May 19, 2010

Fellow pilots:

Yesterday, the company announced that it would furlough approximately 200 additional pilots as a result of Delta terminating its contract with MAG. The MEC has received several questions about the furlough process, and I would like to direct you to Section 17 of our contract. It clearly states that furloughs will be conducted in reverse seniority order in accordance with the MAG seniority list. We are one list, and the furloughs will be administered in reverse seniority order using that list.

This is nothing new. MAG furloughs have always been conducted in reverse seniority order, and we expect that the company will continue to run them as such. Under no circumstance will this MEC allow out of seniority furloughs.

Our job is to protect and defend our pilots’ rights. We do not run the company. Events are occurring rapidly, and there will likely be more challenges to come. We are monitoring the situation closely and evaluating all of our options. To that end, your MEC is working to preserve jobs and provide opportunities for furloughed pilots.

The MEC will soon approach the company with a furlough mitigation proposal in an effort to keep as many jobs here as possible. This would be a win-win situation for our pilots, our company, and our partners. We notified the company of our intent and will update you as those discussions progress.

Additionally, we are actively working with other ALPA carriers to develop preferential hiring agreements for MAG pilots. Several companies are either hiring now or soon will be, including AirTran, American Eagle, Colgan, Compass, and Delta. If you apply at another ALPA carrier, are an ALPA member in good standing, and you meet the minimum requirements at that company, email your elected reps and we will work with our MEC counterparts to get you a preferential interview.

Finally, furloughed ALPA members in good standing receive a free, one-year membership to FltOps.com—the airline pilot career information firm. Among other things, this membership allows you to take advantage of career counseling and discounts on interview/sim preps, job fairs, and résumé consultations.

In closing, I want to assure you that the MEC is doing everything within its power to further our cause. We will leave no stone unturned in our quest to save jobs, protect your seniority, defend your contract, and assist you during this difficult time. It’s up to you to stay informed and Get on the Bus!

In unity,