03.10.2018
[Note: These notes were recorded at the time of the roadshow and are presented as recorded. Any clarifications or edits that have been applied after the roadshows are indicated in strikeout font for deleted text and underlined font for added text. – Edited 03.14.2018 jtp]
Does RT count towards your line amount (for PPP)?
No that is above your line so that is 6.0 TFP that would be added during that period.
Did the company push for earlier implementation than later?
No they didn’t ask for it earlier. Their target date is still March 2019 but if it could happen sooner that would be fine.
So why is there an extension to this JCBA if they don’t meet their target date?
The extension has nothing to do with the programing of JCTE.
What happens if it is not implemented at target date for the company?
If full implementation target is missed, all L-VX pairings must be constructed to meet AS contract provisions but not the pay.
The PPP do you have to do 5 TFP extra each month?
It is 40 TFP total over the block of eight months or 5 TFP total for the individual months and it includes your vacation time.
Why don’t we use Sabre instead of Jeppesen?
They have invested too much in Jeppesen and the Company has put pressure on them too. Also, the VX version of Sabre is no longer supported.
Do you think that if this doesn’t pass will they go negotiate again or wait until we go into Section 6?
The company says that they will not go back to table and they have not waffled in their thought process. There are ideally many things that we would address in Section 6 however this is not Section 6 and that is when some of those would be dealt with. In these negotiations it is a merger negotiations. We have not forgotten about the 480 and vacation. To attack the 480 we need a merged group. L-VX has to fly 70 and no less so it’s hard for them to understand why it’s so important to L-AS and that is why we need to get them on our contract and work within contract and then we can be a unified group.
Where you surprised of what the company did give us?
The JNC told them that we need stuff to bring to the group if you want this passed. They wanted to call this “an agreement” and we said no that it would be called a JCBA. They (the Company) didn’t want to bring anything to the table and they really wanted a 4 year extension, they also wanted to erode our duty day by saying that L-VX would love to fly HI turns and carve out 5K turns. We said no. Throughout the negotiations we went back and forth and we did present to the MEC the first proposal and they didn’t agree to take it to membership. The second time when the JNC carved out more items the MEC felt that they should bring it to the membership for consideration for a vote. We did try to our more things for the senior group but they weren’t going there so that is why we carved out items that you could use your vacation towards such as vacation being counted toward your PPP, shadow vacation days for leaves, 1/12 for leaves, etc.
What’s up with bases and moving around?
Simply answer is that if it ratifies and there is no re-master bid and will only be movement if there is a vacancy.
Would it be cheaper to keep them separate?
No, there are too many soft costs plus the route structure would cost too much because there cannot be a new Airbus base opened up where there is a Boeing base and vice versa.
If this is ratified and if implementation isn’t met on target date of March 2019, what are the penalties?
They (company) paid 2.6 billion for this merger and the Executive Board is on the hook to get this done.
What does “Every Best Effort” mean and why do you think they will uphold the parts of the contract that say this?
“Every Best Effort” is actually some of the strongest contractual language. Why this helps us is that they have promised the board and shareholders that this will get done by March mid 2019 so that is in there best interest of all.
Why don’t you talk about your strategy during negotiations?
We do not discuss our strategy during negotiations because you don’t want to show all your cards to management.
Will pairing change?
They already are changing and there are no plans to do 5-day trips. Pairings will change.
Washington state sick leave law?
MEC Benefits and also the MEC Grievance Chair have notified the company that they should be abiding by the law. A4A filed suit against Washington State on behalf of the company and other carriers. They are going to fight it all the way.
So will the people on leaves be grandfathered in the 4-year minimum extension from one to four year leaves?
Yes they will be.
Robin Nakashima says
With the new occupational hire date what happens if we are bought by another airline, it seems to me they will use my original hire date for merging into their seniority. Is that correct?
Jeffrey Peterson (MEC President) says
“Original hire date” could have multiple definitions depending on one’s individual situation and perspective (e.g. first day on the Company payroll (this would be an earlier date if transferring into Inflight from another work group), first day of Initial Training, first day on the payroll as a Flight Attendant, etc.).
Regardless, the new Occupational Seniority date (that includes credit for time spent in Initial Training) would be used for future mergers–whether with another AFA carrier or a non-AFA carrier–if the TA ratifies. See CBA/JCBA §4.C.1.a [Status of Agreement: Labor Protective Provisions], §5 [Definitions]: “Occupational Seniority” and AFA Constitution & Bylaws Section X [Merger Policy…] for more information.