AFA Labor Discussion (Work Conditions) 7-7 -

[ebwgs]

ALWAYS Vote NO on A-n-y Tenative Agreement. Never 'settle' on the first crumbs that are thrown your way. Restoration of ALL the previous cuts SHOULD BE the first order of business..........and THEN "We'll Talk". (It's NOT Our First Day at the Rodeo Tempe.)

Amen to that!

 

[skinvalve]

Tried telling that to my mechanical amigos several years ago. They voted in the T/A on the first vote. Took it all ---hook, line, and SINKER.

 

[nick]

ALWAYS Vote NO on A-n-y Tenative Agreement. Never 'settle' on the first crumbs that are thrown your way. Restoration of ALL the previous cuts SHOULD BE the first order of business..........and THEN "We'll Talk". (It's NOT Our First Day at the Rodeo Tempe.)

That's what I have been telling every crew I fly with. But as a reserve on the East, I want the West to know that we, especially the reserves, want the West to vote with us b/c we feel like you that we can't carry the weight against blockholder numbers. I only hope that those in the East who sit on the fence with a block will be concerned with reserve issues. With furloughed blockholders coming back, some who are holding a secondary will once again be reserve. It's time to stick together and protect all flight attendants with this contract. I have said all along I have no problem doing what needs to be done. Look at what Spirit accomplished in a very short period. Kudos to them!!

 

[SKY HIGH]

You need people on this team, one reserve and one senior who have been flying for years and years under these concessionary contracts. These are the people who instinctively know the problems and issues and where improvements can be made. These folks then can bring proposals to the MEC for their review and consent.

The problem here is that the current Eastt MEC doesn't want to micromanage the neg. committee (cause they CAN make a motion to make the committee come and discuss every proposal or discussions they have with the company after every meeting via conference call

according to the CLT meeting on Tuesday, consensus is improvements seem to be tempered with concessions.

Reserves: shifts are the only improvement

Trading the weekend ail restriction for a holiday restriction is a concession.

The CSD program taking away a bid position is a conce...ssion.

The CSD program not paying CSD pay to an unqualified F/A forced to fly A during a recrew is a concession.

Transcontinental turns in the middle of 3 day or 4 day trips while being paid the VM for other days of the trip is a concession.

The East crews cleaning up and down the west coast where we do not now is a concession.

A VAC proposal that is LESS than our 2000 may not be a concession, but it's certainly weak.

anymore "updates" out there???

 

[PITbull]

Travel, that would be too logical and I sit here today and will tell you I will do everything in my power to ensure this fails if no brain things like restoration of VAC is not in the new agreement. 2000 rates PERIOD. And don't even try it AFA and Tempe....retro active accrual to the day of ratification. You may think we were born yesterday but we are not afraid this time and we are numb. We will shut it down. Cindi Simone are you reading this? Of course you are as I can only hope you are still in your Chanel Suit too see the change that is coming. These past 5 years were a cake walk.....elections are coming.
Oh BTW Carol A is not attending negotiations. She has an ongoing illness in the family. You only have one rep named Mike Flores representing you at the table. Short changed again East folks. Is Carol claiming sick time? LOL Good luck finding that out!

Try to pull a fast one. You will fail and then be voted out of office. Grab a trash bag.

LOL...I just love the way you write!

 

[SKY HIGH]

LOL...I just love the way you write!

...........and I love the way YOU continue to EMPOWER.

 

[Onestep2flt]

Oh BTW Carol A is not attending negotiations. She has an ongoing illness in the family. You only have one rep named Mike Flores representing you at the table. Short changed again East folks. Is Carol claiming sick time? LOL Good luck finding that out!

Try to pull a fast one. You will fail and then be voted out of office. Grab a trash bag.

Is it really all that bad that Carol is not attending your negotiations? Now if Mr. Flores was not there as well things might be better off for you guys! As far as claiming sick. I know you were being sarcastic but it would not be much different than your past LEC president that was doing similar shenanigans doing "Union Business" from her hospital bed. Well, at least that is what everyone one the board was discussing several years ago.

The one thing that everyone agrees on is that these clowns need to go. Now if you can just gather enough support outside of this web board to get it done. Better hurry though. My friends said that the last e-line says the contract is getting into the important sections that are going to make or break your next several years of your lives.

You need professional negotiators!!

 

[DVolpe]

Oh BTW Carol A is not attending negotiations. She has an ongoing illness in the family. You only have one rep named Mike Flores representing you at the table. Short changed again East folks. Is Carol claiming sick time?

Before I point out a an error in the post....I want to make it clear I don't care who I negotiate with. It could be Carol and Mike, Bob and Carol or Ted and Alice...it really doesn't matter to me.

Now, for the record, since I've been sitting in on negotiations (since May 2010), Carol Austin has not missed one day in direct negotiations with management or in our joint committee caucusing sessions.


Deborah Volpe
AFA Council 66
MEC Vice President

 

[cactusgirl]

That's what I have been telling every crew I fly with. But as a reserve on the East, I want the West to know that we, especially the reserves, want the West to vote with us b/c we feel like you that we can't carry the weight against blockholder numbers. I only hope that those in the East who sit on the fence with a block will be concerned with reserve issues. With furloughed blockholders coming back, some who are holding a secondary will once again be reserve. It's time to stick together and protect all flight attendants with this contract. I have said all along I have no problem doing what needs to be done. Look at what Spirit accomplished in a very short period. Kudos to them!!

Nick, you may very well see lots of west people voting with you. We need to really start a dialogue between the east and west outside of the micro-managed hotlines put out by both parties. I don't trust Lisa, and I don't think I trust Mike. After all his job isn't to look out for the west, nor should it be.

I'm a long time lurker. You can see that by the fact I registered back in '07 and have posted once or twice. So, be nice.

I've read this thread from beginning to end and I'm sure it won't matter to most you because as some have said "the west doesn't matter", but don't assume that we are loving what we are seeing or hearing. Some of us, especially reserves, are not. While we don't bring a lot to the table in our contract, we do currently top out a 5 weeks vacation. Some people out here are saying that Lisa is going to give up some of our vacation for pay. Things like that don't sit to well with us. I won't get in to the other things because it's tedious but I bring up vacation because I think we all can agree it's a valuable part of compensation. As of right now...I'm one big no vote. If not for anything else, I'm am glad to hear there are others that are questioning the tidbits that are coming out and aren't happy. I was beginning to think it was a tiny group.

We don't have "me too" clauses, but I certainly see the value in them and what people need to realize (East and West) is anytime the company wants you to give up something it's because it costs them too much. NOT OUR PROBLEM. I want the best of both contracts...and for that it means the best of an east non-concessionary contract. We all know the pilots tend to get the best, and so I can see the apprehension in giving up those clauses. So this is one west FA that is listening to everything you all are saying. I am more than willing to do what it takes to not let some half-a$$ contract get shoved down anyone's throat. East or West. I just can't shake the feeling that we are all getting sold down the river in one way or another by our own union.

Seeing as how the west MECVP is posting on this thread, you all are causing them some concern. They are on here reading your posts!


(As an aside to Beachboy- I love your posts. You make me laugh. Also, story is Lisa thinks she's going to be your next MECP.)

 

[beachboy]

Before I point out a an error in the post....I want to make it clear I don't care who I negotiate with. It could be Carol and Mike, Bob and Carol or Ted and Alice...it really doesn't matter to me.

Now, for the record, since I've been sitting in on negotiations (since May 2010), Carol Austin has not missed one day in direct negotiations with management or in our joint committee caucusing sessions.


Deborah Volpe
AFA Council 66
MEC Vice President

Hello Deborah,

Thanks for the reply. We here on the East do care who represents us. Carol I assure you is not wanted at the table but rather like a bad case of Plantar Wart on our heel. Can't even freeze her out. That said, you say she has been physically in negotiations or via telephone conference every single time? Seems someone is lying and certain members of LEC representatives know this is an issue. So, please clarify- has Carol missed any of the negotiations physically? I think you know what I am asking.
While I have your ear, I understand you Deborah have some "issue/problem" with our East retiree benefits. After putting 30+ years with a this company I would ask you be respectful and stop trying to take things away from them. I wish you the best as you will need it. The sell you are about to undertake will be an uphill battle, at least out East.

Cheers!

 

[beachboy]

(As an aside to Beachboy- I love your posts. You make me laugh. Also, story is Lisa thinks she's going to be your next MECP.)

Oh she does? What plans, goals and aspirations that woman has. Will she put that on her resume before or after "Constantly being recalled by membership and shows frequently to AFA Hearing Board on Ethics" ?Thanks for the heads up. I will get my mace, emergency whistle and if that fails ready a tranquilizer gun for meetings. I still say she is slightly sociopathic and I would not leave my beach bag unattended with her sticky fingers around. h34r:

 

[HP2USFA]

Hello Deborah,

Thanks for the reply. We here on the East do care who represents us. Carol I assure you is not wanted at the table but rather like a bad case of Plantar Wart on our heel. Can't even freeze her out. That said, you say she has been physically in negotiations or via telephone conference every single time? Seems someone is lying and certain members of LEC representatives know this is an issue. So, please clarify- has Carol missed any of the negotiations physically? I think you know what I am asking.
While I have your ear, I understand you Deborah have some "issue/problem" with our East retiree benefits. After putting 30+ years with a this company I would ask you be respectful and stop trying to take things away from them. I wish you the best as you will need it. The sell you are about to undertake will be an uphill battle, at least out East.

Cheers!

Umm this isn't Deb's issue... it's her council's issue.

The prospect of having 3000+ retirees (and their families) (after the 5 year mark) fly with higher DoH and on the same priority as active employees... HELL to the F to the NO!!

I don't disparage the committment and service these individuals have given to their airline. I, however, have NO intention of suffering to give them additional benefits. We're not talking about taking them away and it's not like we're giving them benefits for the first time, we're talking about completely diminishing the benefits of ACTIVE employees for people who've already taken their bow and exited stage left.

It's hard enough to travel with the planes packed to the brim. YOU might think it's a bonus to have people who haven't pushed a cart in 20 years beat me and my family off a trip when I finally get to take a vacation... I do not.


So, how about we be respectful to the active employees who are still putting their blood, sweat and tears in and not diminishing their benefits.

Uphill battle indeed.

What have the other unions said about this choice idea? Do they even know about it?

 

[DVolpe]

Hello Deborah,

Thanks for the reply. We here on the East do care who represents us. Carol I assure you is not wanted at the table but rather like a bad case of Plantar Wart on our heel. Can't even freeze her out. That said, you say she has been physically in negotiations or via telephone conference every single time? Seems someone is lying and certain members of LEC representatives know this is an issue. So, please clarify- has Carol missed any of the negotiations physically? I think you know what I am asking.
While I have your ear, I understand you Deborah have some "issue/problem" with our East retiree benefits. After putting 30+ years with a this company I would ask you be respectful and stop trying to take things away from them. I wish you the best as you will need it. The sell you are about to undertake will be an uphill battle, at least out East.

Cheers!

While I have been participating, Carol has NOT missed any negotiations. She has been physically present, in the room, sitting at the table. Today, the JNC will be "telecaucusing". We will be calling in from various locations: Staff Negotiator, Joe Burns will most likely call in from MSP, Mike from CLT, Carol from SAN, Lisa and I from PHX.

We will be in negotiations again from September 13 - 17. At this time I will refrain from posting further. There are other items that are not accurate on this site, however; I just wanted to clear up that particular rumor. I'm not a fan of "web boards" and from past experience know these sites can become a bit out of control.

Try to be kind to one another and as always fly safe!

Deborah

 

[Travelpro72]

HA! What I have gathered from f/a's that attended the CLT meeting I can see Carol's "contract style" if you will all OVER. Anyway, I have a feeling the JNC is in for a rude awakening right along with the company. More and more f/a's of ALL seniority levels are starting to read between the lines before a presentation is even scheduled. I'm telling the JNC directly....YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME ALONG WITH OURS! ! ! Bring us more of the snippets we've received and you will find yourselves no longer AT the table. The reserve language that has been shared by the union? TERRIBLE. The pref-bid language that has been shared by the union? TERRIBLE. The CSD language (what has been shared) not Lisa's half baked garbage? TERRIBLE. The vacation they want to offer (tentatively)? TERRIBLE.

AGAIN.....YOU ARE WASTING YOUR TIME ALONG WITH OURS! ! ! ! !

 

[Zarah]

So, how about we be respectful to the active employees who are still putting their blood, sweat and tears in and not diminishing their benefits.

Uphill battle indeed.

What have the other unions said about this choice idea? Do they even know about it?

Changes going forward, I can respect that. Taking something away from somebody, I have a hard time with that.