The email was not harassing. It just stated that "in accordance with the contract...yada yada...please provide a letter from your physician......."

Do they have some reason to doubt you? Again, the contract reads:

6. The Company may require a pilot to provide the System Chief Pilot’s designee with a written statement from the pilot's physician explaining his inability to perform his assigned duties because of illness or injury if:
a. The Company has a good faith, and objective reason to question a pilot’s use or attempted use of sick leave

If they don't have any valid, and "objective" reason to question your use of sick leave (and it sounds like they don't in your case), then they are not abiding by the contract. By my definition, that IS harassment.

And the email didn't quote this section, rather 6.b.
And for the record I do plan to call the union on this. I really want to know what the contract means in section "b" in reference to a holiday....

Had you repeatedly tried to drop or trade off the trip that you called in sick for?

There is a difference between looking bad and being bad. Regardless of how many times earlier in the month a drop was attempted, or a trade was attempted, doesn't mean can't call in sick. In fact, one might think an individual might make every effort to avoid calling in sick to avoid any hint of sick leave abuse.

The unasked question thus far is did this use of sick leave exceed the 72 hours of annual sick leave requiring a dip into the disability bank.
A doctors note may be required to dip into that bank. Whether the company would choose to push it that far is another question. (14.A.6.c)

The company could certainly be setting themselves up for punitive measures if they prevented someone from using their credited sick leave hours or recouped salary/refused to pay when the common sense man would think they were obligated to do so.

14.A.6.b. The pilot's absence from duty occurred in conjunction with his vacation period or a "holiday." As used herein, "holiday" means Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve or New Years Day; or


The Devil is in the details. What does "in conjunction with" mean? Something to go on the list for 2010 openers.

Definately get Union representation. Know your rights and your contract!

Isn't there some sort of HIPPA (sp) law that protects patient/doctor relationships?

And I agree with the prior posts you don't have to see a doctor to call in sick.

I would be interested to hear what our local FAA has to say about this. Maybe after consulting with the Union you should bring them in the loop.

Transparency for all parties is a good thing. Keeps us honest. It would be nice to get this settled once and for all of us.

I'm not sure what your question would be. Section b is pretty straight forward as far as a trip touching any of the listed holidays:

b. The pilot's absence from duty occurred in conjunction with his vacation period or a "holiday." As used herein, "holiday" means Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas, New Years Eve or New Years Day; ...

Did the trip you called in sick on touch Christmas Eve at all? If not, then they shouldn't be trying to use section 6b.

No, never did anything to my schedule all month.

No, still have time in my bank.

No it was done on the 22nd with a dh to MEM on the 23rd am

This doesn't surprise me. It is much like not "approving" military leave until they see orders. Or calling me and my commander. I sent in the orders this time, but won't again. Management is way out of line.

But if they insist on a note, I wouldn't do so on my own time. Schedule your appointment on the same day as a trip. Call your manager and have pull you from your trip. What is the doctor going to say anyway? "The patient had the runs 6 days ago. He took pepto. He is well now." Give me a break, this is just pure harrassment. This "request" serves no other purpose.

On second thought, just call the union and make them earn their money. I wouldn't answer any calls from the company, even from the "blocked" numbers they use. These aren't friendly calls, believe me.

Sorry but a little thread creep. Does anyone know if you call in sick while on reserve, when you call back in well, do you immediately go back on reserve or do you go back on for your next day?