Dirk Becker No Comments

Members Update – January 2020

2019 was a busy but successful year for the ALPL Cargolux Division and its members. The great result in the Social Elections in March 2019 resulting in 8 out of 16 seats of the Delegation being held by Pilot Representatives certainly was one of the contributing factors to finally conclude the CWA negotiations in August that entails major improvements for all Cargolux pilots, especially for those that were initially hired under the so-called “B-Scale”.

This result demonstrates once more, what we as a group can achieve when standing together. Thank you for that!

In 2020 we will focus on the correct application of the new terms and conditions, especially on the implementation of the new FTL for Standard and Augmented Crew, which will take place latest by July 2020, as well as ongoing issues in the day to day operation, e.g. crew hotels.

We encourage you to familiarize yourself with the new CWA 2020-2022 and to also read our “Know Your CWA 2020” series, which are available here.

Remember: We can negotiate conditions, but you have to enforce them!

As always, our work and engagement will continuously be guided by the ALPL´s mission statement:

Flight Safety and Pilot’s Health
Pilots’ Social Rights
Job Security and Working Conditions

Please find below an update on:

  • Hotel Accommodation 
  • V-Day Survey
  • Random Alcohol Testing

 
Hotel Accommodation
The ALPL Hotel Committee has received an increasing number of complaints from our members about crew hotels failing to provide the standards and services required to enable adequate rest during our demanding type of operation. Given the high number of complaints it is apparent that the standards of our hotels are slowly but steadily being challenged.
 
In this context we would like to remind you that in the case that your accommodation does not fulfill the requirements of either the Cargolux Hotel Policy and the CWA or your rest is in some way compromised, there are a couple of options you need to do. 

  • First, carefully evaluate your fitness to conduct your next flight. It is absolutely essential that you are well rested before commencing any flight duty. If in doubt do not hesitate to request a quieter room, potentially requiring additional rest which may delay the departure accordingly. Please don’t forget to inform all your colleagues and the local station. Make sure to file a fatigue report and send a copy to cvhotels@alpl.lu
  • If the hotel has deficiencies of the standards as laid out in the hotel policy, now also in the CWA 2020-2022, please file a VR and send a copy to cvhotels@alpl.lu
  • Many have asked the Hotel Committee to identify the suitable hotels. Please click here to see the list that is based on the Station Information and gives you a good overview of the contracted hotel and whether it is suitable or not. Should you be scheduled to be in a hotel that is not suitable, please liaise with crew control and request the booking in our normal hotel or another suitable hotel for the entire crew. Settling the expenses with the company credit card (after obtaining approval by the Company) is another option open to you. If you see a hotel on our network that is not familiar to you, please also send an email to cvhotels@alpl.lu.
  • Without a copy of the reports you submit, the Hotel Committee has nothing in their hands to follow-up these complaints with the Company. Therefore, please take the time and always write a report and send a copy to the Hotel Committee as well.

The ALPL Hotel Committee is fulfilling their obligation as laid out in the Hotel Policy by doing its best to select and propose suitable hotels. It is unfortunate however, that this process is continuously being ignored by Procurement Management and that the well-functioning of this collaboration is undermined by lack of transparency and poor communication from senior management. 

Whereas it was possible to resolve recent issues with hotels in LUX in a joint effort with the Chief Pilots Office, some do remain at certain destination, as you can see in the provided list.

To find acceptable solutions for all parties concerned will require a joint effort by you, our members, the ALPL Hotel Committee as well as the Divisional Board and the Delegation!  

V-Day Survey
In December 2019 we asked you to complete a survey in regard to the bidding and allocation of V-Days for the year 2020 to get a clearer picture of what happened during the allocation process. A majority of Captains and First Officers participated in the survey, representing a statistically relevant collection of data.

We have also been in touch with the Chief Pilots Office, who also gathered and provided more information in a recent email, sent on 31 December 2019.

In addition to that email, we would like to present you the result of the V-Day Survey, which reflects what has been reported by our members and illustrates mainly two things:

  1. A significant lower average success rate, and
  2. A decreasing success rate with decreasing seniority.

Considering the original purpose of the V-Days – a system that was designed to assist colleagues with relative low seniority to have the off days connected to a short vacation period primarily in the difficult summer season – we are of the opinion that in particular this bidding and allocation process must be reviewed and eventually adjusted with the aim to significantly increase the individual success rate.

Random Alcohol Testing
Please note, that in 2020 random alcohol testing will be introduced and will become part of the ramp inspection program in Europe. Tests could also be conducted outside the aircraft (e.g. in the crew room) and will take place after a pilot has reported for duty. Depending on national legislation, the testing may be done by either ramp inspectors or by police, or both. If the test shows a positive alcohol breath test, this must be confirmed by an additional ‘evidential test’ by the police.

Dirk Becker No Comments

Publication of second round of vacation bidding for First Officers

We have been informed by Flight Operations Management that the second round of vacation bidding for First Officers will not be ready for publication to meet the deadline on 16 November 2019. This is mainly due to sickness within the crew planning department and consequently the handover of this task to another planner not having the same level of experience.

To avoid a rushed and potential erroneous scheduling of vacation periods for First Officers we agreed to delay the publication for a few days until next week. The publication of the second round for Captains is not affected.

As a consequence the bidding deadline for VOFF days will also be delayed to allow sufficient time for these requests.

A separate communication has been published by Flight Operations Management.

Michael Kaiser No Comments

Members Update on Transition Roster Period 13+

With the newly signed CWA 2020-2022, a new off-days scheme including the switch from 13 roster periods to 12 monthly roster periods will be introduced. To cover the transition, Cargolux and the Staff Delegation agreed to the following:

  1. Roster period 13 will be extended by 10 days, covering the time between 24 November 2019 and 31 December 2019.
  1. The off-day entitlement for each pilot will be amended as follows:
    • 8 consecutive off-days (CODays) and
    • 5 consecutive floating off-days (FODays).
  1. The roster period overtime thresholds will be amended as follows:
    • Overtime will be paid for every duty hour worked above 225 duty hours during the period between 24 November 2019 and 31 December 2019.
    • Overtime will be paid for every block hour worked above 95 block hours during the period between 24 November 2019 and 31 December 2019.
  1. Additional “XPA-Days” will be allocated to pilots on 11% and 21,2% part time schemes, amounting to pro-rated 0,7 days and 1,4 days respectively. Pilots will be given 2 options to choose from:
    • The days can be paid out at a rate of 8 hours per full day respectively pro-rated, or
    • 1 additional “XPA-Day” (11% scheme) respectively 2 additional “XPA-Days” (21,2% scheme) will be allocated in one of the first 3 roster periods in 2020. 

Please click here to read the agreement that was signed by Cargolux Airlines International S.A. and the Staff Delegation of Cargolux International S.A.

We have been informed that Flight Ops Management together with Crew Planning are presently looking into ways if and how the PBS could be adapted covering the transition in roster period 13+.

Michael Kaiser No Comments

Members Update – October 2019

Please find below an update regarding:

  • Rostering and Fatigue
  • Hotels
  • Changes within the Divisional Board
  • New colleagues
  • 100% compliance with your CWA

Rostering and Fatigue
Many of you certainly do experience the effects of the disruptive rostering which has not decreased since a long time. With the high season in 2019 approaching and potentially not having enough crews to cover the flights, the impact on fatigue could cause additional delays due to the requirement for you as crew to have additional recovery time.

We want to reiterate that – according to EASA ORO.FTL.110 – it is the initial responsibility of the operator to manage and mitigate fatigue. It is in the first place the responsibility of the operator to schedule flights already in the planning stage so that rosters are sufficiently free from fatigue. A transfer of this obligation to the respective pilots to decide whether or not they would be able to operate a specific flight cannot be seen as a relief from the principle obligation of an operator.

Fatigue alerts that you receive from crew control are based on a mathematical model and trigger when the calculated alertness level exceed a predefined score. In fact, the actual alertness level could be higher or lower, depending on the real condition of the individual.

Furthermore, please understand that the mathematical model is purely binary and works with threshold values. Therefore, increasing the rest by just a few minutes might get rid of any previous fatigue-warning, but might by far not be sufficient to address the underlying problem.

In case you receive a fatigue alert, we strongly suggest applying a very high and professional standard determining your capability to safely operate any subsequent flight. Please remember that you possibly might face a situation where you have to justify your decisions.

As we have indicated in the past, maintaining a sleep log will assist you in making the professional decision. Also, do not forget to file a proactive Fatigue Report when asking for additional rest.

Please click here for additional guidance on how to write a proactive Fatigue Report. If you need further assistance don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via cvboard@alpl.lu.

Furthermore, it is according to OM-A Chapter 11, Section 2 mandatory to submit an ASR if the fatigue you experienced impacted or could have potentially impacted your ability to perform your flight duties safely. 

Hotels
Based on feedback that we receive from our members, there seems to be a trend developing that hotel rooms are either not fulfilling the standards mentioned in the hotel policy or are not booked for pilots when they show up. To facilitate the work of the hotel committee and to collect evidence we kindly ask you to file a Voyage Report (VR) anytime you find yourself in the same or similar situation and to send a copy of the report to cvhotels@alpl.lu. Thanks for your cooperation!

Changes within the Divisional Board
It is with regret that one of our fellow Board Members and Substitute Delegates of the Delegation, Olle van Zweden, has decided to resign from Cargolux for private reasons and to start a new career with a company that will enable him to better combine his professional and family life. Since his start with Cargolux in 2016, Olle has always been keen in getting involved in representative work to improve the terms and conditions of Cargolux pilots. His input and ideas helped us greatly during the last negotiations. On behalf of our members we wish him all the best for his future endeavor.

New colleagues
Along with the newly signed CWA, Cargolux is currently looking to employ further fellow pilot colleagues. We as Pilot Representatives are actively supporting Cargolux in spreading the word of open First Officer positions as the new terms and conditions in the new CWA ultimately require Cargolux to hire a significant number of additional pilots.

Therefore, we kindly ask you as a member to help us in doing so. Please reach out to possible candidates and do mention our new and improved CWA along with its contents. Amongst many items, the amended off-day scheme as for the consideration of previous experience makes this package a lot more appealing than it used to be. Remember, only if the crew factor is increased significantly the company will be in the position to fulfill their obligations that came along with the newly, improved conditions. 

As the passenger aviation market is rather ruff these days, we might be able to assist in hiring some colleagues that have maybe not heard of or considered cargo operation along with Cargolux.

At the same time, we ask you not to publish the entire CWA document in the internet. The CWA is a sensitive document which is part of the individual work contract and outlines the employment relation between the employee – you – and the company and as such shouldn’t be publicly disclosed.

100% compliance with your CWA
During the CWA negotiations, we asked you to follow the principals of the “100% compliance with your CWA” campaign. By withdrawing the flexibility and strictly following the CWA we made clear to management how much they got used to our extra effort and dedication in the past when all of us have frequently gone the so called “extra mile” and provided Cargolux with our service above and beyond what was agreed in the CWA.

Now, after having signed a new CWA, which will address the concerns our members have identified in recent years, we ask you to use your own judgement if you have to decide whether or not to go this “extra mile” again. Having said so, it should be understood by all parties that any contract should be honored at all times and waiving contractual rights should be the exception rather than the norm!

As we know, there will be multiple situations in the upcoming high season and beyond where you could make quite a difference by being “extra motivated”. It always has been the strength of Cargolux and its employees to make the most out of given opportunities.

We thank you for the tremendous support that you have shown and hope for a prosperous final sprint!