Originally Posted by
TurboFanMan
We need to fix some reserve rules in our next contract. One that really disturbs me is the switching of reserve schedules. I totally understand getting called out and doing a trip and coming back and not aligning with your original reserve window. However, randomly calling people like clock work and switching them from A to B is ridiculous. Now again, I understand that there might be holes that need filled from time to time. This company has taken it to the extreme! You want B reserves on a regular basis, then put them in the da*m bid packet! Total hog wash. They abuse that absolute sh*t out of that loophole. We need to make them more accountable for that. There needs to be a quoted that once is met requires B’s on following months or something. Figure it out union guys. 😂
I have zero hope, unfortunately. Probably mostly harbored indifference/resentment from the last job. Another problem Skywest had: the old timers either never actually had reserve in either seat, or it was short enough and long enough ago they’d forgotten what it was like. Conversely, new guys sucked it up since it was the first job (or just wanted some PIC and bounce). Just like AA says they won’t waste negotiating capital on X or Y, and I feel like I hear rumblings of that here as well.
There’s a lot of leverage and I hope it’s utilized to refresh work rules across the board. Instead of resignation to just fix one or two things. The not-union at OO spent ages talking up negotiating points, a survey, even this big PowerPoint slides of the TA. The one the company pulled before everyone could vote no. A week later the company came back with a carbon copy of the current contract, but with a pay raise and DC 401k for the real senior folks. Passed with a 2/3 majority like spirit just did. A whole year of talking about being firm, negotiating, and basically just rolled over on the first vote because of some dollar signs.
I think reserve gets forgotten, at least back there it did. Whether they just truly had forgotten (likely) or just pulled the ladder up behind them so everyone else could pay their dues. Who knows. My hypothesis has always been if you could work out reserve rules that treated reserves as the actual occasional backup, rather than stretched thin and burned out with maxed out RAP and FDPs on every available reserve duty day, reserve could be appealing and probably would go senior. Another thing skywest was so adept at was somehow using you to the max duty each day, but somehow make it that your credit didn’t go over guarantee. So many reserve but also just general contract rules that made it so (limo 2:1 credit rig, only paying you leg credit, 2:1 ready reserve rig, countless ways).
Anyway end of rant. I know reserve is never idyllic, but everyone I’ve talked to echoes spooledup. Has its issues and occasional bad days, but not completely unbearable. I’ll suck it up for a month on reserve in LAS and then hopefully reserve in base isn’t bad starting in April.