Am I to understand that minneapolis-based Pilots can use their sick leave for family leave, like family appointments and dependent illness? Or is it based on the Pilot's residence?

 

Minnesota employers must comply with Minnesota labor law. Residence can be outside the state.

http://www.dli.mn.gov/LS/Pdf/sick_leave.pdf

 

That's fantastic. If I were a commuter contemplating MSP vs DTW, I'd favor the latter based on that policy difference alone. Someone displaced out of MSP might even have a case to maintain that benefit.

 

15 states have some form of family sick leave now. It will become national over time. Maybe even federal. Employers that have operations in multiple states are already adopting this as company wide policy. The logistics get tough when transfers and temporary work in a state is required of the job.

http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-a...eave-laws.aspx

 

I am not sure you are reading that correctly. It's a bullet point letter not actual language. Most pilots not living in Minneapolis claim for tax purposes they don't live or work in the state. A pilot domicle is not under most legal definitions a place of work. Claiming you do work in MSP might lead to some unwanted tax effects. I have no idea what Delta's policy on this is however I suspect they have full researched it.
The best option is to go for a me too clause in the contract.

 

We have pilots living in WI, its only 30mins from the airport. They can and do use family sick leave. The union has defended users of state sick leave in the past.

I think it would be fair and just if every employee had this benefit.

This is not an issue we need to bargain for. Delta has a lot of places of employment in a lot of areas that have family benefits. They will be challenged by 1 of their 80,000+ employees and then change this to a company wide policy. Of course they would like to set the precedent with the pilots first to extract a give. Then the rest of the company will be gifted the benefit the pilots paid for.

See: failed profit sharing reductions

 

It has to do where you work, not where you live...if the co does not like the policy, do you really think they would not have anything to say about a me too clause. Since the company uses the term the "Delta Family" don't you think they should demonstrate their concern for the family and allow all Delta employees to use this important benefit.

 

You certainly need not be an abuser to use 160 hours of total family leave above and beyond your own sick leave events, especially when it is extended to in-laws. I'm starting to think the company's moves on sick leave could be prepping the field to handle potential expansion of family leave laws across the nation.

 

I've got class in a few weeks and am hoping some of you can share some insights pertaining to picking an aircraft. I've got a fairly high SSN, so my fingers are crossed that I might be able to pick from whatever is offered. I know that it's been all NYC for a while and probably will continue to be, but my goal is to get to DTW as quickly as I can, as I live 30 minutes from the airport.

So, which plane should I shoot for?

What would get me to DTW the quickest? Off of reserve the quickest?

Any guesses how long it might take to be awarded DTW? Have a line?

These questions mainly pertain to 737 vs. A320. There's a possibility that the 7ER would be offered, but I'm guessing I'd be dead last on the list for a very long time. The 717 is probably also a possibility, but I'd rather not continue to do regional type flying.
Thanks in advance for the advice!

 

Why? Do you anticipate less ER flying system wide or the flying to shift to other bases? Time will tell....