How's about anything over $46K goes towards my new boat payment.

This is a big one. I see it ALL THE TIME. I've been on both ends of this stick.

In the last month I sat reserve, two guys were assigned trips that should have been assigned to me. One was for no good reason other than I heard they said "it fit better." The other, they moved a day on another guy instead of assigning to me.

In other months, I've been assigned trips that should have gone to someone else when I had heaps of leveling. I was quoted the above provision when I asked about it.

I've also had R-days moved on me to assign trips to me when there were others who could have covered them.

Other things we could do to improve scheduling that are low-cost/no-cost;

-Allow a pilot to pick up another pilots R-days, just like we can do with trips.

-Enforce the provision allowing us to move R-days. Contract says no "unreasonable" request will be denied. That's pile of bovine excrement. I had single R-day move from the front to the back of a block of R-days repeatedly denied with 6 guys on reserve covering 3 flights with nothing in open time (3 max indicated) in a place with only one spare aircraft.

-Relax rules on trading R-days for trips. I recently had a pilot willing to trade a one-day trip for two of my R-days. VIPS would not even allow entry of the trade saying that a pilot can only trade an entire block of R-days for a trip. No crew rest issues, no conflicts, nothing. The company ultimately lost on this one as I had to bump on an R-day to get landings for the same trip!!! Doesn't make any sense at all and wouldn't cost the company anything to allow.

My guess is that improving reserve rules is a pipe dream since reserve generally goes junior in this company. Past actions by the Mustache Mafia would indicate low priority for fixing anything that applies mostly to the junior folk. Proof otherwise would be a pleasant surprise.

Now, I'm really confused....

Didn't I read on this forum that reserve was going senior. Because they can scam the system. Or, is it only the carryover reserve lines that go senior?

And, when you talk about not fixing anything for the "junior folk"...Aren't many of the "junior in their seat" widebody captains actually quite senior "systemwide"? You can(or used to able to) go from a very senior 727 S/O, to a very junior MD11 F/O, in one bid. So, who are the Mustache Mafia not looking out for? You as a senior S/O...Or, you as a junior F/O?

I just don't think this JUNIOR vs. SENIOR, they're out to get us argument, holds water.

And, the reserve section of work rules at FDX has arguably had the most improvements of any section in the contract. Doesn't anyone remember when reserve used to be 24/7, with a 1 hour callout?

I might be able to help out. Some reserve goes very senior, R-24 with C/O. Some goes Junior, RA. But the bottomline is the last guy on the list will be on reserve for quite a while. Especially with Age 60 and the proliferation of O&B lines.

Reserve is better then when we flew Falcons but that does not mean that it can't get better. That also dosen't mean scheduling should play favorites.

But R-24 really does suck, they hose me every month. Don't know why I keep going back!

You still think they did a Good Job?

How are your trips and quality of life since the lines have been optimzed?

Do you realize you probably lost about 2 yrs worth of seniority/seat progression as a result of this. That's two years less Captains pay.

Did you know that BC signed a "secret letter" during negotiations that said it was ok for the company to optimize.

Other than a 3% cost of living raise and a 1% increase to your B fund, what did you as an A300 FO really get?

delete delete

Yeah, I remember it but that's no excuse for how the reserve guys are scheduled, and certainly no excuse for selling the reserves down the river on this contract!!!! I wrote the NC, under BC, about ALL these reserve problems and they blew it off (probably in favor of their "grid"). BC and his gang made the reserves worse!!!

Remove the current MEC members, then the MEC officers first. Then you can talk about removing ALPA if that doesn't solve the problem.

What I'd submit though is that if you fail to find support for your position, then you're out of step with the crew force -- even if you're right.

I'm not a BC/NC apologist but I will stick with my "overall good job" comment. Granted, I stand reserve in Memphis so I have not experienced those optimized lines. I know folks who have had massive heartburn with BC. After they flew a trip with him and had conversations over a beer, they were way more comfortable with what we got in 2006. Not the best contract but that is what this thread is about. How can we improve it? Limiting the optimizer was on my list. I voted for the contract so I won't slam BC and his crew. I will look for improvements on the next one.