Stick:
A major part of management's restructuring plan, agreed to by all labor groups, is a systematic dismantling of labor pay and work rules, which will reduce the corporate labor expense more towards that of the low cost competitors. In my opinion, US management is creating a contingent work force within the employee groups that is defined as contingent workers who are: Consultants, Part Time Employees, Contractors, Temps, and Express employees.
For example, for the Agents there is the Mainline/Express job classification where up to 2 daily flights into Express cities where Express agents from other companies will do the mainline work. Another example is up to four daily flights can be operated into a new city without giving those jobs to mainline employees, giving those jobs to contractors.
Therefore, it would not surprise me to see mainline aircraft return in the PHL - Canadian markets, especially with Air Canada is extreme difficulty.
In addition, another city where the company could eliminate mainline flights, temporarily place Express flights in the market, and then return mainline aircraft to the market is ATL to the hubs.
Obviously, this is not good for those employees effected, but is permitted per the restructuring agreements.
Regards,
Chip
