I like the sick leave by day of the week graph. Where's the block hour by day of the week graph? (Full disclosure...I am currently on SL status.)

 

You actually read that? I just go all glassy-eyed and then read the newest version of why the 717 has to be ninety percent four and five day trips.

I'm not sure how the Crew Resources newsletter somehow morphed into some proxy for mgmt's obsession with sick leave use.

 

It's a negotiated benefit with a cost associated to it. It's actually a contract.

 

And 33% 1-day trips in NYC -- the base where everyone's a commuter. Real nice.

We'd like to trade for some of your 4-days.

 

The beatings will continue until morale improves. They did the same thing will the MD88 in NYC twenty years ago. Put them in EWR too. It builds character.

 

You view sick leave as a benefit, as do I, along the vast majority of our colleagues. However, management views it as a liability that needs to be contained. The entire philosophy of what sick leave amounts to is viewed from diametrically opposing vantage points. I'm no accountant or businessman at heart, but I think sick leave belongs on the same side of the balance sheet as pay. But the financial gurus that lead this company incorrectly see sick leave in an asset column. Each time it's exercised, a loss is tallied in their minds. That's not likely to change. Which is the primary reason to hold a firm line in order to retain management's "ask" from C2012. They demanded it, they got it. Tough luck that the results do not meet their expectations. I compare sick leave to a ratchet. Each time it "tightens," it's a one-way street. Allow a few notches of constraint in exchange for a bit of pay, and it will never move back in pilots' favor. That may not bother some people ever, and others not until the day they need the benefit. Which is what sick leave is, as you stated. A benefit that has consumed significant negotiating capital over the years. Of course, some people will need more than others. Not unlike life insurance, car insurance and other risk management tools. But it's there when you need it. That is, until you trade it away.

 

Well said. In my opinion, our contract costs the company $X Billion a year. If they can reduce that liability within the framework of our current CBA, they save money.

In other words, even though the language hasn't changed in over three years, if they can encourage (intimidate) us into using less sick leave with charts in their weekly updates and always keeping an awareness of sick leave abuse in our minds, they save money. They don't even need new language if sick leave usage has gone down over the last year. They are probably winning already.

 

I think they see the use of sick leave expanding with more states allowing family sick leave. This is a huge benefit for households that have children and both parents employed or single parent households. There may be an increased cost in the future due to the expansion. For those with elderly parents needing care and children, this a great benefit which the current language is not able to control.

Our PWA now has a potential to enhance a benefit removing control from management. They have the power to interpret our PWA and if uncontested, set a precedent. With family sick their grip is loosened. They are not satisfied with the loss of control and regular employees having the right to care for their families. The "Delta" family takes precedent regardless of their rhetoric about caring and family.

 

I totally agree. Sick leave is part of your PAY. Years ago, we obtained sick leave language in our contract by accepting a lower pay rate. Instead of viewing sick leave used as a cost to be contained, the bean counters should look at unused sick time as a windfall. The Company should thank us for being so damned healthy!

 

Someone told me that Delta forecasts for zero sick leave usage in the budget.

Does anyone know if that's true?