If my memory serves me right, we were all mailed a packet describing the leaves and voluntary severance packages after 9-11. Flight attendants taking the voluntary leaves signed something to the effect that they would only come off leave if there were positions available at that time.
Unfortunately, we have been in a furlough situation and no positions are available. As these leaves expire, the flight attendants are put on a furlough list. When we begin recalling, the senior ones will be recalled first.
Flight attendants on furlough have five year recall rights including the ones moving from VLT to furlough status.
Management has established a website, conducts conference calls, and publishes a newsletter to try to keep furloughed flight attendants in the loop.
It greatly saddens me that we have people out on furlough and people that will soon be furloughed. However, this economy is not rewarding companies that cannot become an efficient provider like Jet Blue, Southwest, and AirTran. Only the lean, efficient companies will be here in the next five years. If Delta does not take steps to streamline and become more efficient, all of us will be out of work. Keeping staff overages on the payroll will not make Delta efficient, drains our financial resources, and reduces the possibility that there will be a company to which our furloughed coworkers can return.
Hopefully, we will be able to make adjustments so we can survive in this new economy and get everyone back to work.