It wasn't a secret. The sick leave arbitration happened over a year ago (5 Jul 16). The arbitration is a good thing and better than what we had. The recent news item on PFC is the company saying how they are going to implement the sick note process that was outlined in the grievance settlement that was published a year ago. I can imagine that the Union didn't get a heads up on this. I don't think it's the Union's fault that the company didn't consult them before publishing this email. If you haven't read the settlement, do so and see that this was an improvement from the BM days of sick leave witch hunts. In fact, I haven't heard of anyone getting asked for a note since the settlement came out. I've called in sick a couple times since then, once in the field, and haven't been asked for a note. Haven't even heard a peep except for the Crew Notification saying that I may be entitled to FMLA leave.

Maybe I'm just a sheep, but the thing that everyone is gnashing their teeth about with the doctor's note is so far down on the flowchart to get there, I'm not too concerned. I call in sick when I'm sick, any perceived threat that they are going to recode my trip from SCK to DRP doesn't change my obligation to myself and my fellow coworkers to not report to work when I'm sick.