Busboy

Just the Tiger guys, I guess. Right, Tuck?

Ref:

http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/ca...tml#post413975

Gunter

A management type probably earned an award after instituting this plan and showing how much money it saved

FDXLAG

Thats wrong, maybe if we all banded together we could form an organization to talk to management for us and try to improve our working conditions.

Since we don't have such an organization, I would recommend reserve guys calling sick in the field a couple of times.

But seriously, if what you say is true even our contract enforcement could win this one. Not using someone on first fly is a contract violation. Maybe an easy one can give them some back bone.

Gunter

In all seriousness--I think the availability of the crewmember is a player.

If you only have a couple of days left, the scheduler will want to use you for a 1-2 trip. If you have 5-7 days left, they may want to wait and see if a long trip needs filling. I don't know if the contract specifically addresses this possibility.

FDXLAG

It the example cited, going through 5 bodies my guess is one of them had similar a footprint to the guy on first fly. Should be easy to check out. If so the company loses. Unless we don't grieve within 60 days and DT can use that excuse again.

I have no problem with the company fixing the reserve leveling gimicks. But they should have to negotiate , not grease the rules.

Piloto Noche

There are a lot of times when a pilot may not be "sick" but is still not fit to fly. We have that one dork, loser of an ACP who has been called the sick Nazi because he is so hard over on guys not using sick time unless they are what he considers sick. (Not sure if he's still an ACP or not)
If your kids are sick, your parents are ill, your wife is injured etc., you may not be fit to fly.
I would like to see the language changed to "personal time".

hyperone

LIFIZGUD, and anyone else who have had scheduling pull these kind of reserve assignment stunts, below are the relevant sections of the contract. It is the kind of scheduling games you described, that the following sections of the contract are supposed to protect us from.

SECTION 14
SICK LEAVE

c. Reserve Pilots
The following shall apply to a reserve pilot who calls in sick for an R-day(s) or a reserve assignment:

iii. A reserve pilot on sick leave shall be assigned open time as if he were not on sick leave (Section 25.G.3. Open Time Assignment and Section 25.M.6. Reserve Assignment Options). A reserve pilot will maintain his leveling position on the reserve list, and the scheduled credit hours for any trips he is assigned and removed as sick will be credited toward his RLG and deducted from his sick bank. Commencing at 0900 LBT each day, a reserve pilot with an assignment(s) having a showtime during the next day shall be removed for sick leave and such assignment be available for open time assignment by CRS.

SECTION 25
SCHEDULING

M. Reserve
6. Reserve Assignment Options
Reserve assignments shall be made as follows:
a. Trips in excess of 50 hours TAFB may be assigned based upon the maximum utilization of available R-days. "First fly" elections shall be given priority consideration in the assignment of those trips.
b. Other reserve assignments shall be made in leveling order as follows:
i. The reserve pilot with the lowest leveling position within the RP (and sufficient R-days to perform the assignment) shall be assigned first (i.e., a pilot will not be skipped to optimize the use of another pilot’s reserve days remaining, except as provided in Section 25.M.6.a).
ii. If two or more pilots have the same leveling position, assignments shall be made in reverse seniority order.
iii. A reserve pilot shall be given the reserve assignment with the highest credit hour value for which he is legal at the time of assignment.
c. Notwithstanding Section 25.M.6.b., (leveling order):
i. Reserves who elected the "first fly" option as provided in Section 25.M.4. (above), shall be assigned in seniority order, prior to pilots who have not elected that option, until they have accrued 75% of RLG. A "first fly" reserve pilot who has met or exceeded 75% of RLG shall
thereafter be assigned without regard to "first fly." The 75% limitation shall not apply to R-days that are part of a mini-RLG.
ii. The Company may assign a reserve outside of leveling order to satisfy FAR minimum block hour requirements following training for a new crew position, and pilot proficiency requirements.

If you, or other guys you know of, have been assigned out of the leveling order described above, then you need to contact the Contract Enforcement office. This should be a no-brainer, even for our C.E. office.

whitekeys

I've only had to call in sick a couple times and for real stuff. How does the company normally respond if you have to call in sick when and/or after you're assigned for a trip. Do they question it more?

Gunter

I have never called in sick close to show. Never on reserve. Until something bad happens to me, I would like to have a good working relationship with the company on this issue.

But if folks have solid evidence that their early sick calls on reserve are being punished with an improper assignment just to burn their sick time, it's time for these individuals to take the gloves off. (Hockey reference)

To answer your question, I don't know.

FR8Hauler

If you are sick, you are sick. Don't worry about it. If they call you, go to your doctor tell him you feel like crap and get a note. Simple as that. The company does not expect you to fly ill.