F/A Vacation

[CLTBWIDAYSYR]

Just curious as to what y'all think about what our vacation will look like in the new contract. With my 19 years of service, I get 21 days a year (down from 31 days a year in 2003). Meanwhile, a f/a with the same seniority at America West gets 35 days. How is management gonna handle this one?

 

[desertgal]

I believe Doogie's hoping afa/company will be unable to come to an agreement on a single contract, and then he will force everyone under the current East contract. The reason I believe this is, he has stated it.
Also, before negotiations on HPs contract were abandoned, Doogie said he would not put "one red cent" into any improvemnets, so if we wanted anything, we would have to give up two weeks of vacation to pay for it.
It seems they feel the vacation is costing shareholders too much, so I bet they will try to erode the West vacays, and bring it down to East levels.

 

[CLTBWIDAYSYR]

thanks for responding, desert. not what I wanted to hear, though. I was hoping that maybe meeting in the middle might be an attainable goal (realistically I know I will not EVER see 35 days of vacation again, but was hoping for maybe 28).

 

[N903AW]

I know I will not EVER see 35 days of vacation again, but was hoping for maybe 28.

Stay optimistic. We need EVERYONES support on this one. No one should settle for the vacation time currently on the East Contract.

Bankruptcy is over. The money is in the bank.

THE CONCESSION STAND IS CLOSED!!!!

Not giving up one day of my vacation....and hope everyone fights and stays strong to bring all vacation time to our parameters.

 

[TheNewLowFare]

Just curious as to what y'all think about what our vacation will look like in the new contract. With my 19 years of service, I get 21 days a year (down from 31 days a year in 2003). Meanwhile, a f/a with the same seniority at America West gets 35 days. How is management gonna handle this one?

The company wants to give the 1-10 year F/A raises at the expense of the senior f/as at America west. At US East contract, my vacation would be reduce to 17 days at 4.0 hours and I currently get 35 days @ 4.5 hours (after 15 years). This would be a paycut for me!
And now I keep hearing that US East don't fly very much, so
I don't really know what I'm going to gain if we go with the US Air contract. I've got to stay optimistic on this one and I hope the Union listens to our concerns.

 

[SKY HIGH]

I believe Doogie's hoping afa/company will be unable to come to an agreement on a single contract.
It seems they feel the vacation is costing shareholders too much, so I bet they will try to erode the West vacays, and bring it down to East levels.

sky high states: AND, lets NOT forget about DEADHEADING. Hope the Westies are looking forward to HALF PAY---> NO CREDIT. :down:

 

[N903AW]

I'm curious about something and would like some feedback from the East side. It is spooking me that some replies here are indicative that people are resigned to the notion that we will accept the current East contract with maybe a few tweeks here and there.

I can tell you from a West perspective that we are not willingly going to give up one day of our current vacation time, nor will we accept 50% deadhead pay - especially with the amount of deadheading we do between PHX and Las Vegas. Not without a fight at the very least.

If we are standing firm on these issues, are we going to have any support from the East FAs during negotiations? Or will the West stand alone on these issues? If that is even a remote possibility then we are screwed as our numbers out West would never be able to carry over a motion.

I would hope that East FAs would unify with us and settle for nothing less than former HP's contractual vacation time and deadhead pay. From a different point of view, I would hope that our West FAs would embrace any items from the East contract that are beneficial to both sides.

I just hope that we don't suffer any lack of unity (East/West) during these negotiations and stand firm with our resolve.

The money IS in the bank (contrary to what Management would like us to believe). US Airways is no longer a bankrupt carrier.

The concession stand is CLOSED.

 

[desertgal]

I can tell you from a West perspective that we are not willingly going to give up one day of our current vacation time, nor will we accept 50% deadhead pay - especially with the amount of deadheading we do between PHX and Las Vegas. Not without a fight at the very least.

The concession stand is CLOSED.

DITTO! and AMEN!!

CLTBWIDAYSYR, don't misunderstand my post, I was only stating what DOOGIE would like to see.
Ain't NO WAY (if I was a West FA) I would EVER vote for ANYTHING with a giveback!!
Ain't NO WAY I would EVER accept Easts contract, as its CONCESSIONARY!! And good till 2012!!

West battled for the contract they have now, and were told by both afa and the company, "Well, its your first contract, you can't expect it to be perfect, but you build on it next time".
So, OK, they're not voting for anything but an improved version of what they already have. And they will walk if they have to.

903, good post, I'm kinda wondering what the feelings are on the East side myownself.
I kinda feel like when the time comes, they will be ready to fight for a decent contract.

 

[CLTBWIDAYSYR]

I just hope that we don't suffer any lack of unity (East/West) during these negotiations and stand firm with our resolve.

I am willing to fight. I want my vacation back (along with dh pay). I checked the AA, Alaska, NW, LUV, and CO contracts. We are at the bottom of the pile as far as vacation is concerned (although the AA contract is pretty horrible overall...worse than US East IMO). Not sure what the new NWA contract looks like.

 

[faerynufff]

I am willing to fight. I want my vacation back (along with dh pay). I checked the AA, Alaska, NW, LUV, and CO contracts. We are at the bottom of the pile as far as vacation is concerned (although the AA contract is pretty horrible overall...worse than US East IMO). Not sure what the new NWA contract looks like.

good thoughts my thought.. is with the pay scale, any thoughts on that one???.......

 

[usflyguy]

west should stand firm...i know i hate this current contract and all the negitives it has brought!!!! sucky reserve system, low paying trips, cuts in vacation and pay.you would think with all the cuts we have taken the company would be decent enough to put you in hotel that you wont get bed lice and can actually leave the hotel and walk outside without fearing for your life!!! trust me we will all be watching how this plays out...i for one stand with you!!!! :angry:

 

[LCC_#1]

I'm kinda wondering what the feelings are on the East side myownself.
I kinda feel like when the time comes, they will be ready to fight for a decent contract.

One person's opinion:

You're damn right we are!!

Our last management team crammed down our throats that we must have a similar contract to AWA. Little did we know ours was worst. We went along with it to find out now that they want to bring West down to our level? NO WAY!! I am 100% behind pushing for the best of BOTH, but if West contract was good enough for our last management then, it's good now. NO MORE CUTS!! ENOUGH!!

 

[UWCactus]

I don't think that going into this, the unions can expect to keep all of the vacation time that west has, give raises to the junior level of the west, get 100% deadhead pay, and raises for everybody. The company has made it clear that the costs must remain about the same...that is probably going to mean shifting money..it's negotiating. I would think that going with PBS will be a savings factor for the company so that money should be used wisely. The company will also save money by allowing for mixed pairings...this money should also be used very wisely by the negotiating team. There are some great things in the west contract that East should really consider as positive moves and work towards those items. I fear that vacation must be eroded somewhat by the West, maybe a few days...certainly not the two weeks that was rumored.

The unions must fight hard for a good contract, but they must also be reasonble at the same time..West cannot afford to be unable to reach an agreement and end up with the East contract in place. There should be no hurry on this, but what is brought to the table should not be the extreme of either side, there is too much at stake.

 

[Furloughd4now]

The ONLY good thing about east's contract is the payscale. Hey admit it, it's better than the West.

However, the DH and vaca issues need to be addressed! I for one will fight for a fair and better contract for everyone! (once I get back online of course B)

 

[LCC_#1]

I don't think that going into this, the unions can expect to keep all of the vacation time that west has, give raises to the junior level of the west, get 100% deadhead pay, and raises for everybody. The company has made it clear that the costs must remain about the same...that is probably going to mean shifting money..it's negotiating.

Again, our old bozo management WANTED us to have your contract. They CRAMMED it down our throats...mind you, while AWA and US were planning this marriage. LET ME REPEAT THAT SO IT ISN"T LOST...OUR management CRAMMED the AWA contract down our throats as the way to go WHILE planning this merger. They knew what they were doing. And SO DID DOUG!!!

Well, what's good for West is good for East. Funny how the airlines will spin a story or crisis the way they see fit. Now that Doug sees that the East contract cost less, he wants to cry and whine about cost? UWCactus, I like Doug, but he is dead WRONG on this one and I will not buy into that one.