Ottolillienthal

I will just briefly comment here. I took my share of military leave. Never had a problem with taking of the leave. It was always approved. I always provided orders either when requesting it, or when they were available.


However, It's never really been about taking of military leave. The company made it difficult to understand where the money went. When I talk to other military members over the years at various civilian employers and even in the airlines it surprised me greatly as to what their employers were doing and what Continental was NOT doing. I also know that my B fund match is wrong and I was cheated. I would love for ALPA to step in and provide an accounting of how much and how many military pilots were under-funded. I don't understand how the company arrives at their calculus.

I have had ACP's call my command when I inserted mil. leave after the PBS magic date complaining that inserting of MLLV after a certain date made it difficult for their scheduling computer to crunch the schedules out "fairly." And, furthermore, I have had the same manager tell my Commander that inserting military leave after the magic date was unfair to the non-military pilots and that I was achieving an unfair advantage in scheduling of trips because PBS would have to drop the conflicting trips.

I have met the US Navy Reservist who had a manager call the Pentagon, using a back-door contact with little to no real access trying to validate and verify this one Reservists' status and orders. The "contact" shall we say told CAL managers that no such reservist existed. This was quite embarrassing because their low level contact was so-so very wrong. The odd thing about this exchange of information was that CAL was using a guy who was the director of international flight operations, and not a CP, or ACP. Management was using another "manager" who was not really in the management chain of command. I believe this was deliberate on their part, trying to use someone who could give the management chain cover and plausible deniability.

I don't see it as a pro, or anti-ALPA issue. I don't think the CAL MEC elected the right local leadership to understand the issue and that the locally elected people were heavily influenced by the CAL managers and so they just naturally took the position that CAL management was right and that the military pilots were wrong. So, essentially any advocacy that CAL military pilots had came only from within the newly created military liaison committee. However, this committee was not empowered to file grievances or do any sort of legal work.

Surprisingly however, post merger, I have noticed some improvement. Not enough to get me excited. Even though we are very heavy HR in everything we do, it's my opinion that the HR people don't have this type of ESGR/USSERA training. I wonder if UAL management is attending any of the freely offered workshops for managers and labor relations specialists that are provided to assist in compliance? Those kinds of workshops give a better understanding of the issues, and can further diminish the need for self help (legal action). Much more proactive approach rather than being reactive.

One thing is for certain though. USSERA issues are being watched, and they are being watched by more than just ALPA and UAL management. There is not much more wiggle-room any more for "mistakes", "mis-interpretation", and "mis-applicaiton" of the law.

baseball

Thank You.

However, this is a fairly emotional issue for me. It has been very difficult knowing that you aren't getting the right kind of support when and where you need it. I try to be Pro ALPA, but I just feel let down. I tried to find some quotable quotes to take the emotion out of it, and to just let the facts speak for themselves. You can find more out there. What I posted was just the tip of the iceberg from a former CAL point of view.

There is allot of money involved. If you draw a line-diagram of the players involved and the money methodologies I think it will be interesting when Larry Kellner, Jacques LaPointe, Fred Abbot, Jay Pierce, and Randy Hodge all get deposed, as well as R/I committee members. If the moneys (with interest) get inserted into the appropriate pilots accounts without the need to provide Leave and Earnings Statements then we will get on the right track.

I am sure there have more than a few management memo's floating around telling CP's and ACP's what and what not to say to a military reservist.... So, that's good!

krudawg

Ah, are you saying that management is "over-the-top" when they make inquiries as to the legitimacy of a particular Mil Leave drop? I realize we are talking about "Officers and Gentlemen" but lets just say that over the years "a check here or a check there" is kind of like the Random Drug Tests we must undergo - it keeps us "honest" for lack of a better word

davessn763

L-Cal management, specifically Fred Abbot, also denied re entry of many pilots into the LTD plan upon return from MLOA. Many DOL complaints were filed on this issue and the CAL ALPA Mil committee eventually was able to convince management to allow the affected pilots back in the plan. CAL ALPA MEC empathized with that effort to a point but the heavy lifting was done by all the pilots who filed complaints and the Mil affairs committee.

I don't know if ALPA-N has specific training for mil committee members, they should. The MEC's only have the teeth provided by the CBA and RLA, the mil members have to employ USERRA rights as individuals or with the help of an outside organizations such as the Reserve Officers Association.

baseball

No. They were harassing the commanders and intimidating and attempting to inluence and modify and reduce mil leave. Another words.... Discourage it.

APC225

Flight Operations is proud to announce the launch of our Military Guidebook. The Guidebook is designed to help educate and provide resources for you and your family as you transition on and off military leave. Among other topics, the Guidebook contains valuable information regarding:

• Your rights and obligations before, during, and after military leave
• Commencement, extension and return to work procedures
• Benefits (Insurance, travel, PRAP, etc.)
• Where to direct additional questions

We will continue to update the Guidebook to provide additional guidance as policies and laws change. The Military Guidebook may be found on the Flight Operations Website under Flight Operations > Pilot Resources > Military > Flight Ops Military Handbook. We appreciate all that you and your families do to protect and serve our country.

https://login-nam.ual.com/nidp/idff/...edential&sid=0

cal73

I'm not Military but this affected me also. I remember being contacted about continuing to pay LTD premiums on leave in order to not forfeit benefits upon return. I was told that I would not automatically be back in the LTD and that even if I were a picture of health, that the under-writer would deny me coverage. Completely dissapointed in CAL mgmt. I know thats redeundant but...SMH. I wont say I'm surprised. **** you Fred.

krudawg

Let me see if I have this right "our managers were harassing the commanders and intimidating etc" Whew!, the military sure has changed since I got out over 40 years ago.

jdt30

I don't think many were intimidated. The chief pilot sent a "intimidating" email to my CC when I was deployed to a remote location starting in mid December years ago. My CC was a furloughed AA pilot, and he sent back an email that probably fried the chief pilots computer.

krudawg

Ok, that sounds more like the military I use to know.