Originally Posted by
Dash8widget
I think you have it backwards - the ability to turn your phone off for 9 hours is derived from the fact that long call reserves have until 3 hours prior to report to acknowledge an assignment. Not the other way around. There is actually nothing in our PWA that specifically says you can be out of contact for 9 hours when on reserve.
Of course the end result is the same
And, per ALPA, your interpretation is essentially correct.
Then that is even worse for the company. Its far superior for scheduling if we are allowed to be out of contact for 9 hours and then need 10 hours after that versus waiting until 3 hours prior to acknowledge a trip and
then needing 10 hours rest, which would automatically drop the trip.
19 hour long call isn't as convenient as 12 for the company, but its infinitely superior for them than untouchable/automatic trip drop due to legality long call.
This is actually a huge opportunity for "constructive engagement" or whatever. Maybe we can compromise and codify a 15 hour long call with a 5 hour rolling "leash" for acknolwdgement and add an extra 15 minutes a day pay/credit for vacation. Either way, its up to us and our reps to negotiate for improvements on this. Letting the company put out its own helmet fire by lining through our contract and penciling in its most favorable fantasy interpretation is something we simply cannot allow.
There is ample opportunity to provide relief to the company to keep the operation running smoothly (provided they staff appropriately) while obtaining substantial QOL improvemenes for our reserves and remaining legal per the FAR's.