I don't understand ABXspeak. Can you translate that B?
It's also helpful to know the history behind that clause. Prior to the '92 agreement those days that can be bottom 50/75ed back into the lines were part of the lines. We got minimal extra pay for them ($190.00) per day for a DC-8 Capt. and no hourly pay unless you went over 65 for the month. Now we get 4.5 hrs minimum, the actual flight time or the scheduled flight time, whichever is greater regarless of the pay credit for the line if we bid them up front.
Essentially, during a time of growth we allowed the company to grow without incuring the payroll added costs of hiring new crewmembers for a period of time. We also tied this to a nearly 45% pay increase across the board, more for relatively junior crewmembers.
Eventually, of course, even open time bidding did not cover all the flying. Management has resorted to Junior Manning, which unfortunately was pegged at a 2.5 hours per assignment and did not increase the cost to the company as fast as payroll added costs (healthcare, vacation, etc) increased. It is now cheaper to staff by junior manning than to hire, hence part of the problem. Another piece of the puzzle is the stagnation/shrinkage that has occured over the last 10 years or so.
Those who would amend the contact to ban open time conviently overlook the increase in pay and QOL that occured at that time. QOL, as a result of the J/M policies of management has gone downhill in recent years. Unfortunately, I very much doubt management will agree to a serious reduction or ban of open flying in the contact without some concessions in pay to may up for the loss of productivity.
IMHO the best we will be able to do is fix the J/M problem.
