Originally Posted by
deltajuliet
That’s not really accurate. It’s four easy words: “Sorry, I’m not available.” You can even dress it up as “I’d love to but my wife would kill me,” etc. Or don’t answer your phone (easiest option). ACARS is also not an official means of notification, but it doesn’t hurt to tell them the same thing over it.
Even when you pick up and talk to them, that code is rarely applied. When it is, it’s 100% meaningless. And if it really bothers you, go talk to your CP to have it removed.
Any further problems, talk with the union.
There seem to be two different scenarios. One is when they call you on a day off. I have answered the phone many times in those situations if I am truly available and willing, but sometimes what they have to offer falls outside my available time frame and I tell them exactly what you said (wife, etc...) No issues there, they know that you were nice enough to answer the phone while off duty. I'm not even sure if they are really trying to junior assign you when they call on a day off, or if they are simply asking for help.
However, when they get a hold of you on your last day of a trip, or when you are about to go home on day 5 of reserve, etc..., and they tell you "check your schedule, you are working tomorrow too," and you say "I'm not available" you will most likely get an UJR on your schedule. And I disagree whit the fact that it is a meaningless code, otherwise they will not use it at all. That code means that you don't want to help the company, so they probably won't help you either if you ever need help. Not to mention that I have heard cases in which the company easily turned a UJR into an UFW. I'm also very skeptical as to how far can the Union go to help.