Not sure if this has been discussed or not but I think it deserves it's own thread. Company has been pre-posting rest prior to the next month's PCS run. This effectively cuts down on most "BLUE" days. Many times it seems like the rest isn't FAR or even PWA required. They might not be smart enough (or have the tech) to remove the rest to make the reserve available at a later time... but perhaps they are removing the rest. I haven't been on reserve in years but as a line holder this is starting to affect me (senior top 15% in my category). I couldn't drop a trip for March on the 20th even though it was like +25 when I input my PD on the 18th. Checked on the 19th late and it wasn't blue anymore.

I don't think the MEC or my LEC has even mentioned this. This is a huge deal as they could theoretically make every reserve unavailable for PCS drops for no reason to only un-do the rest for their benefit a few days prior.

Every other reserve assignment is done max of 2 days out. How is this allowable in our PWA? Is a grievance in the works?

 

I have traditionally been someone who bids for RES, but this has ruined my experience with RES. It has also degraded QOL for REG and RES. Now, you can’t move a single day or drop anything. It seems that ALPA is on board with this and believes there is nothing wrong with the company's actions. ( That was the answer I got from my REP)

 

It's a known problem, but apparently it's PWA compliant. I believe it's in the works to address this in Section 6.

 

C44 passed a resolution unanimously at this week's LEC meeting to direct the MEC to fix this nonsense.

It's absolute BS, and I suspect hostage taking for C26 negotiations. It's an example of what the mangagers are willing to do to find any and all seams in the contract. I mean, I know people say it as a joke, but seriously, who would have thought they'd do something like this? You cannot truly bullet proof the contract, but now we will be forced to 'buy' a bunch of new guardrails.

 

On the other hand, they just showed us another hole in our contract that we didn't know existed. Having to 'buy' the guardrails does suck though.

 

it’s not hostage taking, it’s just someone smart in the company that figured out a clever PWA compliant way to save the shareholders money by making pilots work more for straight pay, which is the whole goal of the company - to make shareholders money.

yes, we will have to negotiate for it in section 6, but that doesn’t make it necessarily nefarious. Its just someone in the company that actually did their job well for once.

 

They can and will absolutely remove the rest to give you an assignment and they will also pass you up for a GS because of it (paid later via crew
assist)

 

I respectfully disagree. Just because it may be ‘legal’ and in their interested (sort of) does mean it is not nefarious. Or disingenuous. And a break from longstanding practice.

 

but don’t the company guys say the same thing about ‘clever’ pilots who unexpectedly exploit obscure contract provisions?

 

They probably got mad at all the people who weren't properly notified of 30hr rest and calling them out on it. Solution, put every person on reserve into 6hrs of rest before the start of every x day block a month out so that you're bound to have to have a required schedule check that validates the rest. This creates 30hrs of rest, even if you don't need it. They can always take it away later if needed.

Smart move on the company.