Bid Week: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Tags: absentee slip, ATU 757, Bid, designated bidder form, dispatch, how-to, Opps, Relief to Bid Form, RTBF, The District, WAGES, You - The Membership, YOUR Contract, YOUR board officersBid week is upon us! Its a beautiful thing really. Now, generally most people handle it all fairly well, but the anticipation and build up is too much for others. Based on my humble observations, there are some 'boiler room' concepts I would like those few to consider ---
#1 Show up
If you don't - we bid as close to what you had last time from what work is still open in the current bid. There seems to be two repeat offenders in this department but the rule is applied in any case when an operator does not fill out a 'relief to bid', fails to turn in an 'absentee slip' or 'designated bidder form', and does not show when their number is called.
I am not trying to send a negative message regarding the bid but for me, the last thing I want to have to do is make the choice for you.
#2 Don't Stray
If you submit a 'relief to bid' form, remember that if your current run has a 'split' break, the relief slip does not hold the spot for you while in-between shifts, on your own time. If you get back from a run and see your number is close, don't go anywhere because we will not try and track you down off the property.
#3 The Clock is a-tick-in
Operators get ten minutes to make a choice. As with a no-show in the bid room, if you go over the time allotted, I have an obligation to pick for you. It has not happened recently but it has happened.
There can and have been exceptions to the time clock and there is ample warning but be aware that you get past ten minutes and are not making forward motion the union has the right to circumvent.
When walking into the room it is best to clear your mind of all that and focus on making your choices. Before going in, scan the 'unofficial post' in the driver lounge, so you can have more than one choice you can settle with.
Many people that end up with work they are not happy about, didn't think it through ahead of time. Still, hindsight is always 20/20 and you can never really know until your 1st week is through if the run is cake or if it is tight, but this may help a bit.
Never assume your number is FAR away from being called. Generally speaking it goes in waves, in the most favorable of circumstances we can process 20 bids in a half hour at times when we are on a roll.
#4 There is a cost to bidding...
...but it is minimal. If you are 'relieved to bid', by contract, you are not being paid to do so. While I am aware of the "time is money" formula and work to see that you lose a minimal amount of pay in the process, during the bid, it is not necessary to remind me of this nor is it appreciated.
Most people "get it" but it seems every bid cycle there is one member that feels they need to rudely point out that they have "waited "X" amount of time" and it has "cost them "X" amount of money".
In most cases it is less than an hour... In most cases it is a 10 to 20 minute wait upon arriving at the property... In most cases it won't be noticed on their pay stub... But for the few that feel they need to be snarky and run their mouth about how much money it is costing them, within earshot, while I am overseeing a bid, you need to get over yourself and realize the positives in being able to pick your work - FAR outweigh the cost of even an hour of mark off.
For the most part realistic folks get that, but if anyone has any further questions on the matter please seek out one of your union officers for assistance outside of the bid room, preferably during breaks in the process. Please present how much time you lost and how you propose we remedy the process. Like all contract suggestions it will receive attention.
#5 Overseen, but Not an Oversight
Another thing to remember is that while I oversee the bid and intervene when needed, I have no control over how the Operations Dispatcher schedules reliefs. If they make a mistake, or more often not, and there is a natural occurring delay or break in the bidding, it is too late or impossible to remedy.
Obviously I step in when we start talking about repeated and frequent delays but that rarely occurs. So far in this bid - the longest bid was 20 minutes and that is reasonable.
My union officers, as well as The Districts personnel, do our best to prevent bid delays and keep waiting bidders apprised of delays when they occur and have vested interest in ensuring that the integrity of the bid remains whole.
I will never invalidate your reasonable concerns and constructive criticism on this issue.
Thank you and enjoy the your right to choose.
In Solidarity,
Brian Pasquali
Executive Board Officer
ATU 757 of Lane County
#1 Show up
If you don't - we bid as close to what you had last time from what work is still open in the current bid. There seems to be two repeat offenders in this department but the rule is applied in any case when an operator does not fill out a 'relief to bid', fails to turn in an 'absentee slip' or 'designated bidder form', and does not show when their number is called.
I am not trying to send a negative message regarding the bid but for me, the last thing I want to have to do is make the choice for you.
#2 Don't Stray
If you submit a 'relief to bid' form, remember that if your current run has a 'split' break, the relief slip does not hold the spot for you while in-between shifts, on your own time. If you get back from a run and see your number is close, don't go anywhere because we will not try and track you down off the property.
#3 The Clock is a-tick-in
Operators get ten minutes to make a choice. As with a no-show in the bid room, if you go over the time allotted, I have an obligation to pick for you. It has not happened recently but it has happened.
There can and have been exceptions to the time clock and there is ample warning but be aware that you get past ten minutes and are not making forward motion the union has the right to circumvent.
When walking into the room it is best to clear your mind of all that and focus on making your choices. Before going in, scan the 'unofficial post' in the driver lounge, so you can have more than one choice you can settle with.
Many people that end up with work they are not happy about, didn't think it through ahead of time. Still, hindsight is always 20/20 and you can never really know until your 1st week is through if the run is cake or if it is tight, but this may help a bit.
Never assume your number is FAR away from being called. Generally speaking it goes in waves, in the most favorable of circumstances we can process 20 bids in a half hour at times when we are on a roll.
#4 There is a cost to bidding...
...but it is minimal. If you are 'relieved to bid', by contract, you are not being paid to do so. While I am aware of the "time is money" formula and work to see that you lose a minimal amount of pay in the process, during the bid, it is not necessary to remind me of this nor is it appreciated.
Most people "get it" but it seems every bid cycle there is one member that feels they need to rudely point out that they have "waited "X" amount of time" and it has "cost them "X" amount of money".
In most cases it is less than an hour... In most cases it is a 10 to 20 minute wait upon arriving at the property... In most cases it won't be noticed on their pay stub... But for the few that feel they need to be snarky and run their mouth about how much money it is costing them, within earshot, while I am overseeing a bid, you need to get over yourself and realize the positives in being able to pick your work - FAR outweigh the cost of even an hour of mark off.
For the most part realistic folks get that, but if anyone has any further questions on the matter please seek out one of your union officers for assistance outside of the bid room, preferably during breaks in the process. Please present how much time you lost and how you propose we remedy the process. Like all contract suggestions it will receive attention.
#5 Overseen, but Not an Oversight
Another thing to remember is that while I oversee the bid and intervene when needed, I have no control over how the Operations Dispatcher schedules reliefs. If they make a mistake, or more often not, and there is a natural occurring delay or break in the bidding, it is too late or impossible to remedy.
Obviously I step in when we start talking about repeated and frequent delays but that rarely occurs. So far in this bid - the longest bid was 20 minutes and that is reasonable.
My union officers, as well as The Districts personnel, do our best to prevent bid delays and keep waiting bidders apprised of delays when they occur and have vested interest in ensuring that the integrity of the bid remains whole.
I will never invalidate your reasonable concerns and constructive criticism on this issue.
Thank you and enjoy the your right to choose.
In Solidarity,
Brian Pasquali
Executive Board Officer
ATU 757 of Lane County
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