Furloughs Delayed by a Month
ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines says it will delay the start of furloughs for
its pilots by a month.
Last month, Delta CEO Ed Bastian said in an internal memo that
the company would furlough nearly 2,000 pilots on Oct. 1
following a big decline in travel during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a new communication, Bastian said that through
negotiations, Delta and the pilots' union were able to come to an
agreement that
reduced the amount of pilots being furloughed by 220. Also part of the
agreement was that furloughs won’t start until Nov. 1.
“We had an enormous
response to the enhanced early retirement and departure packages that were
offered this summer, with 20 percent of our people choosing voluntary exits.
While it is difficult to see so many of our colleagues leave, every one of
those departures helped save Delta jobs,” Bastian said in his latest memo. “We
stand with our industry colleagues in support of an extension of the CARES Act,
which would protect airline industry jobs, including the Delta pilots facing
furloughs. While I’m hopeful that an agreement on an extension can be reached,
the deal on a broader stimulus plan – in which the extension would be included
- looks uncertain. We will continue to work with members of Congress and the
Administration on a solution.”
Also in the memo, Bastian said Delta will avoid all involuntary
furloughs for ground and flight attendant employees.
“Avoiding involuntary furloughs in this unprecedented
environment is entirely due to the innovation, hard work and shared sacrifice
of our people,” the memo said.
Delta
started the year with about 90,000 employees but has cut its payroll
by about 19,000 through early retirements and buyouts.
It has also asked employees to take voluntary unpaid leave, with more
than 40,000 taking leave ranging from a month to a year.
Bastian said, "It’s important to remember that we are still
in a grim economic situation.
“Even when a vaccine is developed and distributed, it will take
time for business travel to come back, because of the damage that’s been done
to the global economy,” he wrote. “It’s clear the recovery will still be long
and choppy.”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributed to this article.
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Bob Pike pike180@gmail.com
Hidden Benefits for Veterans that might be useful to some on your
list. It references J.J. Montanaro, a financial planner with USAA who
is the son of an old Navy buddy. I'm sure he would be a great source
for anyone who needs more information. Go to
https://my.kiplinger.com/pdf/krr/index.php?file=KRR2017_06.pdf#Top
and scroll to page 16.
Bob Pike
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