Originally Posted by FixTheMess

To all Piedmont furloughees:

I am writing to you because your union reps as well as management have turned a blind eye to you. There are some of you who should no longer be on furlough due to contractual obligations that the company is not following.

SECTION 25 SCHEDULING:
C.2.a.

Hard lines of time shall, whenever possible, be constructed with between
seventy-five (75) hours of pay credit and eighty-five (85) hours of pay credit, including deadhead time. Hard lines of time shall be constructed with no more than ninety (90) hours of pay credit, including deadhead time.

Flight support has built lines to an average of 88-89 hrs credit for at least the past three months. (its probably been happening much longer.) 126 hard lines x 4 hrs over = 504 hours over. This equates to 6 more hard lines. Again, this is if they are maxing every hard line out to 85 hrs pay credit. If you add in the CA lines, that's 6 more upgrades, and 12 FO's brought back from furlough. I realize there is weak language such as "whenever possible." However, when all 252 pilot hard lines system wide are built over the 85 hrs month after month, our union has a strong case against the company for not adhering to the CBA. Building the majority of hard lines under 85 hrs is very much possible. The sole reason for the company over scheduling all the hard lines is to minimize pilot staffing, and cut cost. I completely understand this from a business standpoint. However, nowhere in 25.C.2.a does it say "hard lines may be scheduled over 85 hrs if it makes good business sense, and maximizes revenue. The intent of the section is to protect our jobs, and keep the company from working us to death.

I have personally brought this issue up to three different union reps on behalf of all of you that are furloughed, and I am not the only one. Each time, a careless attitude has been displayed. i.e. we're too busy with negotiations, that would take credit hrs away from all hard line holders, its been like that forever; I'm sorry, but those answers are selfish, and unacceptable. You furloughed brothers are without jobs, and getting you back to work should be a priority of your MEC.

I encourage all of you to call your union reps immediately. File a grievance.(which the MEC should have done long ago.).

Personally, I feel you all deserve an apology from management, and your MEC, as well as some back pay. This regular and accepted, practice of over-scheduling is as bad if not worse than individual pilots picking up extra open time during a time of furlough.

Best of luck to all of you, and I hope to see all that wish to return back here soon.