Are F/a's Taking Leaves?
- Thread starter jsn25911
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jimntx
Veteran
Yes, they are short-staffed now; however, the company expects to be able to offer bid leaves (1 month leave) in September after the pull-down of the summer flying. Personally, I don't see it.
When you offer bid leaves you are saying in effect that you have a temporary overage. I think the end of summer schedule reduction might have relieved the short-staffing, but I don't think that it will result in an "overage."
When Option II is open at the first of the month, when reserves have 40 hours on the 10th of the month, when you have managers out flying trips on the 10th of the month, you have serious shortages. And, if the attrition rate keeps up at the current pace (approx. avg. 80/mo in total; approx. avg. 61/mo if you discount the 137 who did not return from OVL), the shortages will not be eased by the Sept. schedule reduction.
The attrition averaged about 45/mo for the first 4 months of this year. The average attrition for the past 3 months has been 79/mo if you don't count the 137 (124/mo if you do!!!). Though the 137 is a one-off figure, that is still 137 bodies the company expected to be on the line this month that aren't. If the attrition rate continues in the 80/mo range, every two months we will be losing approx. 1% of the total active f/a corps.
Flying everyone until they drop just increases the sick calls which then exacerbates the shortage of available flight attendants. Seems to me that something's got to give soon.
When you offer bid leaves you are saying in effect that you have a temporary overage. I think the end of summer schedule reduction might have relieved the short-staffing, but I don't think that it will result in an "overage."
When Option II is open at the first of the month, when reserves have 40 hours on the 10th of the month, when you have managers out flying trips on the 10th of the month, you have serious shortages. And, if the attrition rate keeps up at the current pace (approx. avg. 80/mo in total; approx. avg. 61/mo if you discount the 137 who did not return from OVL), the shortages will not be eased by the Sept. schedule reduction.
The attrition averaged about 45/mo for the first 4 months of this year. The average attrition for the past 3 months has been 79/mo if you don't count the 137 (124/mo if you do!!!). Though the 137 is a one-off figure, that is still 137 bodies the company expected to be on the line this month that aren't. If the attrition rate continues in the 80/mo range, every two months we will be losing approx. 1% of the total active f/a corps.
Flying everyone until they drop just increases the sick calls which then exacerbates the shortage of available flight attendants. Seems to me that something's got to give soon.
Historically our loads have always gone down in September and don't pick up again until Thanksgiving. We have ALL our active f/a's flying since leaves are not available which is different from previous years, so yes I really do think they will offer these bid leaves. Things are not going to even out unitl that 777 payout then we'll see who's staying and who's going.
jsn25911 said:
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Garfield1966
Veteran
jsn25911 said:
It's both and I'll be damned if I can figure it out. No one ever listens to us in scheduling. Planning and the powers that be seem to be under some sort of delusion that they know what they are doing. They screw us over time after time and we some how manage to keep things running. It’s a never ending cycle.
jimntx
Veteran
Garfield, from what I hear from flight attendants all of you in Scheduling must be tearing your hair out on a daily basis. The very idea that Option II is open at the beginning of the month in all bases is just ridiculous.
Side question: Does anyone know if flight attendants are being allowed to bid availability lines? If I'm recalled in December, I really need availability lines during ski season.
On topic: If bid leaves are granted for September, but then the company ends up being short-staffed again, can they cancel the bid leaves during the month and recall the people early?
Side question: Does anyone know if flight attendants are being allowed to bid availability lines? If I'm recalled in December, I really need availability lines during ski season.
On topic: If bid leaves are granted for September, but then the company ends up being short-staffed again, can they cancel the bid leaves during the month and recall the people early?
Garfield1966
Veteran
jimntx said:Garfield, from what I hear from flight attendants all of you in Scheduling must be tearing your hair out on a daily basis. The very idea that Option II is open at the beginning of the month in all bases is just ridiculous.
Side question: Does anyone know if flight attendants are being allowed to bid availability lines? If I'm recalled in December, I really need availability lines during ski season.
On topic: If bid leaves are granted for September, but then the company ends up being short-staffed again, can they cancel the bid leaves during the month and recall the people early?
[post="169143"][/post]
Yes, AVBL is still being offered although my understanding is that there is an effort to do away with AVBL. Personally it's a pain in the A$$ and I hope it does dissapear.
Opt II is not all that bad any more (with the exception of JFK). Mst bases only have a few peopl on the list at any given time. I ran MU 3 times today for 2 and 3 day seq and not a single person showed legal for MU or Opt II. So the seq just gets pair up, reassigned or it goes short.
jimntx
Veteran
Garfield1966 said:
NOOOOOOOOOOOO! I like being able to max out by the 19th or 20th of the month and go skiing. You can NOT do away with availability. Understand?
Garfield1966
Veteran
jimntx said:NOOOOOOOOOOOO! I like being able to max out by the 19th or 20th of the month and go skiing. You can NOT do away with availability. Understand?
[post="169201"][/post]
Have to. To many people working the system. There are not all that any trips open by 12n so folks are getting paid 70hrs and not working 70hrs. We all want just line holders and reserves. Besides, I cannot tell you how tired I am of explaining AVBL to people who are to damn lazy to rip the wrapping off ot their contract. I would not worry about it too much, if scheduing wants it and it's good for the company, it tends not to happen.
Jim
Don't worry from one furloughee, who just returned to the line, to another furloughee about to return to the line, yes AVBL is there and you will more than likely hold it at LGA. The company is wayyy short F/A's, and have been, since furlough last July. They told us when we returned back that we were locked into LGA for 90 days. Please tell me where that is in the contract? We are not new hires....Not to mention, those that wanted to transfer from LGA to STL cleared the ENTIRE list immediately and are scheduled at STL 09/01. You will fly sequences ie...transcons with min. crew, and yes it's ugly...although, when it happens to me,, I tend to laugh, and I tend to laugh out loud...I am thankful for my job back and work the trips, but I also follow the contract ( for what its worth ). Always put in for understaffing pay, which is essential, and in some cases, f/a's refuse to fly trips without the proper staffing...I take it with a grain of salt, and do my job....What is really hard to fathom though, keep in mind, is when you deadhead to your former base to do trips out of it when your were forced to another base because of furlough....JHow many time on here has F?A Mikey and Miaami said that MIA Is overstaffed? If they could only see my HI1 right now..Keep living in your dream world guys..This is where JW and that " so called" union continues to be a thorn in your side, well as, mine....but hang in there because you will eventually get back to your orginal base, and hopefuly with a new officer at the helm. I do feel for Garfield and the rest of the schedulers out there because their job has become twice as difficult to do. Not only are they understaffed, they have to work under a disfunctional contract. Those on furlough who await that letter to arrive, it is only a matter of time....Hang in there!
What Unity?
Don't worry from one furloughee, who just returned to the line, to another furloughee about to return to the line, yes AVBL is there and you will more than likely hold it at LGA. The company is wayyy short F/A's, and have been, since furlough last July. They told us when we returned back that we were locked into LGA for 90 days. Please tell me where that is in the contract? We are not new hires....Not to mention, those that wanted to transfer from LGA to STL cleared the ENTIRE list immediately and are scheduled at STL 09/01. You will fly sequences ie...transcons with min. crew, and yes it's ugly...although, when it happens to me,, I tend to laugh, and I tend to laugh out loud...I am thankful for my job back and work the trips, but I also follow the contract ( for what its worth ). Always put in for understaffing pay, which is essential, and in some cases, f/a's refuse to fly trips without the proper staffing...I take it with a grain of salt, and do my job....What is really hard to fathom though, keep in mind, is when you deadhead to your former base to do trips out of it when your were forced to another base because of furlough....JHow many time on here has F?A Mikey and Miaami said that MIA Is overstaffed? If they could only see my HI1 right now..Keep living in your dream world guys..This is where JW and that " so called" union continues to be a thorn in your side, well as, mine....but hang in there because you will eventually get back to your orginal base, and hopefuly with a new officer at the helm. I do feel for Garfield and the rest of the schedulers out there because their job has become twice as difficult to do. Not only are they understaffed, they have to work under a disfunctional contract. Those on furlough who await that letter to arrive, it is only a matter of time....Hang in there!
What Unity?
LiveInAHotel
Veteran
- Nov 5, 2003
- 645
- 0
The company would have to ask the APFA to give it up in concessions. They can't just take AVBL away as they please. AVBL is not going to go bye-bye anytime soon.
NewHampshire Black Bears
Veteran
- Aug 20, 2002
- 10,154
- 681
Flyboy4u said:
==============================================
flyboy4u, or jim, or hotel, or mikey,
In regard to f/a's who rufuse to fly trips without proper staffing, plz. give ol' "bears" a "play by play" of this situation. I love a good union story.
Does it go something like this ?
Flt --- is boarded, and the f/a's still hav,nt seen the "mystery" f/a that management says is enroute, and hopes you guys shut the door, pushback, and go ???
OR,
The F/a's make "the call" before you allow the gate agent to board ??
ALSO,
when you refer to "proper staffing", are you refering to FAA minimums ??
Thanx,
NH/BB's
jimntx
Veteran
NewHampshire Black Bears said:
They are talking about loads and levels of service which per our gutted CBA require additional flight attendant(s) over and above FAA minimum. Flight can not leave the gate if FAA minimum number of flight attendants on board. For that matter, passengers can not be boarded until FAA minimum is on board.
As long as FAA minimum is on board, there is nothing in the contract that allows a flight attendant to refuse to go. If the CBA minimum do not go, the flight attendants who work the flight can put in for understaffing pay. A flight attendant who refuses to fly under those circumstances is jeopardizing his/her job.
The problem is that with the RPA provisions "negotiated" by Mr. Ward, it is cheaper for the company to pay understaffing pay in most cases than it is to pay the extra flight attendant(s) to work the flight.
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