Originally Posted by
winglet
Mesa Pilot's;
Long before the acceptance of this contract it was made clear by some that PBS is only as good as the contract language that protects it. We are now feeling what it is like to live without strong contract language. Management's ability to use PBS as an "optimization tool" remains unchecked and believe me when I tell you that they aren't yet finished looking for "loop-holes".
This is exactly what many tried to warn about prior to the acceptance of this contract. We were all forewarned that this is exactly what would happen and I am amused at the shock and anger I witness as proponents of this contract discover that they have less control over their schedules than ever before. Perhaps they won't be so quick to accept a TA next time around?
With adequate staffing levels PBS is an excellent quality of life enhancer but adequate staffing was not protected in this contract. After only a couple of months of semi-quality schedules the company began the furlough process and introduced "unstacking". "Unstacking" is a euphemism for Junior Assignment. What sort of schedule "massaging" techniques does the company plan once PBS is permantently locked in? Trust me when I say that "unstacking" is only a "peek behind the curtain".
With no contract language protection the company simply ignores the pilot's bid and builds lines to cover the vast open time. I don't remember anyone mentioning "unstacking" during the road shows but some of us knew it would be a short period of time before a way was found to circumvent the intent of the contract. The company is now immensely happy with the benefit of having uninterrupted use of a schedule optimizer.
Unfortunately our current MEC and Negotiation Committee seem content. The only communications we hear from our MEC is either apologetic for the company, or self-congratulatory over a poorly written contract. Instead of providing excuses for the company I expect them to do what they were elected to do and provide and protect a strong labor contract.
This contract included a provision to vote it out by December if we weren't happy with it. By voting out PBS we would have to suffer a year of the former contract with concessions. Beginning December 2010 we would have to re-negotiate the few gains made on this current contract. I propose a strong message be sent to our MEC and our Management that we don't want PBS without a letter of agreement providing adequate staffing and PBS protection language against tactics such as "unstacking".
I for one am willing to risk losing the small gains made on this contract for adequate staffing language. If the company really wants to keep PBS (believe me, they do!) then they will agree to a LOA concerning "unstacking" and staffing. .
Prepare to learn that the MEC will not allow a pilot vote on the matter of the dis-continuation of PBS. Please get involved and contact the MEC and make it clear that you want an LOA concerning staffing and PBS language or you are willing to throw out this "furlough-optimization" contract and start fresh in December 2010.
Stay Strong "The 400"!
winglet
winglet you are right about that. Don't expect a chance given to the pilot group to vote on keeping PBS or not this Dec. They (the MEC) are affraid it will be voted out! However if they go infront of managemnet (who NEEDS PBS) and tell them that unstacking may lead to a loss of PBS, management will be forced to play ball. I voted against this horrible contract-one of the sticking points was tieing PBS to block or better and line gurantee. Did not the 418 see this coming? The MEC used the ol Jedi mind trick to pass this damn thing and the majority of pilots fell for it-again. Guess what-I predict the next TA passing also no matter what language is in it.
Blue skies and tailwinds-