cactusflyer
Senior
Any more announcements for 2009 leaves out West?
Nope, just the same stuff that has already been posted. Three choices a 2 month, 3 month, or 7 month VLOA. 75 slots for each and all starting Sept. 5th. The company won't extend medical into a 2nd month so that wipes out TONS Of people that would take a VLOA but can't because they carry the medical. We all knew VLOA's were coming this fall because we've been overstaffed and we expected them to be offered in 1 month increments, like they have been in the past. I think the company will be surprised at the number of people that DON'T sign up because of that. I personally have at least 6 friends that would have taken a 1 month leave with out batting an eye, but the company refuses to offer those either. So, unfortunately, I think we will see involuntary furloughs on the west. That is truly sad. If the company would get their heads out of their a**es and think outside the box (I know, I expect to much) then they could succeed in getting some senior folks who make more money to take some time off. It appears that Cindy Simone is quite okay with involuntarily furloughing rather than seeking alternative solutions. I think the company was hoping we'd put pressure on the east to take the deal of leaves by base so we could have our medical, but we stayed out of the fight. At least that is how I interpreted Mike F. hotline. I can't see any MEC ever telling another MEC how they should handle contractual matters. On one hand it would have been nice, but on the other hand I understand the East's need not to let the company abrogate what is left of your contract. Seniority is everything, whether a person likes it or not, as such I understand the need to uphold that principle.