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ETB - Is it working for you?
I am a reserve and I tried to pick up a trip on my OFF days and I was denied, why? The issue of reserves being unable to pick up a trip on their OFF days remains a contention between the company and the MEC. LEC PHL President and member of the negotiating and implementation team, Mollie McCarthy produced documents of discussion substantiating the fact that the during the ETB discussions, the intention was to allow for reserves to be able to pick up trips on all of their days off. The documents are currently under review and it is expected that a conference call between Rob Fuhr and the MEC will be scheduled to discuss this important issue. We are looking for, and want a favorable outcome as we do not want this issue to go to a grievance. As a reserve, when was the last time you called scheduling at 14:59, (old world) and asked to be released into your OFF days.
Block holders are asking, why / how would this affect me? Well, it opens the "pool" of flight attendants that may eventually pick up the trip you wish to drop. There are limitations for reserve
flight attendants to pick up trips. A trip must depart after 10:00 and return by 18:00 the day before the reserve is AVL. A lot of trips in BOS are early departures which place further limitations on both reserves picking up the trips and block holders trying to drop them. A review of just the 2/day BGI trip requires a reserve to have 5 INV days just to pick it up. When was the last time a block holder used 5 days of their time to get paid 12:41? Leaves early/returns late. An example of how the time parameters effect a reserve is a trip must depart after 10:00 in order for the reserve to fly on the first day of INV days. Most reserves have to concentrate on the return time as more trips in BOS return before 18:00 than depart after 10:00.
Another issue that seems to be failing is the trade trip request. When two
flight attendants post a request to trade a trip and the flight attendants
are working the same days as the trade, scheduling is denying the trade because the
flight attendants are scheduled to work the same days. This is ridiculous, I know. Scheduling is expecting every
flight attendant to know each other and keep the trade between the two
flight attendants who contact each other and then post the trade. Possible, perhaps in a smaller base but PHL/CLT? Ridiculous, I know. Conference call discussion.
This issue of approving the pick up is a topic that will also be addressed during the conference call. If a
flight attendant is interested in dropping a trip the option to approve exists.
Postings, with dates that have expired still remain on the ETB. Why, I do not know. I know,
it's ridiculous.
Please remember to check all legalities BEFORE posting on the ETB.
The Crew Room ETB Trainers are working very hard to provide all flight attendants
assistance as needed with the ETB program and are discovering and trying to resolve issues as they arise.
Please keep the updated Implementation Guide: http://www.afausairways.org/Restructure/05guide.htm to reference the contractual and procedural changes per the recently ratified 2004
flight attendant Agreement. ETB topics are listed in the Table of Contents. Additionally, an ETB Guide will be provided to each
flight attendant and is currently available for viewing on the HUB. Please be sure to review the CBS messages addressing some corrections to the ETB language. The Implementation team is currently working on the new language with the company and it is our hope that a completed
flight attendant Agreement with all of the language will be available before July. Further information will be available to the MEC at the upcoming MEC meeting in PIT on June 14, 15, 16.
America West
Yes, as we are all aware the company is in talks with America West. The outcome is unknown at this time and any commentary would be speculative. America West F/A's seniority start approximately from 1983 and up. America West
F/As are currently in section 6 negotiations for their contract as they are working under a contract with a 2002 expiration date.
Cabin Cleanliness Form
The Cabin Cleanliness Form is available on the AFA
Website (http://www.afausairways.org/EForms/cleanac.htm). Dirty planes? Fill out the required fields on the form with the details and submit. Recent complaints, dirty smelly carpets, filthy lavatories, cleaners "recycling" trash bags, cleaners not leaving supplies, cleaners not available to clean soiled seats and seat backs and agents placing blankets on the seats to use... unacceptable.
Again, use the form: http://www.afausairways.org/EForms/cleanac.htm
Or you can write to askinflight@usairways.com.
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Message from Shane Larson/Director of Government Affairs/AFA-CWA
FLIGHT ATTENDANT - FATIGUE
As part of AFA's ongoing efforts to address the fatigue issue we are all facing, AFA met with other unions representing flight attendants at a fatigue summit last month. All met to work out a common agenda on addressing this issue. During the summit, numerous media outlets reported on the summit. In response to the summit and questions from a reporter, an FAA spokesperson stated that the FAA rules on flight time and rest for both pilots and flight attendants are fundamentally sound. They serve aviation safety very well.
This comment was troubling for a number of reasons. First, it shows how out of touch the FAA is with what our jobs and working conditions are like. For them to state that 8 hours of duty are adequate for rest, they truly don't understand our job responsibilities and working conditions. Second, by stating that the rest regulations are fine, before a congressionally mandated study is completed, is unprofessional and gives the appearance that the FAA has already made up its mind before the study is completed.
The FAA needs to know we will not let these comments go unchallenged.
http://www.afausairways.org/BOS/dear_blakey.htm
Shane is requesting that each flight attendant personally sign the
above
letter. Please include your address.
BOS/Officers are asking that you make a copy and place the signed copy in the Caramello/LECP/Council/69/AFA-CWA/Yellow tabbed mail file. There will be additional copies, located in the file, for supplying to other flight attendants who do not have computer access. These signed letters will be collected and mailed to Shane Larson/Director of Government Affairs/AFA-CWA, who will deliver the bundles to the FAA. Campaign deadline June/10/2005.
Please take the time to review this letter and provide your signature/address, it is important to us all.
Thanks,
Lynne Caramello
LECP/Council/69/BOS
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Council
69/BOS LEC Representatives - Contact Information
Sherri
Baker - Reserve Representative - sbaker@afausairways.org
Paul Foran - Crew Accommodations - Pforan@afausairways.org
617 750 5726
Joe Cybulski - Safety/Health - jcybulski@afausairways.org
617 251 7812
Karen Delutis - Professional Standards - kdelutis@afausairways.org
1 508 279 4999
FYI
- Do you have the MedLink number to program in your cell phone -
1-602 239-3627 / program it in now. Should you find yourself
or another crewmember needing Medlink on a layover you can call
this number.
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Do you have the Flightline questions number? - 1 800 659
9859
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Check out the DELL Computer/Employee discount program at the
bottom of the page on the AFA website www.afausairways.org
DELL has some great deals on computers!
Council/69/BOS
Officers and Representatives
Lynne Caramello - LECP/BOS
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