Don't know I do know that there was at least 1 76 captain that bid back to the 75 captain on 14-01 and as of the April bid pack there he is.

As far as the LOA the only real language says the 76 and the 75 will be a common base with separate bid packs. Perhaps that means that you can flow back and forth at will (with a bid).

 

Something doesn't make sense. I don't disagree with you but here is what Murph put in her Q&A:

I am currently activated as a B767 Captain. Can I down bid to B757 Captain on the current vacancy posting?
Have you been activated as a B767 Captain for at least 18 months? Per CBA Section 24.E.1.b. (Down/Lateral Bid Restriction), "Unless waived by the Vice President, Flight Operations, or his designee, a pilot may not receive a permanent vacancy award based on a down/lateral bid unless he has been in his current crew status for at least 18 months." However, if that bid restriction does not apply to you, then 24.E.1.c. (Down/Lateral Bid Freeze) also does not apply to you, because movement from B767 Captain to B757 would not require ITU training.

She quoted the contract to make the point that a B767 Captain CAN'T down bid unless they've been a B767 Captain for at least 18 months. Its on PFC so it must be true (sarcasm).

The issue here is can someone bid the 57 or 67 and jump back and forth every time there is a bid since no ITU training (or any training once all the LDS aircraft are online) is involved.

I suggest that the answer is a resounding NO because of 24.E.1.b. The only place you can go from the 67FO seat is a Capt seat unless you meet the 18 month requirement. A 67Capt shouldn't be able to bid 57Capt unless they meet the 18 month requirement.

The fact that a 67Capt bid 57Capt in 14-01 is a violation of the contract unless he had a waiver from the VP of flight ops.

 

All the LOA says about it is:

1. The B757/B767 aircraft type shall be staffed with separate and distinct B757 and B767 crew positions, via a posting, administered as provided in Section 24.

later it says:

4. For pilots assigned to FDA crew positions, an award or assignment from B757 to B767 or vice versa shall not trigger a new assignment or service commitment.


It would be nice if the language could at least be consistent. The LOA uses the term crew position versus crew status. That being said I still don't see wiggle room unless you are assigned to an FDA.

 

Check the 14-01 posting 2 76 capts were on the 75 award. The one I spoke to said there was no restrictions. I got the he did not get a waiver.

I sort of agree with your reading but precedent overrules the contract when management wants it to. Both guys could have probably moved on the excess anyways.

 

I don't doubt what you are saying. Guess it is going to take a call to contract enforcement. I'm sure they will be tremendously helpful.

 

With PC's update to the 14-02 bid, he obviously doesn't remember from being a regular line holder that people don't bid on the practice bids they way they do for the final bid.

 

Ok, we're filling vacancies and not excessing (or it's minimal) yet getting a bunch more 75s. That can only mean one thing... Hiring, baby!!! Right, right? Who's with me!

 

We can only dream

 

Hmmm....interesting.

Here's what PC meant to say: "I'm so glad to see that all y'all decided to voluntarily move on this practice bid so that we won't have to buy as many houses. Boys and girls, please keep your bids the same as they are and I won't have to do anything drastic to you...like excess you."

I'd love to bid what I want to fly and I would...IF I could trust almost ANYTHING that they say. I have Z-E-R-O confidence anymore. Were the initial numbers on the 14-02 Bid just a test or a joke? Just kidding, we just wanted to see you guys dance? What a clown show! With each passing year, each bid, each new leadership shuffle, each change in ops procedures, it's becoming more and more painful to watch...much less be a part of. ***Lest anyone think I'm ungrateful to be here...I'm not...I'm very happy to be here, but tired of the perception that we might be being jerked around.

I very much fear three things: 1) They (crew planning) don't know what they are doing 2) The world must be so volatile that the company can't predict our staffing needs more than 6-9 months into the future 3) Our vaunted management team and their merry band of "Just Culture" parrots thinks not a lot of the crew force.

I'm going with options 1-3. I'm sorry. I don't think it is too much of a stretch that they are playing us for a bunch of fools.

WM

PS---I guess the SCP now knows what's bugging me...after all, he asked for our input.

 

The post that states "no or minimal excess" is not what PC said. He said small and measured. That may not seem important but it is a big difference. Small could be 40-60 IMHO. Measured could mean off the MD and not the Airbus. But that is no guarantee Airbus pilots won't be excessed. That 40-60 group could cause crew members to be kicked off multiple airframes. A trickle down effect, if you will.



From FDX ALPA MEC Chairman --