New hire course

[swervin]

I heard rumours today of a new hire course for October.
Has anyone been called for it?

[mattedfred]

jazz currently has a surplus of pilots as a reduction bid was published september 5th the results of which should be released september 22nd i believe

nothing surprises me however

[swervin]

I was talking to one of our Training guys yesterday. He was told there was a new hire course next month. Apparently the company was surprised with how many people took reduced block/LOA's and how many quit and are now short (hence the training outside the block for YVR guys now).

[mattedfred]

well that doesn't make any sense as jazz management approves each SLOA/RTB

a jazz pilot isn't guaranteed an SLOA/RTB just because they applied

and even with all of the SLOA/RTB applications the equipment bid still included a reduction bid

nothing would surprise me though

[Stinky]

It's crazy, we're definately shortstaffed. Reduced blocks have been granted but I wonder if the company felt they had no choice. It would look pretty stupid to come out with a bid showing 80 surplus pilots, then go to all the trouble of offering leaves and then turn around and say whoops, we actually need to hire.
I wonder if the fact that about 5% of the pilots requested some sort of leave or reduced block made the company realize that a lot of guys have been worked to the bone and they better ease off.

[mattedfred]

oh i highly doubt it

[Dizzy]

If there's a course, they haven't told the trainers... not that that is unusual.

[twinpratts]

Could it be that they're not really overstaffed, but want to make it look like it, for negotiation reasons (hence the overtime and training outside the block?)

[El Comat]

I only have 5 below me (85 of 90) in my position (dash FO YYZ) and yet I got a cold call from crew sched asking me to do a WDO, when I didn't even put my name on the list. If that's over-staffed, I'd hate to see us when we're short-staffed! As a junior commuter, hearing about new hires is music to my ears, even if it is just a rumour.

[flyinhigh]

El, that is not unusual anymore.

Just after they brought out the announcement of no more overtime, SLOA's, and RTB's I started to get calls for WDO's. Alot of the captains I fly with have got calls usually once every 2 weeks(they say) for WDOs.

Maybe they have realized to that not to many are accepting WDO's to show that we need more pilots not less. Now they realize ithis because people are not taking the WDO's so flights are cancelled.

Thats what I would like to think, but probably not.

[rudder]

The meat of the timetable reduction does not even kick in until the last quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009 so current shortfalls in staffing are a meaningless comparison to what it will look like going forward.

[iwant2flyifr]

I get called once a wk for a WDO, and of course I turn it down. I can't justify helping out if we are short staffed on a particular day if my position is going to be reduced in a few months.

[Stinky]

I get called once a wk for a WDO, and of course I turn it down. I can't justify helping out if we are short staffed on a particular day if my position is going to be reduced in a few months.

I think that's a little shortsighted on your part. It's like a lifeguard refusing overtime because he's going to get laid off in the winter. You should do the opposite, RTB are starting but there is still a lot of flying, take it while it's there. You're not hurting anybody.

[Canoehead]

I only have 5 below me (85 of 90) in my position (dash FO YYZ) and yet I got a cold call from crew sched asking me to do a WDO, when I didn't even put my name on the list. If that's over-staffed, I'd hate to see us when we're short-staffed! As a junior commuter, hearing about new hires is music to my ears, even if it is just a rumour.

Your name is 'automatically' on the WDO list. You have to call crew sked and tell them 'don't call me'...

[Buzz Lightyear]

I heard many Jazz pilots went/are going to Air Transat interviews and I guess it's the same for West Jet. I assume that at least some of them will get hired.

How long do you think they will consider themselves overstaffed if you already feel short and more guys keep leaving the Mapple Leaf?

[termerair]

Hi,

May i ask what is the meaning of DWO...?

Thanks!

T.

[teacher]

"WDO" = Worked Day Off. When you're called in on a day off to come fly.

[El Comat]

Your name is 'automatically' on the WDO list. You have to call crew sked and tell them 'don't call me'...

I was unaware of this, but thanks for informing me. I like that setup...that way I don't have to sign up for the WDOs on the website and feel guilty if I don't want to/can't do them. Am I right to assume they will first call those who have signed up on the website?

EC

[teacher]

As far as I know yes, I was called once and asked crew sched not to call me for them since I was not interested at this time. Havn't been called since.

[The Hammer]

[/quote]
I think that's a little shortsighted on your part. It's like a lifeguard refusing overtime because he's going to get laid off in the winter. You should do the opposite, RTB are starting but there is still a lot of flying, take it while it's there. You're not hurting anybody.[/quote]


You may be correct except that the "lifeguard" works at an indoor pool and his employer has been trying to staff the "swimming pool" with O/T ever since he the WDO became available in 2003/2004.

Jazz management has drawn this staff reduction out until spring of next year when the reduction of flying will happen this fall. If it was a legit overstaffing why drag it out so long? (Their choice, not the union's)
Instead the reduction will take until spring then business will pick up again (like it does every spring) and then they will be trying to meet the summer needs of AC with O/T.

To use your analogy again. The swimming pool manager will expect his staff to work O/T to cover staffing shortages because he was surprised that summer came again. Catches him by surprise every year.

[Stinky]

Every seasonal business requires overtime during the busy months. If airlines were to hire enough to cover the busier months we would see layoffs and downgrades every fall. WDO's are a great system, far better than the Draft and also better than having dozens of reserves sitting around waiting to cover every possible problem. The union put the 2 WDO limit in to prevent abuse by the company and it works. If every pilot refused WDO's we would be forced to cancel flights risking losing some of the flying to AC or the company would be forced to hire off the street and have a ton of guys on reserve. Have fun going into negotiations when our payroll cost just increased by 10% or more entirely because of the pilots action.
I'll take the current system any day, if crew sched calls I'm under no obligation to take the WDO, I can often negotiate something better, but if I'm busy I just say no. Right now there is no danger of pilots being laid off judging by the number who had their LOA refused.
I hate the attitude that pilot's who do WDO's are hurting other pilots, it's the best system. Try to think of a better system. (Let me guess, upgrade 50 guys and hire another 100, good luck negotiating a raise in 2009 with a fat payroll like that)

[Canoehead]

Your name is 'automatically' on the WDO list. You have to call crew sked and tell them 'don't call me'...

I was unaware of this, but thanks for informing me. I like that setup...that way I don't have to sign up for the WDOs on the website and feel guilty if I don't want to/can't do them. Am I right to assume they will first call those who have signed up on the website?

EC

CS is supposed to be using the WDO tracker to call folks to fly. In reality, I'm not sure they always do. As for feeling guilty about not being able to help, DON'T! To CS you are just a number, and they don't look to see if you are one of the 'good guys' while there is a quibble going on over a crew meal being boarded at the :46 minute mark!! Do WDO's only if it works for you first. Sometimes it's not worth doing them, especially if it gets everyone in a tizzy at home. My personal rule is that I'll do WDO's as long as nobody is on furlough (which right now they aren't), and it is a CD that won't interfere with the home routine at night or in the morning.