So will we be able to bid for training dates for seat movement resulting from this big bid?

Or is this the last gasp of the company controlling our training dates?

I am tired of having my training date moved 3 times, and not being able to plan my life for 1-2 years in the future.

 

According to the NC, the new filling of vacancy system is phase four... assuming you believe the NC anymore. According to the implementation letter in the TA, phase 4 target date is Novemeber 2016 with a May 2017 deadline.

 

That's why it had to be an 8 yr contract. To give the company enough time to implement all the things that might cost them something.

 

I don't think the new system bid system is going to cost the company anything. They will go to smaller bids, looking out a few months at a time. Few very individuals will receive slot denial payments. Whereas under the old system, large groups of people could have passover pay for long periods of time.

 

Like the rest of the world......

At my former carrier they announced the classes every month for the next month. A few days later, a practice bid. A few days after it, the final bid. Worked like buttah.

 

I don't understand the Minimum Staffing Level and the Maximum Staffing Level . Why doesn't the company , who sets those levels , just put out the "Exact" staffing level ? That's what they are going to end up with anyway. When they do the new system bids do they start at sen #1 and go down the entire list every time there is a new system bid ?

PS..........I understand how the staffing levels work , I just don't understand the need for them.

 

A reasonable person might think that ... but that takes both long term planning and someone in Flight Ops having the authority to hire when they're short handed. It would also take someone who could figure out when folks will be turning 65 (3rd grade math?) so they could plan accordingly.

That's not how it works around here. If you think you have a better idea or could do it better ... trust me when I tell you that Management doesn't want your input, sadly they're not even the slightest bit interested.

It's a funny way to run a multi-billion dollar Corporation? Many Fortune 100 Companies encourage input and even reward good ideas with bonuses.

Is Corporate Management happy with their "Flight Ops Yes Men" that don't question authority? That would be disappointing!*?

Once upon a time this company valued their employees. These days, it's profit and stockholders return on investment that's important (and it would be nice if we could get the packages to the customers on time, we'll try to do it safely).

It's a shame ... with just a little bit of leadership and authority this could be a REALLY good job. It should be a really good job. Contract negotiations were disappointing. I once worked at an airline where we couldn't get anything done until we started flying around with the speed brakes extended. Fuel burn skyrocketed and, all of a sudden, Management wanted to "talk."

I've seen too many Management pilots that I thought were smart, forward looking thinkers. Maybe they would change (fix?) things? It's never happened. I hope it does one day ...

MM

 

I see by the 1-29-2016 message from the NC that section 24 ( filling of vacancies ) is "up in the air". Seems like this is a pretty important section to most pilots. Could this not be handled manually until automation is settled ? On the other hand , maybe everyone likes the old method better and are not in a hurry to implement the new section 24 ???

 

Gosh, I'm surprised the company didn't propose this us sooner, then.

 

The Western Airlines post that TonyC shared is the proverbial "putting lipstick on a pig" IMHO....