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August 6, 2004 |
SPECIAL CLT E-LINE
As reported last week the Company has temporarily rescinded the Sick Policy put in place during the last Restructuring
Agreement. Specifically, the Sick Line Value calculations and the Five (5) hour penalty have been suspended. Flight Attendants can claim up their flying
option. The Company agreed to this change after numerous requests by the MEC indicating the hardship the policy was causing our members. The
Company agreed to these requests as a gesture of good faith during our negotiations. They also stated this interim policy was a test to gauge
the level of sick calls vs. the old policy.
According to the Company sick calls since Aug. 1 have "spiked" dramatically. I believe some of this can be explained logically as
people can now call in sick if they are sick and not be penalized. The SLV/penalty policy actually forced F/As to come to work sick or be
financially penalized. Many members felt their earned sick benefit was useless. I am sure this caused hardships for many. This is what the MEC
fought hard to change. I will certainly tell the Company that they must look at this effect.
I have heard some members this week tell me they are going to take advantage of the interim policy to recoup some of their sick time. I
have also been told by some that they might as well use all their sick time since the future of the company is in doubt. The most disturbing
comment I have heard is that some feel the MEC will negotiate away our sick time, so they might as well use it now. The negotiating committee
and the MEC are working very hard to permanently fix the sick policy.
If you are sick, call in sick and claim the time. That is what it is there for. If you have any other reason to call in sick I ask you give
it some thought. If our sick call levels remain at this high level it will be very difficult for us to negotiate a permanent policy change
that helps our members. The Company can point to these numbers and use it against us. And they will.
So to reiterate, we must use this interim policy prudently or we may lose any chance of a permanent change.
Thank you,
MIKE FLORES
LEC PRESIDENT
COUNCIL 89
AFA-CWA AFL-CIO
704-527-0325 OFFICE
704-576-3174 CELL
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