AFA Labor Discussion (Work Conditions) 7-7 -

[VAflyGal]

WUHAHAHAHAHA!!!
Pairing Optimizer! Deadhead to Philly you newly displaced Charlotte flight attendant.
Pairing Optimizer! Work a CLT turn then layover in PHL.
Pairing Optimizer! "The schedule will work itself out" - C. Maier.

Pairing Optimizer faiiiiillllllllllll!!!

 

[flybynite]

Oh look! Hidden inside Iron Mountain outside PIT is the mainframe for CATS and the "Pairing Optimizer". I think when it "died" a while back something was never right after they revived it. Might have something to do with all the BS base flying shifts.

View attachment 8827

lol!!

 

[Travelpro72]

Beachboy you are just over the top. That is so G'damn funny! ! ! ! ! Is that Carol doing secondary lines in that picture?

 

[aptboeses]

Beachboy....Sing it sista. Those that say, "PBS will allow soooooo much flexibility" while in the next breath forget to tell you that that "flexibility" will be with trips that are left at your seniority. While I find catcrew to be something from the movie War Games, that coupled with SAP gives flight attendants on the east "false seniority". PBS will give the best of the best trips to the top with only crap remaining for the majority. I'm sorry to all those PBS supporters but that is FACT! ! ! You think those with 20 years will be flying strictly transatlantic all summer? Think again my friends. What a laughable joke. To top it all off, PBS is just the tip of the ice"burgh" when it comes to other items the JNC is ready to cram down our throats. NO THANKS! ! ! :down:

I guess people don't understand that when you bid you bid with your seniority. You have the choice of trips that are available at your seniority. Just like now. That's never been a secret. And if I'm not mistaken that's pretty much the way it works now. Now you have to bid on constructed lines and you can only get the lines that are left when they get to your seniority. Not all that different. Except for the fact that you construct your own line rather than pick from lines that are already constructed.

I still don't understand why people think that they'll be able to hold trips that they can't hold now.

 

[Zarah]

I still don't understand why people think that they'll be able to hold trips that they can't hold now.

I think what they are afraid of is that they will not be able to hold the types of trips they hold now.

 

[aptboeses]

Yes....you are missing something.

PBS is a software program that so far at it's best works for the top 25% or so. And the only reason we don't have it now is because the union has prevented the company from imposing it for the simple reason that they aren't willing to buy the right program that doesn't violate our contract parameters.

Anything thing else is a violation of our current contract.

You don't understand the flexibility of our old "CATCREW" and SAP programs. They do require more input but they get the job done. And because of this...the more junior people aren't stuck with PROFANITY DELETED BY MODERATOR trips. These "old" programs are more friendly for the junior f/a's. And they were built that way for a reason.

They preserve jobs.

Perhaps you could share your working knowledge of PBS. Which system did you use?

CATCREW is not flexible. It's very basic and cannot work with FLICA hence the reason we have crew schedulers whose sole function is to process trades and drops. As to the junior people not getting stuck with "bullshit" trips I have to respectfully disagree. I just worked with a young lady who bids RSV because she gets the "bullshit" trips and horrible days off. Everything is relative. Some people hate 190 trips and others love them. Some people only want to work INTL trips while others would rather call off sick than work one.

 

[Travelpro72]

I think what they are afraid of is that they will not be able to hold the types of trips they hold now.

That is exactly what most are afraid of. You will hold trips that your seniority can TRULY hold. With the way the system is today though complex flight attendants hold trips that their seniority would never hold. The same WILL NOT ring true with PBS. Let's face it, the T/A trips are the top trips to go first coupled with high time one days (think BGI) when PHL had it. Most will not see those type of trips through the "claimed" flexibility and "freedom" PBS gives a f/a.

 

[nic4us]

So as to not appear too rude and totally hijack the thread, PBS is great, works good, standing bid last a long time.

I have a question. I am a West pilot. On West metal the West pilots have the benefit of being able to ride on the cabin jumpseat, if that seat is not already occupied by a flight attendant. Flight attendants have first priority. Pilots are unable to list in advance, but can ride the cabin jumpseat.

My question, is the AFA actively seeking to end this policy and/or writing contractual language that would prevent it in the future?

 

[VAflyGal]

Good question. Email your friendly AFA JNC reps and ask. (Most likely you'll get anything but a direct answer anyway). ;p Currently East pilots may not occupy a cabin jumpseat. If it's a concession of any sort it wouldn't surprise me.

Try this. [email protected]. Good luck...

 

[Zarah]

My question, is the AFA actively seeking to end this policy and/or writing contractual language that would prevent it in the future?

I do not recall the AFA mentioning anything about the cabin jumpseats in e-lines or at meetings. Best to ask them directly or ask USAPA for your answer.

 

[Travelpro72]

Being an east flight attendant I have known about this former America West policy and personally think it's great. Look, we all need to get somewhere considering the majority of the east employees commute. That said, when you have an a/c like the E190 it can be quite tough. You have a galley the size of a powder room to set up while people start going to the bathroom and a jumpseater on the seat seriously makes it next to impossible. I would NEVER support a decision though for a pilot to use the jumpseat IF there is no flight attendant trying to use it. I also would not approve a window before departure where a f/a would be turned away due to pilot occupancy. The way I see it is if it's empty and the pilot can get to work why would anyone want to take that chance opportunity away? It will be interesting to see if you get a response from the illustrous AFA. Hmmmmm

 

[flybynite]

So as to not appear too rude and totally hijack the thread, PBS is great, works good, standing bid last a long time.

I have a question. I am a West pilot. On West metal the West pilots have the benefit of being able to ride on the cabin jumpseat, if that seat is not already occupied by a flight attendant. Flight attendants have first priority. Pilots are unable to list in advance, but can ride the cabin jumpseat.

My question, is the AFA actively seeking to end this policy and/or writing contractual language that would prevent it in the future?

Our current contract states that the cabin jumpseat is for f/a's only. Since we are in contract talks it stands to reason this will be addressed.

It seems to me I read somewhere a while back that it is a USAPA proposal. To maintain west contract language on this item.

So to answer your question, I'm not aware of the AFA JNC objecting to this.

 

[flygirl74]

Beachboy you are just over the top. That is so G'damn funny! ! ! ! ! Is that Carol doing secondary lines in that picture?

No, that is not Carol.....I can tell since there is no number 2 pencil in her hand. And the woman in that picture isn't wearing a Hello Kitty oufit.

 

[hp_fa]

If I recall the actual provision of the AFA 66 contract, a pilot may use the jumpseat only if there are no open seats and there are no FA's wanting to use the jumpseat. For example, a pilot trying to get to work cannot displace a FA from that jumpseat even if the FA is only flying the jumpseat for a pleasant lunch in SFO or whatever. That same holds true if the pilot is a must fly. If so he or she must be assigned a normal seat.

The few times I flew with a pilot who took a FA jumpseat in the rear he usually moved up to the FC jumpseats during flight to keep the aft galley and lav clear. I never had any problems from a jumpseating pilot. In fact it was usually a learning experience for them, especially if we hit turbulence and they got to actually see the difference in how turbulence effects the aft as compared to their normal flight deck seats.

 

[FlyUs]

So as to not appear too rude and totally hijack the thread, PBS is great, works good, standing bid last a long time.

I have a question. I am a West pilot. On West metal the West pilots have the benefit of being able to ride on the cabin jumpseat, if that seat is not already occupied by a flight attendant. Flight attendants have first priority. Pilots are unable to list in advance, but can ride the cabin jumpseat.

My question, is the AFA actively seeking to end this policy and/or writing contractual language that would prevent it in the future?

Very strict language about the east jumpseat eligibility. I hope it stays this way unless the f/as are allowed to ride the cockpit jumpseat.