AxlF16

Just so you guys at CAL know, that is NOT how the process works. It is now centrally managed by the pilot service center in Chicago. WHEN I have mil leave to put in my schedule I send them an email with the dates and they put it in the system. If I want to cover any dropped trip with my next years vacation I let them know (you can use 'mil vacation' one time per month). If we do that, it is treated like any other vacation drop for a lineholder...it pays the actual credit time of the dropped trip. If they request some verification that you were on duty, then you fax them orders/AF40/pay record. Putting mil leave into the system BEFORE the PBS run can help, but in can also hurt you pretty badly! Unless I have orders in hand, I won't submit dates just to beat the PBS run. Last year I was going to work my reserve job for almost the entire month of Dec (5-28) and tried to put it in before the early Nov PBS run. I didn't have orders yet...I was just trying to make the bid run smoother for lineholders jr to me. They would not put the 24th or 25th in the system since I didn't have the orders....even though I told them I would not be available! They did put in all the other days (4-23). So PBS gives me a trip on the 25th -- but nothing from 1-4!!! So it eventually got mil dropped. (Yes Krudawg, I was working the swing shift the entire week of Christmas at a National level Intel Ops watch center. I worked night shifts during the entire week spanning/including NY Eve.) We do have some guys who are very preoccupied when they think someone else is getting a 'better deal' than them. I also get to go to Afghanistan next spring. Krudawg, I hope you don't mind if I use mil leave to cover Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day...and my daughters HS graduation, my anniversary, and 2 of my 3 girls birthdays.

Sorry for the rant. Guys that have that attitude **** me off.

Short story. Mil leave at UA works smoothly...even with the recent move to centralized control in Chicago. If you abuse it (VERY small occurrence) then expect to be called out. I don't have any specific knowledge of abuses or guys being called out. I do know from experiencing/living the process that any abuses would be seen.

Best of luck to us all in securing the best of both contracts, significant improvements in scope and pay, and building a great culture!

luv757

I worked Christmas two years ago while someone junior to me had it off due the fact I put in my mil leave early for an early december drill weekend. Our ****ty PBS system wigged out when it couldn't build me an all weekend line in to get me Christmas off.

I really gamed the system on that one

EWRflyr

If you are talking about JT, then good for you! (And thanks).

krudawg

I get it. You guys hide behind federal law, and sharpshoot the system. The only problem with your denials are the facts speak for themselves. BTW, thanks for your service.

krudawg

>> I don't have any specific knowledge of abuses or guys being called out. I do know from experiencing/living the process that any abuses would be seen.<<
There are reams of data that conflict with what you are saying. I know for a fact that, in the past, Flight Managers have pulled their hair out over Mil leave abuse ( not all leave but just enough to reak havoc on the system schedule). The way it operates currently, with MIL leave going through the Pilot Service Center, may be just another attempt for the Company to manage the abuses. Please don't resort to name calling and inappropriate comments ("grow up" as you said in an earlier post) to make your arguments as they tend show some immaturity.
BTW, thanks for your service.

AxlF16

Are you this firm in your convictions when it comes to contract compliance? If you knew me, you would probably also think that I hide behind my contract and sharpshoot that system as well.

Honest question. Are you veteran, and if so did you serve in the reserves concurrent with your airline employment?

Thanks for thanking me for my service

AxlF16

Wow! Reams? I doubt it.

They have also pulled their hair out over what they consider sick leave abuse. Do you agree with THAT conclusion? Were they right to chase that ball? Your factual knowledge of what has concerned flight managers and your apparent support of their conclusions is very telling. Me -- I don't put to much stock into company witch hunts.

Did you come up with this theory on your own? Wake up Krudawg, the company is consolidating EVERYTHING to Chicago! We used to deal with the flight office staff for mil leave...guess what? THEY'RE GONE. Their jobs were transferred to the pilot service center in Chicago. Did you support AMS?

Your response to an honest question was laced with sarcasm and bitterness. The worst part is that you played it in this joint comm setting as FACT. It is NOT. You are one of a small minority of pilots with a chip on their shoulder over what you PERCEIVE as abuse. I wouldn't have bothered responding if you posted this on the UAL forum, but you had to post it here.

I'll try to keep my service from appearing to give me a better deal than you have. **Now THAT was sarcasm!**

bearcat

I have to chime in on this one......

I was/am one of the CAL guys who had at least 2 of the issues mentioned in the lawsuit.

I MIL leave at my leisure to get the time off that I need to perform military duty. I even MIL LOA my airline job so that I had Thanksgiving, Christmas, and new years off from my airline job.

I'll have you know that my Military duty took me to Iraq/ Afghanistan over Thanksgiving, Christmas, and new years. I was delivering 500# packages to the taliban (sts). They deserved every effing ounce. I wont go on about the several TDY's that seem to appear every 3 months or so where I will be on orders here or there.

If you think you have walked a mile in a MIL pilots shoes, you are wrong. If you have walked a mile in a mil pilots shoes post nam and pre 2003, you have no idea what the current ops tempo is like.

If you want to discuss what your problems are regarding MIL pilots on LOA, I'll be more than willing to educate you on the modern day military pilot. I think AXLF16 will be with me.

If airline MGT has issues with MIL LOA, then maybe a well written letter to their senator informing them of their displeasure with the fact that we are a nation at WAR, and we didn't ask for it, and that it is interfering with the airline ops. I don't care about people who think this is an issue. Get over it. We are at WAR! there are Americans dying on the battlefield. Sorry if we interrupt your Lindsay jail time programming.

rant over -W-

ps- I'm on MIL LOA right now!

krudawg

Yes, I am a Vietnam Veteran and did not serve in the reserves concurrent with Airline employment.
Please step off your exaulted soap box and know that the jig is up. You remind me of the cop in the Humphry Bogart movie Casablanca which took place in Algiers(I think) during WW2, who said "I'm shocked, at what you are saying"
YOU may not know of any abuses but most of the pilots who have to cover the MIL Leave sharpshooters know your strategy well. Clean up your act and fly straight and you will avoid cranks like me

krudawg

Sound of 2 violins playing "Whoa is me".....Just a few points. YOU volunteered for the reserves. After I fought in Vietnam, I CHOSE NOT to joint the reserves. Federal law allows Military Rsv's to sharpshoot the system. If you want to attend your reserve duty; use your seniorty to do it..NOT mine!
Anyone else want to lob in a few grenades before they lock the thread?????????????