JohnBurke

You inserted your own words into a quote attributed to me: a lie.

Don't attempt to put words in my mouth. I speak very well for myself.

Speak for yourself, if you think you're able.

captjns

I flew for a 6 aircraft 121 PAX ACMI and 30 aircraft CARO 121 operations. For the most part the 30 aircraft ACMI operation awarded schedule was 99% dead nuts on with the exception of MX, pilot health, Wx, or pop-up charter (voluntary acceptance with extra pay) issue.

Now the 6 aircraft ACMI operation was a whole different story. The awarded schedule was an 8 1/2 X 11 piece of pape with Alpha Numerics, but that not important now. That could prove to be challenging, especially when you are expecting to be home by a certain date. It happened, but that's what the ACMI world for small ACMI operations were 24 years ago. Job opportunities were limited. However extra compensation was paid to keep the aircraft flying. At least the hotel points kept on accumulating and good free breakfasts at most hotels we stayed.

CardboardCutout

Unless things have changed radically, it's pretty simple at Omni. If you want known flying and can hold it (tends to go senior, even when it probably shouldn't), you'll almost certainly fly your line. If you're on reserve (and a.whole lot of people are), well, you're on reserve. So life is now a box of chocolates.

eastcoastflyer1

It's happening all the time now. I usually bid for known flying and every month this year there has been some kind of change. Of course things can happen such as MX issues but on this particular upcoming trip the entire crew was replaced.

The company waited until our bids were finalized for the following month and the next day I got a schedule change. We are talking about a trip ten days out and it's still flying as scheduled. They are trying to save money on commercial travel and nothing in the contract prevents them from doing it. I already talked to the union about it the last month when it happened and there is nothing they can do.

Sure, if you bid for something CONUS they aren't going to pull you from it because it doesnt make much difference to fly someone in economy. But when it comes to buying a international business class ticket, they found people who were closer and could save money. I called the company out on it and their response was it was "operationally better for them". They told me to pound sand and call the CP if I have a problem with it.

eastcoastflyer1

Things have changed radically. See my previous post. They are taking away awarded known flying and replacing with junior crew if it saves them money.

This isn't the same place you left and it's deterioriting by the day.

nitefr8dog

Except you didn't.

JohnBurke

Calling sick because you don't like a legal trip assigment or because you're dissatisfied with being removed from your line (or different flying assigned than "known" on your line) is a protest against preference, and tantamount to a job action: an unwise choice, particularly in certain climates. You understand, of course.

If one is going to pick one's battles, do so when one has a leg upon which to stand.

Guppydriver95

Only problem is that the pilot, and only the pilot, determine their fitness for duty. Many things that would require a sick call would NOT require a doctor’s visit. Management can try to bully, but they’d lose.

captjns

Except when a pattern exists where one seems to come down with an illness at a convenient time to avoid an undesirable sequence. But that's up to HR to determine actions, if any to be taken.

JohnBurke

Or a chief pilot. In any event, if there are no contractual protections for line flying, and no line guarantees (one can't show harm if given a trip not on one's line, or removed from a trip, when one wouldn't break guarantee), then advocating calling in sick to avoid flying one doesn't want to do borders on a job action, and certianly could merit diciplinary action. As you note, a pattern may certainly warrant such. It's not only an HR matter, however.

If one calls in sick, an employer is quite justified in requiring a doctors note, both to verify the illness, and to show the pilot is fit to return. An employer who suspects the employee is lying, may very well make such a request. That may make such a game expensive, and presents jeopardy.

If that employee group were to be in negotiations, and negotiations were to be tense, allegations of calls for job actions, sick-outs, or other action that's not backed up by a CBA, would be damaging to that process. Particuarly such a call on a public forum. Counseling others to call in sick when they don't get what they want certainly lends credence to an allegation of job action, and in the least, may result in disciplinary action to those following that counsel. Either way, nothing good comes of the call or the fallout. The call loses its efficacy when advertised in advance. Such as here.