How Many Furloughees?

[Light Years]

Hi there CO folks,

I was just wondering how many (if any) flight attendants from Continental are furloughed. Is there a voluntary program? Whats the most junior FA currently working? Are furloughees offered positions at CoEx?

 

[Falco]

I don't believe there are any furloghees remaining. The voluntary leaves have done the job.

 

[dash8ter]

I've got a friend that was in the last newhire class that CO had. He's still on furlough.

 

[CALFLYBOY]

Hi there CO folks,

I was just wondering how many (if any) flight attendants from Continental are furloughed. Is there a voluntary program? Whats the most junior FA currently working? Are furloughees offered positions at CoEx?

There are 41 flight attendants still on involuntary furlough. CAL has numerous FA's on a Company Offered Leave of Absence(COLA). Currently, all COLA FA's are scheduled to return late spring or early summer. The 41 on furlough all have a 2001 hire date, though there are some 2001 hires who are active.

 

[jimntx]

There are 41 flight attendants still on involuntary furlough. CAL has numerous FA's on a Company Offered Leave of Absence(COLA). Currently, all COLA FA's are scheduled to return late spring or early summer. The 41 on furlough all have a 2001 hire date, though there are some 2001 hires who are active.

It was my understanding that there are NO involuntary f/a furloughees at CO except for people who were still in their probationary period when 9/11 happened. If CO considers those people to be subject to recall, CO is being a lot more magnanimous than most other majors. At AA, the probationers who were laid off immediately following 9/11 were told they were not subject to recall. Until they finished probation they were not covered by contractual protections.

When company flacks at AApfa (our so-called union) start mouthing about how the 6000+ furloughs and draconian pay and benefit cuts were necessary (they must be--the company tells me so), I point out that CO hasn't furloughed any f/a's or asked for a dime in concessions from any employee, so far. The only answer I ever got was "Well, their plane wasn't flown into a building" or "Well, their situation is different from ours", yada, yada, yada.

Yeah, their situation is different. They're giving premium service to premium passengers and are being rewarded for it. I lived in Houston for many years before going to work for American, and I loved flying CO. And before you ask, yes I applied to CO. Unfortunately, they turned me down.

Jim
AA F/a furloughed 02JUL03

 

[mrf777]

I'm not sure about flight attendants but here in CLE there are about 30 ramp agents and about 25 ticket agents on furlough right now. we expect some cola people to return in April so expect more furloughs than. They keep telling us we are overstaffed, but you sure wouldnt know it, especially with the overtime they give out everyday.

 

[skycruiser]

I'm not sure about flight attendants but here in CLE there are about 30 ramp agents and about 25 ticket agents on furlough right now. we expect some cola people to return in April so expect more furloughs than. They keep telling us we are overstaffed, but you sure wouldnt know it, especially with the overtime they give out everyday.

It seems to be a vicious cycle. Furlough to a minimum staffing were vacations, training and sick calls can't be covered except with overtime. Then the overtime blows your planned budget so the bean counters say they will have to lay folks off to balance the deficit. It is a strange monster but I bet, on paper in someone's office, it all makes perfect sense. We just don't have the "big picture".
:wacko:

 

[Light Years]

Wow.

As a US Airways furloughee, thats amazing to me. I'm glad pretty much everyone is working or about to go back. We only have 5,400 FAs active out of 10,700. If you follow the news at all, it doesnt look like we'll ever go back, or even have anything to back to.

Best of luck to Continental, I've flown on you several times and have always been impressed with the product, and the professionalism of CO and CoEx employees. Hopefully you guys will hire in the next few years and some of us US folks can apply!

 

[CALFLYBOY]

Yes, it's true that CAL has 41 involuntarily furloughed FA's still awaiting to return. They are also subject to a grievance that has or is to be arbitrated(I have not heard the status of the grievance lately). The company still refuses to bring these people back even though they had numerous requests for COLA's denied in the last couple of offerings.

 

[CALFLYBOY]

It was my understanding that there are NO involuntary f/a furloughees at CO except for people who were still in their probationary period when 9/11 happened. If CO considers those people to be subject to recall, CO is being a lot more magnanimous than most other majors. At AA, the probationers who were laid off immediately following 9/11 were told they were not subject to recall. Until they finished probation they were not covered by contractual protections.

When company flacks at AApfa (our so-called union) start mouthing about how the 6000+ furloughs and draconian pay and benefit cuts were necessary (they must be--the company tells me so), I point out that CO hasn't furloughed any f/a's or asked for a dime in concessions from any employee, so far. The only answer I ever got was "Well, their plane wasn't flown into a building" or "Well, their situation is different from ours", yada, yada, yada.

Yeah, their situation is different. They're giving premium service to premium passengers and are being rewarded for it. I lived in Houston for many years before going to work for American, and I loved flying CO. And before you ask, yes I applied to CO. Unfortunately, they turned me down.

Jim
AA F/a furloughed 02JUL03

>>They're giving premium service to premium passengers and are being rewarded for it.<<

I would not exactly call our domestic services premium!!! Call me "old school" but our service on some routes is down right embarrassing.

 

[jimntx]

>>They're giving premium service to premium passengers and are being rewarded for it.<<

I would not exactly call our domestic services premium!!! Call me "old school" but our service on some routes is down right embarrassing.

Hey, trust me. You need to fly some of the other maljors if you think CO's service is bad. Now that I am "at leisure" I'm flying around a good bit. CO is still better than most.

The truth is that those of us who have been around long enough to remember the "old school" ways have to accept that those days are gone for good. The LCCs have seen to that. The airlines are going to end up being the Greyhound busses of the 21st century (already are in some cases).

 

[Light Years]

CALFLYBOY-

You need to take a transcon flight on one of the other majors and you'll be very proud of your service. At US, they either dont have or sell meals and have no IFE on 95% of domestic flights. Its embarrassing.

I'm glad you have high standards, I'm also from the "old school".... I take pride in my appearance and the presentation, even if it is just a bag of pretzels. Its people like you that will keep people coming back to Continental. Good luck!

 

[firstamendment]

CALFLYBOY-

You need to take a transcon flight on one of the other majors and you'll be very proud of your service. At US, they either dont have or sell meals and have no IFE on 95% of domestic flights. Its embarrassing.

I'm glad you have high standards, I'm also from the "old school".... I take pride in my appearance and the presentation, even if it is just a bag of pretzels. Its people like you that will keep people coming back to Continental. Good luck!

I agree with Lightyears.. Our inflight is bare bones..wow, now I really do have time to find a husband on my flights. 😉

 

[CALFLYBOY]

CALFLYBOY-

You need to take a transcon flight on one of the other majors and you'll be very proud of your service. At US, they either dont have or sell meals and have no IFE on 95% of domestic flights. Its embarrassing.

I'm glad you have high standards, I'm also from the "old school".... I take pride in my appearance and the presentation, even if it is just a bag of pretzels. Its people like you that will keep people coming back to Continental. Good luck!

I agree with Lightyears.. Our inflight is bare bones..wow, now I really do have time to find a husband on my flights. 😉

FirstAmendment-

ROFL! Now that is priceless and thinking the glass is half full. Good Luck with the husband hunt! 😀

Thanks you guys for the kind words. I hate to admit it, but some of those "mystery meat" sandwiches that are laden with fat and carbs are kind of tasty. Hell if I wanted to eat all that fat, calories, and carbs I wished it was in the form of Chateaubriand carved seat side. Oh well the hard reality of it all...

 

[fliboi78]

well, like i said before, i think that CO is the best airline in the industry right now!!! i was just recalled to AA two months ago and it is worst than it was before. you guys are the only one that seem to be doing something right in these crazy times. i wished i would have applied to you guys!!!! if they do start hiring again i would give up my 4 years at AA in a heart beat to work with you guys!!!! keep up the great job!