Originally Posted by
HSLD
This reminds me of summer of 2000 when there were allegations of an organized job action. It was BS then, just like it's BS today. Pilots aren't doing anything except making the individual decision to fly their contract, and the system is imploding around the edges due to inadequate staffing models. When the contract includes language like "voluntary" and "at the pilot's option" it doesn't take a labor union for individual pilots to determine what goodwill looks like.
You are absolutely correct. As one that worked for the SSC both during "summer of love" and then the operational meltdown prior to UAL recall (another summer), the company was advised (not as a threat and at least 6 months prior) on numerous occasions that their "plan" was flawed based on the number of pilots on property. They were making assumptions that REQUIRED pilot goodwill outside the requirements of the contract (and well outside historical averages) to work. Both times were not conducive to most pilots feeling any type of goodwill whatsoever.
As to pilots calling in sick, they're sick. The company's lack of adequate manning caused the cancellations and is not ALPA's fault. Pilots are mandated not to fly if they are in anyway incapacitated to the extent they cannot fly safely. As we all know, that mandate comes from the FAR's.
Perhaps it's time for ALPA to start throwing out some numbers regarding manning vice block hour, etc. Might find some type of correlation to the cause of the issue and elevate the fact that fatigue is a safety issue as well as a precursor to being more susceptible to illness through a reduced immune system function.
Frats,
Lee