ASA Scheduling Ready Reserve Spree

[Speedtape]

SLUF, you answered more than I would have... Where to start... I'm not even going to answer the first two questions because if you goal was to talk down to me or make me look ignorant on contractual language, congratulations, I'm not a lawyer and I haven't held a union position yet. MOU, LOA, Amendment, pick a term, whatever it takes to put a few more guidelines on how scheduling can use Ready Reserves.

My intent was not to talk down to your partner. Ready Reserve is Reserve.

As far as the rest of your questions, it's obvious your goal is to make me or any reserve who doesn't like sitting Ready Reserve look like a bunch of complainers who should just be happy to have a job. Most pilots will b!itch about a 3 hour sit of airport appreciation, imagine how our pilot group would complain if everyone had to sit for 8 hours at a time. I'd like to know the answer to SLUF's question, how many times have you sat Ready Reserve? As with most contractual issues, because it only affects a small percentage of the pilots, it won't receive the same attention it would if the senior guys were being affected. I guarantee you, if everyone had to take their turn at Ready Reserve, there would be more scheduling rules in place.

You are preaching to the choir. I sat reserve for over 2 years, 3 counting both positions, under the old system. I only wish the system of Reserve you enjoy had been available. On reserve, I have been called to the airport for an "assignment" only to have the assignment changed when I reached the airport, then held at the airport for several hours while or until they figured that they didn't need me. Under that system, you could be called to the airport for a ficticious trip, held, sent home, called back out, assigned one trip, sent home, and called back out. Then, even after holding a line, most of us still suffered through the "extension concept" where at end of the last day on every line, they still had the ability to assign you another round trip--a Ready Reserve de facto. You have the rules that you have because a majority of the pilots, who had suffered through the old Reserve, directed through surveys and polls that something better be developed. I hope that for all the capital we spent that it is better than what most of us endured. But, feel free to complain all you want because Reserve is Reserve and it is better here than at most other airlines that have no work rules. However, agreed, it still sucks.

All this being said, I'm fine with sitting on Ready Reserve, it serves a good purpose. The problem arises when scheduling calls in 8 crews at a time because they can and assigns RR based on the whims of the scheduler who happens to be on duty that day.

You are on the payroll versus furlough. They can have all available Reserves sit Ready, if they so choose. But, it is not to their benefit to do this as there are monthly limits for a pilot's assignability. You said that when you serve, you fly 85% of the time. Hmm! I am trying to see the issue. I am assuming that you do want to fly.

From my understanding, Ready Reserve was traded to get a "long call" Reserve and to eliminate, or for the most part mitigate, extensions. I hear the long call works well as those are the pilots that get assigned work most of the time. As far as extensions, Ready Reserve has diminished that "torture tool" greatly. However, even that will not go away, as it becomes the last line of defense when there are no Ready Reserves. Most airlines use the extension concept. By the way, under the extension concept, there is no seniority protection and we have all been extended, and probably will be again in the future. That sucks more! LET'S ALL QUIT! No, forget that, I guess it's still better than the alternative.

I am not talking down to you or any other pilot. For the record, I have not sat YOUR Ready Reserve, but most of us before you endured something much worse and we survived. However, collectively, using negotiating capital, we invested and tried to make it better for others that followed. Hopefully, it is better than the old. Most pilots I have spoken to that served under both systems, say the current system is better by far, but that Reserve is still Reserve!

Just curious, when you were first hired, how long did you sit reserve?

 

[USCtrojan]

You are on the payroll versus furlough. They can have all available Reserves sit Ready, if they so choose. But, it is not to their benefit to do this as there are monthly limits for a pilot's assignability. You said that when you serve, you fly 85% of the time. Hmm! I am trying to see the issue. I am assuming that you do want to fly.

From my understanding, Ready Reserve was traded to get a "long call" Reserve and to eliminate, or for the most part mitigate, extensions. I hear the long call works well as those are the pilots that get assigned work most of the time. As far as extensions, Ready Reserve has diminished that "torture tool" greatly. However, even that will not go away, as it becomes the last line of defense when there are no Ready Reserves. Most airlines use the extension concept. By the way, under the extension concept, there is no seniority protection and we have all been extended, and probably will be again in the future. That sucks more! LET'S ALL QUIT! No, forget that, I guess it's still better than the alternative.

I am not talking down to you or any other pilot. For the record, I have not sat YOUR Ready Reserve, but most of us before you endured something much worse and we survived. However, collectively, using negotiating capital, we invested and tried to make it better for others that followed. Hopefully, it is better than the old. Most pilots I have spoken to that served under both systems, say the current system is better by far, but that Reserve is still Reserve!

Just curious, when you were first hired, how long did you sit reserve?

I survived Erion Starker!

Trojan

 

[buscap]

Reserve just plain sucks. Ain't no lipstick gonna make it better. But there really is no such thing as "abusing reerves". The assignment is either legal or illegal. That's really the only issue worth discussing.

The system at ASA, despite it's volume and complexity, is still inconsistent. Some guys never get called, while others get called all the time. Sometimes it's apples and oranges due to different reserve call out times.

But reserve just plain sucks.

Some guys love it though. It's all about attitude.

 

[Speedtape]

Reserve just plain sucks. Ain't no lipstick gonna make it better. But there really is no such thing as "abusing reerves". The assignment is either legal or illegal. That's really the only issue worth discussing.

The system at ASA, despite it's volume and complexity, is still inconsistent. Some guys never get called, while others get called all the time. Sometimes it's apples and oranges due to different reserve call out times.

But reserve just plain sucks.

Some guys love it though. It's all about attitude.

The abuse part needs defining. Does he mean they put them in a small enclosure with a hot tin roof, insert toothpicks under the finger nails, use the water drip method, pull teeth with no local, or shock treatments with electrodes? Wait, that's only at Guantanamo, not the Ready Reserve room.

Maybe, he means, a room with easy chairs, color TV, Xbox, heated and cooled, Great airport food at your disposal, an indoor bathroom, surrounded by plenty of 'HOT" flight attendants(well maybe, an occasional "hot one"),comraderie that can't be found anywhere, and plenty of time to read, watch movies, study, do revisions while you get paid--and last but not least, all while you pick up a guaranteed paycheck, with a quarterly bonus that Ready Reserve helps insure for all pilots. Now, that's abuse! And, 85% of the time, you get to live the dream! Axe yourself the question, "What's a furloughed pilot doing right now?"

Something to look forward to: I hear that there will be a work-out area in the new pilot lounge. Now, we will all have a chance to get Buff and ripped, even Beal!

 

[Speedtape]

I survived Erion Starker!

Trojan

Oooohhhh! Trojan, that caused a terrible flashback to what abuse on reserve really was! I am still scarred from her reign! Thanks, for reminding me. I guess most of us earned something similar to the purple heart for surviving that era! Too bad the employee assistance program didn't exist then, because most of us could have used the counselling.

 

[HoserASA]

I survived Erion Starker!

Trojan

Aw man, now I'll have nightmares tonight! Thanks alot Trojan! She was a witch, and a bitch for sure. Seemed like she enjoyed hosing pilots & F/As. She screwed me many times. I recall talking to Ed Paquette about her, and he said yeah, she needs to go. She did shortly after.

Hoser
Roll Tide!

 

[777forever]

Something to look forward to: I hear that there will be a work-out area in the new pilot lounge. Now, we will all have a chance to get Buff and ripped, even Beal!

Now that would make my day if its true!

 

[SLUF4]

Yeah; i'm sure they'll love us to work out and get all sweaty and then be assigned a trip 10 minutes later. I'm all for it though, I don't care. I'll quit complaining about RR on here, but I don't wanna hear any "whining" about your 3 hour airport appreciation.

 

[Speedtape]

Yeah; i'm sure they'll love us to work out and get all sweaty and then be assigned a trip 10 minutes later. I'm all for it though, I don't care. I'll quit complaining about RR on here, but I don't wanna hear any "whining" about your 3 hour airport appreciation.

I forgot to mention--the rumor is that there is also a shower or 2. Although like most, I would choose to be productive, I love 3 hour appreciation time. I usually have things planned to take advantage of the time--other than sitting in the crew lounge wallering in melodrama. I choose my glass to be half full!

 

[Abernathy]

I forgot to mention--the rumor is that there is also a shower or 2. Although like most, I would choose to be productive, I love 3 hour appreciation time. I usually have things planned to take advantage of the time--other than sitting in the crew lounge wallering in melodrama. I choose my glass to be half full!

What they need is a pool table.