PSIT got fired last night.
01-07-2009 | 09:01 AM
#11
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: MD-11 Capt
From the Contract.
"BB. Scheduling Improvement Group (SIG)
......
B. Composition of SIG
The SIG shall consist of 4 members. The Company shall select two representatives, one of whom shall be a seniority holding member of Flight Management, and shall designate a SIG Chairman from the two representatives. The Association’s two SIG members shall be the MEC Scheduling Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman or other line pilots designated by the Association.
C. Responsibilities of the SIG
1. Oversee Monthly Pairing and Line Construction Process
Pairing Construction
The SIG shall ensure that the pairings and lines are constructed, through coordination of the PSIT with CRP specialists. The Crew Planning department shall build the pairings. The SIG shall have oversight to ensure there is a mutually effective avenue for input into the pairing construction process between the PSIT and CRP Specialists.
......
2. Manage the Pilot Scheduling Improvement Team (PSIT)
a. Composition of PSIT
A primary PSIT member participates directly in the bid period build process and is compensated as such in any given bid period. A back-up PSIT member is a fully trained member assisting the primary(s) in a given bid period through trip review and conference call participation. The roles are rotational and are scheduled by the MEC Scheduling Committee chairman. PSIT members shall be line pilots selected by the Association with the consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld."
So, a couple of points. According to the contract, PSIT members are compensated for their work. (Not to take anything away from them, they do a lot for us and I appreciate it, but let's be accurate.)
In my reading of the contract, it appears that pairings and lines CANNOT be built without the SIG and/or the PSIT. There isn't really any wriggle room on this one. AND the Company can't pick their own clones to man the PSIT.
Read the contract and let me know if I'm wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.
"BB. Scheduling Improvement Group (SIG)
......
B. Composition of SIG
The SIG shall consist of 4 members. The Company shall select two representatives, one of whom shall be a seniority holding member of Flight Management, and shall designate a SIG Chairman from the two representatives. The Association’s two SIG members shall be the MEC Scheduling Committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman or other line pilots designated by the Association.
C. Responsibilities of the SIG
1. Oversee Monthly Pairing and Line Construction Process
Pairing Construction
The SIG shall ensure that the pairings and lines are constructed, through coordination of the PSIT with CRP specialists. The Crew Planning department shall build the pairings. The SIG shall have oversight to ensure there is a mutually effective avenue for input into the pairing construction process between the PSIT and CRP Specialists.
......
2. Manage the Pilot Scheduling Improvement Team (PSIT)
a. Composition of PSIT
A primary PSIT member participates directly in the bid period build process and is compensated as such in any given bid period. A back-up PSIT member is a fully trained member assisting the primary(s) in a given bid period through trip review and conference call participation. The roles are rotational and are scheduled by the MEC Scheduling Committee chairman. PSIT members shall be line pilots selected by the Association with the consent of the Company, which shall not be unreasonably withheld."
So, a couple of points. According to the contract, PSIT members are compensated for their work. (Not to take anything away from them, they do a lot for us and I appreciate it, but let's be accurate.)
In my reading of the contract, it appears that pairings and lines CANNOT be built without the SIG and/or the PSIT. There isn't really any wriggle room on this one. AND the Company can't pick their own clones to man the PSIT.
Read the contract and let me know if I'm wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.
01-07-2009 | 09:08 AM
#13
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Row well and live...
V1 - Oh learned pairing reviewer and line builder . . . It's clear you understand the dispute process, but let me put a little 'spin' on it for you. The week prior to the build process, all the PSIT members (SIG) and the reviewers get the pairings for review. Just on the MD-11, there are over 1,000 pairings - and they all get looked at. The trips they don't like for one reason or another are identified and considered for dispute. They may be onerous, or just a plain old CBA violation. The PSIT then fields them to the SIG Chairman, and the reviewers/builders have to justify the need for a dispute. Too many circadian swaps, too many TZDs, a grid violation - whatever. If the complaint(s) pass muster, the SIG Chairman presents them to the Company for dispute. We don't win a lot of those.
So . . . the pairings are built by the 'Planners' (the Company), reviewed by the PSIT (US), and the lines are built by the PSIT (US). Without a PSIT (line builders and reviewers), there will be NO pairing review. Thus, NO disputes. Whether we like the trips or not - whether they're in compliance with the CBA or not, whether there are too many circadian swaps, it won't matter. Every pairing will get built onto a line.
So. . . you're correct in that disputed pairings aren't part of the line building, except without the PSIT, there won't be anybody to identify the disputes.
Let me pass this other little tid-bit of info along - the PSIT reviewers do their work for FREE. No trip removal, no good deals, no freebies. They work for the 4,600+ crew members to try and make life better for everybody. Without 'em, standby.
So . . . the pairings are built by the 'Planners' (the Company), reviewed by the PSIT (US), and the lines are built by the PSIT (US). Without a PSIT (line builders and reviewers), there will be NO pairing review. Thus, NO disputes. Whether we like the trips or not - whether they're in compliance with the CBA or not, whether there are too many circadian swaps, it won't matter. Every pairing will get built onto a line.
So. . . you're correct in that disputed pairings aren't part of the line building, except without the PSIT, there won't be anybody to identify the disputes.
Let me pass this other little tid-bit of info along - the PSIT reviewers do their work for FREE. No trip removal, no good deals, no freebies. They work for the 4,600+ crew members to try and make life better for everybody. Without 'em, standby.
01-07-2009 | 09:14 AM
#14
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
From: Continuing The Dream
Brad - you are correct with regards to the LINE BUILDERS. That small group that goes in once a month gets a small amount of trip removal that is balanced and tracked. There's another LARGE group of pairing reviewers that spend many hours reviewing those pairings. There is NO compensation, trip removal, anything, for that group. The entire PSIT and REVIEWER group review the pairings. Some of those reviewers spend many hours, and once again, with NO compensation.
It might be time that the 4,600+ crew members familiarize themselves with really how the line building and pairing review process works. It doesn't just happen. JMI and his group are a dedicated bunch that put in a lot more work than they'll ever get compensated for. Without them, life WILL get worse.
It might be time that the 4,600+ crew members familiarize themselves with really how the line building and pairing review process works. It doesn't just happen. JMI and his group are a dedicated bunch that put in a lot more work than they'll ever get compensated for. Without them, life WILL get worse.
01-07-2009 | 09:16 AM
#15
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
From: A300 CAP FDX
I wouldn't hold my breath for that one. Not sure who on the company side will be the ones to stand up to the plate on this one, probably futures schedulers. That's alot of work that someone doesn't normally do.
01-07-2009 | 09:25 AM
#16
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
01-07-2009 | 09:30 AM
#17
Line Holder
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 478
Likes: 4
From: Heavily Involved
Lighten up Siggy. Were you at the meeting last night? I was, and that is what DW said. He said he sent the SIG in to build to 68hrs min BLG and the company said no. DW said he EXPECTED the SIG to be asked to leave since the SIG is instructed to NOT BUILD below 68. Period, Dot, End of sentence.
01-07-2009 | 10:05 AM
#18
On Reserve
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Airbus Captain
990 Convair...Actually I was not at the meeting & I am relying on your earlier posting which I found to be very insightful. I am not doubting that the SIG was/will be removed from the process but what I gleaned from your posting was that this was at the behest of the company & not being directed by DW as the posting from ConeofConfusion suggests. Apologies if I came across as harsh.
01-07-2009 | 10:26 AM
#19
Line Holder
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
990 Convair...Actually I was not at the meeting & I am relying on your earlier posting which I found to be very insightful. I am not doubting that the SIG was/will be removed from the process but what I gleaned from your posting was that this was at the behest of the company & not being directed by DW as the posting from ConeofConfusion suggests. Apologies if I came across as harsh.
aha...now i see. sorry, i was referring to the 68 hr line construction. not the removal of the SIG. my apologies for the confusion...
01-07-2009 | 10:28 AM
#20
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 153
Likes: 0
From: 777 CA
So just to clarify, the PSIT has recently built the lines to the company target. For example, the B727 lines built to 63 hours or so. The company target is lowered (yes, too low; we are grieving it,) and so the PSIT simply says no we won't build the lines to what you say.
If this is the case, it seems like the only ones who get the short end of the stick here are the pilots themselves. No input to line construction. No disputed pairing review process, etc.
I'm really not seeing how this is some great show of force or unity. It just seems like during the grievance process, joe pilot has to take a pay cut (imposed by the company) and now has to have crappy lines thrown at us as well.
Again, I am behind the union 100% with regards to the company's application of the reduced bid lines; however the "fly it now, then grieve it" seems like it doesn't apply to the PSIT and in the meantime line quality, without pilot input, seems only to hurt the pilots.
If this is the case, it seems like the only ones who get the short end of the stick here are the pilots themselves. No input to line construction. No disputed pairing review process, etc.
I'm really not seeing how this is some great show of force or unity. It just seems like during the grievance process, joe pilot has to take a pay cut (imposed by the company) and now has to have crappy lines thrown at us as well.
Again, I am behind the union 100% with regards to the company's application of the reduced bid lines; however the "fly it now, then grieve it" seems like it doesn't apply to the PSIT and in the meantime line quality, without pilot input, seems only to hurt the pilots.
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