US AIRWAYS FA's approve CONTRACT

[Onestep2flt]

Point of the post is that the pilots *do* have protections for flying as the merger progresses.

Your point is well taken.

 

[flybynite]

The ink is barely dry on our new contract and I'm hearing west pilots are already threatening and intimitating f/a's over the f/a j/s.

 

[desertgal]

The ink is barely dry on our new contract and I'm hearing west pilots are already threatening and intimitating f/a's over the f/a j/s.

And who did you "hear" this from?
Your friend who sat OPR who heard from her friend that overheard a conversation?
What was the threat exactly?
And how many "pilots" are exhibiting this "threatening" behavior?
Don't be silly. You sound like you are trying to stir some chit.

 

[flybynite]

A friend of mine that is a PHX fa told me this. This isn't j/s rumor or gossip...it's the deal. He threatened to refuse all f/a's j/s rights on his aircraft.

I am not stirring the pot on this.

 

[Onestep2flt]

A friend of mine that is a PHX fa told me this. This isn't j/s rumor or gossip...it's the deal. He threatened to refuse all f/a's j/s rights on his aircraft.

I am not stirring the pot on this.

I think that will all be solved when they start working on aircraft next month. While Captain authority is final, to deny a working crewmember is a big deal! They must have valid reason to kick them off a trip and would have to talk with their chief pilot. I would assume it would be the same for just riding a jumpseat. This may indeed be happening, but I would be very careful painting a broad stroke of ramid issues throughout the pilot ranks. I think we could label this as pretty childish if it were true. Jealous of the fact you guys have a joint contract? What purpose does this serve? Since when did the flight attendants have anything to do with pilot contract issues?

 

[flybynite]

We don't have these issues on the East....now..the West Pilot group is getting our contract. Sorry...it's not your contract....oops you don't even have one....sorry ....just a MOU!...

 

[flybynite]

OneStep2ft...it is happening..

I don't know who you are..doesn't matter....Fact remains....The West pilots are and will continue to refuse f/a's on the west their J/S rights!!!!

Well....hopefully just a few.

 

[desertgal]

West pilots are not refusing anyone the jumpseat.
You said you heard a pilot "threatened to refuse".
That's not the same as actually refusing.
It is wrong of you to try and make it sound like all West pilots are threatening flight attendants based on something your friend 'heard' and repeated to you.
I'm still having a hard time understanding what the so-called 'threat' is?
Could you be more specific as to the the location and situation of the incident in question?

 

[flybynite]

What I've heard is ...pilots from the west are threatening the f/a's on the west ....that they will deny f/a's their jumpseat rights.

 

[desertgal]

I wouldn't worry about it, nor make a mountain out of a mole-hill.
ONE pilot's SUPPOSED remark, hearsay taken out of context, can not be applied across the board to all pilots.
Plus anyone with a grain of sense knows a pilot is not going to arbitrarily breach a FA's contract like that.
Did you happen to hear what this particular pilot's issue was that he would out of the blue start denying cabin jumpseats?

 

[flybynite]

Oh.. this wasn't taken out of context nor hearsay.

I would like to think a pilot wouldn't try to breach the f/a contract....but who knows? Maybe they think their S*** don't stink and they think they can do what the hell they want?

 

[Onestep2flt]

OneStep2ft...it is happening..

I don't know who you are..doesn't matter....Fact remains....The West pilots are and will continue to refuse f/a's on the west their J/S rights!!!!

Well....hopefully just a few.

I get where you are coming from and I don't question the validity of what you say. I was not there so I can only take you at your word. With the petty games that supposed pilots play with each other on this forum, I would guess those antics could very well take place. However, I think it would be a very small group though. I also understand the context a little better now as well. You were not being clear that this is somebody taking issue with the change in the flight attendants jumpseat language. I thought you were talking about east flight attendants that are going west to fly were being denied jumpseats to commute, but if I understand correctly now, you are stating that there is indimidation of even west flight attendants due to language change of your jumpseat policy. Is this a correct interpretation?

This is one of the issues you have to hold your negotiators responsible for. My argument the whole eight years of negotiations is that they left the folks they were suppose to be representing out of the loop on too many issues regarding your contract. I have no clue why they made such an abrupt change on your jumpseat policy between the first agreement and the third. I heard no outcry by the flight attendants on this. If there were, it is one of the many things that your union folks kept from you. We discussed it on this very forum. Most agreed that there was no reason to not let pilots on an empty jumpseat as long as a flight attendant is never bumped because of it. (Flight attendant has first right till close of flight) Why let it go empty if there is a crew member needing to be somewhere. So, I can see why some west pilots feel betrayed over something they have always taken for granted. This certainly does not justify any action of which you speak.

Having said that, here is my solution. There would be no better time to open a dialog with pilots union to discuss a reciprocal agreement that would allow flight attendants access to the pilot jumpseat. I know there is some kind of TSA issue to overcome. It has been stated there was no way to identify non working flight attendants to allow access. News flash, you guys are now part of the same system that identifies pilots when they ride jumpseat! That excuse is no longer valid! I would think most pilots would support this as long as it does not displace ANY pilot from that seat. I am not talking airline to airline here, just US Airways and then American when that time came. Lots of hurdles to jump for sure, but it is an alternative that is a win/win... Just a thought

 

[blue collar]

Just wondering... Why is it that pilots can't fly on the cabin js? I never understood why they wouldn't let mechanics or anyone else either, I think I had heard that awhile ago on the west they (mechanics) could..

 

[desertgal]

.. Why is it that pilots can't fly on the cabin js?

West language allowed it.
Also allowed some management as well.
There was a distinct pecking order spelled out, with FAs getting top priority.
The new language is the js is for exclusive use of FAs.
A lot of the language in the new contract is from the East. I believe this was their policy, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
Pilots were always welcome on the js on West metal.
Popular commuter markets like SEA and DFW often saw more pilots than FD jumpseats available.
Most of us thought it was good for the pilots to see what when on in back occasionally.
There was a lot of things missing and wrong with this contract but the majority of voters felt pressured to vote for it in the face of the merger.
And there were plenty of pilots who advocated voting for it.
We used to take mechanics. I think pre 9/11.

 

[Onestep2flt]

Oh.. this wasn't taken out of context nor hearsay.

I would like to think a pilot wouldn't try to breach the f/a contract....but who knows? Maybe they think their S*** don't stink and they think they can do what the hell they want?

I was just wondering if the issue has been resolved to your satisfaction? It was quite obvious that this was a major concern for you. I don't think anyone would disagree with the fact that if this was/is happening it would be wrong. Anyway, there have been no further reports on the issue so just curious.