Missing the Point
The Leave system is seriously flawed and has been since its inception.
A projection forward from day one through the term of a normal career reveals that an officer joining CX and following the expected path would, with a family, end up with a significant points deficit and hence, no 'choice' leave, ever!
Since the majority of us are still in the halcyon days of our youth, viewing the future in much the same way as crew control ie. about 12 hours in advance, we have yet to identify this as a significant problem.
But hey! that's the system....
What about the real issue...
CX is, probably, breaching it's obligations under the AOC requirements document which requires them to ensure sufficient crews are available for their planned operations.
The Company has a contractual (not beneficial) obligation to provide each officer with their annual leave entitlement and, looking at the pool and reading the comments posted above it is clear that this responsibility is being ignored; possibly to the extent that the Company is in breach of contract.
At the very least, is it not time to ensure that when the annual leave bid opens, the total commitment for the coming years' leave is available for bidding? 'Pool' activity would then be confined to its original intent, that of availing swaps between officers with undesirable allocations. Not as used now, to sort out GMA's incompetence.
Presently rostering and leave are a shambles and it's my expectation that 2012 will be a watershed. PRA's will abound. Fatigue and stress levels will peak and the resulting sickness levels will lead to massive roster disruptions, further exacerbating an already intolerable situation.
Happy New Year!
SR
Last edited by Silent Running; 31st December 2011 at 23:44.