Please see below an update concerning:
- Withdrawal of Good Will and Flexibility
- Layovers in BKK
Withdrawal of Good Will and Flexibility
It is promising to see an overwhelming participation in the “Withdrawal of Good Will and Flexibility” campaign and to receive positive feedback from our members.
The true effects of this campaign may not be obvious by only looking at the flight movement screen, but it is making an impact. We are aware of noticeable network disruptions and significant delays due to lack of crews. Something that does not come unexpected as management continuously relied on the flexibility of us pilots.
The published guidelines have been received very well by our colleagues and pilots are frequently making use of the draft text sample that we provided when they contact crew control. The impact of the campaign can also be experienced by how crew control sometimes desperately is reaching out to pilots in their off days to cover flights and the change of tone of some of their emails.
The first 11 days of the campaign have also revealed some issues that we would like to address in this update.
- Some colleagues still offer their flexibility and continue to be available during their off days. This unfortunately is undermining the joint effort of the pilot community and we would like to ask those of you to reconsider their position and to show unity as well as solidarity with your fellow colleagues. A united workforce now will also demonstrate our strength and determination in the upcoming negotiations. It is an investment in our future.
- The deadline to ask for a 2 for 1 or 1 for 1 compensation to be allocated in July has passed. We therefore ask you to have your entire off day block moved as per CWA 36.16.2.b.1 and 36.16.3.b.1 respectively if you arrive late at home base into your off days. Don’t accept to have your off days reduced as this would instantly give management the required flexibility, which they take for granted.
- Many pilots use applications like iAIMS or others to update their rosters. Please make sure to deactivate the automatic update function and only manually check your rosters. Every login to eCrew is logged and crew control knows exactly when a roster was checked by an individual pilot. This can put you in a very unpleasant situation, especially when you don’t have to be reachable as per the CWA. Please also note in this context that a roster change being seen by the respective crew member is potentially proof enough to become valid. It doesn’t necessarily require the confirmation of the change.
- Some colleagues provided their private email address to crew control. Be aware that every email can be traced and a receipt or read notification could be triggered. We strongly recommend instructing crew control to delete your private email address and to be only reachable via the company provided email address. Again, please do not open your emails during times when you don’t have to be reachable! In this respect we also strongly recommend not to set up your private devices (private phones, iPads or laptops) in a way so that company emails can be received. Also, the company iPad does not need to be opened or updated during off times. This can be done after reporting for duty.
- Crew control sometimes becomes very creative in allocating different Flight Duty Periods. Always make sure that OM-A, Chapter 7, Section 1 “Roster Amendments” is respected. The relatively new table lists restrictions regarding amendments to FDPs and (re)scheduled departure times and when crew consent is required. At least in one case crew control tried to activate a deadheading crew member on short notice. According to OM-A 7.1.2, changes to FDP, especially after reporting time, are only possible under very tight prerequisites. This regulation (ORO.FTL.110) is mandatory and cannot be waived. In case you receive a roster change, be aware of this table, which is not part of the CWA. Please familiarize yourself to have more clarity in terms of what crew control can change and when your consent is required. We will also update our guidelines in the future.
Finally, if you experience a discussion with crew control, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at cvboard@alpl.lu, so we can assist you. We also highly recommend continuing to follow the published guidelines on “Withdrawal of Good Will and Flexibility”, which you can download here should you not have done so yet and to read the “Know your CWA” series on our website. Guidelines for hotel accommodation can be downloaded here.
We would like to take this opportunity and thank you for your support and unity! Please continue with “Withdrawal of Good Will and Flexibility” until 26 July 2022.
Layovers in BKK
Thai authorities have lifted the restriction for vaccinated crews to stay in the mandated quarantine hotel, which is the Novotel. With most of the pilots being vaccinated it should be possible for management to schedule layovers again in the contracted crew hotel downtown.
Please click here to read a letter from the LCGB that was sent to the CEO on 14 June 2022.
