Scheduling Tactics

[swreservepilot]

As you've probably gathered, Crew Scheduling is not on our Christmas card list. They bend and outright violate the contract so often that it has turned into a purely business relationship with us. There is a lot of turnover in that department, and sometimes they may not even realize they are violating the contract. It's important for you to KNOW THE CONTRACT and protect yourself.

Often, they will do their best to avoid awarding a premium trip. Instead, they'll Split To Cover, breaking the trip up into pieces and covering it with a patchwork of reserves. Sometimes them splitting it up adds long deadheads, and it will wind up paying more than it would've if they just sent it out premium. It doesn't make sense, but that's how it is, and the contract doesn't forbid it.

Often pay will be figured incorrectly for a trip. Put the SWAPA Contract Admin phone number in your phone--it's 214-350-9237. If you have any questions on if a leg should've been awarded premium, or why a day pays as it does, talk with them. They'll help, will re-audit your trip, and oftentimes will 'find' more credit for you that the company has, uh, 'missed'. Don't argue pay with scheduling. Contact Contract Admin or Payroll.

After all of this, you're getting a pretty good idea of what to look for. You'll start to notice--awards to reserves that were never in open time, or open time that is grayed out, or stuff that pops up at the last minute on your board. Skeds isn't supposed to 'hold' trips and just give them to reserves without the opportunity for others to bid on them in open time--but it happens. If you notice it, you can call contract admin to investigate. If they knew about it but held it, your friends can call and file a grievance for a trip that they could've been awarded but was kept from open time. If it's short notice, then they're allowed to give it directly to a reserve. Yes, it's hard to figure out.

But congratulations. You've taken a huge step of protecting yourself (and your pay). Knowing The Contract is your best tool. The contract is a wonderful resource--hopefully this has made it more understandable. Thanks for reading! Good resources can also be found in Section 4 of Scheduling Ed from SWAPA and on the Forums, in the Scheduling or Contract Admin sections. Ask questions, there are lots of us willing to help. And, one last time...Pay Per DAY for Reserves! Good luck!