DISPATCHER COMPLAINT ON BEING SHORT STAFFED WHILE WORKING 'SOLO' AT LGA.

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I AM A DISPATCHER FOR A PART 121 ACR THAT IS BASED AT LGA ARPT. I ARRIVED AT AA00 FOR MY SHIFT. AT AB05; THE CHIEF PLT CALLED FROM BOS AND ADVISED ME THAT DUE TO LACK OF PERSONNEL; THE SHIFT MGR WILL BE LATE IN ORDER FOR HIM TO COVER A MID-SHIFT. THERE ARE 2 SHIFTS; ONE AM AND ONE PM. 2 PEOPLE ARE SCHEDULED ON A SHIFT. ONE IS A DISPATCHER AND THE OTHER IS A SHIFT MGR WHO IS ALSO A QUALIFIED DISPATCHER. WORKING ALONE IS NOT SAFE. IF I HAD BECOME ILL; THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO ONE QUALIFIED TO TAKE MY PLACE. MEANWHILE; THERE WERE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE ON JETS THAT I HAD JOINT RESPONSIBILITY WITH THE CAPT TO FLT FOLLOW. AFTER THE CHIEF PLT ARRIVED AT AC30 FROM BOS; HE OFFERED TO GIVE ME A BREAK. HE CANNOT LEGALLY DO THIS BECAUSE HE DOES NOT HAVE A DISPATCH LICENSE. FURTHERMORE; IF I HAD OVERSLEPT; WAS SICK; OR HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ON THE WAY TO WORK; THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO ONE AT THE AIRLINE TO DISPATCH THE MORNING FLTS. THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED MAJOR CANCELLATIONS. THERE HAVE BEEN SOLO SHIFTS SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I AM RPTING IT. THE COMPANY HAS STILL NOT ESTABLISHED A BACK- UP SYS FOR THIS SIT.