This is the feedback I am getting from several LUS fleet agents who went as pref hires with LAA, as to the differences between LUS leads and LAA crew chiefs:
1) Management shall not order or direct a clerk (ramp agent) to preform any assignment as all work related instructions must go through a CC. Exceptions being no immediately available CC or a formal superseding directive issued.
2) Unless through voluntary choice, a CC has no obligation to assist in dumping aircraft such as in-bounds or terminating flights including wing walking/marshalling, hooking-up air and power, watering or setting-up gate with equipment.
3) CC working the line shall have no obligation to either push back or wing walk during departure.
4) CC's shall not be ordered or instructed by Management to perform clerk duties, including loading or unloading aircraft, serving lavs or load carts.
5) Work daily assignments for clerks shall be handled solely by a CC control person, not Management.
6) Any previously unknown absence of a clerk or problematic work ethic shall be addressed with the CC, and the CC will address any issues at their discretion with Management, as needed.
In glaring contrast with LUS, Management always orders fleet service agents into various duties, handles the daily staffing assignments, expects Leads (CC's) to bring wands, headsets and sometimes equipment to gates, be present at arrivals and departures, and re-assigns Leads into ramp crew positions should there not be enough fleet service agents available on the ramp.
That's the largest issues and difference I have heard between Leads and CC's.