Originally Posted by
NK Bumble Bee
Ramrod: You know the pilots are not going to allow PBS, so how would you like to handle transition. If you happen to bid of days off and results in you working 6 days and losing credit for the parts you can't fly would you be cool with that? My guess is you would be happy to accept the current conflict language conflict. Soft time is a reality in the industry, and you are not doing anything wrong by abiding by the contract that company had agreed on. If you don't want to go after it no worries, but I don't see it going away.
PBS is the kiss of death. They could offer $300/hr across the board and I'd vote NO.
How would I handle the transition? Pay me enough on my hourly rate to offset lost credit in transition-plus a raise. Then I'd be cool with it. Maybe take those who bid conflicts and give them priority in IOT..? I'm not sure how other airlines who bid regular schedules do it..
Would I be happy to accept the current conflict language? Yes.
The problem I have with it is this: There is already a large disparity in pay as you move up in longevity based on hourly rates. The very senior are able to bid conflicts AND get the days off they want. Then pick up over their dropped trip and make even more resulting in an even larger gap in earnings. Then you have the people in the middle of the seniority list who can get a conflict most months but don't because they need certain days off and don't want to take the risk in IOT or DOT and end up having to work on their anniversary or kids birthday. I choose most months to get the guaranteed days off in my monthly bid. Then there are those at the bottom who have trouble getting either one of the above scenarios. I feel that, for most, the language is somewhat restrictive unless you are at the top of the seniority list. For the record: I think your schedules and pay should get better with seniority.
I have been in this industry for long enough to know that soft time is a reality. I'd like to see increased rigs on top of it. At least that will force the company to make more productive schedules.
I agree we are not doing anything wrong by abiding by the contract. See my post above.
I'm not sure if transition conflict will go away. What I am sure of, is that if it does, it had better be for something better for the group as a whole.