F M L A
If you have it great!! If not than get to it!!!!
RF
This is from the 6/26 West E-Line:
AFA Update Tuesday, June 26, 2007 Chair Update Part II
Take FMLA Off the Bargaining Table
HR 2744, a technical correction to the eligibility requirements of The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) for airline flight crews, has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. We now have the opportunity to TAKE FMLA OFF THE BARGAINING TABLE ONCE AND FOR ALL! Please take a few minutes to contact your U.S. Representative and ask them to be a cosponsor on this legislation or thank them for already signing on as cosponsor.
Background: The Family Medical Leave Act of 1993 provides 12 weeks of protected leave for employees who have worked 60% of a full time schedule over the previous 12 months. For most traditional 9-5 jobs the calculation used for eligibility is 1250 hours per year.
As flight attendants the time between flights, as well as time spent on layovers, is based on company scheduled requirements, but these hours do not count towards "time at work". We can spend 4-5 days a week away from our home and family due to the nature of our job, yet these hours do not count towards FMLA qualification. Reserves at most airlines only receive credit towards FMLA qualification for actual time working flights.
America West Policy: For the past decade America West has used 625 credit hours as the qualifier for FMLA eligibility. Now at the negotiations table management is proposing using 1250 duty hours which is current book on the East.
Our Reserves, who are guaranteed 70 hours a month, would only have 840 hours in one year and would NOT be eligible for FMLA under management's proposed 1250 hours.
We find ourselves at the negotiations table bargaining for access to FMLA provisions that are already enjoyed by other citizens in this country through the law.
Please contact your U.S. Representative and ask them to cosponsor HR 2744 or thank them for already signing on as cosponsor on HR 2744, the Airline Flight Crew FMLA that supports clarifying eligibility criteria for flight attendants and pilots. If you do not know who your U.S. Representative is you can go to www.house.gov/writerep or call the Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask for their help in identifying your U.S. Representative.
The most effective way of contacting your legislator is through written email addressed to the legislative staff who handles aviation issues or by sending a letter directly to your Representative via U.S. mail. Emails and letters usually warrant a written response from the legislator expressing their position on the issue. The second most effective way of contacting a member of Congress is by calling their office. While AFA has sent out e-activist on this issue, contacting the Representative by email, letter or phone is far more effective in getting them to respond to our needs.
AZ Representatives Who Have Not Signed
Rep. Rick Renzi 202-225-2315 (Legislative Asst. Jim Lester)
Rep. Trent Franks 202-225-4576 (Legislative Asst. Jeff Choudhry)
Rep. Jeff Flake 202-225-2635 (Legislative Asst. Chandler Morse)
Rep. Gabrielle Giffords 202-225-2542 (Legislative Asst. Matt Horowitz)
Rep. John Shadegg 202-225-3361 (Legislative Asst. Trista Wendall)
AZ Representatives who HAVE SIGNED
Rep. Ed Pastor 202-225-4065 (Legislative Asst. Eve Young)
Rep. Harry Mitchell 202-225-2190 (Legislative Asst. Matt Weisman)
Rep. Raul Grijalva 202-225-2435 (Legislative Asst. Chris Kaumo)
NV Representatives who HAVE NOT SIGNED
Rep. Dean Heller 202-225-6155 (Legislative Asst. Scott Riplinger)
Rep. Jon Porter 202-225-3252 (Legislative Asst. Kris Sanchez)
NV Representative who HAS SIGNED
Rep. Shelley Berkley 202-225-5965 (Legislative Asst. Bryan George)
Thank you for taking action on removing FMLA from our negotiations table!
Respectfully Submitted by,
Nicki Kirkeby– Government Affairs Chair Council 66