Latest FCIF from the brain trust.... Can they even do this unilaterally? This, of course, assumes that they would ever approve ANY R-Day move/drops.

In accordance with CBA Section 2, Definition 76.1, we recently provided to
the Association the material aspects of a forthcoming change to our
objective criteria. Specifically, effective with the processing of R-day
move/drop submissions that affect the July, 2011 bid period, Crew Resource
Scheduling will not approve those which seek a block of less than four (4)
consecutive R-days in the following four bases (both seats):
HKG 30
ANC11
LAX11
MEM77
We have determined the R-day blocks of a shorter length, in these four
bases, are inefficient and in many cases unusable. To the extent that this
information might affect you, please consider it when bidding for the July,
2011 bid period and beyond.

Had a R day drop disapproved for "Sufficient Reserves" three times.
.

No more days off due to the lack of crew efficiency and they are unable to utilize us on said days.

I know at least one reason why this may be an issue. Someone asked me about reserve in ANC if you lived in domicile. Since I don't do it, I checked the bottom 15-20 folks on reserve for May just to see if they were getting used.
Quite a few had chopped up their reserve schedule into multiple 2 and 3 day blocks after starting with two large blocks. Obviously, they weren't getting a lot of action since the shorter trips aren't that plentiful in ANC.

Can't blame them for working the system if the 'puter lets them. I think someone's on to them now, though.

Lots of scheduling "rules" have been imposed by FCIF (SUB for example). This is just one more example

Just curious then, how did SUB get into an actual contract then? Everytime I go into SUB, I am amazed that we have something like this. I certainly understand why the company loves it.

Does this mean that all trips will now be a minimum of four days at these bases? ;-)

Crew members should be able to get released now with 3 days or less of reserve remaining, right?

I'm sure this is covered in the contract.. somewhere.. not that we'd dispute anything the company wanted to do.

Probably IS covered in the contract "somewhere" - maybe even in the section of the contract (CBA) that the company quoted in the FCIF

Section 2 - 76.1

76. SUBMISSIONS
1. Except as provided in 2., below, submissions (e.g., for bid line adjustments) shall be processed in the order specified in the Agreement and shall be granted or denied based on uniformly applied, objective criteria, material aspects of which shall be supplied to the Association in writing prior to implementation, including any subsequent changes.
2. No bid line adjustment submission shall be unreasonably denied; however, with the approval of the Vice President, Flight Operations or the System Chief Pilot, a bid line adjustment submission may be denied for reasons other than those under item 1. In such cases, the denial shall be reported to the Association within 3 days and shall specify the reasons for the denial.