CAL Jumpseat

[densoo]

Any trouble jumpseating with CAL?

Yesterday, we updated you on the work the Union has been doing to rectify the jumpseat reliability issue. At about the same time, Flight Ops released a message on the eBulletin section of the Flight Ops page, acknowledging the reliability problems with the software system.

Although management recognized the issue, and we appreciate their attempts to create a backup system to address it, they went on to minimize the actual impact on the pilots. They said that jumpseat request failures appear to only be happening approximately seven times per day. Given the reports from our Jumpseat Committee members who are fielding calls every day, we believe seven times per day is low. However, even assuming management’s figure is accurate, that means such jumpseat denials happen approximately 210 times a month and projected across all 12 months, could be happening approximately 2,520 times per year. Now mind you, this is based on management math (Media reports attributed to management claimed our attendees at the Houston event were about half the actual number). But even so, the figure is far too high. For our pilots who are trying to get to and from work each day, there is no reasonable justification for management’s attempts to sweep the issue under the rug or dismiss it as a minor hiccup. Worse, the mere recitation of numbers does not adequately address the real effects of such system failures on our pilots.

-- CAL MEC

 

[densoo]

Followup blastmail to all CAL pilots:

MEC Bulletin

Recently we informed you of the Flight Ops estimate that jumpseat request failures are happening “only” about seven times per day and the company “went on to minimize the actual impact on the pilots.” Strangely enough, we must heartily agree with Flight Ops on this one.

Accordingly, since Flight Ops feels seven pilots not getting to work is minimal, we are asking all pilots who are unable to obtain a jumpseat due to CASS “being down” to call scheduling immediately upon being denied a jumpseat and inform them that they are Missed Trip. Since the company is stating that they don’t think seven pilots a day who can’t get to work is a problem, then your the union does not believe it will be a problem for the company to replace seven pilots a day with a management pilot on short notice.

When calling in for this Missed Trip, your union requests you use the gate agent's phone (not your cell phone as this presents an unprofessional public image) and also have the gate agent within earshot when you make your Missed Trip call. It is an essential component of our airlines' Dignity and Respect policy to include other employee groups equally in our decision making. What better opportunity to demonstrate this than when informing the company that their core purpose, transporting passengers, may fail due to the gate agents' inability to list you on the jumpseat.

For all pilots calling in Missed Trip, we request an immediate followup call to the union 24-hour hotline to report the date and pairing number of the missed trip. All missed trips will be pay protected and the union will represent each pilot in any conversation with any chief pilot.

Further, due to the company’s obvious sympathy on this issue, we ask even more pilots to jumpseat to work to increase the number of jumpseat failures above seven so that the company might have the opportunity to short notice crew even more flights. Thus their generosity may be more evident. If seven jumpseat failures a day is a minimal issue to them, then even more jumpseat failures will obviously be even less of an issue.

Therefore, all commuting pilots who typically list themselves in employee reservations in an other than jumpseat status (personal pass, vacation pass) are now asked to list themselves for the jumpseat only. Our goal is to accord a partnership with Flight Ops in highlighting the minimal impact of pilots not getting to work due to being denied the jumpseat—on their own airline.

Fraternally,

Your MEC

 

[lowlycfi]

Any trouble jumpseating with CAL?

Pretty much every time I have ever tried it.