Originally Posted by
dtfl
Yep - and there are many reasons for increased usage of SLOA. FOr one - they track "days lost" vs trip days now so their #s are higher. We were flying higher ALVs and we are an older pilot force.
My wife and I discussed this last night (She is a former HR person). The Co wants to reduce costs but if you are sick you are sick. So how do they reduce "waste and abuse?" BAnk system? Yeah..how would we implement that? I am sure the NWS guys who lost hundreds or thousands in the merger would be happy to start over with a new bank system - not. So do we get 60 hours? Or do they prorate based upon years seniority? Or do they waste numerous man hours computing some formula based upon past SLOA to come up with a bank #? THose all suck in my book.
Reduce the unverified to 75 or 80 hours. That reduces 25% of your "abuse" - translate that into $ and move on.
I don't doubt that sick leave is costing them more money. But in my opinion, the main reason is, at least in my catagory 7ERB in DTW and NYC, they are so short, that every sick call has to be covered by a greenslip. Who's fault is that? Not mine. I didn't decide to put off hiring. I didn't decide not to backfill on the last 8 AE's. Marketing/Crew Resources dropped that ball. Now, because FO's in those bases have been rolling the thunder and making more than Captains everytime someone calls in sick, they want to change our sick time. I don't think so. Well I should say, "I hope not."
Unfortunately, our proactively engaged union seems more eager to help solve the company's self induced problems than they are in getting us the CBA that we deserve during the best environment in my lifetime.
Edit: I re-read my last statement and realized I've been buying into the forum hysteria a little too much. I hope the last 7-8 years of results aren't an indicator of future performance. This contract, in my opinion, is our last chance to really get a good working agreement before the next downturn. I know the industry has changed for the better but I don't think we will see an environment like this again in my lifetime. If we do I was wrong...which is good for us too, but I wish I felt like my union was really trying to capitalize on our current profitability to secure an outstanding contract now, but I don't.