even have the PPL. It's not even worth the aggravation. He'll learn eventually, provided he gets off the 'rents teet.

 

[Nick]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

No flaming ( HA HA ) intended. But, I love to fly and can't see myself ever doing anything else. I'd want my company to do everything in it's power in order to keep me employed, even if it meant a paycut. Those cuts would only be temporary and I'd have lots of time to make up the difference when I get on with a major.

Bookmark this thread. No, really, right now, bookmark it somehow on your computer.

Return to it in five years and I bet some part of your above statement will have changed significantly. I promise!

 

[Firebird2XC]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

This bites. Another company with good-labor relations takes a hit.

Best wishes and hopes for the pilots of XJET in the days to come. Hopefully things get better.

 

[Maurus]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

It is good that you are confident, you have to be BUT you never know. If the majors merge, things are going to slow, etc.

Actually not necessarily. If the demand for flights stay the same, there would be no reason why merged airlines would supply less flights, and in the next 5 years when everyone has to start retiring again, we will most likely see a hiring boom again.

 

[mtsu_av8er]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

This is making me hope that Republic gets into CLE soon for a hub. Would be nice as I would be able to stay at home. Express jet isn't looking too promising these days.

Just opened a 145 base there.

 

[Captain_Bob]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

No flaming ( HA HA ) intended. But, I love to fly and can't see myself ever doing anything else. I'd want my company to do everything in it's power in order to keep me employed, even if it meant a paycut.

Not being in the industry right now... I really don't think you understand the full context of what you are saying with that statement.

Those cuts would only be temporary and I'd have lots of time to make up the difference when I get on with a major.

How do you know? Ask any of the pilots who took concessions after 9/11 how they are doing with getting rates back to pre-9/11 numbers.

Proud... I didn't take it as a flame. But... you have to understand that there truly is a lot more to life than just "flying the plane".

I think you'll find that most professional pilots on the board will disagree with what you stated. Your example would show that management can have their way with us, simply because we "looooove" to fly so much that we are willing to sacrifice pay and QOL for it. That's simply not the case... nor should it be the case for any future contract negotiations.

A post like yours is solid gold to a company negotiator when it comes time for contract negotiations. Their stance will be... why should we pay you more money... or even the money we are currently paying you now... when there are young bucks standing in line wanting to work here and will do it for much less... because they "love" to fly.

Think Mesa... and see how that's working out.

Bob

 

[TVB]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

That's not good to hear, have a good friend who got on there not too long ago. Hope everything works out for you guys.

 

[Proud Pilot]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

Obviously this is not good news. However, being the eternal optimist, here is my take:

This is a direct result of the current reduction in growth at the majors combined with an adjustment of flying allocation from branded to charter and the new United flying. We were hiring for a certain amount of attrition, and seeing that Continental, Southwest, UPS, etc. has reduced their hiring numbers, we have more pilots than we planned we would need. Rather than directly furlough our lowest couple-hundred pilots (who may or may not have posted in this thread), the company would rather offer Company-Offered Leaves of Absence. This is a much better choice than a furlough... More than a couple JetCareers users would be on the chopping block if that happened.

I have talked directly with the CEO and Crew Planning both in person and over e-mail, and this is how the current situation was explained. It is not due to a failure of our Branded flying... In fact, while some markets have suffered, others have flourished tremendously. We are in a period of transition, and things shall be treated as such. Everything is very fluid. As is our hiring estimations, just like every other airline.

I suggest the naysayers that do work for us send off a few e-mails to those "in the know," like Crew Planning, our Senior Director of Flight Operations, or even the CEO. You WILL get a response.



Over there? Yeah... I'm the ridiculous one.

Hi Matt. I love your avatar. You know what they say about guys that go out of their way proclaiming that they are straight don't you!

 

[charlie1017]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

I'm confident' that I will get on with a major. Why is everyone so pessimistic about getting on with a major? Have you tried to get on with one yet?

Seggy got interviewed at Southernjets (Doug's airline) a short time ago...

 

[frog_flyer]

Re: Expressjet offering COLAs (voluntary furloughs) to pilot

uhhh. Hint to guys on reserve. take it. keep your travel bennies and insurance.


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