Need a safe space?

Hmmm. Not familiar with what happened to the airline industry over the last couple of decades?

Hired 2000, furloughed 2002.
Recalled 2007, stayed on mil leave until 2008.
Went out on mil leave in 2009 before being furloughed.
Furloughed while on mil leave.
Recalled to the LCAL side in 2012.
Out on LTD in 2013
Returned to flying in 2015.

So a total of a bit more than 5 years on reserve, with large breaks for extended vacations.

Flew with someone who had been out 14 years. Continuous. Delayed returning from the first recall as long possible, then took maternity leave. By the time she could return they were already furloughing again. Took a recall in 2014.

How many Short Calls per Bid period the company is allowed to assign a pilot or a pilot pick up for extra pay?

Is there a maximum?

After 2 unused SC's, you get 1 hour of add pay per SC with no maximum that I know of.

I was scheduled for 8 SC's one month and not used on any of them. I subsequently received 6 hours of add pay because of it.

I was looking at the reserve list at the end of last month. I think I had 4 unused SCs in March. One guy on the list had 10 unused SCs in March. ... if you're used on SC, that SC will not be added to your totals.

So no, I don't think there's a maximum but you don't get assigned/can't pick up SCs if your available days don't fit their silos.

Yes and no. There are some minor technicalities to the proper solution. While you might want to consider it "add pay", the addition is actually added to your MPG.

In order to get paid for the SC, it must remain "unused".

You will see additions of 1 hour pay for each unused SC after your second and up through the 5th regardless as to whether you pick it up or it is assigned. After your 5th, contractually you are only to be paid on those SC's that are assigned. I won't comment on how IT is dealing with the determination of "assigned" v "aggressively picked up" as that is not prudent on a public forum. :)

I've never aggressively picked up a SC, only assigned by scheduling.

That's a passive pickup.

There is NO limit to the amount of SC's the company can assign to an individual pilot. That's right, NO LIMIT! After the 2nd UNUSED short-call you get an hours pay for each SC picked up OR Assigned up to 5 SC. After 5 assigned or pick up SC an individual pilot will only receive an hours pay IF they are ASSIGNED a SC. However, apparently IT has not programed the pay properly and I am told a pilot can pick up additional SC"s after 5 SC and still get paid.- this may change when our crack IT department changes the code for payroll - if they haven't done so by now