This recall really baffles me. Everyone that was out the last 8 months was already out the last 8 months. That is a sunk cost.
The facts:
- The virus is quite literally raging out of control nationwide.
- There are several promising vaccines that will likely be delivered to our workforce as soon as first responders and high risk receive them. So, likely by the end of February
The options:
- Recall as many people as they can right now. Of course, this means more spread and more ATC-0 and more risk to everyone.
- Wait 3-4 months, get everyone that wants a vaccination a vaccination, then get everyone back to work. Of course, this limits the risk to the NAS and to the workforce.
I just really can't see the logic that lead to option 1. I know someone is going to throw out the RIF arguments, but there is absolutely no evidence of that. Further, RIFs require a process that would likely stretch out past the timeframe to get a vaccine. Meanwhile, they are still hiring. Even the FAA knows an appeal to a termination based upon a RIF when they are hiring for the same position is going to be overturned. So, even if you have your tin hat on, lets just say it wasn't to avoid RIFs. Something else was at play here.