Airlink Retrenching?

[tedstriker]

About 14 first officers at Airlink will be having a tough weekend while they contemplate the fact that they may not have a job on Monday.

An alternative option to retrenchments is a 25% pay cut for all the pilots.

2002 is off to a bad start...

[ 22 February 2002: Message edited by: Captain Oveur ]</p>

[FREIGHTMAN]

Just to clarify, its not retrenchment yet, 3 months furlough, with the option to extend of course. And its 10 F/O's and 7 CPT's !!!. .All from the Jetstream pool I'm afraid. They want to park 5 of them (or sell them, or lease out etc) . .Embraers should have new routes soon, but the whole thing is still rather touch and go.

[DreamMachine]

A 25% paycut - can't see the pilots going for that. Sad though because ultimately there will be job losses. Pity people don't understand just how narrow the profit margins are in this industry - things are really, really bad and there are probably guys out there considering strike action.

Imagine if all the guys came up with ideas instead on how they could help save the company money and preserve its future. Surely that would be in the interests of all ?

Lets hope sense prevails and jobs can be saved.

[PAXboy]

Do we have any up to date news on this?

Did some folks get 'parked'?

[Charliev]

So What's the gaff that I hear about Transnet now putting in an offer to buy out Airlink and integrating them with SAX with all this uncertainty prevailing?

[WildFrequency]

A number of pilots, both captains and first officers today received letters in their pigeonholes at Johannesburg operations saying that from the 11 March 2002 they will be put on unpaid leave (furlough) for 6 months, with the option of extending this period by another 6 months. It appears that this selection of crew was done without any due regard to the pilots seniority list, a number of the pilots concerned have seniority numbers in the forties and fifties, Airlink employs approx 120 pilots! The Airlinks Pilots Association will challenge the company on its rather rapid decision, we wait anxiously to see the outcome. Hopefully this situation can be resolved amicably.

[slapfaan]

NOT the first time that old "Dodgy-Rogy Forster" is pushing his luck with the pilots....

Are there any names available of these individuals who received letters?

Heard from Adelaide that the SAA cadets,who finished their training recently, were told that they will not be joining Link at this stage,but that 'couple of them will go to Rossair (poor guys!).

Any news on the merger with SAX?

Hope that the Link pilot's union will sort this out like they did before with other issues,good luck....

[WildFrequency]

Been a public forum names will not be mentioned. From what I can gather 7 captains have received letters and I know of 3 first officers so far, pretty sure there are more though.

The cadet issue is correct, they will be split between SAX and Rossair when they return from Adelaide.

The merger between SAX and Link has been delayed somewhat due to difficulty in ironing out the differences between the various parties concerned. I don't think we are going to see much action on the proposed merger at the moment.

[Three Holer]

This is going to be a tough time for the Link guys. But if the story about seniority list is true then this is going to be a bit of a integraty test for the guys still flying. . .. .If this is way Link in managed then no one must wonder why the SAX guys don't want to merge.

[The Claw]

Lastest news is that 20 pilots are to be placed on furlough and three "Wetdreams" are to be withdrawn from service. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" />

[beechbum]

This is the latest.....17 pilots are to be retrenched or furloughed as of 11 March 02. Options of either voluntary furlough or mandatory retrenchment the choice is given. All 7 Capt's involved will be demoted to SFO's as of Monday!!! Again you can decline that option and take the above mentioned.Seems as if APA sold the pilots down the river again!!! Management has the upper hand and the association has been put into disarray again. The likes of Dodgy Foster and co must be laughing all the way!!!! Mangement 1 and Pilots 0!!!!!! Its sad how we as crew get manipulated by certain individuals that make all the wrong decisions. Order 30 shiny jets - if it doesn't work - get rid of the pilots. What about management? - should they not be accountable for this. Ahhhhh but again they just blame it on September 11. Hooray for Osamah!!!!!just blame it on him. Quite an emotional scenario as a few good guys and gals will end up on the street.So what the industry was waiting to see has turned into a farce as the Union has buckled to management pressure.. .What can I say.......!!!!The union was granted massive support from the Executive commitee both morally and financially. Have Alpa and the rest turned their backs on APA?, Now that this has happened. Only time will tell. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="frown.gif" /> . .Good luck to all involved and I'm sorry but huge big tofees to all SA Airlink management......you couldn't organise a pissup in a brewery. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" /> . .But then again just blame it on Sept 11!!!!!!!! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="tongue.gif" />. . . . <small>[ 09 March 2002, 13:16: Message edited by: beechbum ]</small>

[FREIGHTMAN]

Beechbum, your viewpoint is a little skewed. If you think that Sept 11th was a non-event for the aviation industry, then you're simply very naive.. .. .The purchase of the new shiny jets was an exciting event for aviation in South Africa and many stood to benefit. There is no way that the events of Sept 11th could have been predicted, nor the fall of the Rand.. .. .**** happens bro and we all have to deal with the consequences. To imagine for one moment that everything could continue on nicely (happily ever after)is really stupid !. .. .Sounds to me like the guys from APA used their brains and common sense. A costly court battle, possible work stoppages and all that **** cannot be good for anyone. The guys need to work together to find solutions that work for everyone in these trying times.. .. .You are possibly affected negatively by the furlough situation which explains your radical view. Many of us feel for you but rather than throwing your toys out of your cot - get proactive and start looking for some contract or charter work (believe it or not, there is work out there for those prepared to break out of their comfort zones).. .. .Keep your chin up and do things that add value.. .Good luck !!

[beechbum]

MrFreightman, In no way am I totally naive into the events that occurred on Sept 11 and the effect that this had on the industry as a whole. The problem at Airlink stems beyond those said events. I'm not sure if you are previously from these shores but this is not Europe. If you order 30 or so brand new jets have the sense to have something in place in order that they may have routes to fly. We all know for those of us that live on this dark continent that it is savaged by war famine and massive corruption. To expect a neighbouring country to allow a fancy ERJ 135 to waltz across your borders is something that is not easily done in this part of the world.The result is that two of these beasts have been sitting on the ground for months costing the company an absolute fortune.So in order for them to work now - jetstreams are to be sold, leased out, scrapped or whatever they can do with the things. . .The term poor planning = poor performance springs to mind here.. .Problems in SA not only stem from Sept 11 but also from the events occurring across our borders - and that SA is an emerging market, which being like Argentina tends to suffer on the curency market. So for my viewpoint to be skewed, I don't think so - there are a multitiude of reasons here but management seems only to shove one in our faces. I could write reems and reems on this topic as to why it is such an emotive issue that you Freightman are probably not even aware of. Oh by the way I am not on the furlough list(which is not in our recognition agreement also by the way). I cannot see how someone sitting in Wales of all places can even gather to understand the problems that the Airlink pilots have had with management recently. As I mentioned in my previous posting APA had the support of ALPA - SA and EXCO both financially and morally. In their eyes they felt we had a fantastic case against Ailink management and if it meant a costly court battle well we had the necessary clout for it.. .As I said I could go on forever. But this is an emotional issue and I think enough is said.Anyway you contine mr Freightman and spare a thought for those guys and gals involved, cos I certainly will!!!!!!!. .Oh yes - try and get all the facts in connection with this issue and then we'll talk. You seem to have some insight or connection somewhere so ask him or her for the facts.....just the facts.

[Skaz]

hear hear, thats telling 'im beechbum!. .. .come live & work in Africa & I'm sure youre point of view will become quite different & just as 'subjective & emotional' as ours, freightman

[pie rat]

news is that Airlink has acquired a 40% share in the new Air Namibia ?! I thought Airlink does not have money / cashflow ?? Someone care to enlighten this confused pilot??

[DreamMachine]

Beechbum, I live here in SA and am right in the thick of things with everyone else. I still beleive that a protracted court battle would not create a win-win situation. Down the line people will realise that the guys who struck the deal with management actually saved everyone a great deal of stress and anguish.. .. .Its true that the deal certainly didn't suit everyone, but look at the big picture. There are major things happening with regards to the future of regional airline travel (merger talks etc). Also, talk now of Air Namibia being involved. I am certain that before too long, all will be revealed in terms of the way forward.. .. .Spending all that dosh to take on Airlink Management now is not a good move. The guys need to focus on building a future and being more positive. . .. .I guess what I'm trying to say is, we need to weight up the benefit of the court battle against the deal that was struck. Would things have been different - maybe say the legal people....but not definitely........there is just so much more to be gained from working together !. .. .Luckily we are all able to have a point of view and for my part - I'm happy with what the guys did and perhaps down the line.....many more will realise that.

[Skaz]

Thats right, how does Airlink manage to round up the dough to buy 40% of Air NAm if they are laying off pilots? . .. .This Roger Foster dude looks like a bit of a schemer, Airlink crews dont seem to trust him, now he's got the biggest share in Air Nam. What is in store for the guys in Air Nam, now that its 'flying into clean air' as the newspapers put it. Unpaid leave, retrencment.... .. .Any Link okes out there, please air your views, you have had first hand experience of Link management.... .. .This might be a very good thing for Air Namibia, starting off on a clean page.But the same people who f&^*% up Air Nam are still there, lazing about with their feet on the desk. Some serious 'downsizing' or 'rightsizing' will have to take place before that company is turned around.At least some of the new boardmembers are not complete idiots like the last bunch.