ayecarumba

Ok, so I originally posted this over in the "Why are you voting no" thread but since it was generating some discussion and is the such a high viz item for both pilots/mgt/MEC, I thought it may merit discussion on its own. Here is my original text:

Kinda surprised there isn't a separate thread for the SL provision alone...

This is the 1 issue that is giving me the most pause and reason to vote NO.

I remember being at the last roadshow and hearing a pilot detail a heart wrenching story of his wife being on the ground picking through a trash bag looking for his prescription bottle so he would have proof of his illness and he wouldn't get "in trouble" for being sick with the company.

There was another equally heartbreaking story about another pilots adult son with severe autism. His son had a major meltdown while said pilot was on his way to work. His wife called him, locked in the bedroom/bathroom crying and scared as he was tearing up their home. He turned his car around, went home and had to call in sick. When he tried to explain himself to the company, he was chastised and told he wasn't the one who was 'sick' and needed a psychiatrist to verify his sick leave usage due to his being mentally, rather than physically ill. Who the hell wants or needs to open that can of worms?

The bottom line is each of us is the expert on whether or not we are "fit to fly" when we sign the release. This SL policy is a subtle form of pilot pushing that is insidious and sinister. "just a hundred hours" says the union/company..."Just to deal with the abusers" (not sure I like hearing the union/co. label any of my peers as "abusing" anything after being bent over in BK anyways). "This won't affect 80+% of the pilot group" etc....all lame excuses to sell you down the river...There will be an unfortunate time for every pilot when you will feel the pressure of calling in sick and trying to figure out when/how you will get a Drs note. The Company needs to accept that there will be sick pilots and that accepting their word (even if there is some leakage around the edges) is far more productive than creating an atmosphere of suspicion and doubt.

I agree with others who have posted about the company coming for more with each TA, making SL more and more onerous. Why else would you need to "speak with a scheduler" and not be able to just click a button in DMBS stating "I'm sick" or "I'm well?"

JamesBond

It's good that the rest of the TA is such a homerun for you that this insignificant section is your biggest concern.

Sputnik

What if the answer to both is yes?

I think getting a note is stupid and a hassle and will be irritated when and if it comes up.

I will use some of my 30% raise to pay copays and get over it.

I have bad knees that have resulted in lots of sick time. Ive been called by CPO. I never felt pushed.

If there is some evil intent to push me to work when sick, it wont work.

poostain

What am I missing here JB? The Sick leave section may not be significant to you or me, but there are fellow pilots with problems I can only imagine and pray I never have. Do we ignore this in the face of more money or recognize that we are falling short in this section?

Hank Kingsley

If they're that ill, a note won't be a problem.

JamesBond

I'm just talking about the note thing. I pondered the use of the word section and couldn't come up with a better one.

Dharma

Explain this:

Current contract Sick Leave change opposers willingly verify sick leave here and there until they hit 100 hours of unverified sick leave use. For a high time sick leave user, this could be nearly 170 hours of voluntary sick leave verification. Paid for by the pilot.

Now the same guys are ****ed they have to verify the same amount of time, after they have used the first 100+ hours.

Huh?

It isn't about money, it's about control of when and where it is "convenient" to verify sick leave.

GogglesPisano

Re: the autism scenario in the OP's post.

For the record, are you allowed to use "sick time" to care for another family member -- even when you are not the one that's sick?

Jodi

No big deal.

TED74

Only in states that require it (pilots based in LAX and MSP).