Originally Posted by MrBojangles (Post 1904899)

The way I understand it (and I could be wrong since i have only read it once) is that they count your sick time toward your FAR times, so you can't pick up green slips later in the month if it would be a FAR violation. It's not really for picking them up on days you're out sick necessarily.

Originally Posted by gloopy (Post 1904763)

True. Which means now is the perfect time to blow 5B in stock buybacks!

Wait, what?

Originally Posted by SharpestTool (Post 1904904)

The idea that new punitive language has been inserted into the TA is just flat wrong.

Originally Posted by SharpestTool (Post 1904904)

The story is that the TA has new and oppressive sick verification language that enables the Company to require submission and access to your entire medical record. I was curious as to where this idea is coming from since contract language hasn't been released yet. So I did some digging and contacted my reps who have seen the language. What I found does not match the rhetoric found here.

As it turns out, Section 14 is unchanged from C2012 as it pertains to medical information required when verifying sickness occurrences. The applicable language is in Section 14 G 1-3:

G. Medical Release Requirement
A pilot who is required to verify his sickness under Section 14 F. 4. may be required to provide the Company with a written authorization for release of medical information (release), provided the release is limited to:
1. the specific sickness for which the pilot claimed sick leave,
2. the day(s) on which the pilot claimed sick leave and the consecutive day(s) off immediately preceding and succeeding the day(s) on which a pilot claimed sick leave, and
3. a Company designated doctor or other health care professional(s) and the Director – Health Services and the Senior Vice-President of Flight Operations.

Apparently there is confusion regarding sick verification and the medical review and evaluation as to whether a pilot is physically qualified to exercise the privileges of a class 1 medical certificate. The latter is covered in Section 15 Physical Examinations. The applicable language is in Section 15 B 1-6:

B. Medical Review and Evaluation

1. Regardless of whether a pilot has a current First Class Medical Certificate, the Director – 20 Health Services (DHS) may review the medical records of a pilot:
a. who receives an FAA special issuance medical certificate,
b. who seeks to return to flight duty after being absent for at least four months for medical reasons, or
c. when there is reason to believe he may not meet the physical standards.

2. A pilot undergoing medical review under this section will give the DHS access to all medical records requested by the DHS.

3. The DHS may require a medical evaluation of a pilot holding a valid First Class Medical Certificate. This medical evaluation will be limited to the nature of the First Class Medical physical standard(s) in question.

4. The DHS and the ALPA Aeromedical Advisor will confer on the choice of the Company Medical Examiner (CME) prior to sending the pilot for evaluation, if the pilot releases the pertinent information to the ALPA Aeromedical Advisor.

5. The DHS will select the CME.

6. Medical information provided by the DHS to the CME will be limited to medically relevant information provided by doctors and treating facilities.
The above language is verbatim from Contract 2012 and remains in the TA.

The idea that new punitive language has been inserted into the TA is just flat wrong. The only modification in verification is that verification is no longer at the discretion of the pilot up to the limit where it is was previously required (100 hrs.). Also, the threshold for mandatory verification is 14 days missed (approx. 80 hrs.) versus the 100 hrs. in C2012.

Offsetting this reduction in threshold, the following gains were achieved:

1. Verified sick leave absence in excess of 20 consecutive calendar days does not count towards verification/medical release thresholds if due to surgery, hospitalization, or fractured bone prohibiting the exercise of your first class medical and other serious medical condition at pilots option
2. Rolling 365-day verification trigger is reset to zero for pilots who go on disability
3. Company to pay for verification only if requested on “good faith basis”
4. 50% of unused sick leave credit hours below 80 hours each year will *be used to fund a disability account for top off if a pilot goes on disability
5. Increase disability benefit: Eliminated earned income offset after 36 months
6. Increased LTD benefit duration for pilots diagnosed with psychiatric conditions
7. Establish FAA leave for a pilot awaiting approval of his FAA medical certificate.Will not count towards verification trigger.
8. Provides that a vacation payout at retirement is contributed to DPSP to the maximum extent permissible

In addition, verification will now be HIPPA compliant on Delta's end, which it wasn't before.* There is no change to what is required with regards to a doctor's note or a medical release, other than the fact that a nurse practitioner or physician's assistant can now sign it and rather than going to a clerk in flight ops, it will go to the DHS and be HIPPA compliant once in his hands.

So I think we should be intellectually honest and admit that the most heinous allegations regarding sick verification are simply untrue.

Sick verification myth: BUSTED

Now since many here fell for the hysteria and disinformation regarding this important section of the contract, what else is being misconstrued? Perhaps the dust has settled enough to take a real and in depth look into what's really in this TA.

Originally Posted by jobagodonuts (Post 1904907)

I simply disagree - the loss of Voluntary Verification under 14.F.2 is punitive!

Originally Posted by SharpestTool (Post 1904909)

OK, that settles the sick leave hysteria.

I think the next issue that is causing massive consternation is the LCA line bidding changes. I will start gathering info and will be back to bust the myths and hysteria surrounding that section of the TA.

Originally Posted by SharpestTool (Post 1904913)

That language is unchanged from C2012. That TA was ratified and was found acceptable by the majority.