ShyGuy

Who remembers VX’s “Ignore crewmember credit threshold after pilot XX.” Aka, get ready to be hosed. It was sparingly used but a different management team could use it like hot cakes. Fact remains the current AS contract is written for and based on line bidding. Many parts need to be modified/changed before we adopt any PBS program. Then there’s the issue of unstacking. PBS programs handle that differently, depending on the software.

Niobe

Considering how insanely far behind the rest of the industry your guys contract is, these would be must haves for PBS:

1. Calendar Daily averaging RIG of 5:15 minutes and Calendar Day hard non averaging Rig of 5:00. This will fix your ridiculous pairings with 18.5 credit four days and 12 credit 3 days.

2. Contract Defined credit windows (ex: low 72-82, mid 75-90, high 90+) These must be defined during the vote including how and or what % of pilots are allowed in each one.

3. Average line Value language including caps on it. How it is determined and when it is allowed to go higher i.e. 3 months a year etc..

4. Only allow a PBS system that using linear logic NO GLOBAL ALGORITHIMS.

5. Defined Industry Standard Unstacking Limits/Credit Push Limits. Without these, get ready to be forced to work on days your seniority could hold off, because of insufficient manning (which at Alaska is constant).

6. Contract Language Defining every code, when it could be used, and what the code is worth. Prohibition against adding additional codes without Union agreement. Industry standard pro-ration tables also.

7. Misaward contract language defining what a misaward is, when it happens, what to do, and the remedy procedure. Define significant penalties the company incurs when not following these procedures.

8. 5:15 credit per day for a week of vacation. Ability to slide and/or add 2-3 vacation days per week of vacation depending on vacation balance.


9. Union access to administration side of the software and auditing of all PBS files and publication rights to all PBS files and data.

Without all of this get ready for PBS to be weaponized against the pilot group.

GreatBigSea

I’m with you.

That 3 day everyone hates because it’s so unproductive? I’m from that city and I want to see family so I’ll take them all, even if it means working more days. With PBS it was never a problem, but with line bidding they’re spread out across 30+ lines and it’s almost impossible to get more than 2 each month.

WutFace

Apparently MEA's dataset is painfully out of date. Just like his predictions about the fleet plan, his declaration about "an overwhelming majority" may have been true in 2006, but is no longer.

There's been 1400 pilots added in the last 5 years who don't have any allegiance to the "traditional" ways that Alaska does its schedules.

Adapt or die. It's that way with a fleet plan. It's also true with PBS.

Flaps1check

“2. Contract Defined credit windows (ex: low 72-82, mid 75-90, high 90+) These must be defined during the vote including how and or what % of pilots are allowed in each one”

One window 65-95, pilots will fly what the want. This provides flexibility to a wide range of pilot needs.

flysnoopy76

Given today’s email it appears they are leaning more towards the die option rather than adapt.

Flaps1check

Not to mention there has been a portion of the traditional alaska pilots that have become aware of the benefits. However I’m not willing to go back to PBS without considerable financial and scheduling improvements. I’m more than happy to stay on line bidding with the addition of ADG and full conflict pay protection and no requirements to pick back up.

rickair7777

Practical problem with that... if EVERYBODY bids 65 hours in a given moth, flying is uncovered.

The tiered approach is more realistic, company can plan for staffing.

Alternatively, everyone could "opt in" to a specific tier of their choice for the following year and the company could staff accordingly.

Flaps1check

Flying was covered with a 70-90 Or flex 75-95 at VX. Their staffing isn’t my concern, bidding flexibility is my concern. Other airlines have large windows, pilots fly a lot, a little, and in the middle.

GreatBigSea

And for those worried about "unstacking", all it takes is a work rule saying "unstacking will not occur above 'X' seniority in each base'.

VX didn't have this, which meant some senior pilots got hosed while junior pilots wound up with holidays off.