Recurring Shift Swap and AWS Request

If you have a request for shift swaps, AWS, and/or want to "dream" into a specific schedule please use the form linked below.  Due to staffing I don't see us being able to truly "dream" into a specific shift unless someone else wants the shift you are vacating and you go to a shift another employee is vacating (in other words a swap with someone specifically).  With that said still make a "dream" request if you have one and we'll look at it.  For example, if two people want to swap an 8 for a 1330 but the employee with the 1330 has a 16 the previous day they can't work an 8 because of fatigue rules.  We'll look at the schedule/guides and negotiate with management so the employee in that example gets a 9 instead of the 8 in order to facilitate the swap if requested that way.  Another option could be for the employee wanting the earlier shift to request a 9 AWS 7 at the same time as the swap request to meet fatigue rules while still swapping.  If you have multiple requests that you are unsure which one can be approved fill out multiple sheets, label them as your number 1 choice, number 2 choice, etc and staple them together.  When you have completed your request form please put it in the NATCA box by the employee’s mail boxes before close of business on Sunday November 27th 2016.  The plan is to transition to the 2017 BWS with the swaps/AWS completed by pay period 3, but if there are any unforeseen issues the swaps/AWS requests could get pushed back.  If you have any questions contact me.

Shift Swap and AWS Request Form

James Darlington

New 2017 C Area Schedule

Due to recent changes in bidding for 2017 we had to create a new schedule.  The major change being we're now bidding 33 lines.  The line added is a 4 10 hour line with Wednesday, Thursday, Friday RDOs.  Regarding the 4 10 hour line the last day will be moved from a swing shift to a day shift once line 34 is added.  Incase anyone is curious line 34 is projected to be a normal rotation Sunday Monday line.  Also, after talking with a number of people in area the 2 reverse lines will remain the same as previously posted.  The link for the new schedule is below and there are a few other minor changes that you will see.  If there are any questions please feel free to contact me anytime.

New 2017 C Area Schedule

James Darlington

2017 C Area Schedule and Guides

C Area,

Links are below for the 2017 schedule and guides.  The schedule is still subject to change until we actually bid but I'm not anticipating any changes.  Once we start bidding we'll make everything available online like we did last year.  The basic gist on the guides is that due to increased traffic the guides Monday through Friday were increased by 1 on the day and swing during peak times of the year.  The mid and weekend guides will remain the same as they did this year.  The dates for peak and off peak guides are in the links below.  If there are any questions let me know. 

Schedule

Peak Guides

Off Peak Guides

Weekend Guides

Moving forward NATCA will be more involved with building the schedule.  In the past BD has done this for the C Area, and since he'll eventually retire I'd like to give others the opportunity to learn about scheduling before he leaves.  We're currently looking for alternates for scheduling and if anyone is interested please let me know by the end of this October.

James Darlington

904-347-3065

James.Darlington@natca.net

Temporary Rep

C-Area,

I will be attending the Natca Convention and on leave from 8-29-16 to 9-5-16, during this week Chaz Cowan will be the temporary area rep.  Still feel free to contact me while I'm gone for anything that can wait till I get back, for anything more immediate please contact Chaz.  

As for schedules next year, the current plan is to have the guides and BWS negotiated after I get back and then to potentially start bidding in October.  If there are any further questions or concerns with next years guides/schedule feel free to contact me.

James Darlington

Bidding

Many of you have heard of issues with the beginning of the bid process. The issue revolved around how many BWS Lines to bid. The bid book hit the floor with 29. After the first bid was made it became clear that some were planning to bid with the knowledge that Line 30 would be added soon after we transitioned. In order to set clearer expectations and since the bid was stalled while we waited for a return from RDOs, we met with the front office to look at the future year. In the end we decided it would be best to bid a 30 Line schedule and effectively start the process over. Since we were stalled at the third person this should have little affect on our time line.

In order to expedite the bid process, one of the reps may call you on your off time to solicit your bid. I encourage you to do so if you wish. We will try to keep the Bid Books updated online as much as possible. It can be found at natca-zse.com/bid or by clicking the link below.

If the bid is complete by January 28th we will Transition to the new schedule beginning March 6th. If after the cutoff, March 20th.

Thanks for your patience and happy bidding!

Schedule Update & Vacation Notification

I will be out of town on Wednesday the 13th till Thursday the 21st.  While I'm gone Devin will be the C Area Rep and will handle the bidding process until I get back.  With that said still feel free to call, text, or email me if there's something I can help with.  Also, as a reminder if anyone is going to be out of town for more than 2 days while we are bidding please forward your proxy and contact info to Devin until I get back.  Here's a copy of the 29 line BWS we plan on bidding sometime next week. The lines first to be added are also included and are labeled line 30* and 31* .  In case there is any confusion, if you are interested in a line with an ‘8 or 9’, you may choose either shift for the remainder of the year.

New Rep Contact Info

As I’m sure many of you are aware I will be your new C-Area Rep.  I’m looking forward to this opportunity and wanted to make sure everyone has my contact information.  Please feel free to call, text, email me anytime you have a question and/or issue.

James Darlington

904-347-3065

James.Darlington@natca.net

Contact C Area Rep

1615 Shifts are Kaput

Glenn has agreed to eliminate the 1615 shift for the rest of the year. We will still be bidding the shift in next years schedule in case it is needed but that will be determined at the time.

All shifts outside 7 days should be taken out for you and reverted to a 16. If you have one inside 7 days or have one that was missed outside 7, please make a request to have it moved to a normal 16.

Two More Lines for Bid

If you are interested in one or both of these lines please email me. Bid leave will not convert, so please consider if you have prime/non prime leave scheduled. Transition is expected October 4th for the W/Th line and October 18 for the TH/F line.

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat
14	7	7	6	RDO	RDO	15	14	7	7	6	RDO	RDO	15
8	7	6	RDO	RDO	16	14	8	7	6	RDO	RDO	16	14

2016 BWS

Below is the temporarily agreed upon schedule for 2106. It is fairly similar to the schedule I posted earlier. After feedback from members and concerns of management we made a number of changes. 

• We changed to 2230 Mids for next year. We did this to facilitate for AL for 16 Shifts. If you want to stay with a 23 mid you can make that request on a week by week basis.
• We changed the Straight swing to all 1330s, it is also possible that the Friday for this line will change to late day shift but for now its all 1330s. Note, these are flex 1330s.
• Lee speculated that in the summer some of the 1330NFs would be moved to 15s, so we moved one 1330NF to a 15 on each day M-Th, Each line which has this will be given the option to choose an 8 or 9 for their third day.

We are still contending with 1615s for next summer time. Until, I can find a solution that Glenn will agree to, we are going to have to bid one 1615 for each crew except for crew 6, which will continue to rotate through 16NF. The way the 1615 will be bid is based on seniority. Each person who bids a line that includes a 16 will have the option of taking the 1615 as their bid line. If no one on the crew selects it, it falls to the last person to take a line with a 16 for that Crew. If the bid 1615 is on leave it will rotate and be assigned to one of the 16 shifts. Again, these shifts will not be year around and only be used based on late night summer traffic volume. 

BWS Line Bid, Two to Choose From!

If you are interested in one or both of these lines please email me. Bid leave will not convert, so please consider if you have prime/non prime leave scheduled. Transition is expected October 4th for the W/Th line and October 18 for the S/Su line.

Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat
RDO	16	1330NF	8	6	23	RDO	RDO	16	1330NF	8	6	23	RDO
8	6	23	RDO	RDO	16	14	8	6	23	RDO	RDO	16	14

2016 draft Basic Watch Schedule

Below is the final draft for the 2016 schedule to be submitted to Managment to begin negotiation for next year. This version is basically the same schedule we have this year with a few tweaks. It is based on a core 4 per crew schedule with three additional lines, one S/Su straight day and one 4 swing and a day. Also there is one CWS with T/W/Th RDOs. I based this schedule on verbal feedback from members. There isn't a whole lot of room to make a creative schedule with 31 lines. Especially, since this includes one person set to retire in April. I plan to submit this schedule in a few days time, but wanted to get it out to the membership for feedback first. If anyone has an alternative schedule or ideas for one, now is the time to get it to me. 

Some issues yet to be discussed which may impact 2016:

• Surprise or moved up retirement dates
• Late 16s for next summer and how that will be bid. 
  • My initial position is to not have them, but it can be a requirement by management to have extra coverage and we need to address what that looks like. More on this once i figure out where Glenn's head is at.

Final word on 16NF Shifts

Troy and I have talked with the front office. We have agreed to the conversion of all 16NF shifts to Flex 1615 shifts. Therefore one person will be required come in between 1545 and 1615. They will be assigned to one of the bid 16s each week in reverse seniority order. I will be putting out a sheet on Thursday night asking for volunteers to take all the 1615 shifts for their crew. Please sign up if you don't mind working them. I will be contacting each person on the list to confirm first. 

In two weeks I will be meeting with Gus to evaluate how this is working to alleviate workload for the Mids. Also, we will be looking at traffic levels from last year to determine a date to go back to normal Bid Schedules. 

During this time C area FLMs will also be working later shifts so that we have supervisors familiar with the area to make decisions instead of just casting us off into isle coverage obscurity. Im sure not all nights will have one since we don't have 7 FLMs but the front office said they will make an effort. 

Over the next few weeks I need feedback from you all on what your opinions are on this so I have something to take to Gus. So please send me an email or make comments in this post. Thank You.

16 NF Shifts

The Front Office has agreed to revisit, and negotiate the implementation of the 16NF shifts. My hope is to have the 16NF shift amended to a mini flex similar to the way 1330s are currently, but with a 15 minute window. Additionally, we will be soliciting for volunteers to take all the 16NF should you want to have everyone else's assigned to you. Also, unless you have traded into a second 16, you will only be considered to work the first shift as a NF. There will also be an end date determined most likely sometime in September. These were the things that should have been discussed prior to Glenn implementing the Shifts. Once we get a firm agreement Ill relay the details.

a few other things....

2016 BWS Projections

Based on projections for certifications and losses next year, I  estimate that the C area will Bid 31 lines. One less than we have currently. I have been developing multiple schedules for use next year that satisfy our current requirements. I say current requirements because I’m sure that there will be some new ideas or requests from the new management that will need to be sorted out. However, If any of you have any ideas or schedules you would like me to see please send them my way. Also, I have a Spreadsheet which I can share that shows the staffing guides and how they relate to a given schedule. If you would like that please email me.

New People

We have three new people upstairs working through stage 3, new hires: Tim Ireland and Garon Hedberg, and ERR from high Desert Tracon: Brian Voight. Alex and Kosa will be coming down to the floor in mid to late July pending their final graded problems. I have attached an updated table of the Developmental RDO assignments.

Surprise 16NF Shift Changes

You may have noticed a memo from Glenn Wood posted by the ART computer. Additionally, a list of people and dates in which your shift has been moved to a 16NF. First and foremost, NATCA is filing a grievance on this matter and my hope is that the front office will intervene and reverse these shift changes before the first one takes place. This change is a clear violation of Article 7. Here is a paragraph I had originally written at the end of last week…

I met with Glenn recently to discuss the traffic we are seeing on the swing to mid shift transition. If you staff based on ESIS numbers, there are often red sectors from 2330 to 0000. If all the 16s have gone home at 2330, we are looking at a holdover OT situation if the lows are not combined. Obviously, management would like to avoid assigning any OT, EVER. With that in mind, Glenn thinks it would be a good idea to have 16NF shift that rotate through so that we have three people here till midnight. My immediate reaction was that it would be unpopular with all of you and that the 16NF would not be needed half the time. Additionally, I wanted the opportunity to brainstorm other potential issues. I told Glenn the best practice for my mid is to get the Sectors all together at 2300 and have a D/R team work through the push. My thinking is that having the two people work together combined is more efficient that having an R side on low doing nothing and a D side on high doing next to nothing while the High R side works the push. That being said, I really only see one of seven mid shifts per week so I would like for all of you to give feedback/opinions in the comments section of this post.

I initially wrote the paragraph above to start to responsibly gather data on the situation. For whatever reason Glenn decided to move forward on his own without any collaboration what so ever. I will be updating you on our grievance next week. Its possible the holiday weekend could slow things down, but Troy will be pushing this up the chain a quickly as possible. It is my intention to do a full Article 48 Workgroup on this under the time lines laid out in the contract. What the means is, if my grievance is upheld then we wont be seeing any 16NFs (other than Sat) this year. However it may be a point of discussion for next years schedule. However, this time all of you will be considered….

Please leave ANY concerns, comments to opinions in comments below.

BWS Line Available

If you are interested Sun/Monday (16,1330NF,8,7,6) line please contact me.

The effective date for this line is sometime in May, probably later May. Leave bids will not move with you, please plan accordingly if you have summer time bid leave.

New Schedule Supe

I was notified that Brad Bowdish was named the new schedule Supe effective immediately. Brad has wanted to get his hands on our schedule for some time now and we may be in for a change on how things are handled. For example, our heinous sin of having four bid 6s was already called into question. My response was that this is schedule that was agreed to and I expect it to be used. Of course there may be some week to week movement to cover for leave but I intend to try to keep arbitrary moves to a minimum. If you feel that you are being moved for reasons other than leave/coverage, please let me or BD know so we can track and address it.

Phil Probert Retiring

Phil Probert announced that he will be retiring effective January 31.

 Also for those of you who have not heard, Glenn Wood will be our OM until they can find a replacement.

BWS and Leave

Basic Watch Schedule

Prime and Non Prime Leave