Hello Everyone,
We are approaching peak traffic time and there are a few changes on the horizon I wanted to address in this update before we get there.
As you may have seen or heard already, the trainees that have been certified on a position will be in the area to re-certify by getting an over-the-shoulder evaluation and eight hours of currency. I have encouraged them to take precautions due to the proximity in which they will have to work with the R-side and the fact that they haven’t been in regular contact with other employees. It is expected that they will be sent home as soon as they have achieved their currency. Only one trainee will be in the control room at a time.
There have been some personnel changes that have had an impact on the schedule. We are now operating with thirty controllers. Unfortunately, that means that I had to readjust the schedule, including the scheduled EA that was published for pay periods 15 and 16. Please log in to web-schedule to see if your schedule has been affected. Increased bid-leave, assignment of CICs, and a compressed workforce are going to lessen the amount of EA assigned to each of us. Expect that to continue throughout the summer.
The ten-minute overtime schedule has changed slightly to reflect the need in the area. The day shift will only be getting one ten-minute overtime assignment, the swing will get three, and the mid will still get two. If any of you have any experience with this being inadequate, please let me know.
I think we would all like to stay on this five-on, five-off schedule for as long as possible. In order to do that, there may be times where we are feeling short staffed, having to work longer than normal sessions, and/or taking shorter breaks. Please make sure that you are not taking any unnecessary risks by not asking to split sectors when needed just to allow for people to have longer breaks. Please look out for each other and make sure the people on your team have adequate help.
Thank you for your professionalism and helping to support the effort to keep our workforce as safe as possible.
In Solidarity,
Jared Zimmerman
(801) 635-9184