Originally Posted by Bigshooter107

From the PBS Email
"n discussions with representatives from the FedEx MEC that had tested SmartPref, an area of great concern was the ability for a senior bidder to change his Preference(s) at the last minute. This change caused “domino” effects down through the seniority list and would not allow junior bidders the opportunity to adapt their bid. They had even considered running tiers of bidding to break up the bid process into groups of seniority to limit this “domino” effect. There is a problem with this tiered system. If the first 50 bidders bid then then next 50 bidders bid, it creates a false seniority at Bidder #51. This bidder would know exactly what they are going to get. Every 51st bidder would have this advantage that bidder #50 did not have.
Globalization ..
SmartPref uses a globalizing algorithm that may bypass a bidder’s Preferences to reach the company’s specified goal. The goal is to arrive at a set amount of open-time (with 0% being the optimal amount), a preset reserve percentage, and/or a specified average line value. The parameters set in the Admin Panel are paramount to the final award. A bidder in the globally constrained group will have his pairings awarded in a manner that will look at both the Preferences of the bidder along with the solvability of the overall solution. The globally constrained group could include over half the line holders for a month depending on staffing, holiday months, block hour fluctuations, etc. According to Crewing Solution’s Programmers, SmartPref will use globalization every month to complete the solution affecting an unspecified number of bidders every month.

Originally Posted by Bozo

So you're saying that the globalization is being used before it closes?

Originally Posted by freezingflyboy

That was what I took away from the road show, yes. My understanding was that if "global constraints" are in place, the build won't show you an award it can't give you with those constraints in place. Truth be told, I don't think the union really knows how globalization will be used and what effect it will really have.

Originally Posted by freezingflyboy

In my opinion, the union and the pilots should be a little more wary about this. The former ASA/new XJT management has shown a desire to exploit and 're-interpret' our contract however and whenever it benefits them, regardless of how marginal and/or short-term that benefit may be. I'm hoping this isn't a 'camel's nose in the tent' sort of situation here.

Originally Posted by Bozo

So you are really not seeing "live" PBS.

DING DING DING winner of the chicken dinner. They don't know but yet they want you to "trust" them?

Originally Posted by freezingflyboy

Read the first part of what I wrote. THAT was how it was sold at the road show I went to. At the risk of sounding cliche', the devil is very much in the details when it comes to PBS.

Originally Posted by Bozo

Do you have specific language that allows or dis-allows them to do something? If not management rights take care of that. If you do not have specific language that does not allow them to do something then that needs to be fixed in Section 6.

Originally Posted by Jetlinker

Well Joe, you're a union rep....what is this email, and why hasn't the ERJ side seen it? Both groups are voting on this contract, why isn't there full transparency between the two pilot groups? I don't get it.