Ok, here is my morning manifesto and hope for the new contract.

This "soft parameter" /DP ordeal is crazy. We obviously have too many independent contractors out there that gladly pickup these trips. The union has not/will not(?) turn up the heat on the guys that do this. Possibly they cannot due to fear of litigation?

1. In the next contract, this is my hope. The whole process goes away. We move to hard parameters, i.e. the trip is either good or it's not. If it's not, it doesn't get built. Period. End of story. The flexibility that the soft parameters offers seem to benefit the company a lot more than it benefits the crew. ESPECIALLY when we have enough dolts out there that can't keep their grubby hands off of the DPs.

No disputed pairings, no more having to spend time tracking the bozos that fly them, no more having to worry about getting them on reserve, no more getting them on your line three months later (thanks DP flyers!). Then we can move back onto something worthwhile, like complaining about the scooby snacks or the latest puppet tales (or is it tails?).

2. IN THE MEANTIME....I say we take it underground and turn up the heat on the offenders. I like the idea of the DP Flyer Circular. Omit the guys that get them on reserve, super/extra/double fact check the names and pairings and put that sucker out in the crewroom. Something simple like:

"Here is the list of Independent Contractors that flew Disputed Pairings for the month of_______. Please thank them next time you see them on your jumpseat or in the crewlounge."

Haz...out.

 

Haz,

I think your post is right on.

However, I think that there should be a baseball bat, or crowbar, attached to each of the circulars.

 

Bravo on point 1. Point 2 is great though it will not change anything. IMHO, there 3 type of DP flyers. One, the selfish who care about nobody but themselves. Two, those who see an opportunity to better there schedule. The reality is the DPs are normally OK trips until later when the company yanks away the long layovers and DHs. Three, those who feel that the pairing meets the hard parameters in the contract and ask why is a pairing disputed in the first place. Creating a DP flyer circular is a great idea and will take considerable work on someones part to keep it accurate with drops, trades, etc. The flip side is once these names are on the marquee, what little inhibition these people have to pickup DPs will evaporate, because then what difference does it make.

 

My thought on the flyer would that it be put out the month after the trip is flown. That way accuracy can be assured. I don't think it will stop the flying, but there will be enough guys that don't want their names in lights OR it will force some conveniently ignorant folks to get educated.

 

At first glance, yes.

But if you stop doin' DPs you will get recognized as someone who has come around. I know a few guys in that boat. They have fully recovered.

 

Needed to trip trade in April open time to accommodate out of town visitors however every workable option was a DP. Guess my only options now are to drop trips or have an eye problem. I strongly support DP discipline even if it affects my quality of life. I know some members mistakenly pick up a DP due to lack of attention to detail since there are so many DPs and some are kind of "sleeper DPs". However the DP discipline displayed by the large majority of pilots now makes it even more lucrative for the DP abusers who can slop up more DPs at the trough. If they want to fly DPs they should bid reserve. I support a monthly list. If I screw up and pick up a DP then I deserve a DP brand on my forehead. Support your fellow flyers and the SIG. JMHO

 

posted my union conversation in FDX disputed pairing thread.

 

Increase the percentage of line checks on more of these disputed pairings. The threat of a line check will deter a huge percentage from picking up these pairings in open time.

 

C'mon.. think this through... The union doesn't pick line checks, the company does. The company WANTS their DPs flown, and they're not going to do ANYTHING to discourage someone from flying DPs.

THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET

It's up to you, and me, and the rest of the line pilots (and not the uniuon leadership) to confront our peers and educate them to the DP process, and why what they're doing is detrimental to the crew force. Period. It's a tedoius process, but the only one available to us under the RLA.

 

and why does union leadershop no have a role in this?