Council 70 Reserve News Update

August 29, 2005  

Local 70 Reserve Update
August 29th, 2005

Issues:

- New Reserve Screens Added to CATS Menu
- Being Out of Base 

- Update on RSV LODO Situation

- RSV's Moving Days that Overlap with Vacation

- Blockholding Flight Attendant's High-Low Non Discipline Range

- Duty Free Supplemental Envoy Cart Reminder

- RSV's Calling Out of Time

NEW RESERVE SCREEN TO BE ADDED 9/01/05

Beginning September 1st Option # 40 on CATS will be designated for "BLOCK AWARD" just like the Pilots currently have. This screen will be useful for determining base seniority and reflect the status of all Flight Attendant's in that base. Also, after writing you the last E-line the MEC contacted the company regarding implementation of the Quick Call screen. Per our agreement, the company has until December 31st, 2005 to implement the Quick Call. We are asking they implement this ASAP to help ease tensions with RSV Flight Attendant. Once we are informed of the date this screen will be implemented and what option it will be on CATS, an E-line will be sent out.

OUT OF BASE ON RSV

RSV's please remember that being out of base is an ongoing serious issue in PHL. The company requires that you be in base by 00:01 and AVL for contact after your last OFF or INV day. To avoid any problems please be vigilant about this rule. It is important that if you commute into base ON YOUR OFF DAYS. Fill out the commuter designation form via the HUB so it reflects in CATS. The policy below outlines your rights if you find yourself dealing with an oversell or maintenance delayed flight and also outlines the documentation you must provide to your supervisor.

As a reminder you can now live 90 minutes from your domicile by surface transportation when in base on your AVL days.

"If the flight attendant's first scheduled commuting flight cancels as a result of weather, mechanical, or Company convenience, and the subsequent scheduled flight for which he/she is listed for travel cancels as a result of weather, mechanical, Company convenience, or the flight is significantly delayed (flight posted at least 30 minutes late), or the flight is full, the flight attendant shall notify Crew Scheduling as soon as possible prior to his/her scheduled check in, and Crew Scheduling will have the option of assigning the commuter to any one of the following:

a. Split the Flight Attendant back on his/her original pairing;

b. Assign the Flight Attendant to any comparable pairing (i.e., same duty days); 

c. Release the Flight Attendant from his/her duty and drop his/her original pairing. The Flight Attendant will be responsible to make up time lost if possible.

4. The first two unable-to-commute incidents of the nature described in Paragraph 3 above will not be treated as dependability infractions so long as the Flight Attendant provides the required supporting documentation from Sabre to his/her supervisor within seven (7) days of the unable to commute incidents."

LODO BEING ASSIGNED AFTER RESTRICTION

AFA is currently attempting to seek a solution with the scheduling department on the matter of LODO RSV Flight Attendant's being assigned after they were originally ROC. AFA believes this i certainly is not fair to the LODO and is in discussions with the company on possible solutions. It's proving to be a more complicated issue than we thought and there isn't an instant fix for this ongoing issue. AFA will continue to work with the company and communicate the result with you as soon as one is available.

MOVING RSV OFF/INV DAYS DURING VACATION OVERLAP

A change that took effect 01/01/05:

A Reserve flight attendant, at his/her option, may slip any or all of his/her days off without pay to provide time off before or after vacation periods of seven (7) or more days, and may slip up to three (3) of his/her days off without pay to provide time off before or after vacation periods of less than seven (7) days. Additional days may be slipped with Company consent according to the needs of the service.

* Please note that if you move an INV day that overlaps with your vacation it should remain an INV day.

Blockholding Flight Attendant's High-Low Non Discipline Range

The company has set new guidelines as listed below of what will trigger a "Low Block" or "High Block" letter that could lead to disciplinary action by the company. Please review and familiarize yourself with this information to avoid any problems. Also as a reminder, over flying your option is just as bad as coming in under your option. If you need to pick up additional time please use the ETB option that is available to you. There is NO excuse for any Flight Attendant to exceed their option by the amount allowed using company (pay/credit) time. Doing so takes time from RSV Flight Attendant's attempting to make their option, while also forcing them so sit in base waiting for trip assignment. In addition, it prevents them from timing out early. As per the Contract, AFA will be monitoring this situation to make sure the company is treating Under Fly and Over Fly equally. 

High-Low Non Discipline Range: A flight attendant will be permitted to come in with his/her projection at the end of month up 2 hours under his/her obligation or up to 3 hours over his/her maximum (in addition to the under-scheduled flying). This window has been established to create greater flexibility for the flight attendant when meeting their monthly maximum and/or obligation. The high - low flex range will be administered as follows:

Example - Not Too Low: Carol 's obligation is 80:00 for the month. She comes in with 78:00 pay and credit; therefore, her name would not be listed among those failing to meet their obligation.

Example - Too Low: Conversely, Joe's obligation for the month is 80:00. He ends the month with 77:59 pay and credit. The computer program would flag him for not meeting his obligation.

Example - Not Too High: Barbara's maximum is 90:00 for the month. She comes in with 93:00 pay and credit; therefore, her name would not be listed among those exceeding their obligation.

Example - High : Conversely, John's maximum for the month is 90:00. He ends the month with 93:01pay and credit. The computer program would flag him for exceeding his obligation.

Example - Has Under-Scheduled Flying -Not Too High : Bobbie's obligation is 90:00 for the month and the maximum in the base is 90:00. During such month he accumulates 2:30 hours of under-scheduled flying; therefore, he can come in with 92:30hours byway of past practice (90 +2:30 =92:30). Bobbie actually comes in with 95:00 pay and credit. In this case, Bobbie would not be flagged among those exceeding his obligation because of the 2:30 hours of under-scheduled flying. Bobbie's limit would be 92:30 plus the 3 hours high non-discipline range; therefore, 95:00 would bring him under the radar.

Splits: A split for maximizing time would be allowed up to a flight attendant's maximum (whatever that may be at the time of the request to split) not to include the 2 hours under or 3 hours over. If a split is involved in a lineholder or a reserve activity to maximize time the aforementioned low-high non-discipline range may not be used as if it part of his/her obligation. Therefore, as an example, if a flight attendant wanting to split a trip to maximize his/her flying to his/her maximum of 90 hours the first priority of the crew scheduler is to split a trip that achieves as close to 90 hours as possible. A flight attendant will not be permitted to split for his/her obligation, but will be permitted to split to reach his/her maximum.

Further, if he/she had underscheduled flying during the month such amount would be included in his/her maximum as it relates to the split.

RSV'S CALLING OUT OF TIME

FYI for RSV's calling out of time - The Director of Crew Scheduling sets a month MAX (+ 5 Hours Over your Option) from month to month. This will be reflected in the upper right hand corner of CATS option # 2. So, if you're max hours are 90 (85 Non-Option) for the month you can call O/T at 85:01. If your max hours are 110 (105 Option) you may call out of time at 105:01.

TRANSATLANTIC DUTY FREE REMINDER

Please remember it's required that Flight Attendant's open the Duty Free supplemental cart located in the 1st Class Galley on the A330 (Dry Galley A/C Left on the 767). There is a "Skip Flight" option with the handheld computer. This really helps out the return crew for that aircraft.

Your AFA Local 70 and myself are working on keeping you informed. If you feel there is something you would like addressed please let your local AFA office know.

Michael Elias
AFA Council 70 RSV Chair