Island Air pilots were thrilled to receive $4, 000 on Christmas bonuses, but now the airline wants them back, according to the Daily Journal. Larry Ellison owns the airline and wants the money returned because they were erroneously paid out in October, a bit too early. For billionaire Ellison, it’s pocket change, a mere $180, 000. Nevertheless, the money will be taken out of their salaries for the next four months.
The bonuses were paid 30 days before the delivery of new planes, and before a financial analysis of the company was made with the arrival of new CEO Dave Pflieger. Once the fleet is in place, the pilots have been told they can have their bonuses back in the summer.
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Logically, the pilots’ union in a letter stated what is the point of returning bonuses if they are going to be repaid anyway?
The union stated, “The bookeeping, the tax complications, plus the waste of staff and time simply do not justify recovery of monies today just to repay in a short period.”
To add insult to injury, the 5% pay increase to the pilots will be delayed due to the aircraft delivery.
So much for friendly skies.
