Not picking on you Ben and Quint, but you had several good points I wanted to comment on.

I posted awhile ago and I'll say it again. I did a mock conflict bid scenario between 3 months, (don't remember, for ex. Jan-Feb-Mar) and I was able to match over 40% of the lines up at the beginning of the month with some sort of a conflict. It may not have been a big one, but it was something. About 40% of the other lines I was able to match up with the end of the month conflict. So in a perfect bid 80% of the pilots would end up with a conflict (swapping conflicts for each month). I realize you can't plan big things on those days, but I can always find something to do on a day off.



The reason we came up with the 4 days off in the first place is that we had very unproductive trips, and the company built trips with no 30 in 7 conflicts ever, so theoretically we could have worked 6 on 1 off 6 on 1 off etc. We still have horribly unproductive trips. This is because of our strategy of going somewhere once a day to go more destinations instead of frequency to fewer places. PBS would not solve that because the pairings that are built and put into PBS would still be horrible. I don't think a higher daily min would change that either, simply because the company doesn't have the frequency to make it work. It would end up the same trips with a higher min day for us (which of course I would be for).

You are correct that PBS helps out the top 20%, is probably the same for the middle 30%, and screws the bottom 50%. You have to decide where you are going to be when the merry go round stops. What you said above is true- in conflict bidding you screw the rest of the month to get what you need, but with PBS you do that same thing. Like you said, you can bid for days off but end up working the rest of the month harder for it. It has been much easier with red/green the trade my trips lately, so I don't see the benefit to me of PBS. It sure does benefit the company . It will delay upgrades with how much more efficient it can schedule us.

 

Sorry, but this is incorrect. Completely incorrect.

The Spirit CBA includes 5/4 days off between blocks of duty because the "ante union" Spirit work rules were 5 on, 5 off. Spirit was basically a supplemental carrier and everyone worked 5 on, 5 off. Those work rules were written into the first CBA, C1999.

Period, end of sentence.

If you doubt me, the answer can be found in the original negotiation notes, and reproduced in the neutrals opinion published back in 2009 when we won the 5/4 off arbitration. Check it out.

 

I generally agree, except……the red/green language only appears to be worth bragging about because we are overstaffed at present.

Section 25 R 4 a 1, does NOT include any sort of staffing formula. It says and I quote, "Required daily minimum reserve coverage will be established by the Company base on it's experience as to the number or required reserve pilots"

The only reason you're currently pleased with red/green is the fact that we are overstaffed. There is nothing (that I'm aware of, correct me if I'm wrong) that will stop the company from making every day red once that becomes the cheapest way for them to operate.

And yes, 5/4 days off is a double edged sword. It essentially forces all of us into 10/9 day rotations vs a more life matching 7 day rotation. i.e., 4 off equals six on. Don't get me wrong, I'm not willing to give it up, but I do understand that there is a downside to the 5/4 off rule.

 

Wow, skybolt, You know your sheet. You are clearly the ALPA historian. No spin with you sir.

 

I hear ya. A couple of things:

From what I've seen, your percentages on who gets the good deal vs. who gets screwed maybe a bit off. My experience thus far with PBS on 3 different aircraft in 2 different bases is that you need to be about 40-45% from the top of your category to get all weekends and holidays off (even Christmas). Below that, it really depends on the trip mix for your base/equipment. If there are lots of good trips, a good QOL can continue on down to I'd say the 60-65% guys. All depends on the trips in the bid pack. No doubt about it though, like you said, get much below that and all the good stuff is gone and you are all weekends and holidays-working boy.

On the vacation thing: Remember, I was talking about a month when you didn't even have an awarded vacation but invented one, you were talking about one where you do. And while you'll work more days the rest of the month to make up for it you're still picking the individual trips yourself, so you can lessen the pain.

 

Worked with PBS in the past.
It largely depends on programmed parameters and restrictions.
Where I was, it only benefited the very senior 20-30%.
The middle 30% was heavily dependent on what the top 30% would pick.
The bottom 40% was mostly unhappy.
Forget conflicts of any kind.
Less staffing, slower movement.
I would NEVER vote for PBS.

Green days are great while they last...
I believe the only restriction is a max of 25% red days per month.
CS can pick every single one of those days (weekends, holidays)

More efficient pairings, better daily credit, should be a priority.

Reserve rules need improvement and adherence to.
Currently there is no call out list.
CS has the "option" to chose who they call.
Either by credit, or by days available, you never know.
At most airlines, reserves know exactly what the call out priority is.

NO vote on the LOA.
Doesn't contract protect us from studying company manuals during distant learning?

 

As far as I understand it, this language is meant to ensure that the company isn't responsible for compensating us for being familiar with company manuals/procedures. There is nothing in the contract that prohibits the company from implementing some form of distance learning in lieu of traditional ground school.

 

Read the red/green part3 award to clarify this. The company CANNOT do what you stated, at all, ever.

 

I just flew a 4-day trip with a pretty senior CA, he told me that there is serious consideration for changing our ATC call sign from "Spirit Wings" to "Bare Fare". I guess it reflects the marketing strategy and all...

 

Let me file this is my, let me check....."pay no mind, nonsense" file.

"Pretty Senior CA"....haha, oh what other bits of knowledge does he posses.