Tue, Dec 29, 2009
Alaska Pilots Raise Funds, Distribute Checks to
Furloughees
T'is the season... as ALPA tells us that Alaska Airlines’
furloughed pilots recently received a holiday gift from their
fellow pilots in the form of a check. In a little more than a
month, Alaska Airlines’ pilots—joined by some of Alaska
Airlines’ crew schedulers and planners and
management—contributed $24,000 to the Furloughed Pilots
Christmas Fund, the brainchild of Alaska First Officers Will
McQuillen and Nate Chilman, who both were furloughed from a
different carrier prior to coming to work at Alaska.
When it began collecting funds in November, the Fund set a goal
to raise enough to send every furloughed pilot $100. Instead, an
overwhelming outpouring of support contributed enough to send more
than twice that, or just over $230, to 103 of the 106 furloughed
pilots. Three furloughed pilots who have found new jobs contacted
the MEC and asked not to receive any of the money, requesting
instead that their share be distributed among the other pilots on
furlough.
“Our hope is that this gift will help make the holidays a
little brighter for our fellow pilots and their families and will
remind them that they remain in our hearts and minds as we enter
the new year,” said Alaska furlough coordinator F/O Jeff
Browand.
This is a tough business... one that has lost much of its luster
over the last few years... but this sure proves that the spirit of
kinship among aviators is alive and well. Good for Alaska's
pilots...
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