Yes in advance. A 4 day for 3 day will never happen the day of or day before. Same thing for moving work days up and down the week. You should be able to trade for the good stuff as long as it pops up prior to 9am the day before of the trip start, after that it depends on the situation.
As an example they never have and never will allow you to call in the day prior say at 5pm and drop your 7am start for a 7pm start the next day. It doesn't make a difference if you change the system to something different they will never allow that. Or if they build trips with the remaining open time specifically to fit a reserves time or duty requirements.

 

The independent contractor mentality lives. Why do we even have a union? These letter writers to management could save me 1.95%.

I should have written letters about the crew meals to senior management and not wasted my time with pdrs. I guess the management comment about the purpose of a crew meal was to pass the time away was just small talk. To think if I had written him a letter, it would have saved the company/alpa $$$$ spent on the crew meal arbitration.


Signed,

Paranoid and Hot headed

 

Just bid reserve. Life is much easier that way. I haven't flown in 5 weeks

 

What domo? They appear to be hosing the DC 777 F/O's this month and last.

 

I'm pretty sure I never said anything about not going through the appropriate ALPA channels. Filing a PDR does not preclude the individual from talking to their managers as a professional. As a member of ALPA I will support the union at every opportunity I can, but I do not give up my rights to advocate for myself when I feel a need. Take for example the recent trouble surrounding IOE and having the flying FO moved to IRO. I filed a PDR, talked to my ALPA rep, made sure there was a Grievance in place, and then spoke to my manager and expressed my opinion that this was not correct and could they please provide me with an order to fly. Nothing nefarious. Not end running the union, but not hiding behind the union either.

 

EWR 777 for now. It was rough all summer long, but now since the summer flying has backed off everyone is picking up the open time left and right. Including out of base pilots from ORD and DCA taking our crappy LHR 3 day trips. Have at it. I'll stay home and collect my guarantee pay. Looks like I'm off to DEN for another landings class

 

Of course you never mentioned filing a PDR. You suggested writing the VP of Flt Ops, share your feelings, and inform them of their wrongs in hopes of change. Your comment is pretty clear. Your omission of a PDR and ALPA channels does not imply tacit approval of those methods. No Joe, what you actually imply undercuts ALPA when they go to the company and "complain" on my behalf.

It makes it difficult for a union to interact with the company when pilots write to "share their feelings." All the company has to is provide a handful of "Joe Peckesque" letters when the union walks in and say your pilots don't feel the way you do. What happens when a bunch of narrowbody pilots write letters of feelings contrary to an issue the union is advocating on behalf of widebody pilots?

Why do you think the union asked you to get an order to fly on the flying fo/bunky issue? Was it to offer you an avenue to put your foot down and voice your displeasure, or could the order to fly offer you a recourse in the future if the union grievance proves successful?

Here's an idea sunvox, you want to share your feelings with the company, do it via the union to allow for a single voice on my representation. Stop undercutting my 1.95%.

 

Cue the "What the heck is a PDR?" reply from someone....

 

Well again I simply disagree. Nothing I have ever written was contrary to union desires or policy. In fact in nearly every instance the issue is either a violation of our contract or a grossly abusive interpretation, and just as you claim the company can say Peckesque letters don't support the union position the company can just as easily say "No one has filed a single complaint about trading so there must not be a problem."

Politics, business, and life are complex. Rarely does one shoe fit all. Telling folks that the only way to voice their concerns about their job is through the union is like telling someone to fight with one hand tied behind their back. Most of us know what the union position is and I would hope we all do our part to advocate that position when we interact with our managers. When ALPA starts hiring pilots and sending them paychecks then maybe we can all stop interacting with our managers and just go through the union for all our concerns. In the meantime your position is almost laughably naive.

 

Sunvox, I hate to keep riding on your "coattails" but you are doing a GREAT job of stating what I wish MORE pilots would do!! I also worked in the ALPA office for 3 yrs and wish people would "grow a pair" and take some of the minor issues into their own hands. PDR's are a Great resource, some of the reason we have them is because there is a % of the pilot group that doesn't feel comfortable talking to Mgt. for lack of trust issues!! (some well deserved!) As far as independent contractor I guess that must be a new "merger catch phrase!" so I can't comment on that since all my independent dealing with Mgt were personal issues that may help all pilots in the future! And Special T I gave you an example of talking to Mgt directly about 4-day trips! I filled a PDR on said issue no response then went to road show and heard everyone complain about this issue! Greg H. said is this really that big of an issue WE said yes and the problem was fixed in next bid packet!! It's politics ST, both ALPA and the Company want to take credit that THEY fixed the problem I KNOW I saw it all the time when I worked in there! (sort of sad) But, my bottom line is I don't care who fixes it as long as it gets fixed!!