October 1, 2003
|---------------------------------------------|
IMPORTANT READ: This is the PHL News-Line 70 from Mollie McCarthy LECP. If you would like to respond to Mollie, please use this email address mmccarthy@afausairways.org. Subscribe to News-Line 70 at http://www.afausairways.org/PHL/phlemailform.html
|---------------------------------------------|
Dear Council 70 Flying Partners,
Hi everybody, and welcome to all of those who have recently signed up and are receiving their very first PHL News-Line.
Before we get started, I wanted to share with you a couple of criticisms I recently received about the News-Line. One F/A wrote objecting to the length and another wrote stating that although they enjoyed the information, they would prefer it to be more upbeat and positive. To address those concerns, let me first say that I am aware that I have a tendency to be a little wordy. Without any type of formal instruction or class under my belt, I just write pretty much the same way I speak ;-). It is hard to teach an old dog new tricks but I will try to be more concise. As a compromise, I will limit the number of topics per News-Line to 2 or 3. Just remember that having dealt with this new management I have learned a trick or two about how to parley a deal that really does not mean what it says. ; -)
As for the other complaint, I can only say I wish there was more on the positive end to write about, but alas there just isn't. I promise you, I am not a negative person by nature.
It just isn't that easy to put a positive spin on the way this management does business or treats their employees.
To make things seems a little more up beat I could try to throw in a little comical relief now and then. However, that would mean added script, which would cause the News-Line to increase in length which takes us right back to the first objection.
Now that we have that all straightened out, let's get started!
In This Issue:
- Local Meeting
- A Plea from One of Our Own; Parts I & II
** How Many F/A's may be Furloughed by the end of the Year
** Break Down of F/A's Presently on System Seniority List by Status
** Break Down of Voluntary Furloughs due back in December 2003.
** Over Fly
** VAC Fly Back
** Alert Updates
- Alert Updates
(See, as promised there are only three 'Main' topics; -)
Local Meeting
Council 70 PHL/PHW Local Meeting
When: October 21, 2003
Where: Airport Marriott
Time: Noon to 5:00 PM
Agenda:
- New Reserve
- Sick and Medical Issues
- AFA BOD Agenda Items
- Alert Updates
- Q & A
A Plea From One of Our Own
Recently I received an email from a PHL F/A. Because these same questions are asked over and over again, I thought it best to answer this F/A in a News-Line that all could read. At first blush the questions may seem of concern to junior flight attendant only, but in fact the answers should interest every F/A at U. What affects one, affects us all especially in this case.
Because both questions required more than a yes or no answer, I have broken my response down into two parts. Here are the F/A's questions:
Question: "Can you shed any light on the rumor that almost 1,000 flight attendants will be furloughed by the end of the year?"
" Also, I'm sure you know this already however the over flying continues to go on and we guys at the bottom feel like we are being pushed out the door. Is there any recourse legally? Seriously, I feel like my career is coming to an end due to the Fact that US Airways has permitted people to overfly."
PART I
How many F/A's may be furloughed by the end of the year?
Only management knows what their true intentions are and as usual they are not giving any specifics at this time. It is my opinion that management likes to keep the numbers under their hat until the very last minute for fear of what folks may do once they know they will soon be out of a job. For both those who may be worried about furlough or for those who are not worried about being furloughed but may be concerned about how the furloughs may affect their seniority, below are some number I researched for you that you may find very interesting or helpful as a guide.
Now to the numbers:
Break Down of F/A's Presently on System Seniority List by Current Status:
All numbers below are based on September 2003, information.
10,434 - Total F/A's on System Seniority List (This includes everyone)
1,758 --- Of those F/A's have been furloughed
2,635 --- Of those F/A's are out on Voluntary Furloughs
763 --- Of those F/A's are in a category I call 'Other's' which includes F/A's out on: Leaves (EDU, MIL, MAT, PER) & Med. Related (OJI, MED, PCL, LTD etc.)
69 --- Of those F/A's are either Supervisors, Training Instructors or off line doing Company Business
When you subtract the sub categories above from the total number of F/A's on our System Seniority List you come up with the number of AVL or active line F/A's.
5,209 = Total AVL F/A's
This number is extremely important. It reflects the total F/A's needed to run the operation. Or to say it another way, we have only 5,209 Flight Attendant JOBS!
Out of the 2,635 out on a VF, approximately half are either from the 1987 class or senior to it. On the other end 650 are 1998 or junior. As these folks return they will, if senior enough, take one of the 5,209 job positions possibly pushing someone else out.
Not all of those on VF's or those on other leaves will return to the line. But just for curiosity sake let's say everyone did return, what would be the seniority of the most junior F/A? Well, looking at the most recent System Seniority List, F/A number 5,209 was hired on 9/26/88. Amazing, and we did not get one red cent for our furlough language.
Break Down of Voluntary Furloughs due back in December, 2003.
1,364 --- Total # of F/A's originally due back from Voluntary Furlough in Dec. 2003.
967 --- F/A's scheduled to return in Dec. but who elected to extend their VF. (not returning)
58 --- To Date, these F/A's have requested a VSIP (Voluntary Separation) only 3 are active.
368 --- Approximate Number of F/A's who will be returning from VF in December
To get some idea of the seniority of those returning from a VF in December, below is a break down by years hired.
VF Returnees by Year Hired:
Yr Hired # Returning
1965 ------------ 1
1967 ------------ 1
1968 ------------ 3
1970 ------------ 2
1971 ------------ 1
1972 ------------ 3
1973 ------------ 1
1974 ------------ 2
1975 ------------ 1
1976 ------------ 3
1977 ------------ 2
1978 ------------ 2
1979 ------------ 15
1980 ------------ 5
1981 ------------ 8
1982 ------------ 8
1983 ------------ 13
1984 ------------ 14
1985 ------------ 17
1986 ------------ 17
1987 ------------ 33
1988 ------------ 38
1989 ------------ 77
1990 ------------ 4
1992 ------------ 4
1993 ------------ 3
1994 ------------ 4
1996 ------------ 7
1997 ------------ 20
1998 ------------ 22
1999 ------------ 37
Due Back 12/03 ------ 368
VF Returnees by Base
BOS ---- 20
CLT ---- 76
CLW ---- 9
DCA ---- 15
LGA ---- 6
PHL ---- 119
PHW ---- 28
PIT ---- 84
PIW ---- 11
Total -- 368
So, to answer this F/A's question, it looks as if there will be less furloughs than what was rumored.
Anything above zero would be too many but I must be realistic it appears as if we will be looking at more furloughs in the near future.
It is my opinion that Management purposely designed their new Sick policy, their new Reserve System and Pref. Bid Systems to reduce our numbers.
In polite company you will hear them say how "Productivity Enhancements" are needed to 'save' the company but once behind closed doors, it's called "trimming the fat" or "cutting heads."
The next year will be very stressful for our Junior F/A's. Like Cattle they will be driven from base to base, branded by their supervisors for easy tracking while all the time fearing being cut from the herd and then taken to market for slaughter. Yes, your "head" has a value on it and the more "Heads" management can sever the more money they have to supplement their less than successful restructuring plan with.
The only thing that will save us is growth or getting a management that knows how to run an airline.
If you think I am being unrealistic or harsh, ask yourself why management is balking at offering a VF-8 to offset the possible furloughs that are to come in either December or January? Why wouldn't they want to keep lower paid junior F/A's working while higher paid senior F/A's take a VF?
They are hoping that those who need relief from this job will just quit if they cannot get a VF. This way they get the best of both worlds and each of us who may remain can now do the work of 3 or 4 while management retains the value of the "heads" they have severed... who knows for what purpose.
Part II
== Over Fly ==
The company has recently given several 2-day suspensions to F/A's who habitually over fly their option.
Please remember when you over fly, you are not only looking at a TWO-Day suspension, which will go on your record, you are also reducing F/A jobs. Who knows, one day it may be your own, or at the very least you may see your seniority erode to the point that YOU move from Line holder to reserve. Which believe me, you will want to avoid.
== Vacation Fly Back ==
Management offering VAC fly back at the same time they are preparing to furlough even more of our fellow F/A's is an insult.
Let's learn from our mistakes, we gave up 'Essential Liberty for a little temporary Safety' and now we have neither. Let's not divide ourselves by letting this management con or tempt us into "Eating Our Young" in return for a buck.
The F/A's job saved today may save you from a Thanksgiving or Christmas quick call tomorrow.
== Alert Updates ==
ALERT - Line Holders: What we are seeing makes me believe that management has furloughed too many F/A's. With both a bad flu season and the holidays coming up, they could be caught very short-handed. If they wait until January to furlough, which is what we are hearing, that might help a little. However, what you need to be aware of is this; if scheduling runs out of reserves, (which is happening a lot lately) they can contractually call line holders to cover trips. Although this is nothing new and they have always had this right, I believe we are going to see a whole lot more of this in the future then we have in the past. So think of this as a 'heads-up' and prepare accordingly. If scheduling calls and you answer the phone, you are caught.
ALERT - Possible Furlough's: For those of you who may be targeted for furlough please know that Supervisor have been tracking/stalking soon to be furloughed F/A's to see if they are in base while on duty. Protect yourselves, if you are terminated, management will not give you your furlough severance pay or your contractual benefits. FYI: I have heard that management may wait until January to furlough in order to cover the holiday season flying.
ALERT - FYI for all: We requested that the Global Bid be redone after the implementation of the new reserve and management agreed. To us that could only mean one thing, a whole new Global Bid for every F/A. As has become their practice, management has indicated that they really did not mean what we thought. Now Management only wants to do a 'partial' Global Bid. They have offered to let only the reserves participate and only if they elect to go to a 'higher' option. This not only breaks seniority, it would also cost more jobs. The MEC did not agree. Management needs to stand by their promise and redo the Global Bid, not just a portion of it, but also the whole darn thing.
ALERT - Furloughed F/A's: Please spread the word that in the next few weeks, when you call to list for a flight your airline code will no longer be 87. Your code is being changed to 64. In addition, if you have not turned in your required items your paycheck and your pass privileges will be held up until all items are returned.
Well, that's all for now, I leave you with two interesting quotes to ponder.
"Lots of folks confuse bad management with destiny."
-- Kin Hubbard
"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom."
-General George Patton
Take Care and Fly Safe.
In Solidarity and "Wearing the Green"
Mollie McCarthy
LEC President
Council 70 PHL/PHW
PS: For years our contract has been there for us, protecting us, never asking anything in return. It is now wounded and being abused daily. It needs our help and the time has come for us to return the favor.
Wear your green ribbon to send a strong visual message to management to stop breaking OUR contract.
If you need a pin or a ribbon put a note in the AF/A box or give us a call at
215-492-0840 and we will see that one is put in your mail file ASAP.
Your Contract thanks you for any support you can give.