How long do you have to file?
For a non-disciplinary grievance, 180 days from when you reasonably would have known the facts behind it; bookkeeping errors can be corrected after that. § 17-A Discipline is appealed on a shorter clock, covered below. All “days” in Section 17 are calendar days. § 17-C-1
What are the steps for a contract grievance?
Three steps, each with its own deadline: § 17-A-1 § 17-A-3 § 17-A-5
- A written request for a hearing to your Chief Pilot. The hearing is held 10 to 20 days after it is received, and a written decision follows within 15 days. § 17-A-2
- An appeal to the senior flight-qualified Vice-President of Flight Operations within 30 days of receiving that decision. The appeal hearing is within 15 days, the decision within 15 days after it. § 17-A-4
- A further appeal to the System Board of Adjustment within 60 days after ALPA’s Representation Department receives the VP’s decision. § 17-A-5
If the company misses a hearing or decision deadline, treat the request as denied and appeal to the next step. If you miss an appeal deadline, the company’s decision becomes final. § 17-C-2
How does discipline work?
Before you are disciplined or fired, the company must give you the exact charges in writing. You then get at least 10 days to gather witnesses and evidence, and a hearing at your base within 15 days of the charge (rescheduled on request if, through no fault of yours, the charge reached you too late for those 10 days). § 17-B-1-b An appeal goes to the Vice-President of Flight Operations within 30 days, then to the System Board within 60 days of the decision. § 17-B-2 § 17-B-5 These rights don’t apply during probation. § 17-B-6
What are your rights in an investigatory interview?
Before any questions you must be told of your right to representation, and you can review the statements and documents the investigation is based on, in a private space with your representative and with time to discuss them. § 17-B-1-a-(1) § 17-B-1-a-(2) § 17-B-1-a-(2)-(a) § 17-B-1-a-(2)-(b) If a written statement is requested, you have at least three business days after the interview to give it. § 17-B-1-a-(4)
How long does discipline stay on your record?
Letters of counsel and discipline are removed after 18 months of active service with no further discipline, to the extent the law allows. § 17-C-11-a If you are cleared at any hearing or appeal, you are made whole for pay and benefits and your records are cleared. § 17-C-4-a § 17-C-4-b
What if scheduling used you on a day it shouldn’t have?
If ALPA reports it within 30 days and the company confirms the error, a reserve gets an extra day off and a lineholder gets a vacation credit day, without a grievance. § 17-C-14 § 17-C-14-a § 17-C-14-b
“provided such grievance is filed within 180 days after the Pilot(s) reasonably would have had knowledge of the facts upon which the grievance is based”
“A Pilot shall be entitled to have an Association representative present at any step of the grievance procedure”