Supposedly, the 4 pilots fired off the 747 pre-Covid were ‘proven’ scammers with a complete lack of KCM/CASS, not to mention JS/Non-Rev hits. Unconfirmed, of course, but several of them reportedly had zero ‘fingerprints’ for any commute in 2 years.

The only reason 3 of the 4 got their jobs back was because there was no progressive discipline. The fourth was a regular offender with a history of many other issues and did not get their job back. The 3 who did had to repay the ‘wage theft’ of all the SC for which they had not commuted in. Not to mention months of lost wages.

Circumstantial evidence is still evidence. And can be plenty strong to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. “How did you get to work from 3 states over without once scanning KCM/TSA, Non-Rev/JS, or any other searchable database?”

I have zero - ZERO - sympathy for anyone truly scamming the company like this, because the rest of us have to pay for the collateral damage for years to come. They deserve a defense, but not an unlimited one (depending on the facts and evidence presented, of course). It’s hard to credibly argue, for example, that you were genuinely sick every time you were given an assignment over several years, but ONLY when given an assignment (if that’s the allegation). That’s statistically impossible. Anyone ever read Freakonomics”?

 

Wait, I thought the pilot we are talking about here called in sick when assigned a reserve commitment. They didn't even try to commute in, according to what I've read here.

If the pilot called in sick for assigned short calls, or other reserve assignments, the company will have a high bar to prove that he was not sick.

Now if there's more to the story here, than I'm all ears. But what's been posted here (see hockey's post) was that he was calling in sick whenever he got an reserve assignment. The company will have to prove that he was not sick. That is the standard. IMSAFE. Good luck with that.

 

I've heard (anecdotally) of them using ipad location data in some CPO meetings. Not sure if this is actually true or not, but definitely something to think about.

 

I’m not interested in playing defense lawyer for those guys either. Were the 74 guys guilty? Almost certainly.

But legitimate defenses exist, even for the example you gave.

The pilot’s home airport didn’t have KCM, or they chose not to use it for any number of reasons. The airline that the pilot was commuting on didn’t routinely perform CASS inquiries when cabin seats were available (I saw that often at a certain airline, especially back when the firings occurred.)

A lack of evidence is not evidence.

 

Company iPad location data...not to mention micrew/hub tracks your location as well. There's an active grievance about that.

 

Agree about the short call stuff, but in regards to your second statement are you referring to calling out sick when a short call assignment gets tagged or LC? Agreed if SC but hard disagree if you’re taking about calling out a day prior to a LC assignment.

With 2 day out coverage now and how much reserves are getting used, a large amount of sick calls on reserve will be after an assignment is placed. Most people don’t call out sick multiple days in advance.

Edit: Just saw you said every time you were given an assignment. Agreed if you literally sick out every single time they try and give you something then yes that’s a different matter.

 

I'm not sure how this speciation is good for the accused pilot. Give the guy a break.

He'll either be vindicated or he won't, but I really don't see how it's any of my business either way

 

do I still win the award?

 

We have a judicial system for a reason. Matters not if he called out sick for every assignment. The company has to prove he wasn't sick. They don't get to speculate, they have to prove it. Under oath. In sworn testimony and present their case to a judge. I certainly hope this pilot has an attorney(s) and is going to fight them on this as it's an easy win. You can't retaliate, no matter the circumstance, for taking sick time. It's been set in precedent and law. It's in our contract. This is an easy win for this pilot.

Again, if there's more here to this story other than the pilot calling out sick, then I'm all ears.

Seems a strange hill to die on for the company if it's nothing other than one of our pilots using their sick time benefit.

Let's not forget, they said KP was crazy. She took them to court and won.

 

Fair point, I’ll refrain.