I think minimum implies the lowest downside of 48, but it wouldn't make sense that you could go somewhere in between or they'd just lower it by 3 hours and furlough. There is no protection in the language if you can stop anywhere between BLG and a min of 48/60.

 

You're correct... there is no protection with this clause. The clause specifies a minimum but no maximum. We've long operated with the current minimum BLG, and no bidpack BLG anywhere near that minimum. Only now are we seeing BLGs that are down to the minimum.

This contract allows the company to merely announce a minimum BLG reduction, "to prevent furloughs", then they can write bidpacks with whatever BLG they want above that minimum... no need to even be below 60. What we need is a BLG cap before furlough, but unfortunately, that's not what we negotiated.

If I'm misreading the contract, will someone point out the language that restricts the company to some maximum (e.g. 60) once they've lowered the minimum to 48?

 

The Company may, at its option, elect to avoid or mitigate a furlough by offering pilots or a specific group of pilots (using age or seniority, unless the Association consents to an alternate selection criteria) voluntary early retirement and/or severance package. If made to a specific group of pilots, any offer shall be made on a uniform and non-discriminatory basis. The Company shall notify, meet and consult with the Association prior to making any offer pursuant to this paragraph.

 

There is a BLG cap. It is the 13 hr spread. The spread used to be smaller but was raised in the last contract.

If utilized, the schedule would have some lines at or near 48/60 if the BLG goes down per the clause. Assuming it won't is a level of paranoia even I haven't succumbed to yet.

Company bubbas construct the pairings. Union bubbas build the lines. This is spelled out in the contract. I don't think the company can force the union bubbas to build fewer lines in this instance by "directing" them to build closer to 61/73 (48/60 + 13 hrs). There are ways to make some of the pairings for the two departure lines above 48/60 but most lines will still be well below the 13 hr spread. Look at some older bid packs and you will see very few reach the high side. The average is always somewhere in the middle.

So the worst case, as I see it, is the middle of the spread for an average--54/66. 58 hrs is pretty close and not too far away (6-8 hrs or so) from where we are right now in the Boeing.

 

Of course this spread is per bid pack. So we could have the MEM -11 at 48 min with a 61 hour max and ANC -11 at 60 min and 73 max. Some more language that needs to be tightened.

 

Lets clarify the terms here: The contract specifies a MINIMUM BLG, currently 68 hours in a 4 week bidmonth. The bidpacks are built with High Line credits and Low Line credits. Low Line credit is not the same as minimum BLG. There is a requirement that the High line credit be within 13 hours of the Low line credit, but nothing that specifies that the Low Line credit must be built to or even near the minimum BLG - it just has to be above it. Nothing prevents the company from declaring a reduction in MINIMUM BLG to 48 in a 4 week month, furloughing a month later, then having enough flying for the reduced crew force that the low line credits are above 68.

This is the scenario that the richardcranium at the hubturn meeting was pushing for when he said to furlough the bottom 10% so that the 90% wouldn't have to take a reduction in BLG.

I'm not advocating that the company do that, nor do I think that they're likely to... I'm merely pointing out that should they choose to, this contract won't prevent them from doing so.

The only real cap on bidpack BLG we have in this contact, even with a reduced minimum BLG, is how much flying can be crammed in and still meet min days off and legal rest.

 

When it comes to decisions by the SIG/PSIT majority (commuters) rules! Even worse situation since they overlook 30-40% to favor 60-70%?????

 

Poor FatBoyCaptain, I'm finishing up a weekend in SYD as we speak. The Boy's birthday party was great. He tipped the scales at 224 and I was just under 170. I have the pictures to prove it. Just one more day to enjoy the best layover in our system.
The Boy is headed to DTW or some other exotic destination. I'm showing the F/O pictures of the Boy this afternoon. Hopefully he will report the ugly truth. I guess I could post some of the pictures but I don't want DomesticBoyCaptain to get mad. Noone likes the truth.

SIBA on the bus? When?
8 years on the MD I'll take any bet on countries visited.

 

i will no longer respond to your idiotic posts!

 

Lover's spat!! I actually think you two are brothers...you argue like em!