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August 12, 2004 |
- Negotiations Update
- Qualifying Events in the Dependability Program
- Sick Call Update
Negotiations Update
This afternoon the negotiating committee presented a "Term Sheet" to the Company in response to the Company's proposal which was received last week. In July the MEC voted to engage in negotiations with the Company regarding cost saving ideas.
The MEC voted to limit the negotiations to issues within our contract and with provisions to address our reserve system and sick policy. In other words, the MEC was not interested in comparing our current contract to Jet Blue and/or America West.
Therefore, the Term Sheet presented to the Company did not specifically address the Company's proposal. Rather, it contained OUR proposals related to ideas that we believe will allow our careers to be both sustainable and worthwhile. Specific items that had been reviewed and approved by the MEC last week were presented today. Notably absent in the Term Sheet were specific proposals regarding reserve, sick/vacation and scheduling. For example, "Discuss New Reserve System" means the MEC has not completed, reviewed and approved the proposal to be presented to the Company. Once the MEC has done so, it will be so proposed. The same holds true for other items so referred. In other words, we will not have an agreement that is "fleshed out" after ratification. You will be kept informed of developments as they occur. As always, the membership will have to ratify any agreement. You can review both proposals at:
http://www.afausairways.org/Restructure/cover_81204.htm
Qualifying Events in the Dependability Program
As I am sure most of you are aware the company is placing Flight Attendants on various levels of the Dependability Control Program (DCP) at an alarming rate. While neither AFA nor the MEC accept or condone the DCP in part or full I feel it is necessary to provide you with information regarding various "events" that the Company uses in placing someone on a level in the DCP. The Company considers 3 "events" within a "rolling" 12 month period grounds for placing a flight attendant on Level 1. Subsequent "events" will move an individual to Level 2, Level 3 (Final Warning). After that point termination can occur. Below is list of the "events" the Company considers. The first group probably needs no explanation:
--Failure to Attend Meeting
--Failure to Attend Training.
--Failure to provide a required doctor's note
--Low Block Hours
--No Show
--Reserve Out of Base
Some reminders are provided for the next group:
--Illegal Trip Improvement-you must touch one of the days of your trip if you drop the trip.
--Late Check-In-the so called "grace period" of 10 minutes is simply the time crew scheduling will give you before you are replaced. It will STILL be marked as late.
--No Contact-if your beeper does not go off or your cell phone does not ring it will still count. The company views a beeper as a privilege and will not accept a note from your beeper company.
--No Sign In-Most of the confusion here is regarding SAP trips. If you SAP you are not signed in automatically by calling Voice Response. Listen to the entire message when you call to get results. It will tell you whether you are signed in or not. Follow up with catcrew or scheduling to sign in for your SAP adjusted block.
--Unable to Commute-Commuters must designate themselves as such with In-Flight in order to take advantage of the Commuter Policy negotiated in the July 2002 Restructuring agreement. Please read over the Commuter Policy outlined in agreement or call the office for the complete policy.
--Sick-The Company views six (6) sick calls within a twelve (12) month period as excessive EVEN if you have doctor's notes for any or all such occurrences. The only time sick calls are not counted is if they are used in conjunction with approved FMLA/PCL. Call your supervisor if you have any doubt as to the number of sick calls you have in the preceding twelve months.
--Late Sick Call-if you call in sick less than two (2) hours before check-in it is a late sick call.
--Sick on Contact-for reserves this is the mother of all sick calls. You must notify scheduling before you are contacted that you are sick. Obviously it is hard to predict being sick but remember that if you are contacted to fly and tell them you are sick it will result in your being placed on LEVEL 1, even if this is all that is on your record. A subsequent occurrence of a Sick on Contact, will likely result in your termination. AFA is grieving this, but for now please be careful.
As I said earlier AFA and the MEC do not agree with the DCP and are trying to get some relief from it. At this time though these are the rules we all have to live with and I wanted everyone to know what we are dealing with.
SICK CALL UPDATE
According to the Company sick calls are still running high. I urge everyone again to use our sick policy for what it is for. We are trying to negotiate a permanent change for the membership. I hope we are successful.
Thank You,
MIKE FLORES
LEC PRESIDENT
COUNCIL 89
AFA-CWA AFL-CIO
704-527-0325 OFFICE
704-576-3174 CELL
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