• NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

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NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

The Joint Negotiations Committee (JNC) met with the Company in Charlotte October 2-5. The JNC and both MECs reviewed the results of the Wilson Survey with the pollster on September 25 and received some valuable information from the results. An online version of the survey will be available shortly and we look forward to reviewing those results.

At this week's session proposals in the following sections were passed between the two parties:

• DEADHEAD

• OJI

• SICK LEAVE

• SENIORITY

• UNION BUSINESS

DEADHEAD

A Tentative Agreement was reached between the two parties on Deadhead- but not without a lot of paper being passed back and forth. The T/A restores pay for DH to 100% Pay/Credit for East Flight Attendants. The East negotiating committee realizes that taken on its own, the 100% Pay/Credit for DH would seem to harm Reserves who currently receive 50% DH pay above the Reserve Guarantee. Absent a change to the Reserve system that would be true, but it is important for East Reserves to know that the Reserve system has not been negotiated yet. The JNC will not agree to a Reserve system that does not allow Reserves to earn a living without suffering a degradation to their lifestyle (i.e. having to work days off to make a living or relying on DH pay above guarantee).

It is also important to know the goal of the negotiating committee is to improve every section of the current East agreement. By securing DH pay at 100% Pay/Credit we have taken another step toward fulfilling that goal.

There were some significant differences in the East and West agreements that have been resolved by using current East language. Those differences include:

1. Unscheduled DH will be on the first scheduled mainline or wholly owned express flights rather than the first available flight. "Available" in the Company context would mean the first flight with open seats-not happening.
2. Contract language solidifying the East practice of Flight Attendants not having to fly their DH segments and receive full pay and credit as if the DH segment had been flown.
3. Contract language that codifies the ability for a working Flight Attendant to trade the last leg of their trip with a deadheading Flight Attendant.

OJI

The JNC is proposing a blending of the two agreements' OJI provisions. The West agreement only provides for trips missed in the month the OJI occurs and following that provides for a Company supplement up to the minimum guarantee. The JNC proposed the East salary continuance language as written. The current East language provides for 6 months of salary continuance or 36 months if the OJI is a result of an aircraft accident. Our proposal would then require the Company to supplement income up to the minimum guarantee following the exhaustion of the 6 or 36 month salary continuance.

The West contract provides a requirement to perform light duty, if available. Our proposal does not require a light duty requirement despite Company comments that, "Flight Attendants may want to perform light duty". We fought and won that battle through arbitration in 1996.

This section has not been settled and we will continue our fight to protect the incomes and well being of Flight Attendants injured while performing duties while in the service of the Company.


SICK LEAVE

In their Section 6 negotiations the America West negotiators and Flight Attendants adopted the slogan - "SICK IS SICK". The JNC has adopted the same slogan and philosophy. Our proposal is to restore 100% Pay/Credit for sick.

The two contracts have a significant difference with respect to sick leave. The West contract provides for a yearly grant of 45 hours of sick time with no bank in contrast to our monthly 5 hour accrual and maximum bank of 1500 hours. The West contract provides for short term disability up to 66% of a Flight Attendants monthly income. The JNC proposal includes the East accrual and bank system. There are transition issues with an accrual bank system that would have to be addressed for West Flight Attendants.

The two contracts have differences with respect to sick occurrences and doctor's note requirements. Our proposal includes East language with respect to those issues as we believe East language more adequately address the nature of the job of a Flight Attendant.

The Company did not return a counter proposal to the JNC during this week's session.

SENIORITY

Section 16 of our contract contains provisions for when seniority for bidding and passes begins as well as when seniority is forfeited by Flight Attendants transferring to non-flying or supervisory duties or other departments. As you know, the East agreement was recently modified to allow Flight Attendants transferring to non-flying or supervisory duties within the Inflight department to continue to accrue seniority provided they fly one trip per quarter. The West agreement removes such Flight Attendants from the seniority list after one year. The JNC has worked through the differences and passed a proposal to the Company that continues to be debated.

UNION BUSINESS

This section contains some important benefits to the Union and our members in the form of Flight Pay Loss and Union travel. The more the Company has to pay, the more your Union dues can be used for direct member benefit in the form of more staffing and more support. The easier it is for Union leaders to travel the system, the easier it is for the Union to provide the necessary representation to our members. The proposal is still being traded.

The JNC began working on a vacation proposal and will continue that work during internal caucus sessions next week. Our next scheduled session with the Company is October 23-25 in PHX.

Thank you,

Mike Flores, President
The US Airways Master Executive Council
AFA-CWA
 

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AFA Local Numbers

Council 40 PIT 412-245-1214
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

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US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

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