AFA Labor Discussion (Work Conditions) 7-7 -

[Travelpro72]

Good question. What I'll be curious to see is of those that accepted return how many actually come back and make it through training. Hearing how it is "on the line" from friends and actually experiencing it for yourself will be a great shock to many returning.

 

[Twicebaked]

Any official word on the number of Extended Leave VFs that accepted the recall?

From what I was told this morning.. "It" is in finance at the moment. I guess they are seeing if they can recall more than just the 125... I will let you know if I hear amything....

 

[Travelpro72]

While I'm happy that the company wants the list gone it leaves me with one big question. If anything is good about this for the junior people it is that you'll have the dust settle and at least know where your place in the deck of cards is. I understand how that may sound to some but to have that list constantly weighing over everyones shoulders is a pain in the rear. The question that lingers for me is "why all of the sudden"? What is the true reason to have everyone back now, this time of the year? It's the slowest time of the year as it is so to add a few hundred to the mix isn't going to make it any better. I understand this "growth" in CLT but seriously? There is that much growth about to happen to justify having all these people on the property? Something smells rotten in the state of Denmark and it isn't the cheese.

 

[StewGuy86]

Just got the notice tonight -- they ended up recalling 175 and they got back to July 14, 1986 seniority date. They only had to go to #291 out of 430 on the extended furlough list to get the needed number. A much higher "yes" ratio than they expected.

While it's true that some won't show up for training, some will go through training and not report for duty, and still others will work a few trips and quit, the fact of the matter is that we're in a deep recession with a crappy job market. And many of these folks (myself included) have been out there in the so-called real world for the last 8 and 9 years, and realize that the job of being a flight attendant - even under today's conditions at US - is preferable to many of the alternatives.

 

[DesertFA66]

After coming back on this site and taking a look at things that people are saying here is my two cents worth:

-If you don't split from pilots, you WILL NOT see any improvements in pay, flexbility, vacation and reserve for many many years. If Mike Flores can secure some securities that include the famous "ME TOO" clause (which are not that ground breaking), that will help.

-Who the hell cares who signs the FA's in? For heavens sake, take control of your own destiny and career!!!

-One poster, mentioned that this contract has taken 5 years, YEA, 80% because of the pilot dispute!!!

-East FA's (only because west really couldn't care less about staying with pilots) need to understand that IF YOU DON'T SPLIT, YOU DON'T MOVE ON! YOU WAIT, AND WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT. Just like the past five years.

A true professional FA will take a good hard look at the consequences of waiting for the bozos to work it out and make a sound decision on contract content and benefts, that go beyond staying with the pilots.

 

[ebwgs]

After coming back on this site and taking a look at things that people are saying here is my two cents worth:

-If you don't split from pilots, you WILL NOT see any improvements in pay, flexbility, vacation and reserve for many many years. If Mike Flores can secure some securities that include the famous "ME TOO" clause (which are not that ground breaking), that will help.

-Who the hell cares who signs the FA's in? For heavens sake, take control of your own destiny and career!!!

-One poster, mentioned that this contract has taken 5 years, YEA, 80% because of the pilot dispute!!!

-East FA's (only because west really couldn't care less about staying with pilots) need to understand that IF YOU DON'T SPLIT, YOU DON'T MOVE ON! YOU WAIT, AND WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT. Just like the past five years.

A true professional FA will take a good hard look at the consequences of waiting for the bozos to work it out and make a sound decision on contract content and benefts, that go beyond staying with the pilots.

Thanks, but no thanks.

 

[AstroLounge]

While I'm happy that the company wants the list gone it leaves me with one big question. If anything is good about this for the junior people it is that you'll have the dust settle and at least know where your place in the deck of cards is. I understand how that may sound to some but to have that list constantly weighing over everyones shoulders is a pain in the rear. The question that lingers for me is "why all of the sudden"? What is the true reason to have everyone back now, this time of the year? It's the slowest time of the year as it is so to add a few hundred to the mix isn't going to make it any better. I understand this "growth" in CLT but seriously? There is that much growth about to happen to justify having all these people on the property? Something smells rotten in the state of Denmark and it isn't the cheese.

Agreed. There is definitely 'something Up'. Being short staffed all Spring and Summer and all of a sudden PKinsey has a brainfart and suddenly realizes it and needs to do something. HARDLY. The economy STILL hasn't turned around in many areas of the country and Home Foreclosure rates were recently posted as 1 in 10. The airplanes may appear FULL but the Reduction in Flying is The BIGGER News. Travelpro.......There IS a STENTCH In The Air and only Time will tell what It Is. (They didn' t need to RECALL right now. Period)

 

[VAflyGal]

Just got the notice tonight -- they ended up recalling 175 and they got back to July 14, 1986 seniority date. They only had to go to #291 out of 430 on the extended furlough list to get the needed number. A much higher "yes" ratio than they expected.

While it's true that some won't show up for training, some will go through training and not report for duty, and still others will work a few trips and quit, the fact of the matter is that we're in a deep recession with a crappy job market. And many of these folks (myself included) have been out there in the so-called real world for the last 8 and 9 years, and realize that the job of being a flight attendant - even under today's conditions at US - is preferable to many of the alternatives.

Did you mean VF list or EXL list? The EXL people took a buyout and come back at the bottom of the seniority list. Curious...

 

[AstroLounge]

Did you mean VF list or EXL list? The EXL people took a buyout and come back at the bottom of the seniority list. Curious...

These people are OFF the VF list..........the ones that took a Sabbatical . They should videotape the training sessions and have them available on Crew News or Youtube..........some of them will undoubtedly shake their heads repeatedly and say "WTF was I thinking? How did I confuse the junk mail with this notice?". many of them are in for BIG surprises let alone the more junior one's that will be indoctrinated Quickly-harshly-screaming LTO Reserve System that is very foreign to them since their hiatus began. With the returning Stewardesses reaching the 1986 plateau, Reserve will shift drastically for some since there are ONLY THREE East Coast domiciles to settle at. Regarding the EXL folks- the one's that took the payout.............they would be crazy ( and yes We do a few 'certifiable Nutty ones') to even consider coming back to be relegated to being At The Bottom of the food chain.

 

[Zarah]

If anything is good about this for the junior people it is that you'll have the dust settle and at least know where your place in the deck of cards is. I understand how that may sound to some but to have that list constantly weighing over everyones shoulders is a pain in the rear.

As one at the bottom of the list, this is a painful process; however, it is something that must be done in order to move forward. If given the choice to stand still or move forward, I chose to move forward regardless of the pain it is causing me.

 

[Travelpro72]

Zarah I feel ya. It is going to cause problems for all of us but it needs to be done. These people that took all this time off need to "ya know" or get off the pot. They took it to save "our" jobs remember? LOL Riiiiiiiight. Anyway, wait until they get their 20 minute tutorial on the HHD, learn the ETB, grasp the new commands, monitor and challenge, selling food, COMMUTING like they NEVER commuted before and last but not least OUR NEW MANAGEMENT. Good luck to those returning. I don't expect to see you around all that long. My advice....Take your flight benefits and go work at Target rounding up carts or sell candles and cards at your local Hallmark Gold Crown store. It's not worth it.

 

[StewGuy86]

Did you mean VF list or EXL list? The EXL people took a buyout and come back at the bottom of the seniority list. Curious...

Actually there are two VF groups. It's the EXL list that the current recalls came from and they come back with full seniority. The VFLR (Voluntary Furlough Limited Recall) group took the buyout and would come back at the bottom.

 

[StewGuy86]

One other thing - it keeps being said that it's a good thing the company is clearing this recall list and I tend to agree. That way the currently active FAs will have that "cloud" gone from over their heads wondering what will happen to their seniority when/if those EXL furloughees come back to the line. But the list still hasn't been totally cleared yet. When the recall was announced there were 430 FAs on EXL and they only made it down to 291. While there's no doubt a certain number of the remaining FAs below the 291 mark responded "no" to the recall letter and are now off the list, I'm pretty sure a high percentage said "yes," especially if the response rate of the first 291 is any indication. Heck, why wouldn't they say "yes?" They have good seniority and know they could come back and hold decent blocks, get rid of most of their trips on the ETB and go down to 40 hours if they wanted.

It will be interesting to see if the company ends up having to go back into the list and recall more FAs. Remember that they initially said they only wanted 125 but they recalled 175. So they've already built in a padding of 50, knowing that some of these people won't show up for training or for duty, or will quit pretty soon after their return.

 

[PITbull]

Agreed. There is definitely 'something Up'. Being short staffed all Spring and Summer and all of a sudden PKinsey has a brainfart and suddenly realizes it and needs to do something. HARDLY. The economy STILL hasn't turned around in many areas of the country and Home Foreclosure rates were recently posted as 1 in 10. The airplanes may appear FULL but the Reduction in Flying is The BIGGER News. Travelpro.......There IS a STENTCH In The Air and only Time will tell what It Is. (They didn' t need to RECALL right now. Period)

I personally believe USAirways is for sell, and they need to clear these lists and a few other items before and discussions on selling can continue.

 

[PITbull]

Zarah I feel ya. It is going to cause problems for all of us but it needs to be done. These people that took all this time off need to "ya know" or get off the pot. They took it to save "our" jobs remember? LOL Riiiiiiiight. Anyway, wait until they get their 20 minute tutorial on the HHD, learn the ETB, grasp the new commands, monitor and challenge, selling food, COMMUTING like they NEVER commuted before and last but not least OUR NEW MANAGEMENT. Good luck to those returning. I don't expect to see you around all that long. My advice....Take your flight benefits and go work at Target rounding up carts or sell candles and cards at your local Hallmark Gold Crown store. It's not worth it.

No better words spoken. I have to scratch my head all the time to understand why many of you are still there. No one wants to be on the line anymore. Seems to me the only jobs that f/as take are suprervisor/training jobs or union.