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Recalls beginning

Even if these planes called for a recall of F/As, that wouldn't neccessarily bring back the MDA FAs, if any. About 300-400 of 1300 or so involuntarily furloughed FAs returned for the 170. Some of them were so junior they would not be reached for a standard mainline recall unless 1000 or so FAs quit or died, or the airline ordered 100 or so pure growth aircraft. A small handful of MDA/furloughed, about 50, half were MDA, were recalled to LGA. HOwever some of the MDA that took the LGA recall are junior to some still at (for now)MDA. At that time, they did not know that all MDA FAs would lose thier job to Republic Airlines new hires or even that the planes had been sold, so they stayed MDA... meaning there are active "mainline" FAs active while FAs that are senior to them will be furloughed from "MDA."

When they start 190 flying, they will likely base it out of only one base at first and only that base of FAs would fly it, bidding in seniority order. I would image it'll go senior because it's new and it's not alot of work, which appeals to some of the seniors. If the 170 had not had a fence around it, under the regular contract, most junior people would not have even seen it, and only the very most senior furloughed people would have been recalled.

The MDA scam had 2000 hires holding blocks, and people from the last ever US Airways class in 2001 active on reserve. These blocks came out of PIT, PHL, and DCA pushing "full mainline" reserve seniority higher. For example, reserve in PIT, with a non-fenced 170 might "only" have been 13 or 14 years instead of 16 or 17 because of the additional flying. What MDA did was screw up the seniority list by taking mainline flying- making real mainline more senior, made furloughs blockholders, and junior furloughs active while more senior furloughs (voluntarily) remained inactive. Of course, now outside employees are operating the planes and all of the MDA FAs will become furloughs again. All very confusing, which is the USAirways way.

The America West "new-hire" offer to the US furloughs confuses things even more, because those who choose to go will get pay longevity, but not seniority for thier time there, making different pay scales for same-seniority employees in the future depending on whether or not they could afford a hotel for 7 weeks and a temporary move to PHX. MDA on the other hand, granted the FAs thier mainline seniority for bidding purposes, and longevity for pay according to time served at mainine, but no longevity is gained there. For example, a three year US FA went to MDA at 3 year "MDA pay", but even if they serve three years there, they will return to US at 3 year pay, not 6.

Confusing? Yes, and that is why those poor FAs are suing the airline for all of this shenaningans... Even though they are mainline AND Embraer qualified, the E190 will not bring them back. However, if and when they do, and thats a big if for the really junior ones (5 years), they should be granted the seniority and longevity they rightfully earned while the old management used them to screw the rest of mainline, and then disposed of them again.
 
Has US run any mock bids to see who would bid the E190 and whether or not it would go exclusively to ex-MDA/recalls?

To add the pilot's side to the earlier response concerning F/A's......

No - until the equipment is added to the list of planes/positions that pilots have available to bid no one can bid the 190 so a mock bid would yield no "takers".

Once the 190 jobs are available in the computer as a bid position (probably not till the 1st base bid that contains the 190's), and pilots have a chance to update their bids on file, then you can bet that they'll be running mock bids.

Jim
 
The entire MDA pilot force will be placed back onto furlough by May, that is the expected date at which the remainder of the E-170 Fleet will have been transferred to Republic.

It is more likely that the former E-170 Captains will instead recall into Airbus and B737 positions vacated by F/O's on those fleets upgrade into the left seat of the E-190. The E-190 F/O positions though will likely go fairly junior due to the payscale. The expected result is that recalls will be offered to those further down into the APL that are willing to come back for that pay. Most APL pilots will bypass the E-190 F/O slot untill they can recall into a Airbus or B737 themselves.

Basically it will be much like "MDA" was, except that they are going to call it a real recall this time, call the operation Mainline this time, and the Captain positions will be avail for bid by the entire senority list, not just those currently on furlough.
 
Rico,

You're right, but just to avoid confusing any non-pilots....

The current recalls will definetly go to 737/AB F/O slots because that's all that will be available to them - the 190 isn't on this bid. The exception could be some of those recalled from EVLA, where their seniority could allow them other options.

Once the 190 is available to bid, I would expect most/all of those Capt slots to go to active 737/AB F/O's because it'll be a pay raise for them (as you said).

Jim
 

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