CP Dude:
First off I ain't no newbie by a long stretch.
Secondly I did not say that those were actual numbers. What I was trying to point out (albeit rather poorly) is that 4% of our pilots being fired IS ALOT. To furlough 4% UAL is looking at 300+ pilots. It would have to be another 9/11 for it to be that bad at every major in the US. With the US economy forecast for moderate growth this year I do not see any signiificant recession on the horizon either.
So which is more likely ? Further industrial strife here or massive terrorist action within the US ? ....hmmmm
So please spare me the retoric about untruths. Speaking of untruths get your facts about the 49ers straight. All were offered a CHANCE to come back, in return for giving up the law suits. As a group they said no, we (the AOA) then forced the deal on them. Then the co. chose a few they liked and turned down those they did not. I have friends who wanted to come back and were not accepted. ALOT worse than furlough, as the emotional stress is considerably higher.
Since I joined I have seen 4 captains fired, 6 Fos fired, and 3 Sos fired. I have also seen 4 Captains demoted and alot of FOs catb'd. All of these things must be factored against the risk of being furloughed. These are just the ones I know about. I am sure there are more. I would rather be furloughed after 10 years than fired, or so fed up that you quit anyway. It results in the same thing -looking for work-. Only difference is while you are employed, the enjoyment factor in a US major is got to be better than here. Greenish brown grass or not.
FG