Original Message

"I understand that the schedule is the schedule and thats it. So OK I work 7 Christmases in a row."

Divide the number of days in a year, 365, by the 7-day week and fixed date holidays move a day later each week each year, except leap years, when they move 2 days. Thus, next year's Christmas will be on a Monday.

If you don't change your schedule you only work a max of 6 years of holidays on schedule and as few as 4, depending on where you are after leap year Feb 29.

Seniority vacation bidding is also a factor- the senior guys can schedule vacations on holidays requiring the program to cover the day.

Alternating holiday schedules were discussed by the members at one contract negotitation schedule, but the decision was that your schedule was your schedule to deal with.

Having to work a holiday was somewhat offset somewhat by who you worked with- base crews often became very close, organized dinners, other ways to celebrate with family at the job. HEMS is/was famous/infamous for how closely involved crews got...