You just have to love the wonderful management folk in QR flight operations. What a caring sharing and considerate bunch they are. When they are not consumed by their own self importance and internecine feuding they take a bit of time out to thoroughly shaft the pilots in right royal style, a sport mainly perpetrated by those so hungry for the soon to be vacant EVPO ‘hot seat’ they will stop at nothing in order to impress the Overload on the 9th floor that they are tough and hard enough.
Let’s have a look at the recent history.....
The roster bidding system for all its apparent faults, has effectively been hijacked by BM (HaM) in the name of the Overlord, in particular the interference to the pilots’ ability to bid for a run of consecutive days off that would allow them to have a life. An essential lifeline for those that have lives beyond the shores of Qatar, but now messed up because 3 DOs is the max allowed in one block. Hence the March rosters are effectively ruined for a huge number of pilots because anywhere that a run of more than 3 DOs could have been given it is deliberately spoiled by the insertion of a SBY or a TBN, even when there is already plenty of SBY cover. SBYs and TBNs are also used as general flillers once all the work is covered and each pilot is allocated the legal minimum DOs. This is done on a wholesale basis even though manpower levels could easily allow more than the minimum DOs to be allocated
and give the operation more than adequate SBY cover.
What is even more galling about all of this is that the staff have been instructed to state that ‘system error’ is the reason for the max of 3 DOs. An insult to the intelligence, but as usual any ‘bad news’ connected to the Overlord is massaged and some other BS reason is given. How many of the FOs have been told the real reason their command upgrade is mysteriously blocked when all other aspects of their files are in order?
The reason for all this is nothing short of a spiteful and contemptuous attitude that the Overlord and his lackey henchmen hold towards the 1300 or so pilots that QR now ‘employs’.
The ‘caring sharing’ attitude just oozes out of every pore.... look no further that the recent crop of FCNs that threaten disciplinary action, or otherwise use appalling tones and thinly veiled threats.
Let’s look at some examples:-
PILOTS SICK LEAVE
All Pilots must submit a sick note for any sick leave taken, even if it is for only one (1) day. If a sick note from a Company approved Hospital/Clinic has not been provided within three (3) office working days after reporting for duty, then the sick leave will not be paid and may lead to
disciplinary action.
If a Pilot is absent from work without obtaining a valid Medical Certificate, it will be considered Unpaid Leave. Pilots must present the Medical Certificate to the respective Fleet Secretary for processing and filing.
For clarification purposes, the following process must be followed:
- Upon return to duty, the Pilot must present the original of the Medical Certificate to the respective Fleet Secretary within three (3) office working days
- The Fleet Secretary will stamp, date and sign the original Medical Certificate and give a copy to the Pilot for future reference.
- Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.
- If a Medical Certificate has not been received by the Fleet Secretary within three (3) office working days after the Pilot has returned to duty, a note will be put in AIMS as a final reminder to present the Medical Certificate within the following 3 days.
- Medical Certificates will be sent to QRMC for validation, if not issued by them.
- If QRMC does not validate the time as recorded in the Medical Certificate, or validates only part of it, they will inform HR to correct the files and process the new information as per Company Policies and Procedures, and send a copy of the validated Medical Certificate to the respective Fleet Secretary for filing.
- The Fleet Secretary will inform the Pilot concerned of the change of QRMC validation of the Medical Certificate.
- It is Pilot’s responsibility to inform the crewing as soon as he/she falls sick and is unable to undertake his/her rostered duty.
- As per current Company Policy, medical leave entitlement is as follows:
- 14 days: full pay
- 28 days: half pay (50% of basic pay, license pay, transport allowance, acting allowance, personal differential pay and special allowance)
- 42 days No pay sick leave: (as defined by HR Policy)
Note:
1. Medical leave may not be accrued from year to year, nor may it be encashed.
2. Staff privileges cannot be used by employees whilst on Medical Leave.
WTF!? Clearly the burden of proof is slapped straight onto the head of the pilot who is not an individual that, after recovering from an illness, is to be treated with any respect, trust or compassion. Any failure in the process may lead to discipline and/ or loss of pay or leave – and the key point here is that this will be done with no due process whatsoever – no hearing, or opportunity to put your side of the story.
CONTACT DURING STANDBY
The onus of being contactable while on standby is the responsibility of the individual crewmember on standby. Answering Machines or Messenger Services are not acceptable during Standby period.
Crew wishing to leave their place of rest while on standby, must first contact Crew Controllers for such approval.
Disciplinary action and/or pay deduction may be applied to the individual Crewmember that is not contactable during the stand by time.
You have to love this one, again its brevity and naked menacing tone remind us all that we are so valued by the management. This is a completely unacceptable curtailment of freedom and effectively renders each pilot under house arrest during the SBY (unless of course we ask crew control for ‘permission’) and unable use normal modern techniques such as an voicemail to remain contactable at moments when a phone cannot physically be in your hand. If any attempt by crew control to contact a pilot fails for an innocent reason, he is presumed to be ‘non-contactable’ and reported, potentially leading to disciplinary sanction and/or loss of pay. If the crewing officer on the day is lazy and hangs up before you get to answer the phone then you have had it.
MAINTAINING OF RECENCY (REVISED)
This is to remind all Flight Crew to ensure that all recency requirements are observed and kept valid. Although assistance is provided via the AIMS system, it is the responsibility of each Flight Crew member to ensure that all licensing requirements are met and maintained. Detailed information can be found in OM A, Chapter 5. In the meantime we need to conduct an audit on all Flight Crew to track recency and to update the records of every Pilot in order to avoid any roster disruptions.
Therefore, all Pilots are required to do the following:
1. Log on to AIMS.
2. Open Expiry Dates Icon.
3. Print the list and verify that all the dates are correct by initialling against each
date and hand it to your Fleet Secretary.
4. In case of any discrepancy, please bring the original document and hand it to your Fleet Secretary with the Expiry Dates list, the Fleet Secretary will make a copy and will hand you the original document with a copy of the Expiry Dates list for future reference.
5. The Fleet Secretary will keep a record and give the corrected copy to the Fleet Coordinator for updating the records and necessary follow up.
What a relief that this time disciplinary action is not mentioned. However the thinly veiled threat remains... it’s the pilots’ problem and the company has now abrogated its responsibilities in this area despite clear QCARs/ JARs in force that places clear operator responsibility to ensure that all crew are properly trained and licensed before they operate. An operator must set up and maintain systems that accurately store and track every element of crews’ qualification and training. The history behind this one is a series of balls ups where pilots flew out of check or with other bits and pieces lapsed (eg SEP) all due to sloppy or non-existent company systems and procedures. After various failed remedies the company takes the easy route and makes the pilot himself responsible.
CAFETERIA – FLIGHT OPS / TECHNICAL BUILDING
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We are pleased to advise that all Flight Operation / Technical staff can use the
Cafeteria facilities, which is functional effective 16-02-10 at the Flight Ops/Technical
Building during the following off-peak hours ONLY:
- Morning: 0800 to 1000 hrs
- Afternoon: 1400 to 1600 hrs
- Night: 2100 to 2200 hrs
Due to space and time limitation, staff/s are advised to limit their visit to not more than 15 minutes as we would like all staff to get an equal opportunity to use this facility. Continuity of this facility is dependent on sensible usage, staff/s found misusing this privilege will have their access to the cafeteria removed permanently; and furthermore, this could even lead to a disciplinary action taken against the concerned individual. Staff/s are required to
strictly adhere to the rules mentioned below:
1. Maintain
SILENCE while traversing through the corridor going towards the cafeteria as the cabin crew briefing rooms are located in this area.
2. If the cafeteria is completely occupied, staff/s are advised
NOT TO WAIT in the corridor but to return to their seats.
This facility is a privilege therefore please do not abuse it.
I saved the best until last – let’s be honest this one takes the biscuit. Even with the simple introduction of a long awaited canteen (at a building where some 5000 aircrew hitherto had no ability to purchase hot/ cold beverages or food/ snacks) the all embracing caring sharing tone is used to the max – not! The look of astonishment of the faces of colleagues reading this for the first time is a picture in itself. Enuff said! To add to insult to injury not a single manager will stand up and be counted for any of these FCNs – not a single signature to be seen in the entire FCN listing hence to the reader no clue as to who prepared it or who approved it. Amazing that the QCAA allow this practice. Alas
accountability is not something that is even remotely understood by the incumbent managers in flight ops.
Just for a bit of fun and as a post script, check out this ‘beaut’ of an email that was sent to the entire QR distribution list:-
Dear All,
Further to our circular dated 24th March 2009 and email dated 03rd December 2009, please be reminded that all staff who possess vehicles are hereby strictly requested to park their vehicles only at the Car Park reserved for QR staff situated behind Khawla Gardens, (Opposite Villa 34) and not to park their vehicles at the front entrance to the QR Tower as this parking space is strictly reserved for customers who visit QRH & Ticketing Office.
With immediate effect, strict disciplinary action will be initiated by HR against staff members who park their vehicles at the front entrance which would create hindrance to our customers.
At least the author (top HR stooge) had the decency to sign it but once again we see that the iron fist is right behind every word. Never mind that fact that the strip of parking spaces in question is 'general parking' and does not belong to QR – but let us not be concerned with little details like this.
Wakbar