Originally Posted by
PBSG
First off - Work the system? For XJT Bidding you look at what line you want, type in to a box and hit 'Submit'. Awarded in seniority order. Most of us at XJT feel that PBS is very fragile and sensitive when trying to get a decent line, and besides PBS could be the absolute best system out there - I'm not disagreeing one way or another - But from a technology standpoint most guys on the XJT side do not feel the company can successfully pull it off. IT-wise we've had so many failures in the past number of years, that if they want PBS they need a HUGE upgrade on the IT side.
I hate this statement. Might as well say "Well guys, everyone else has it so we need it too. Gotta be cost competitive."
It's really no different here, our open time becomes free for all on the 1st of the month and I 'work the system' so to speak to get my weekends off.
As for my last statement, I think context is important - what happens if the company demands PBS and the pilot group says absolutely not. How will it look to the NTSB or a mediator if PBS is industry standard but we refuse?
How much open time do you guys have (hours) once your trips are awarded? I thought your system completes the trip awarding process with as minimal amount of open time as possible. With our ILIW, it's first come first served with hundreds of hours in open time. Do you have positive coverage in order to drop trips? Do you have bad day worse day trades? Are there any day trips or two day trips in open time? I'm not talking about pilots' advertised trips by the way.
As for your last statement, who cares what the mediator says? He can't force us to accept something from management we don't want, like completely getting rid of vacation low, for example.