Originally Posted by
HighFlight
I agree with you that the annual bid will be a lose-lose scenario. Hell, neither the company nor the union can tell us how it’s going to work, and it’s right around the corner.
So what happens if I bid for a new aircraft & base, but it’s not available to me in August, but 5 months later, there is a need for that acft and base. Does my August bid stand? Can the company assign it to a NH (shouldn’t be able to, until everyone on property has a chance to get it). How will they fill it, without a supplemental bid?
Think about it like there will be no supplemental bids (far-fetched, I know, but bear with me a minute). Can the company predict who, what, and where they will need every pilot for the next year? I just cannot see them being able to do that. Attrition alone would prevent it, and we don’t really have much attrition here.
The concept of trying to forecast pilots for a year out is beyond the ability of JB, IMO. And probably ANY airline. Why not just have bids every two months? If a pilot who is bidding a new base comes over with a vacation date that conflicts with the current base dynamic of leaves assigned, then said pilot just has to adjust that vacation, or give up his bid. Many different ways to skin this cat, but I think less bid cycles will make things worse. More may not be much better, but better than one bid cycle. 6-12 bids a year would allow more flexibility and put people where they want to be (read: happier employees) sooner.
And to add to your examples above, what if Pilot Yeager bids for an aircraft swap into base XYZ. Base is available in August, but not acft. So pilot is denied the swap. But the following month, 3 pilots in that new acft and base quit, leaving holes. Does Pilot Yeager now get to fill one of those holes automatically? Or does (s)he have to wait until the next annual (11 months out) or supplemental bid (assuming one happens)?
Too many unknowns. And I’m not saying this annual bid WILL be worse for us, but I certainly do not see how it can be better for either JB or the group.
I agree, less bids sucks for us. But you said if a pilot bids a new base and that Vaca isn't available, he needs to adjust or **lose** his vacation... That is specifically against the CBA language and THE EXACT reason we have this annual bid. I think some of you guys just aren't getting that simple fact. Keeping your vacation, to comply with the CBA, is THE reason for the annual bid. Will the company dork it up? Yep. But as I explained above, this is what they demanded in exchange for pilots keeping their awarded vacation.
And stop worrying about whether the company can plan a year in advance. They can and will use supplemental bids. They will put out a "minimal" annual bid, and supplement as needed throughout the year.
You do raise good points, as does Navy, but it is what it is!