Originally Posted by Check Essential (Post 1550092)

This is going to be a big first test for Capt. Donatelli.
I think he will rise to the occasion.
As soon as management takes their first hostage we are going to s what he is made of.

Originally Posted by Purple Drank (Post 1550102)

I submit that management has already take its first hostage--our contract.

Originally Posted by Check Essential (Post 1550112)

I think DALPA has handled it correctly so far. Management has staked out their position and we have made ours clear as well. Nobody has taken any action yet.
It would be wrong and probably illegal for the union to come out and advocate "no acknowledgments until three hours prior" before management has taken any actions of their own.
As soon as Dickson docs someone's paycheck then the door will have been opened.
Until then, I think it is the smart move to remain calm.

Let flight ops be the first ones to resort to "self-help". After that, Donatelli will be free to react.

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1550139)

You also have to consider that we are in direct negotiations with the company on this issue. If those negotiations are progressing and it appears a agreement is possible then you don't kick them in the teeth. If negotiations are going no where then you take stronger actions. I believe the focus in those talks from our end is to improve the daily minimum to offset 30 hour layovers.

Originally Posted by Carl Spackler (Post 1550153)

Then why did management kick us in the teeth with that memo which specifically violates our contract? A memo they wrote DURING negotiations.

I know you'll ultimately always come down on management's side no matter what. That's what you do. But you're advocating the worst kind of negotiating tactics when you advocate not fighting fire with fire. Showing the weakness you advocate in the face of being kicked in the teeth by management will only lead to more aggression and disrespect from management.

Weakness, fear and hand wringing is not a strategy sailingfud.

Carl

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 1550183)

And yet somehow we have the highest pilot costs in the passenger industry. Perhaps if we go hard line we can drop down into the pack with the unions you admire so much.

Originally Posted by Dash8widget (Post 1550081)

I'm sorry, but you have this backwards - the nine hour response window is just a means to ensure the pilot is able to meet the NLT 3 hour requirement. The NLT 3 hours is the contractual requirement - NOT the nine hours.

From the Scheduling Reference Handbook:
"This effectively means a long-call pilot could turn off his phone for as long as nine hours, provided he then checks his messages and/or schedule in order to comply with the above requirements for acknowledgement."

In other words, as long a pilot checks his schedule every nine hours, he will be ABLE to comply with the NLT 3 requirement. It does not mean that there is actually a 9 hour window. The ONLY requirement is the NLT 3 hours - period.

Now, would an arbitrator agree with the reasonableness of waiting right up to the 3 hour limit? I have no idea, but I'd hope so since it's the only contractual limit actually we have.