kronan

If the only change was Solely Involuntary Conversions, then there wouldn’t need to be a change. After all, Mgt took that ability out of CRS’s hands last fall with no impact on the number of Reserve lines.
And while it was a rare beast, it sucked huge for those it impacted...many of whom could’ve held a VTO line but preferred greater control over their destiny...only to lose it all and have their entire month change

So, what Else has changed with the implementation of the new VTO process? Hmm, is it Easier than ever to get rid of R days via a Conflict? Do whole Blocks of R days drop now versus the one or two that might’ve conflicted? Does Training still need to be bracketed by R days to make the whole block drop?

Instead of thinking about what’s changed, we get the histrionics of OMG...PBS is on FedEx Property for the 1st Time EVER.
We get the nuanced evaluation of there’s a HUGE drop in Reserve Lines without ever bothering to look at the HUGE change in the number of people flying in a particular seat. Same amount of Regular lines mind you, but fewer bodies.

And CRS no longer gets to create R days during the VTO process, instead they are constrained to use the existing Blocks/patterns of R days created prior to the bid opening.

We get the histrionics of OMG, I might not be able to hold a R line for Vacation without ever considering how Vacation bank use has changed in the VTO process.

Formerly, 7 days of Vacation in a VTO month was locked in. 42 CHs to the BLG and roughly 5 days of work left to do. Total of 11 days blocked in the Calendar.
Now, if you want, you can take the whole month off.
Or, go for 30 hours of bank and 9 days blocked. Leaving 6-7 days of work depending upon the trip availability

Now that comes pretty close to the 11 days for 32 hours a week of Reserve vacation will get you. Of course, that still leaves 8 R days in the month.

Shoot, if you wanted to you could still pick up those 8 R days by choice during the SWW.

Albief15

[QUOTE=kronan;2612534
And while it was a rare beast, it sucked huge for those it impacted...many of whom could’ve held a VTO line but preferred greater control over their destiny...only to lose it all and have their entire month change

So, what Else has changed with the implementation of the new VTO process? Hmm, is it Easier than ever to get rid of R days via a Conflict? Do whole Blocks of R days drop now versus the one or two that might’ve conflicted? Does Training still need to be bracketed by R days to make the whole block drop?


And CRS no longer gets to create R days during the VTO process, instead they are constrained to use the existing Blocks/patterns of R days created prior to the bid opening.

W.[/QUOTE]

I had R lines converted at least 50% of the time in the FDA, which I bid to protect certain days off. Lost those days each time...but was able to proffer them and get loose. I was glad to see the involuntary conversion go, and glad to have the proffer option added to our list of schedule adjustment tools.

In May I bid for R days. And ended up building my own reserve line. I flew one 3 day trip all month. Again...at my seniority (70%) I could rarely hold reserve, and when I did it often was inversed. Under new system I got some R days when others conflicted them and got what I wanted. It may be more efficient in the macro for the company, but with 12 days off I didn’t feel too abused by the new system.

This month the company did not offer any R days in the secondary process, which acording to the insight reports several of us filed was due to too many trips to fill in open time. That IS a concern warrants SIG monitoring. However, it also makes for a lot of draft/AVA opportunities whrn they run that lean, and if you are willing to work it can be lucrative. I like that when I am in “greedy work mode”, but not as much when its throttle back time.

I have also had to return to Hong Kong from a recurrent training trip in the US for two leftover R days on my calendar that were not removed by a training conflict. Even though we have no one or two day trips, I could not drop them. The new system should prevent that.

Again...not here to debate every shortfall of the contract. What I will say is that there are some things in it that improve my flexibility and quality of life. I think for some folks in the bottom third of their seat seniority the SLG might offer some nice tools to create a schedule that works well for the pilot. I know from past experience the previous secondary system was almost totally worthless to me, and this I avoided using it unless I could hold nothing else or was inversed.

golfandfly

Good to see some are seeing improvements. Overall, it’s been a big hit on my QOL. We’ve seen huge cuts in our reserve lines. Now going to VTOs in blocks. So what’s the difference?

I always bid reserve when I have vacation. Now they’re going much more senior. As you know, you don’t get the benefit of leveling when you get your R days from a VTO. Also, you don’t get leveling on VTO R days when you have carryover. I’ve used this strategy for my entire career at Fedex.

Kronan mentioned the ability to drop a string of R days when your training touches an R day (no need to split the block anymore). Want to guess how many 15 or 19 day blocks are in the bidpack now (Mem MD11 Capt)? Not many. This is another strategy I’ve used for years.

So, it’s impacted half the year. And I’m not alone. This effects hundreds of pilots now, compared to the small number of involuntary conversions.

So more VTOs. More PBS. More people getting their schedule about 4 days prior to the beginning of the month. Its a real screw job for hundreds of us.

busdriver12

Yes, these changes sure don't do the junior guys any favors. At least people on reserve knew when they were working for the next month instead of waiting till the last minute. And being able to bid a long R day string and fix your schedule once every 9 months? Good luck with that if there aren't any long R day strings.

In my seat (Airbus capt), we have only 36 reserve lines in July (compare to 55 in June). Only two reserve lines with one long block of R day strings (compare to seven in June). This isn't back door PBS, it's coming through the front door, not taking off their shoes, and drinking all the beer.

Anthrax

The cheerleaders of our last contract are still trying to sell this **** show. They will try and sell us out of our A plan. They will find some justification to defend their positions no matter the overall negative impact to the crew force. Perhaps it’s the rose-colored glasses, but whatever I do find it bizarre that people listen to these clowns.

HoursHore

Just some parboiled frogs telling us "Come in, the waters fine!"

e2thumper

Yep. Did this to ourselves. I still can't find any 'yes' voters, they are all hiding it seems.

Anthrax

Abief-patty was a big yes voter. There’s one. A lot of now retired guys with a small bonus voted yes. guys scared to fight for a better contract voted yes. know a lot of them. senior complacent types with relatively good schedules voted yes. it adds up. our quality of life diminishes. our union faith is divided. our new leader cuts and pastes tired platitudes.

kronan

If you can't argue the message, shoot the messenger

kronan

Yep, building R days is ALL about building blocks that you can completely conflict and make go away so you can Cherry Pick Conflicted trips and be awarded things your Seniority would never hold.
Pay no attention to the Actual Contractual Language about how R lines have to be built in the bidpack.
And Pay NO Attention to the type of flying R days are Built to protect.

How many 15 day trips are there in the Bus now?