Originally Posted by
Pakagecheck
Pin,
I hope you are right. I originally read it your way and think that is the original intention. But, I know more than a few that didn't have the same success that you did. I hope the Union intercedes and holds the company's feet to the fire. Unfortunately, I am pessimistic.
I understand your pessimism. The pilots need to hold the company's feet to the contract. The Union can only intercede (i.e. support a grievance) if the pilot was harmed. Saying you agreed to fly even though you were tired is not harming the pilot. Forcing the pilot to use hours from his sick and disability bank or removing him from the remainder of the trip without pay is harming the pilot.
If the DO told me I had to fly to 16 hours because he told me to, I would point him to the section of the contract that states;
... Depending on the pilot's situation and the Duty Officer's assessment,
one of the following alternatives shall be enlisted to address the issue:
(a) The pilot's duty may be revised to include some alternative duty that is at or within operational limits; or
(b) The pilot may be given a legal rest period.
If the DO still refuses, then I wouldn't hesitate to use fatigue and then grieve it with the union.