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

The AFA Newsletter for US Airways Flight Attendants

    In this Issue

 

September 28, 2009

Dear Members,
  • EQUIPMENT SUBSTITUTION AND SPLIT TRIPS
  • MAINTAINING PRIMARY POSITIONS
  • Accessing The Hub
  • AFA Local Numbers

Dear Members,

The Union identified the following two situations the Company had previously been processing incorrectly. Both issues were brought to the attention of the Company and the Union's position was subsequently agreed to. These two issues were discussed at last week's MEC meeting and the MEC agreed the changes were needed.

EQUIPMENT SUBSTITUTION AND SPLIT TRIPS

The Company had taken the position that when there was an equipment substitution to an aircraft requiring an additional "required" position(s) the trip would be considered a split trip and the additional Flight Attendant(s) paid only actual time. Anytime the Company changes aircraft types, the change is for Company convenience and therefore is not paid as a split trip, but rather paid under the minimum day provisions of 5+00 pay/credit.

The Company issued the following CBS message this afternoon:

It was recently brought to the attention of the Union, by a flight attendant in CLT, that when a larger aircraft was being substituted into service and required another flight attendant the trip was paying "actual only" without a 5+00 minimum. It was the Union's position this type of trip was not a split trip but required an extra flight attendant to meet the applicable FAR.

After a discussion with the MEC and the Manager of Flight Attendant Scheduling the following procedure applies: The Company and the Union have agreed to pay the F/A a minimum day when an additional F/A is needed due to an equipment substitution. When a scheduler receives a request for an extra F/A from systems and awards such pairing they will enter a special code to indicate a minimum day applies, e.g. "Due to aircraft sub from a 319 to a 321 (example only) minimum day of 5+00 applies."

Therefore, as of September 18, 2009 the aforementioned procedure change will apply and be updated in the Crew Scheduling manual in the next revision.

Carol Austin
AFA Scheduling Chairperson

John Petronzi, Manager
Flight Attendant Scheduling


MAINTAINING PRIMARY POSITIONS

A Flight Attendant does not maintain their primary (PRI) position if she/he gives up her/his trip in SAP, AIL, ETB or via a trip trade, and then later returns to the trip. Once the trip is given up by a Flight Attendant initiated action and then the Flight Attendant is returned to the trip, positions are determined as if the Flight Attendant never held a primary position on the trip.

If a Flight Attendant is returned to her/his trip due to a Company initiated removal, then the primary position of the Flight Attendant is restored.

The Company issued the following CBS message this afternoon.

When a flight attendant give up his/her primary trip (position) via the SAP, AIL, ETB or Trip Trades he/she loses the primary status. This is true even if said flight attendant returns to his/her original block trip/position through AIL/ETB/Trip Trade at a later time.

Primary status is only maintained by flying a trip/position that you obtained through the primary line bidding process. Any subsequent changes, including SAP, AIL, ETB or Trip Trading activity that results in the removal of a flight attendant from his/her primary trip results in the permanent loss of primary status on that trip.

An exception would be if the Company removed a flight attendant from his/her primary trip/position because of legality issues, then later reinstated said flight attendant because he/she became legal. Another exception would be if the Company removed the flight attendant in error. In the aforementioned cases, primary status would be maintained because the removal was not initiated by the flight attendant.

Additionally, the Crew Scheduling manual should be updated upon the next revision.


Carol Austin
AFA MEC Scheduling Chairperson

John Petronzi, Manager
Flight Attendant Scheduling


Thank you,

The US Airways Master Executive Council

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

AFA US Airways Website

www.afausairways.org


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 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


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