Slowplay,

I have an honest question. Why do you insist on being argumentative with the pilot group you ostensibly represent? I did not attack you all I did was state Delta's policy as well as the law. If you read my post all I said is that you don't get FMLA but you get something close (the intent). What did I say that was incorrect? I also said that he would get a LOA.

Next question. Did you happen to look up and reference what you wrote, because it describes exactly what I stated?

Let me save you the leg work:
PWA Section 13.H is titled “Family Leave” it makes reference to HRPM 1028.6 and 1028.7 ,which are Leave of Absence and Return to Work respectively, and does say that you must have 540 hours of pay to be eligible for those sections. Unfortunately section 1028.8 is the one that deals with FMLA, which happens to be the subject that is being discussed. If you are interested in section 1028.8 is says:

Flight Attendant and Pilot Eligibility Criteria
Flight Attendants and Pilots who do not meet the FMLA’s work hour eligibility requirements (1250 hours) may be eligible for Delta-provided family and medical leave (DFML).

There is no contractual right to FMLA, at least in the section you quoted, which is what I said before. I will not get into internal company issues here but let be be perfectly clear that the company knows that do not have to comply with the FMLA act and stated this to me. That said, you can still easily get a leave but as I stated originally. In my case it was not nearly as easy a process as FMLA or as other airline have made it. The one thing that truly mirrors the FMLA act are all the requirements of the employee. The DFML program is a Delta program not subject to the federal rules so it is not all the same.

FWIW DALPA provided zero assistance when I contacted them about this issue other than taking down my question and calling be back 30 days later to see if anyone had gotten be an answer.

 

Just played golf wiht a buddy of mine from FedEx. He is undergoing Chemo for stage 4 cancer and currently not working. However, FedEx has a Per Diem only policy. His fellow pilots are flying his trips for Per Diem only and he gets the hourly pay. Great policy as it is keeping him afloat and not eating into his disability yet. Zero cost to the company but a big benefit to the employees.

 

Now that is impressive.

 

Wow, that policy is awesome. I'm sorry to hear about your friend. My mother died of lung cancer. I know all too painfully well what it does to a family, both emotionally and financially.

If DAL had this policy, I would gladly sign up for trips for anyone in our group who was in a time of need. I want this to become part of our contract during the next round of negotiations.

 

Does Fedex not have a disability program? Why is he not getting paid from Fedex?

 

Ah, could you tax deduct the donated wages as a charitable contribution? AND if not, we need to set up some organization that could do that. Win - win everybody!

ACL - Inform YOUR negotiating team that we want this included in C2K12.

BD

 

They have a company disability but this allows him to keep drawing pay and not touch his sick time or his disability. That gets him to the new calendar year to reset his sick and vacation time clock.

Per Diem flying won't last forever but guys are doing until he gets through the year. I started a thank you thread on the cargo forum. Stop by and add a +1.

 

I should have responded to the original poster that questioned "FMLA" instead of you. I used your post, and for that I apologize. I can understand how you took my comments as argumentative. They were not meant to be.

What you got incorrect was the intent of Section 13.H. The operative words are "A pilot WILL be eligible for family leave..." That's why ours is contractual in nature, and not completely governed by the HPRM as amended by management. The February, 2003 policies defined in our contract are what determine eligibility. If you meet those criteria, Family Leave is a contractual benefit that cannot be denied by management.

It is unfortunate that you didn't receive adequate answers to your question on family leave when you called. I've used it twice (99 and 2002) and both times were pain free.

Just one more point, I don't ostensibly represent the pilot group. Slowplay is an anonymous webboard pseudonym whose writings and opinions are his own. Insert the standard fiction disclaimer here: "Any similarity of postings here to real life, persons, institutions, or events is unintentional!

 

I say the same thing slow. Funny thing is you type and talk the same way. Just like me. (Well almost)

 

Chemo stage 4? at least he can still swing the sticks.