ABX Mega Proffer

[Clipperskip]

Opf

Clipper what do you mean the OPF system is relatively new? 14 years is a long time in an airline that only goes back as far as this one. It's been there for approximately have the time of it's existance.

As far as affecting upgrades, as I stated earlier, it would only affect it one time then we are right back where we are now except now with our hands tied to absorb changes in flight tempo. It is also not so definate that staffing would increase. IF we contracted not to fly OPF the company would surely want our productivity increased so their costs would remain the same. Thanks to the suspension of OPF we would all work 17 days a month to make up the difference. Guess what, no upgrades necessary since the OPF is gone except vacation and sick calls and reserves could cover that. More work days, no overtime, and no upgrades.

Thinking that the company would just absorb the lost productivity is not realistic. We wouldn't accept an increase in productivity without gaining something.

It seems to me you are more concerned with someone getting 15 days OPF while you get none. That is a legitimate topic and can be addressed but it has nothing to do with total days we as a pilot group fly.

1)14 years is not that long in this industry. It has been three CBA's for us, therefore this is the third contract that has had these types of OPF provisions.

2)I am not sure I follow your logic about only one more round of upgrades with some sort of modified OPF but if that were the round that gave you or somebody else the left seat than it would be rather significant round.

3) Would our staffing needs increase if some of our more senior pilots bid less than 15 days OPF a month? More than likely. I am quite familiar with our flight management's desire to get further productivity from us. This is their job just as it is my job to provide for my family and to get the best deal I can for the productivity I give our flight management.

4) I have only bid two days of OPF since the integration last September so it is not envy I have for the OPF flying individuals as you propose. What bothers me is flying with a 12 year DC-9 F/O who is probably no closer to upgrade than he was six years ago while a senior DC-9 captain choses to fly 30 days a month. If this makes me a radical so be it. And for the record, once again...I am not against the OPF system as a whole I just think it can be done better. Likewise I think that vacation bidding could be done more fairly too. I don't think that it is fair that #1 on the seniority list gets to bid all five weeks of vacation before #2 gets to bid his first week. I am not suggesting that everybody bid one week before the senior guys bid their second week but there should be some compromise. Erich you suggested that things have greatly changed here in the past few years and you are certainly right. Maybe we should look at these changes at our company and see if it would not be in our best interests to adjust to the times.

 

[abxaviator]

1) Look a t all that has changed in this industry in the last 14 years, it is indeed a very long time (longer even than a 12 year 9 FO)!

2) Were OPF to be eliminated the manning would obviously have to be increased in ALL seats to accomodate, but once that manning level was reached, there would be equilibrium and upgrades would again stagnate to retirement replacement only. Siginificant numbers of upgrade opportunities can be achieved ONLY through growth. Had OPF not existed a year ago, we would have need significantly more 9 crews last summer, where would those crews be now with the drastic reductions in 9 flying? The OPF system allowed the company to fly the schedule with fewer crews last summer and then absorb the reductions which have occured since without massive furloughs.

In the final anlysis, no contract provision, be it OPF or vacation bids will please everyone and not everyone will agree on where the improvements need to be made as each INDIVIDUAL has their own priorities and desires.

 

[Clipperskip]

Opf

1) Look a t all that has changed in this industry in the last 14 years, it is indeed a very long time (longer even than a 12 year 9 FO)!

2) Were OPF to be eliminated the manning would obviously have to be increased in ALL seats to accomodate, but once that manning level was reached, there would be equilibrium and upgrades would again stagnate to retirement replacement only. Siginificant numbers of upgrade opportunities can be achieved ONLY through growth. Had OPF not existed a year ago, we would have need significantly more 9 crews last summer, where would those crews be now with the drastic reductions in 9 flying? The OPF system allowed the company to fly the schedule with fewer crews last summer and then absorb the reductions which have occured since without massive furloughs.

In the final anlysis, no contract provision, be it OPF or vacation bids will please everyone and not everyone will agree on where the improvements need to be made as each INDIVIDUAL has their own priorities and desires.

Who suggested that OPF should be elminated? It certainly wasn't me. Sorry if I touched a nerve, it certainly wasn't my intention even though it seems to be the norm here on this forum. Abxav, even you would have to admit that our OPF system is unique within the industry. I have seen other OPF systems that were much worse and a few that were better. Just my opinion.

 

[abxaviator]

I use elimination only for example to provide the greatest required increse in manning. Obviously anyhting in the middle would have an even more negligible effect on staafing and upgrade opportunities.

Yes, I do admit our system is unique, as is ANY other system which is not exactly like any other, that's what defines each as being unique.

 

[Clipperskip]

Opf

I use elimination only for example to provide the greatest required increse in manning. Obviously anyhting in the middle would have an even more negligible effect on staafing and upgrade opportunities.

Yes, I do admit our system is unique, as is ANY other system which is not exactly like any other, that's what defines each as being unique.

Thanks ABXav, I was wondering why you were using the "total elimination of OPF" as your example. I certainly didn't propose such a drastic action on this board. You can check my past posts if you have any doubts. Additionally I glad to hear that we are in agreement on the definition of "unique". Now we have some common ground! Have a great Fourth, remember ...we are on the same team.