VOLUNTARY PERSONAL LEAVES OF ABSENCE AND DUES

It is that time of year again when the company is offering monthly VPLOAS. We want to remind you of your responsibility to pay dues during a VPLOA. If you are out on a longer leave, you are responsible for the first three months of dues.

You can pay your union dues online at www.afanet.org or, you can call Catrina Womack with AFA International at 1-800-424-2401 extension 565. Any questions about union dues can be directed to me at the AFA office: 215-492-0840 or my cell: 215-300-8821.

Q&A

Q: I was contacted by scheduling in my hotel room in LGW just prior to going downstairs for my return home. I was advised that I was illegal to work the flight back and was scheduled to DH LGW-PHL. Why was this done?

A: Please refer to the 24/7 policy on the HUB. The Company has several options in a case like this. I have referenced the procedure below:

(15) Q. What happens if I was originally scheduled for a pairing which contains the required 24 hours free from all duty in seven day (24/7); however, due to weather/mechanical such RON rest would fall below the required rest?

The Company has the following options when you will not be legal to complete such assigned/awarded trip:

1) In order to obtain the required 24 hours free from all duty the Company could choose to delay the departure following your rest in order to obtain the rest minimum.

2.) The Company could replace you with another flight attendant. As a result of such replacement, you would be pay protection under crew substitution pay.

3) The Company could deadhead you back to domicile without delaying the departure on the 7th day if adequate staffing was available. However, when you return to domicile you must be given 24 hours free from all duty to satisfy the FAR requirement.
The complete 24/7 Q and A can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
http://thehub.usairways.com/divisions/operations/inflight/NFL_24-7.htm

Q: I have requested a PER day and have been advised to contact my supervisor. Why?

A: This is correct, please review Section 30.J on page 30-9 for Personal Day Policy below.

J. Personal Day Policy

1. Flight attendants are entitled to two (2) Personal Days per calendar year to be used only in the event of an unexpected emergency. Flight attendants may request use of their Personal Day by making a verbal request to Crew Scheduling with a follow up call to his/her supervisor.

2. The Company's decision to award Personal Days will be based on coverage. The Company will not require verification of the emergency. The aforementioned Personal Days Off will be unpaid and the flight attendant will try to the best of his/her ability to make up such time.

3. After the two (2) Personal Days are exhausted, the Company maintains the discretion to grant additional days consistent with the current practice regarding Personal Emergency Days. For any such additional days, the flight attendant must contact his/her supervisor. These additional days will be unpaid and the flight attendant will try to the best of his/her ability to make up such time. The Company may require verification of the additional emergency.

Q: I have been advised that I MAY NOT split a trip for OFF days. Is this true?

A: It depends on whether coverage is Inadequate or Adequate. When coverage is Inadequate splits are not allowed. When coverage is Adequate splits in domicile are allowed without Company consent. Please review Section 11.C.4 on page 11-7.

4. Pairing Assignment in Conflict with Non-Inviolable (OFF) Day(s)

a. When Coverage is Inadequate

If at the time of reserve processing the only available pairing(s) conflict with non-inviolable (OFF) day(s) and reserve coverage is inadequate, the Company may require a reserve to fly into non-inviolable (OFF) day(s) despite the conflict. If the Company requires a reserve to fly into non-inviolable (OFF) day(s), the days will be restored as follows:

(1) Such non-inviolable (OFF) day(s) will be moved to the end of the affected period of days off, or if moving the non-inviolable (OFF) day(s) to the end of the affected period of days off is not practicable, then the non-inviolable day(s) shall be added to another period of days off in the same calendar month;

(2) With mutual consent, such non-inviolable (OFF) day(s) may be used to create an additional period of day(s) off within the same month provided that such additional period of day(s) off is not adjacent to an existing period of day(s) off, or

(3) With the reserve's consent, the non-inviolable (OFF) day(s) may be moved and added to another period of days off in the subsequent calendar month.

b. When Coverage is Adequate

If at the time of reserve processing the only available pairing(s) conflict with the non-inviolable (OFF) day(s) and reserve coverage is adequate, the Company will offer the following options to the reserve in the order listed. If the reserve declines to select from the options offered, the Company will require the reserve to remain on call (ROC).

(1) Give up all or a portion of the non-inviolable (OFF) day(s) in order to complete the pairing, in which case the non-inviolable (OFF) day(s) will not be restored;

(2) Release early into days off with Company consent;

(3) Remain on call (ROC) with Company consent;

(4) Select a pairing to split in domicile;

(5) If no pairing is available which can be split in domicile, then, with Company consent, select a pairing to split in a domicile that operates in the same time zone as the reserve's domicile in the continental United States, or

(6) If no pairing is available which can be split in a domicile that operates in the same time zone as the reserve's domicile in the continental United States, then with Company consent select a pairing to split in any station in the Continental United States or Canada.

If you are not able to split and you have met the above mentioned requirements, please note time, date, scheduler and possible split trip. Please include as much information as possible and report that information to your local office.
 

Fly Safe,

Omar Bryant, LEC Council Rep. / Reserve Chair