US AFA topic title edited by moderator

[Furloughd4now]

Why are they qualifying the West side's leave as a Leave of Absence" and the East "Furlough". As I understand the West contract, it did not seem to differ all that much except that VLOA should only be for one bid period.

If they do not get enough "Voluntaries" for this "Leave of Absence" will they then resort to "Involuntary Leave of Absence"? OR do they THEN go to Furlough (voluntary then Involuntary)? Their contract language for "Furlough" and "VLOA"s are in different categories and don't seem to follow like ours does (sequence-wise)

The West gets to keep their IDs, JS priviledges, and SA3 boarding priority, through the duration of their LOAs, East does not. Whats the deal with that? I thought ALL FAs have to be "active" to sit in the J/S.

:blink: :blink: :blink:

 

[VAflyGal]

I was referring to the "tired bitter" ones - not the happy ones. Some should stay. Some should go. Same for some "juniors." I mean since 10-15 years is considered junior here. *huffs again*

"Tired, bitter seniors." Here we go with the ageism/ stereotyping again.

And BTW, hasn't Boston been closing since the late '70's? Anyone?

 

[Itestwell]

I was referring to the "tired bitter" ones - not the happy ones. Some should stay. Some should go. Same for some "juniors." I mean since 10-15 years is considered junior here. *huffs again*

Funny, you referred to "tired, bitter seniors", not "tired, bitter juniors."

And FWIW, 1999 could be the most junior at AA shortly. Worse than US. :blink:

 

[N903AW]

The West gets to keep their IDs, JS priviledges, and SA3 boarding priority, through the duration of their LOAs, East does not. Whats the deal with that? I thought ALL FAs have to be "active" to sit in the J/S.

:blink: :blink: :blink:

Trust me, these priviledges were not freely offered to the West FAs by the Company for Voluntary Leave Of Absences. Our AFA AWA/US MEC Council 66 fought tooth and nail to secure these benefits for Flight Attendants wishing to take VLOAs. I would highly suggest that you pressure your MEC to do the same!

As much as I hate to say it, we are on separate contracts, and from an operational perspective, our Flight Attendants are still working for two separate airlines sharing the same name.

 

[Furloughd4now]

Trust me, these priviledges were not freely offered to the West FAs by the Company for Voluntary Leave Of Absences. Our AFA AWA/US MEC Council 66 fought tooth and nail to secure these benefits for Flight Attendants wishing to take VLOAs. I would highly suggest that you pressure your MEC to do the same!

Hey Mike .... Ya see this???

 

[VAflyGal]

Poor choice of word, I guess.
Seniors still have it better around here. Such is life. I'm going to cut my grass.

Funny, you referred to "tired, bitter seniors", not "tired, bitter juniors."

And FWIW, 1999 could be the most junior at AA shortly. Worse than US. :blink:

 

[2clippedwings]

Why are they qualifying the West side's leave as a Leave of Absence" and the East "Furlough". As I understand the West contract, it did not seem to differ all that much except that VLOA should only be for one bid period.

If they do not get enough "Voluntaries" for this "Leave of Absence" will they then resort to "Involuntary Leave of Absence"? OR do they THEN go to Furlough (voluntary then Involuntary)? Their contract language for "Furlough" and "VLOA"s are in different categories and don't seem to follow like ours does (sequence-wise)

The West gets to keep their IDs, JS priviledges, and SA3 boarding priority, through the duration of their LOAs, East does not. Whats the deal with that? I thought ALL FAs have to be "active" to sit in the J/S.

:blink: :blink: :blink:

My guess why East is called a Voluntary Furlough is that contractually the company will not fight f/a's filing for unemployment.

 

[Zarah]

My guess why East is called a Voluntary Furlough is that contractually the company will not fight f/a's filing for unemployment.

That is what I was thinking too. Will those out west be able to get unemployment like those in the east will.

 

[N903AW]

That is what I was thinking too. Will those out west be able to get unemployment like those in the east will.

The answer to your question is yes. At first, no surprise here, the Company did try to fight unemployment claims for those taking extended voluntary leaves. That was put to a stop with AFA pressure and now we have some Flight Attendants on VLOA who are receiving unemployment compensation during their time away from work.

 

[FlightChic]

Here's a thought. Why not staff this airline properly so we won't have the "haves" and the "have nots". We have some people who fly 150 hours a month every month then we have reserves who are only flying 40 hours. How hard could it possibly be for the company to deny all those extra trips to flight attendants once they reach their maximum hours? Can they not put an asterick by their name or some sort of notification in the computer to scheduling once they reach their maximum number of hours? Financially speaking, it would make more sense because the people who are flying all of those extra hours are typically senior blockholders who are at the top of the pay scale. What sense does it make to pay them all that money when you could be paying less money to more junior flight attendants flying a normal amount of hours. It's also not very fun when you work a trip with one of those flight attendants who flies a gazillion hours because they are always tired and grumpy from all the flying. I'm sure that will never change though because scheduling doesn't care who flies those trips they are just happy to have it filled and the union would never let the company enforce the overflying rules. I don't care whether ETB trips are considered company time or not. Either way, they should not be allowed to fly all those extra hours per month, period.

 

[flybynite]

I am not going to disagree with a lot of what you've said. Scheduling should be putting the skids to the f/a's over flying.

When they hit their max...ding!...you're done.

I also think the company should lower the max to 80 to 85 hrs. That alone could prevent some of these VLOA's.

 

[FlightChic]

I am not going to disagree with a lot of what you've said. Scheduling should be putting the skids to the f/a's over flying.

When they hit their max...ding!...you're done.

I also think the company should lower the max to 80 to 85 hrs. That alone could prevent some of these VLOA's.

Well, that makes too much sense!

 

[Travelpro72]

I just recently flew with a flight attentand bragging or complaining about how many hours she has been flying each month. Here reserves sit not breaking guarantee basically working to cover "unable to commute" flight attenadants trips and not sick calls. It is such the viscious cycle for the fact that as FlightChic stated, "scheduling could care less who works the trip as long as it's filled and out of their hair basically". Then there is the union who protects the guilty. If your a flight attendant that overflies you are taking trips and MONEY away from another. WHY the company doesn't put a stop to this is beyond me. 🙄

 

[Onestep2flt]

The reason your company does not put a stop to it is there is no incentive for them to. The more flight attendants trip over their coworkers to fly above their alloted time, the less bodies are needed on the property. It is just that simple. Until there is enough interest by the whole group to enforce your contract it will continue. How many people are doing this? If there is enough evidence this is happening on a regular basis then you have to band together and put your leadership to the fire. I think the problem you will find is that the only people with direct proof of this is the company and union leaders. Sounds like a catch 22 to me. I wish you luck in your endeavor because I think it is an uphill battle.

 

[Travelpro72]

The problem is the company pays each reserve flight attendant a minimum guarantee yet they NEVER break it. I know the company wants just that. Now as far as east flight attendants go, reserves receive a 73 hour guarantee. Ok, now you have your topped out flight attendants flying 120 to 130 or more hours a month? At international premium as a majority? I just don't see the company not caring. As much as they like to pinch a penny I find it rather shocking. :blink:

I have a BIG problem with the union not stepping in. I know the fine line the union walks with discipline but wrong is wrong. When what one employee does affects another YES it needs rectified. It's pure BS. The overfly situation is out of control.