New Mda F/a Info

[2clippedwings]

:huh: Received an e-line from AFA regarding MDA (or is it MAA? apparently not even the company knows for sure) and its impact on our thousands of f/a's out of work. I went on the Hub to read the company Q and A. Sorry to say, not much info provided. Company kept making references to the American Eagle contract (now available again on the USAirways AFA site). U has not determined yet how pay and seniority integration will happen. If you pass when recalled to MDA, you have then passed for the duration. Glad they finally acknowledged our questions shaping so many of our futures. Deeply disappointed in the convoluted and evasive "answers". This does not contribute to improving morale. How do you other furloughees feel about this?

 

[airlineorphan]

Hi 2clippedwings,

My email got overloaded and the e-line never came through. Could you (or someone) post it here, please?

When you say "If you pass when recalled to MDA, you have then passed for the duration. " do you mean for mainline and MDA/MAA (perhaps we should just call it "SweatShopAir" -- SSA?) or just for MAA/MDA?

Thanks!
-Airlineorphan

 

[ACrazy8]

That MDA Q&A is just making me ask more questions!!! When does the latest round of 1,000 layoffs take place? DEC? (when 900+ vol. f/a's return to work)? Why start training f/a's for MDA in NOV. ,when senior f/a's are going to bump them come DEC.? I don't get it......Anyone?

 

[ACrazy8]

MIDATLANTIC (MDA)
FLIGHT ATTENDANT Q & A

Question:
Where will the base or bases be located?

Answer:
We will initially look to crew pilots and flight attendants
out of PIT. Over time, as MDA grows, we may open other
bases as well. Bases may also be closed as operational
needs change.

Question:
What's the pay scale formula?

Answer:
Pay will be the same as American Eagle rates of pay.

Question:
What's the method of MDA crewmembers reintegration
back into the main line system? Will the callbacks
be offered in seniority order?

Answer:
It will be the same as it would with furlough recall.
However, in order to ensure schedule integrity at MDA,
the Company may require a freeze at MDA in order to
allow for replacement training.

Question:
Will MDA offer a 401(k) plan?

Answer:
Yes

Question:
Will I be able to pass ride on US Airways?

Answer:
Yes. As a US Airways furloughed flight attendant, you
are eligible to pass ride on mainline and will retain
your mainline travel seniority date.

Question:
Will I be eligible to jumpseat on US Airways?

Answer:
No. As a MDS flight attendant you will be eligible
to travel on mainline jumpseat because you are furloughed
from mainline.

Question:
Will MDA crewmembers be represented by AFA?

Answer:
Yes. You will not be covered under the mainline Agreement
and will be covered under a separate Agreement. Your
wages, benefits and work rules will be based on the
American Eagle Agreement.

Question:
Will seniority continue to accrue with US Airways while
employed with MDA?

Answer:
Seniority for competitive bidding will continue to
accrue for mainline purposes. Longevity for pay progression,
vacation/sick accruals, and retirement purposes will
not. You will continue to use your Company hire date
for travel purposes.

Question:
Will the positions at MDA be offered in seniority order
to involuntary furloughed crewmembers?

Answer:
Yes. The flow through processes are still being determined.

Question:
How will the transition from US Airways to MDA impact
my vacation and sick accrual?

Answer:
Your sick bank will be frozen at mainline. You will
accrue a new sick bank at MDA starting with zero hours.
If you were already on involuntary furlough your vacation
would have been already paid out. If it wasn't, it
will be frozen at mainline. If you are going to be
involuntarily furloughed, you will have the option
to have your vacation paid out or you may elect to
have it remain frozen in your mainline vacation bank.
No vacation will be converted to be used at MDA.

Question:
As a MDA crewmember, what will my (NRSA) boarding status
be on US Airways?

Answer:
Because MDA is a division of US Airways, your travel
boarding priority will be the same as if you are an
active employee at mainline.

Question:
What type of medical/dental coverage will MDA offer?

Answer:
Coverage will be based on what is in place at American
Eagle.

Question:
Is there a probationary period for crewmembers accepting
the MDA position?

Answer:
For furloughs going to MDA there will not be a probationary
period. However, if we hire employees externally, those
employees would go through a 6 month probationary period.

Question:
How would MDA work rules differ from US Airways?

Answer:
Work rules will be the same as American Eagle work
rules.

Question:
When will training begin, how long is the training
and where will it be held? Will it be paid training?

Answer:
Training will begin in November. The training will
be unpaid consistent with American Eagle new hire training.
For furloughees, training will be approximately ten
days.

Question:
How will the hiring be accomplished? Will recall notices
go to all involuntary furloughed flight attendants?
Will there be interviews? Can an involuntary furloughed
flight attendant be turned down from hiring? What if
I pass on a position at MDA?

Answer:
There will not be an interview process for the involuntary
furloughed employees. We will send out a notification
to all furloughees asking them about their interest
in MDA. When we get to the actual hiring, we will proceed
in seniority order. You will get one bite at the apple.
If you pass, you will not be offered employment at
MDA and will remain on furlough awaiting recall to
mainline.

Question:
After all furloughs have been recalled or passed can
a mainline f/a bid to MDA? What will be the time commitment?


Answer:
Bidding protocols for mainline non-furloughees are
to be determined.

Question:
If not enough furloughed flight attendants fill openings
at MDA, can active mainline flight attendants be forced
to MDA or will MDA begin hiring new employees?

Answer:
No. A mainline non-furloughed flight attendant will
not be expected to take a position at MDA unless he/she
chooses to. If flight attendants are required at MDA
and we have made offers to all furloughees, then an
external hiring process will begin. Note that if a
furloughed flight attendant declines a position at
MDA, there will not be a second chance to take an open
MDA position at a later date.

Question:
Will new hire flight attendants go on the mainline
seniority list?

Answer:
No. They will be placed on the MDA seniority list,
however they will not be placed on the mainline seniority
list.

Question:
Can a current Express f/a be hired into MDA and keep
their seniority?

Answer:
If we are hiring off the street at MDA, an Express
flight attendant may apply for and MDA position. If
successful in the hiring process, and Express flight
attendant will keep travel seniority only.

Question:
If a f/a is offered at MDA and declines, will the company
contest unemployment claims? Please respond on current
and future claimants.

Answer:
Yes. If an offer of employment is made and f/a chooses
to pass on the offer, the Company may contest unemployment.

Question:
Will MDA be a division similar to Transatlantic?

Answer:
No. Flight Attendants will not be able to bid on MDA
on an annual basis. Flight Attendants at MDA will work
under a separate agreement. There is no premium pay
associated with MDA like there is for International
flying.

Question:
Where can I find the American Eagle contract that MDA
will be working under? We need the pay rates and work
rules to make our decision.

Answer:
AFA has a copy of the American Eagle Agreement on their
website. www.afausairways.org .

Question:
What happens if I take a position at MDA and don't
want to continue working there? Can I resign but still
keep my mainline recall rights?

Answer:
A voluntary resignation or a failure in training from
MDA will not impact your recall rights to mainline.
However, if you are terminated for cause at MDA, you
will be terminated from US Airways and forfeit your
recall rights to mainline.

If you have any further questions please e-mail Sharon
Goddin at [email protected]
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[2clippedwings]

Thanks ACrazy8 for placing the E-line here. One typo appears in transferring the info from the Hub-MDA f/a's cannot jumpseat on mainline (does that mean we have forgotten how to operate an emergency exit?). You are totally right. Their Q and A just created more questions. I'd like to see a lucid explanation of pay and seniority and furlough and recall procedures before a "recall" letter appears in my mailbox.

 

[ACrazy8]

I would "guess" that MDA f/a's are no longer qualified to evacuate a mainline aircraft. Reason being we do/or would not participate in a mainline recurrent class. And that reasoning would tell me "mainline f/a's" would NOT be able to jumpseat on any of MDA's a/c. MDA will have just one a/c type EMB 170, with an option to add EMB 175's. Do we know how many f/a jumpseats the company is putting in the EMB? I would hope at LEAST 3 if not 4. Anyone know?

 

[flyin2low]

Do we know how many f/a jumpseats the company is putting in the EMB??

Two

 

[Light Years]

<_< Would it hurt so much to add at least one extra jumpseat?

In my copy of the email, theres a few typos (eligible instead of ineligible etc)- it looks like it was typed in quite a hurry, and no, it doesnt anwer very many questions. It seems to be, heres a little bit of vague info, next you'll get an interest letter and decide now or forever hold your peace.
One part I dont like is that they can contest your unemployment (if youre collecting) if you turn it down. I thought you didnt have to accept a job that pays less than what you were making? I also think after they've gone through the mainline furlough list they should offer those positions to wholly-owned Express flight attendants instead of hiring of the street, especially since they seem to be shrinking AL and PI. Come to think of it though, F/As at most of the Express carriers make more money to fly smaller aircraft than we will to fly a plane that no one can really call an RJ with a straight face. JetBlue sure doesnt consider the 190 "Express" for flight attendant pay purposes.
Talk about getting shafted. I wish we'd been able to negotiate a contract.

 

[pitguy74]

I find it very hard to believe that US will contest ones Unemployment.

Example: A mainline flight attendant based in a city other then PIT, gets furloughed. He/She now receives unemployment. MDA/MAA now calls and offers Him/Her a position, finding out that the pay is 8-13 dollars less an hour, not to mention that they will need to pack up and move to PIT.

For most, this is financially impossible. US will never be able to contest unemployment. How could they? it's corrupt, but then again............ :censored:

 

[TimeOff]

Hi all
Im a AE f/a and I wanted to know is the company going to establish all the arbitracion awards that the AE F/As have won in your contract.

examples...

1-A PO(personal off) can never be denied. Abitraded and won in favor of AE F/A. Also a PO can be convertid to a PVD(paid vacation day from next years vacation bank)

2- Pilots rest rules...a f/a will be given the same rest rules as the pilots ...only rest...not pilots limitacion (1000hrs flying a year,100hrs flying a month...ect) If a f/a that is based in SJU goes flys over 8hrs in a period of 24hrs that f/a will be given 18hrs of rest. period no questions asked.

there are more I just can't recall at this moment....

Plus we have settled a lot of grievances with the company in favor of f/a's as well....
example...

We get 2 late reports per year to be removed if you can't make it to work on time for your 1st flight due to extreme circumstances. Floods, car crash...ect).

We get non stop perdiem , in other words if I am at work and my overnight gets cancelled and i need to return the next day to finishe my seq. My perdiem continues they can not break up my seq. in two.

When you are to have a day off and due to unfortunate circumstanses you get stuck in a out stacion, the company will return you that day off that you spent out of YOUR DOMICLE.

Anyway theres more, just cant recall now. I hope this helps. Pardon my spelling.

 

[pitguy74]

Timeoff,

Thank you for the info... Keep us posted on whats new (contract)

 

[Hula Girl]

I read through the AE contract and am wondering how this contract became our contract for the FAs who will work for MDA. It this some industry standard?

 

[2clippedwings]

December 21, 2002

In This Edition of the E-Line
US Airways MEC has accepted a Tentative Agreement

Don't pass rumors. Get the facts. Stay informed.
If you have questions or suggestions for the MEC or LEC Officers, use this FORM.


US Airways MEC has accepted a Tentative Agreement


The US Airways MEC accepted a Tentative Agreement that contains more contract concessions. This Tentative Agreement was accepted by the MEC only after repeated threats of liquidation by the Company that would have resulted in loss of all employee jobs. After discussions with the Company that began on December 17th, the MEC accepted the Tentative Agreement late on December 20th. This Tentative Agreement will be sent to the membership for ratification. The decision to send this Tentative Agreement out to the membership was recommended by a majority vote of the MEC.

Information regarding the Tentative Agreement will be mailed to each of you and balloting will be conducted via telephone and internet as it was in the last round of concessionary negotiations.

Management will also be taking cuts during the term of our Tentative Agreement and increases for management will be phased in as they are in the 2002 Restructuring Agreement for the flight attendants reached this past summer. In addition, all other labor groups also reached tentative agreements with the Company. ALPA had already ratified an agreement with the Company prior to the beginning of our discussions with the Company.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

- 2% lump sum payment on 3/1/2007 and 2% lump sum payment on 3/1/2008;
- Modify Variable Minimum Day to 5+00 hours with no floor an no ceiling and change day and night rigs (Me-Too with ALPA)
- Modification to claiming sick leave;
- Minor change to rescheduling;
- Major changes to Reserve System;
- Increase in Reserve Inviolable days to 8 days;
- Automatic release after trip assignment for Reserves (with exceptions);
- Preferential Bid System;
- Maintain the Bid Sheet;
- AA Eagle wages, work rules and benefits for Mid-Atlantic;
- Changes in Medical/Dental (same as all other employee groups with the exception of ALPA and Senior Management - higher costs for ALPA and Senior Management);
- Enhanced Profit Sharing;
- Additional Equity Participation;
- War Contingency Salary Deferral (also applies to management);
- Changes to LTD and Workers' Compensation;
- NO CHANGES TO FLIGHT ATTENDANT PENSION PLAN.

<_<
American Eagle's OLD contract was "competitive"??? Competitive with whom? As the AE poster above stated, there have been a number of grievances settled. What will MDA f/a's be dealt? Pit Bull, where are you? Please chime in.

 

[USAirBoyA330]

AFA is investigating the Jumpseat policy. This airline will be certified under the USAir Operating Certificate and staffed by mainline flight crews. It therefor is a mainline aircraft and we should be able to jumpseat.

 

[ACrazy8]

Bottom line. If your a Crazy 8 or junior....plan on living in PIT, (MDA) and think twice if you think your commuting there. No available jumpseats. The company is making it VERY difficult for junior f/a's to continue flying. I'm guessing this alternative was cheaper for them than an early out program for senior f/a's... :blink: