Its more than that though. The TA significantly lowers the threshold where we are required to verify. Not only is it a reduction from 100 to 75 to 80ish hours (equivalent) but the removal of the ability to pre-verify prior to the threshold makes this a double whammy.
Now we will have to verify way sooner and way more often. As for compliance, its not just a matter of you are required to verify and you just say "nah nanny boo boo" and refuse to verify, just like refusing to show for a trip, etc. Its actually worse than that. You can make your best effort to verify, but if you can't find a doctor to "verify" you indeed had an upset stomach/headache/nausea/squirts/etc 3 days ago, which is completely unverifiable in the first place, then you can't verify, even if you try to verify.
So if you've already used your days for the rolling time period and you get something that you don't think can be verified, you better just drag yourself into work and tough it out because we're really trying to save money here.
Right or wrong, we all knew they were coming after sick useage. But this particular concession is deep and dangerous and is a flat out safety issue.
Are there abusers out there? I don't know, but supposedly the "big data" white paper crowd thinks so. OK, fine, perhaps there are some abusers. This is a drastic over reach that 100%
will result in ether pilots now flying sick for "grey area" illnesses they don't feel can be easily verified, or pilots ending up having to fight for their jobs because they couldn't verify something that isn't verifiable in the first place. Or both. Almost definately both.
And no "records check" is going to change that in the slightest.
This new policy will reduce sick usage, and will increase pilots flying sick while at the same time increasing disciplinary action against pilots, potential abusers and non abusers alike.
The rolling lookback and loss of ability to pre-verify were deep, radically over reaching concessions. Outside of bankruptcy. In the best negotiating climate in the history of the industry.
I get that we're suppose to value out the entire agreement and weigh everything and all that. But a poison pill is a poison pill. Some things are just not for sale. At any price.