Diesel1030

Hey all,
Might be looking to get hired at a regional when I come off orders this month. Just curious how reservists are delt with at your particular airline? Any hangups? Any insights appreciated at any regional!

Speedbird172

Deleted, completely misinterpreted the question, my bad.

WeaselBoy

No problems so far. Half my class was Air Guard, AF Reserve, or Army (like me).

rickair7777

Two regionals, no real problems so far. Legally, they are pretty limited in what they can do to you, but if they wanted to be nasty they could turn off your travel benefits when you're on orders. The first time mesa did that to me on a DWE, I called the duty CP and told him I would not be able to make my show time the following morning, but I would be willing to return to work as soon as they re-activated my travel bennies. They had no reserves so they canx my flights, but they never tried that crap again.

SKW requests that you submit your leave "request" prior to the first for the following month...this allows them to pre-assign it in PBS, otherwise you might have an ackward interuption point in a trip. This usually works well for me, although I did explain to them that I would not always be able to notify them that early.

The key is to understand the rules and your rights...be cooperative to the greatest extend possible (early notice, don't do AT in late DEC every year, etc).

But always reserve the right to do what you need in order to do your duty, further your military career, and take care of your finances. I will be flexible with the airline as long as I don't interfere with those things. You are a commodity to the airline, so don't take anything too personally with them. It's not a real job where you're the only, or best suited, person for certain tasks.

SaltyDog

Diesel,
Part of a repost on your legal rights for a FYI. There is a federal law that mandates that every employer regardless of size treats you uniformly with regard to your reserve duties.
Have extensive experience working with an employer and the Uniformed Services Employment and Remployment Rights Act (USERRA). The Department of Labor (DOL) administers the law through their Veterans Employment & Training Service (VETS) whose job is designed to
" provide veterans and transitioning service members with the resources and services to succeed in the 21st century workforce by maximizing their employment opportunities, protecting their employment rights and meeting labor-market demands with qualified veterans today." They also handle complaints of all of us employees.

Here is the statute: http://www.usdoj.gov/crt/military/statute.htm or http://www.esgr.org/files/userra.pdf
UNIFORMED SERVICES EMPLOYMENT
AND
REEMPLOYMENT RIGHTS ACT OF 1994


Airlines however, can be woefully ignorant of the law. We are working hard where I am working to work through the challenges such as this one. Different company, same USERRA Law.
Here is the most important clause, it is the section that makes sure all of us knotheads will still serve Uncle Sam. Since we are all volunteers, Sam needs to give us cover to keep a civilian job. Just like the VETS mission statement <g>


§ 4311. Discrimination against persons who serve in the uniformed services and acts of reprisal prohibited (a) A person who is a member of, applies to be a member of, performs, has performed, applies to perform, or has an obligation to perform service in a uniformed service shall not be denied initial employment, reemployment, retention in employment, promotion, or any benefit of employment by an employer on the basis of that membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation. (b) An employer may not discriminate in employment against or take any adverse employment action against any person because such person (1) has taken an action to enforce a protection afforded any person under this chapter, (2) has testified or otherwise made a statement in or in connection with any proceeding under this chapter, (3) has assisted or otherwise participated in an investigation under this chapter, or (4) has exercised a right provided for in this chapter. The prohibition in this subsection shall apply with respect to a person regardless of whether that person has performed service in the uniformed services. (c) An employer shall be considered to have engaged in actions prohibited— (1) under subsection (a), if the person’s membership, application for membership, service, application for service, or obligation for service in the uniformed services is a motivating factor in the employer’s action, unless the employer can prove that the action would have been taken in the absence of such membership, application for membership, service, application for service, or obligation for service;
Title 38, United States Code, Chapter 43 – Employment and Reemployment Rights of Members of the Uniformed Services"

Here are some websites

Look at: http://www.dol.gov/vets/

also, the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) is a DOD program to help employers administer USERRA, They are a fantastic resource and talk with them almost daily, (what a goofy existence <g> ) helping my fellow buds out.
Their website is : www.esgr.org
For a great quick read useful on this topic brought up here, Click the "About ESGR" Icon on the top left, the click on "USERRA FAQ" in the right hand column.

One of your future best sites is from the Reserve Officer Association (ROA) where Navy Capt Samuel F. Wright JAG (Lawyer) who was one of the authors of the USERRA Law in 1994 gives opinions on the gray areas etc.

http://www.roa.org/site/PageServer?p...yk9yog33.app7b
if the link is bad I'll try to get back and fix it, but go to
www.roa.org. Click on “Legislative Affairs” then “ROA Law Reviews.

USERRA came out in 1994, it left alot of questions and problems of interpretation, so the DOL came out with "The Final Rules" in December of 2005. It is found at:

http://www.dol.gov/vets/regs/fedreg/...2005023961.htm

It is like a very detailed FAQ and very useful.


The question of your future reserve service should not come up in the interview.
That is blatantly illegal. I don't have time right now to post all the stautes, but it is summed up in the discrimination clause 4311 posted above.
You are completely protected if your military service is honorable. Example, you will be protected for pay and benefits of your new hire classmates even if you are gone your first year. An employer can extend your "probation" for observation purposes, but USERRA protects you to receive second year pay etc upon your return. Same with pension and medical/health benefits

The Uniformed Services Employment and Remployment Rights Act (USERRA) is very informative. Sadly, many airline HR's and scheduling depts , CP's are ignorant or misunderstand what the statutes really say. My desire is to help my fellow mil bubs be informed so they can be a productive "shared employee" and be successful in both careers.

Blkflyer

It would not make good PR for if any airline gave you a hard time and it got to the Media, Last time I checked we were Still At WAR...

Slice

We in the military and their families...the majority of the population has no clue. How has any of their lives changed given all that is going on? Where's their sacrifice? War bonds, rationing, etc.? Aside from TSA inconvenience, life hasn't changed or has at least reverted back to normal for most. Sad.

ghilis101

yes were at war, but as a fellow reservist i must respectfully point out that the general public has no obligation to be "at war" too. if their life has gone back to normal, though i suspect that for most it has not, then so be it and we have done our job as a military to protect our people. they dont need to "sacrifice" anything to us because it just hasnt reached any sort of level that would require something like that like the really major wars of the last century.

so, with all due respect, its not sad. its a great thing that our citizens can live their lives normally.

HercDriver130

Have to agree.... as someone who spent eight years on active duty ( 85- 93 )....i never felt like those "back home" needed to sacrifice........

PistolP

I've had no problems at Comair dropping orders.