http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/10/post-10.html
AA negotiators kick a pilot anthill
6:05 PM Thu, Oct 23, 2008
Terry Maxon
Negotiators for American Airlines this week broached a taboo topic in pilot negotiations.
They brought up preferential bidding.
Preferential bidding refers to a way that pilots get their monthly schedules. In brief, a pilot tells the airline his or her preferences -- one-day trips, domestic trips, flights to New York, whatever -- and the airline's computers build a schedule that reacts to the stated preferences. The preferences of a more-senior pilot have priority over those of a less-senior pilot
The current system has the airline's computers building "lines" of flying, basically a monthly schedule of flights that pilots bid on and win based on their seniority. A pilot bids on the line that best suits his needs and desires, and hopes no one more senior wants the same sequence of flights.
If I over-simplify, I'm sorry. I invite 8,000 American pilots to improve on my explanation.
The casual observer who hasn't worked as a pilot may not spot any superiority of one system to another. But the Allied Pilots Association, which represents American's pilots, is strongly on record against preferential bidding -- to the point, I believe, that their negotiators are barred from even considering the concept.
The AA pilots who came from Trans World Airlines worked under a preferential-bidding system, and generally liked it.
Doug Gabel, chairman of the union's St. Louis base, told members in a January 2007 message:
Do I think it would be a great enhancement to our work life? You bet. Will I spend time trying to convince the pilots it will? Not on your life. The hype and spin have risen to levels that make the effort to discuss it not worth my time and energy.
The union's concern is that American would use preferential bidding to schedule its pilots more effectively, eliminating maybe 1,000 pilot jobs.
You can also attribute APA opposition to a general distrust of management's motives -- as in, if management wants it, it can't be good for the pilots.
Here's what the airline had to say about its proposal on its negotiations hotline:
On Tuesday, the company offered a revised Scheduling and Reserve proposal covering a number of topics including the establishment of a Preferential Bidding System (PBS). This, like all of the company's proposals, is not a take-it-or-leave-it offer and was intended to generate discussion about how pilots can have more control over their schedules and a better quality of life, while improving the efficiency and productivity of AA's scheduling operations.
PBS has been discussed several times in negotiations. It has been agreed to by every network carrier and allows airlines to customize the system to their needs. The program uses state-of-the-art systems compared to AA's dated software and is more cost efficient because the software provider can share the systems' costs among multiple companies, not just one airline.
The system offers pilots a variety of significant benefits:
Greater scheduling control. Pilots can input their individual scheduling preferences before their schedules are built. Today, they must choose pre-determined lines and then rely on the availability of open time to meet their scheduling needs.
Improved work-life balance. With increased control over their schedules, pilots can better align their professional responsibilities with their personal lives.
More scheduling options. Today's pre-constructed bidlines offer a limited number of lines to choose from compared to the thousands PBS can produce with pilots' input.
Better predictability. Pilots can use a standing bid and leave their preferences in place, or change their bids as necessary for vacation, holidays, special events, etc. And because pilots can input their scheduling preferences before lines are built, they will know much earlier what their month of flying will look like.
To ensure that PBS balances the needs of the company and our pilots, AA suggests establishing a joint PBS sub-committee of the Joint Scheduling Committee (JSC) to provide input into selecting a program vendor, system customization and training while also overseeing the monthly administration of the process. Pilots will be properly trained and participate in several test bids to familiarize them with the new system before it becomes effective.
Company negotiators have consistently said - from day one of negotiations - that finding ways to make our operations more efficient and productive was a top priority and we would find ways to do so without any pilot furloughs as a result of productivity gained through negotiated work rule changes. PBS is one of the ways the company can do that while improving our pilots' quality of life.
The company hopes APA will thoughtfully review and consider a system that would reduce our dependence on reserves, give pilots more say in the trips they fly and give the APA an equal seat at the table to design and manage the schedule building process.
Negotiations with the APA are scheduled to continue this afternoon and Friday. At their conclusion, the company will provide a full summary of the week's discussions including other aspects of its Scheduling and Reserve proposal such as military leave and the Credit Plan Account.
The airline also proposed raising the work month to 82 hours, with pilots allowed to work to 87 or 92 hours.
--------------------------------------------------
And how has pref bidding been received by the pilots at most airlines? NO THANKS!!
AA negotiators kick a pilot anthill
6:05 PM Thu, Oct 23, 2008
Terry Maxon
Negotiators for American Airlines this week broached a taboo topic in pilot negotiations.
They brought up preferential bidding.
Preferential bidding refers to a way that pilots get their monthly schedules. In brief, a pilot tells the airline his or her preferences -- one-day trips, domestic trips, flights to New York, whatever -- and the airline's computers build a schedule that reacts to the stated preferences. The preferences of a more-senior pilot have priority over those of a less-senior pilot
The current system has the airline's computers building "lines" of flying, basically a monthly schedule of flights that pilots bid on and win based on their seniority. A pilot bids on the line that best suits his needs and desires, and hopes no one more senior wants the same sequence of flights.
If I over-simplify, I'm sorry. I invite 8,000 American pilots to improve on my explanation.
The casual observer who hasn't worked as a pilot may not spot any superiority of one system to another. But the Allied Pilots Association, which represents American's pilots, is strongly on record against preferential bidding -- to the point, I believe, that their negotiators are barred from even considering the concept.
The AA pilots who came from Trans World Airlines worked under a preferential-bidding system, and generally liked it.
Doug Gabel, chairman of the union's St. Louis base, told members in a January 2007 message:
Do I think it would be a great enhancement to our work life? You bet. Will I spend time trying to convince the pilots it will? Not on your life. The hype and spin have risen to levels that make the effort to discuss it not worth my time and energy.
The union's concern is that American would use preferential bidding to schedule its pilots more effectively, eliminating maybe 1,000 pilot jobs.
You can also attribute APA opposition to a general distrust of management's motives -- as in, if management wants it, it can't be good for the pilots.
Here's what the airline had to say about its proposal on its negotiations hotline:
On Tuesday, the company offered a revised Scheduling and Reserve proposal covering a number of topics including the establishment of a Preferential Bidding System (PBS). This, like all of the company's proposals, is not a take-it-or-leave-it offer and was intended to generate discussion about how pilots can have more control over their schedules and a better quality of life, while improving the efficiency and productivity of AA's scheduling operations.
PBS has been discussed several times in negotiations. It has been agreed to by every network carrier and allows airlines to customize the system to their needs. The program uses state-of-the-art systems compared to AA's dated software and is more cost efficient because the software provider can share the systems' costs among multiple companies, not just one airline.
The system offers pilots a variety of significant benefits:
Greater scheduling control. Pilots can input their individual scheduling preferences before their schedules are built. Today, they must choose pre-determined lines and then rely on the availability of open time to meet their scheduling needs.
Improved work-life balance. With increased control over their schedules, pilots can better align their professional responsibilities with their personal lives.
More scheduling options. Today's pre-constructed bidlines offer a limited number of lines to choose from compared to the thousands PBS can produce with pilots' input.
Better predictability. Pilots can use a standing bid and leave their preferences in place, or change their bids as necessary for vacation, holidays, special events, etc. And because pilots can input their scheduling preferences before lines are built, they will know much earlier what their month of flying will look like.
To ensure that PBS balances the needs of the company and our pilots, AA suggests establishing a joint PBS sub-committee of the Joint Scheduling Committee (JSC) to provide input into selecting a program vendor, system customization and training while also overseeing the monthly administration of the process. Pilots will be properly trained and participate in several test bids to familiarize them with the new system before it becomes effective.
Company negotiators have consistently said - from day one of negotiations - that finding ways to make our operations more efficient and productive was a top priority and we would find ways to do so without any pilot furloughs as a result of productivity gained through negotiated work rule changes. PBS is one of the ways the company can do that while improving our pilots' quality of life.
The company hopes APA will thoughtfully review and consider a system that would reduce our dependence on reserves, give pilots more say in the trips they fly and give the APA an equal seat at the table to design and manage the schedule building process.
Negotiations with the APA are scheduled to continue this afternoon and Friday. At their conclusion, the company will provide a full summary of the week's discussions including other aspects of its Scheduling and Reserve proposal such as military leave and the Credit Plan Account.
The airline also proposed raising the work month to 82 hours, with pilots allowed to work to 87 or 92 hours.
--------------------------------------------------
And how has pref bidding been received by the pilots at most airlines? NO THANKS!!
