• NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE
• NEW FIRST CLASS PROCEDURES AND BUY ON BOARD PROBLEMS
• ADJUSTED PAY DATES
• POSITION SELECTION FOR A REPLACEMENT CREW MEMBER
• ETB AND AIL
• Accessing The Hub
• AFA Local Numbers

Dear Members,

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

The Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC) met last week to prepare for this week's negotiating session with the Company committee. The committees are scheduled to meet July 18-20 in CLT. At our last scheduled session with the Company, AFA passed two sections to the Company- EAP and Uniforms. The initial response from the Company was that most of both proposals could not be addressed because Company policy for the two sections had not been formulated. In other words, the Company wants to dictate policy rather than negotiate. That is not the way the process is going to work. The JNC informed the Company committee that it is not going to sit around and accept Company policy as contract language. We will negotiate contract language that is specific and pertinent to the Flight Attendants rather than have Company policy set the standard. We will receive the Company's response to our two proposals this week and see if they have taken our position seriously.

The JNC has prepared two additional proposals- LOD/O and Moving Expenses that we are prepared to present to the Company when the time comes. 

The JNC is committed to moving the negotiations forward but is not interested in anything that does not improve our contracts nor are we willing to have Company policy replace contract language. 

NEW FIRST CLASS PROCEEDURES/BOB

As you know the Company has instituted enhanced First Class service procedures. Plating meals in First Class is one positive step toward providing a better product and service level to our customers. The downside to the new procedures is the Company is not really enhancing the product. With staffing levels at a minimum it is impossible to provide a better product for either First Class or Coach. AFA has approached the Company with the need to fill an ADD (extra) position on the Airbus 320 and 321 on segments that require First Class plating. The new procedures also require additional preparation while on the ground as the catering of the first Class meal product is haphazard at best and requires a thorough inspection prior to gate departure in order to insure that all the necessary items have been boarded. This takes time, as there are various levels of inconsistencies with regard to the quantity and location of the First Class food items and supplies. The Company's desire to provide a First Class beverage while on the ground is seriously compromised on the A320 and impossible on the 321.

At the present time the Company has told AFA they are in the process of "costing out" an extra on the necessary flights. We believe we have adequate Flight Attendant staffing to provide for an extra and in addition have a surplus of under guarantee pay being paid to our Reserves to more than justify the cost. 

The Company has implemented new Buy on Board (BOB) products that are supposed to be a "better value for our customer and increase the Company's bottom line". From what I have seen so far the product may actually taste better, but the presentation is far from adequate. For example, the salad containers are not sealed and therefore pop open during the catering process. This means Flight Attendants have to repack the salads into the containers in the galley (and we all know how clean those are). In addition, the condiments for the sandwich product are not boarded at a 100% ratio. "Sorry sir, the guy in front of you got the last of the 'mayo'". Furthermore, the plastic cutlery is bulk boarded in one plastic bag and handed out unwrapped individually to the customers. How this is considered sanitary, I don't know. 

From what I have seen so far, the two initiatives, while borne out of good intentions, are inadequately designed, packed and catered. It is one thing to try and enhance the product while keeping the costs down but it is yet another to look cheap while doing it. Please write up any specific problems with either the new First Class procedures or BOB and forward to your local council officers. We will be adding a Cabin Service Problem Form to our web site this week. 

ADJUSTED PAY DATES

The pay dates for July 2006 were adjusted and the Company notified the Flight Attendants via CBS at the beginning of the month per the Contract. 

The pay date adjustment has a long history. The adjusted pay dates only affect those Flight Attendants who have their pay checks direct deposited into financial institutions other than the Clearview (formerly US Airways) or Piedmont Credit Unions. The 2000 contract provided for the option to have pay checks deposited into any financial institution subject to certain conditions. In order to deposit into banks other than the two Credit Unions, the Company must deposit real money into those institutions through the Automated Clearing House (ACH). If the ACH is not open, due to a holiday or a weekend that cannot be accomplished and the money is deposited on the next day the ACH and the banks are open. After the 2000agreement was signed the Company continued to delay deposits for all Flight Attendants until the 18th of the month. A grievance was filed and arbitrated forcing the Company to deposit on the 15th unless the 15th fell on a day that the ACH and the banks were closed. While the weekends are not technically a "banking holiday" the arbitrator ruled the net effect was the same-the bank was closed and therefore the Company could adjust the pay date to the next business day for those desiring direct deposit into a non Credit Union facility. 

Some may ask how is it possible for those who use the Credit Unions to have money available prior to the 15th if that day is on a weekend or a holiday. The answer is the Credit Unions actually do not receive a deposit from the Company but rather provide a "float" to their members in an amount equal to the funds that will be deposited by the Company. 

POSITION SELECTION FOR A REPLACEMENT CREW MEMBER

Whenever a crew member is replaced on a trip there is a procedure for position selection. The new crew member is not allowed to bump anyone on the original trip regardless of the new crew member's seniority. There are several different scenarios that can occur:

1. "B" and "C" are the original lineholders and the "A" is not. The "A" is replaced either through the AIL or Daily Scheduling. If the replacement "A" Flight Attendant is senior to the "B" and "C" positions, the replacement Flight Attendant is entitled to fly in the "A" position. If that is not the case, seniority will be used to determine which Flight Attendant fills the vacated position, but in no case will a lineholder be forced out of his/her block position. 

2. "B" and "C" are not held by the original lineholders but "A" is. The "A" is replaced by a more junior Flight Attendant than "B" or "C". Position selection will now be determined based on the seniority of those Flight Attendants that originated the pairing and the replacement Flight Attendant would pick last.

3. None of the originating Flight Attendants are the original lineholders. If a Flight Attendant is replaced, position selection will be based on seniority among all the Flight Attendants flying the remaining portion of the trip with one notable exception. If the replacement Flight Attendant is more senior to the remaining originating crew that Flight Attendant can not use his/her seniority to bump someone out of the position selected at the origination of the pairing.

The key points to remember are:

• No one, regardless of seniority, can bump an originating crew member (lineholder or reserve) out of his/her position that is selected at the time of pairing origination. 
• A vacated position is determined by the seniority of the entire crew (including the replacement) flying the remainder of the trip.
• The bottom line is that seniority prevails in selecting a vacated position with the provision that in no case can seniority be used to bump anyone out of their position selected at the origination of the trip.
• Positions may be selected without regard to seniority by mutual consent of ALL Flight Attendants similar to the process that occurs at trip origination. 

AIL AND ETB

As a reminder here is a little known fact about using the ETB and the AIL. Recently a Flight Attendant called Future at 0830 to be placed on the AIL. The Flight Attendant subsequently was awarded an ETB trip prior to 12 noon. The Flight Attendant wished to remain on the AIL but was unaware that her AIL bid was removed upon the award of the ETB trip. Scheduling confirmed that when a Flight Attendant is awarded an ETB trip they are automatically signed in for the ETB trip and if they have previously indicated a request to be placed on the ETB that request will be removed. If you desire to remain on the AIL you must contact Crew Scheduling again to request that you be placed on the AIL after the ETB trip has been awarded.

Thank you,

Mike Flores, President
The US Airways MEC

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AFA Local Numbers

Council 40 PIT 724-695-3329
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325

New Hotline Number Toll Free: 866-USA-AFA2
US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

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