Originally Posted by
tsquare
Not really apples/oranges, but I completely understand what you are saying. I don't know what the deal is at CAL, but at DAL, if a trip is in open time, and no one takes it, it is inverse assigned... and it goes out at premium pay. This argument has been around this maypole ad nauseum at DAL, and I still maintain that unless ALL pilots are "penalized" for taking those trips... at least NOT REWARDED with premium pay, there is a propensity to dump on the senior guys for exercising those same contractual rights. It is a highly charged emotional issue. IF... there is empirical proof that senior guys taking those trips keep guys out on the street, I'm with you. You would need to show a lot of cancelled flights due to crew staffing. BUT... since this argument is mostly if not exclusively conjecture, I side with those exercising contractual rights. That includes those junior in each and every category that answer the phone to take those trips at assignment pay. Maybe.. what needs to happen is that when guys are furloughed.. NONE.. ZERO.. NUNCA... NOT ONE single trip is paid at anything other than straight pay.
TS,
It may seem like conjecture to you, but if I am guessing correctly it has been financially/emotionally harmful to those who are currently on furlough. To them it is a reality when someone "exercising their contractual rights" picks up open time while they are on the street. Please don't tell me you are one of those that thinks a furlough is all part of career development and builds character and all that.
We have a few who think that way at SWA but they will always be overruled.
Our numbers indicate we are overmanned by 250+ but management and every pilot that I have talked to recently would do what ever is necessary to keep all 250 on property until things turn around. I like to prefer to the current overmanning situation as preloaded.
The Oscar