If the union does not step up on this and smash it with a sledge hammer it will be my final straw with our union backing the company. Come on MEC send out something to your pilots and let us know you atleast disagree with it and give us the standard "we are looking into it".
I'm playing the devil's advocate here.
What is the issue?
You call out fatigued, you are removed from the trip. Right? Has anybody NOT been removed from a trip once they called fatigue? No? Ok then. As far as involving the FAA, they're not going to care because you called fatigued and were placed on rest. That's exactly what was supposed to happen!
Once you call fatigue, you are put on rest for at least 9 hours. Remember that. If one of the chief pilots calls you to harass you, YOU ARE UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO ANSWER. You are on rest. Also, review section 13.W of the contract about contact and notification. If they call you outside of the confines of 13.W, you can file a voucher for a free paid day off. That section is for everybody in the company, not just the chief pilots or scheduling. Answer the phone (remember two-way communication must take place), advise them that they have just violated section 13.W and that you will be filing a form for a day off, and then tell them you will return the call after your rest period is over. Better yet, tell them that you will stop by their office during your next duty period with an ALPA rep to witness the conversation. Know your rights!
Now, as for the pay, where in the contract does it say that you will be paid for a fatigue call? Oh wait, it doesn't. So what leg does the union stand on to pound their chest and demand that we get paid? Like it or not, we have yahoos gaming the system by calling in fatigued for their last round trip so they can go home early, even after they've had a long overnight and short duty days. This is not professional, and unfortunately it results in this hokey fatigue policy that we have now.
The company is being gracious enough to pay SOME fatigue calls. I do not say this as a company man, but let's be honest here, they don't have to do this. All they ask is that you fill out this fatigue survey form so they have an idea what caused the fatigue. Be honest and say that as a reserve pilot you are being worked to death and just flew a 5-day trip with 26 legs. They will understand, and you will probably get paid. If you call in fatigued for the first day of a 4-day trip after you just had 3 days off, you won't get paid. No surprise there.
If you don't get paid, well, if you are TRULY and HONESTLY fatigued, pay should not matter. This is the mark of a true professional pilot, doing the right thing even when it may not be the most convenient thing to do. By calling fatigue, you are telling the company that you are so tired and out of it that you seriously think your next flight could result in an incident or accident. If that is the case, the money you lose is nothing compared to what you think might have happened.
Remember, fatigue calls do not count as an occurrence, but you may or may not be paid. Sick calls are always paid as long as you have time in your sick bank, but are always an occurrence unless you FMLA it.
