AFA - CWA US Airways MEC E-Line - "Staying Informed"

The AFA Newsletter for US Airways Flight Attendants

In this Issue

 

November 18, 2005
  • AFA AND THE ALPA VM/DH SETTLEMENT 
  • Accessing The Hub
  • AFA Local Numbers
Dear Members,

This E-Line has been written to help you better understand how to file a PE 80 claim for the difference between TRIP RIG, 50% DH, VM Credit, and PAY+Credit, that is due to the "AFA/ALPA VM/DH Settlement". This variable or difference is called the "PE 80 Claim". The claim is explained in-depth below. The SETTLEMENT IS retroactive to August (these claims must be filed by November 30th). Please feel free to contact your local council office if you need more information.

------------------

AFA AND THE ALPA VM/DH SETTLEMENT 

The 2004 Transformation Agreement changed pay for DH from 100% pay/credit to 50% pay/no credit. 

Trips are constructed as if the pay for DH was still 100% pay/credit and this results in Variable Minimums (VM), 1-2.25 duty rigs and 1-3.5 pairing (trip) rig that do not correctly reflect the proper pay value of such trips. The net effect of the 50% pay/no credit DH provision reduced the value of trips that contained a DH. 

In the past the no/floor no ceiling VM created a minimum 1-day of 5 hours, 2-day of 10 hours, 3-day of 15 hours and 4-day of 20 hours. The trip with a DH is still created as if the DH is credited at 100% Pay/Credit and the VM and rigs are calculated based on that illusion. With DH currently 50%pay/no credit the VM or rig is not recalculated resulting in trips that do not equal an average of five hours per day or reflect the correct duty or pairing rig if greater. 

The result of the ALPA VM/DH settlement will bring the pay for the trip up to the five hour per day average or the proper duty or pairing (trip) rig credit whichever is greater. The settlement does not return DH to 100% pay/credit. The settlement is for pay purposes only. Please note the settlement does not alter the 2004 Transformation Agreement language regarding flights originally scheduled as live legs or ferry flights. Those legs are 100% pay/credit.

At present this process is not automated therefore manual PE80 claims must be filed either in writing or electronically on theHUB. According to Claims Administration when they receive a claim from the pilots they automatically include the Flight Attendants in the claim. While that may indeed be so, if the pilot does not file a claim or files an incorrect claim you may not receive the pay for the claim. It is suggested that flight attendants file a claim as well. 

The settlement is retroactive to August 1, 2005. If you had any trips between August 1, 2005 and September 30, 2005 that included scheduled DHs you will need to verify that you have not been paid properly. The Company "cleaned up" all the claims received for this time period on the November 15 paycheck under the heading "LPNC" on the check stub. If you believe there is a discrepancy you may re-file the claim/s as per the procedure outlined below or call Claims Administration. In the future all claims will be reflected on the Flight Time Pay Report (white sheet) as "PNC OTHER". If you need to re-file for the Aug 1 - September 30 period you must do so by November 30.

For typical published trips that contain DH/DHs you need to concern yourself with whether or not the DH is diluting either the pairing credit of 1-3.5, the duty rig credit of 1-2.25 or the VM. It is probably best to work in that order as the two examples below show: 

EXAMPLE#1: DH THAT AFFECTS THE 1-3.5 PAIRING (TRIP) RIG CREDIT

FORMULA

 Trip Rig = (Time Away From Base (TAFB) ÷ 3.5)
P+C (Pay + Credit) + 50% of DH
Trip Rig Pay (minus) PC + 50%DH = PE 80 CLAIM
   
** PAIRING# 24293 DUTY PERIOD# 1
ONLY ON WED DEC 21 
FLT BLKT L/O CITIES AND TIMES
21 DH31 5+20  + 0 CLT 955 1515 LAX 
21 18 5+00 1+00 LAX 1615 2115 PHL
DTY=12+35 BLK= 5+00 DHD= 5+20 DRG= + 0 MIN= + 0
TCR= + 0  P+C= 5+00 BRK=14+40 S1 VM=9+44
 
** PAIRING# 24293 DUTY PERIOD# 2
FLT BLKT L/O CITIES AND TIMES
21 933 2+42 + 0 PHL 1155 1437 FLL
19 538 2+37 2+38 FLL 1715 1952 PIT
DTY= 9+12 BLK= 5+19 DHD= + 0 DRG= + 0 MIN= + 0
TCR= + 0 P+C= 5+19 BRK=11+08 R2 VM=4+43
  
** PAIRING# 24293 DUTY PERIOD# 3
FLT BLKT L/O CITIES AND TIMES
21 257 1+26 + 0 PIT 700 826 CLT
9W 154 1+56 1+24 CLT 950 1146 PVD
DTY= 6+01 BLK= 3+22 DHD= + 0 DRG= + 0 MIN= + 0
TCR= + 0 P+C= 3+22 BRK=18+44 C2 VM=3+22
  
** PAIRING# 24293 DUTY PERIOD# 4
FLT BLKT L/O CITIES AND TIMES
9W 1141 2+11 +0 PVD 630 841 CLT
DTY= 3+26 BLK= 2+11 DHD= + 0 DRG= + 0 MIN= + 0
TCR= + 0 P+C= 2+11 PRG= + 0 S1 VM=2+11
TRIP=72+01 DAY=15+52 NIGHT= + 0 P+C=15+52
 

As you can see, due to the DH CLT-LAX in Duty Period 1 the trip is worth 15+52 pay and credit. The trip pays 18+32 (15+52 Block time + 2+40 DH). As we know a 4 day trips used to have to pay at least 20+00 or more if the TAFB or "TRIP" of 1-3.5 resulted in more than 20+hours. By looking at the TAFB or "TRIP" we see that 72+01 hours of "TRIP" time would yield 20+34 due to 1-3.5.

PAY/CREDIT DUTY PERIOD 1 = 5+00 (Block)
DUTY PERIOD 2 = 5+19 (Block)
DUTY PERIOD 3 = 3+22 (Block)
DUTY PERIOD 4 = 2+11 (Block)
TOTAL PAY/CREDIT = 15+52 (P+C)
TOTAL PAY (prior to the settlement) 15+52 + 2+40(DH) = 18+32

The pairing rig of 1-3.5 requires the trip pay 20+34 therefore:
20+34 - 18+52= 2+02

A claim for 2+02 trip rig pay/no credit (PNC trip rig) must be filed on a PE80 under Irr/Ops/MISC. In the comments section note the claim is for the VM/DH settlement.

TOTAL PAY (after the settlement) =15+52 (block) + 2+40 (DH) + 2+02 (PNC trip rig) =20+34
The 15+52 pay/credit total will count toward your obligation and the total pay for the trip will be 20+34.


EXAMPLE #2: DH THAT AFFECTS THE VARIABLE MINIMUM

This 3 day pairing can not be worth less than 15:00 hours unless trip rig gives you more time. 

FORMULA --- Total Pay (15 hours) minus VM Credits minus Block Time minus 50% DH = PE 80 Claim
This applies also to a 1 day trip (5 HOURS) or a 2 day trip (10 HOURS) or a 4 day trip (20 HOURS) where VM Credit are all that apply.  (this 3 DAY formula will be explained below)

** PAIRING# 24194 DUTY PERIOD# 1
FLT BLKT L/O CITIES AND TIMES
67 DH1428 1+35 + 0 CLT 1710 1845 PHL
DTY= 2+50 BLK= + 0 DHD= 1+35 DRG= + 0 MIN= + 46
TCR= + 0  P+C= 5+00 BRK=14+40 S1 VM=9+44
  
** PAIRING# 24194 DUTY PERIOD# 2
FLT BLKT L/O CITIES AND TIMES
19 1497 5+12 + 0 PHL 940 1452 SJO
19 1498 4+50 +58 SJO 1550 2040 PHL
DTY=13+00 BLK=10+02 DHD= + 0 DRG= + 0 MIN= + 0
TCR= + 0 P+C=10+02 BRK=13+05 S1 VM=9+59
  
** PAIRING# 24194 DUTY PERIOD# 3
FLT BLKT L/O CITIES AND TIMES
21 DH731 1+55 + 0 PHL 945 1140 CLT
DTY= 3+10 BLK= + 0 DHD= 1+55 DRG= + 0 MIN= +45
TRIP=43+45 DAY=10+52 NIGHT= +41 P+C=11+33
 

In this example the three day trip pays 11+33 Pay/Credit. Because the VM of +46 on Duty Period 1 and +45 on Duty Period 2 were calculated as if the DHs paid 100% pay and credit even when you add in the 50% pay/no credit for the DHs of 1+45 the total PAY for the trip is only 13+18. Therefore, since a trip with three duty periods must PAY at least 15+00 there is a pay/no credit VM claim (PNC VM) of 1+42.

PAY/CREDIT DUTY PERIOD 1 = +46 (min)
DUTY PERIOD 2 = 10+02 (block)
DUTY PERIOD 3 = +45 (min)
TOTAL PAY/CREDIT
= 11+33 (P+C)
TOTAL PAY (prior to settlement) is 11+33 + 1+45 (DHs) = 13+18

15+00 (The minimum value of a trip with three duty periods) - 13+18 = 1+42 claim pay/no credit.

TOTAL PAY (after the settlement) - 11+33 (block and min) 1+45 (DH) +1+42 (PNC VM) =15+00
A claim for 1+42 pay/ no credit should be filed on a PE80 as noted above. The 11+33 total will count toward your obligation and the trip will pay 15+00.

The complete VM/DH Settlement can be found on theHub at:
http://thehub.usairways.com/divisions/operations/inflight/PDF/
AFASettlementAgreement_11-08-05.pdf

There are other components to the settlement that affect rescheduled trips, unpublished trips that contain a duty period comprised solely of a DH and equipment/crew substitutions that include a DH. I encourage you to read the complete settlement and familiarize yourself with these provisions. If you have any questions please call your supervisor or local union officers. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Accessing The Hub:

http://thehub.usairways.com 
Logging in the first time your user name is u0(zero) and your five digit employee number. Your initial password is the first five digits of your social security number. Questions about the Hub? Please contact the EDS Help Desk at 336-744-6000 for assistance. More information can also be found HERE.

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

Reply to Inflight: askinflight@usairways.com

Got Questions? Get Answers

The *E-Line* is now in a new and improved format. By updating your profile at unionvoice.org you will be able to enjoy improved services in the near future! Visit your subscription management page at: http://www.unionvoice.org/

Got questions about This *E-Line* from AFA - US Airways or any other Union matter? Do NOT REPLY to the *E-Line*. PLEASE contact your local AFA officers or committee chairs directly: http://www.afausairways.org/emailaddresses2.htm

Your MEC Officers
Association of Flight Attendants
Hotline & *E-Line* - US Airways

Get all the latest from the Website http://www.afausairways.org
Call the Hotline  800-654-3143
Encourage your friends to subscribe and receive their own *E-Line* from AFA - US Airways


If you would like to unsubscribe from E-Line at AFA-US Airways, you can visit your subscription management page at: http://www.unionvoice.org/

Click on the link below for more information from your union, online activism and benefits. http://www.unionvoice.org/wfn/join.html