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The TA sick language doesn't solve SL abuse.

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Old 06-30-2015, 02:20 PM
  #1  
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Default The TA sick language doesn't solve SL abuse.

It solves staffing problems. Sick leave abuse is solved by identifying and terminating pilots who abuse it. Delta already does this.

The overall intent of the new SL language is to reduce the use of SL across the board. What that means is that pilots who are sick but "could" fly if they self medicate (using only FAA approved meds, of course) will now be more inclined to do so.

Why?

Because pilots do not like to spend money and time on a doctor's note when they have no other reason to see a doctor. Because pilots do not like to be on "bad boy" lists.

Notice that there is no more voluntary sick verification. That's not an accident. Mess up your back for a few days after playing volleyball, or come down with a sinus infection? You call in sick and you go to the doctor? Great. Can you verify?

No. You don't have 15 days on the books yet.

Now, you have 12 days on the books and you wake up a few hours before check in for a three day and you are sick. It's a cold. You feel bad. You should call in sick.

But wait. If you do, you will be required to verify, no exceptions. Do you like your health plan? How about paying $150 for a doctor's note for a cold that he can do nothing about? Because you are in a new deductible year and your other 12 days were in last year?

Maybe you should load up on Sudafed and Ibuprofen and just go to work. It's easier, cheaper and you don't get put on "the list".

Is this you? Maybe, maybe not. But you can bet it will be enough pilots that sick calls will decrease. Sick calls from pilots who are actually sick, and who will come to work sick. That is what Delta wants. Fewer sick calls===> fewer cancellations with chronic minimum reserve staffing ===> fewer pilots needed.

This is exactly what the sick leave language is all about, folks. Delta may have fooled Dalpa into believing it is about "abuse", but it is not. It is about staffing and hiring.

Think about it.
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Old 06-30-2015, 02:24 PM
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There is no ABUSE!

If there was, those pilots would be cut loose.

How about the folks that went on long term disability just before bankruptcy? Still getting half pay under C2K until retirement.

This sick section is gross overreach.
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Old 06-30-2015, 02:40 PM
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Originally Posted by EGTrise
It solves staffing problems. Sick leave abuse is solved by identifying and terminating pilots who abuse it. Delta already does this.

The overall intent of the new SL language is to reduce the use of SL across the board. What that means is that pilots who are sick but "could" fly if they self medicate (using only FAA approved meds, of course) will now be more inclined to do so.

Why?

Because pilots do not like to spend money and time on a doctor's note when they have no other reason to see a doctor. Because pilots do not like to be on "bad boy" lists.

Notice that there is no more voluntary sick verification. That's not an accident. Mess up your back for a few days after playing volleyball, or come down with a sinus infection? You call in sick and you go to the doctor? Great. Can you verify?

No. You don't have 15 days on the books yet.

Now, you have 12 days on the books and you wake up a few hours before check in for a three day and you are sick. It's a cold. You feel bad. You should call in sick.

But wait. If you do, you will be required to verify, no exceptions. Do you like your health plan? How about paying $150 for a doctor's note for a cold that he can do nothing about? Because you are in a new deductible year and your other 12 days were in last year?

Maybe you should load up on Sudafed and Ibuprofen and just go to work. It's easier, cheaper and you don't get put on "the list".

Is this you? Maybe, maybe not. But you can bet it will be enough pilots that sick calls will decrease. Sick calls from pilots who are actually sick, and who will come to work sick. That is what Delta wants. Fewer sick calls===> fewer cancellations with chronic minimum reserve staffing ===> fewer pilots needed.

This is exactly what the sick leave language is all about, folks. Delta may have fooled Dalpa into believing it is about "abuse", but it is not. It is about staffing and hiring.

Think about it.

In regards to the new sick leave policy, this post says it all.



+.26%!!!
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Old 06-30-2015, 03:20 PM
  #4  
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Originally Posted by EGTrise
Notice that there is no more voluntary sick verification. That's not an accident.
That is the key to the whole sick time issue, and they know it. There is no good way to preserve unverified sick time in this TA.

We need unverified sick time.

Because there are lots of reasons why we cannot fly and yet at the same time cannot verify a sickness. Im sure you can think of more than a few.

I don't know, maybe you are getting a divorce. Maybe your parents were in a terrible accident. Maybe your teenage daughter got pregnant. There may be lots of reasons you are temporarily or suddenly emotionally unfit to fly for a day or more. You can't go to a doctor to get a note for that and its not your chief pilot's or DHS's business to know your personal problems.

Oh, I forgot. Pilots are supermen. We don't have personal problems.

But the bean counters and desk jockeys can just pop a Xanax and go to work. No problem.
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Old 06-30-2015, 03:37 PM
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It is a huge safety issue. It amazes me that our "union" has completely glossed over it.
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Old 06-30-2015, 07:00 PM
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isn't the irony of all this the fact that ALPA was formed to protect against this very thing
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Old 06-30-2015, 07:06 PM
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Originally Posted by MrBojangles
isn't the irony of all this the fact that ALPA was formed to protect against this very thing
It's virtually a billboard advertisement of how badly ALPA has lost its way. The founders of ALPA would be in tears if they could see how ALPA has been so co-opted by airline managements.

Carl
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Old 06-30-2015, 07:29 PM
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Originally Posted by Carl Spackler
It's virtually a billboard advertisement of how badly ALPA has lost its way. The founders of ALPA would be in tears if they could see how ALPA has been so co-opted by airline managements.

Carl
Plus 2015 and then some.
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Old 06-30-2015, 07:50 PM
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Embarrassing. C2012 > C2015 TA.
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Old 07-01-2015, 09:37 AM
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Originally Posted by ronnie75
Embarrassing. C2012 > C2015 TA.
While profits are 5X as much and debt is 2/3 less.
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