ACR DISPATCHER CITES AIRLINE MGMNT POLICY AS DEFICIENT IN UNDERSTAFFING THE DISPATCH POS WHEN SHORTHANDED DUE OTHER DISPATCHER CALLING IN SICK AND NOT HAVING FULLY QUALIFIED DISPATCHERS WORK THEIR POSITIONS.

Narrative

OUR AIRLINE HAS 4 DISPATCH DESKS ON THE DAY AND SWING SHIFTS. WE HAVE HAD 4 DESKS FOR A FEW YEARS AND HAS CONTINUED TO GROW AS WELL AS THE WORKLOAD. ON THE DAYS IN QUESTION I WAS WORKING ONE OF THE DESKS ON THE SWING SHIFT. A DISPATCHER WHO WAS ASSIGNED TO ANOTHER DESK HAD CALLED IN SICK AND THE COMPANY CHOSE NOT TO COVER THE SHIFT. I WAS TO COVER BOTH DESKS. WE DID NOT HAVE AN ASSISTANT DISPATCHER ON DUTY THAT NIGHT. NEXT DAY THERE WAS AN ASSISTANT DISPATCHER ON SO THEY HAD THAT PERSON WORK THE DESK AND I WAS TO OVERSEE THAT WORK. WHEN WE TRAIN PEOPLE ON OUR DESK THEY WORK WITH A DISPATCHER AND USE THAT DISPATCHER NAME ON THESE RELEASES. THE DISPATCHER WHOSE NAME IS BEING USED IS SEATED NEXT TO THE STUDENT. THEY CAN MONITOR THE USE OF THEIR NAME ON THOSE RELEASES. ON THAT DAY I WAS WORKING MY OWN DESK AND MY WORKLOAD WAS HVY WITH HAVING TO AMEND A LOT OF RELEASES. I WAS UNABLE TO MONITOR ALL OF THE WORK OF THE ASSISTANT. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY MISTAKES MADE DURING THESE TWO DAYS HOWEVER I FEEL THAT THE POSSIBILITY OF SOMETHING TO HAPPEN IS FAR GREATER UNDER THESE CONDITIONS AND THAT SAFETY IS BEING COMPROMISED.