Q: To my understanding, some Virgin FAs were allowed to keep their Company seniority for pay/vacation/line bidding if they transferred from CSA to FA. Some of those new hire FAs who just came online are currently making more money than me. I’ve been flying for close to 5 years and some are barely going into their 4th month. I’m trying to understand the ‘freezing’ part of the contract. How will they be merged when it comes to bidding? Will they still keep their 8 years even though they came online in November? Or will they merge with current 4-5 month L-AS FAs? Hope this makes sense.
A: See the following.
“I’m trying to understand the ‘freezing’ part of the contract.
Virgin America has had several different Company policies for transfers into InFlight over its history, including differing policies for pay and bidding. Generally speaking, L-VX FAs have their pay rate determined by Company Seniority and their bidding order determined by Occupational (Flight Attendant) Seniority. Consequently, a 4 month L-VX FA who has 8 years of Company Seniority (due to a transfer from GST/CSA to FA) has the Year 8 FA pay rate but bids as a 4 month FA. The VX “Red Circled” Pay Rates LOA allows those FAs to continue receiving Year 8 Alaska FA pay until their Occupational Seniority exceeds their Company Seniority as it was on the date of ratification of the TA.
How will they be merged when it comes to bidding?
Shorter approximately correct answer: They will be merged in with the current 4-5 month L-AS FAs for the purposes of line bidding, vacation bidding, etc.
Longer more technically correct answer: The Seniority Merger Integration Committee (SMIC) will merge the lists together using a fair and equitable application codified in Section X [Merger Policy…] of the AFA Constitution & Bylaws; no adjustment to relative seniority may occur with respect to others on one’s pre-merger carrier seniority list. Eligible L-AS FAs will receive the appropriate credit for time spent in Initial Training prior to merging the lists together. Specific questions about competitive bidding seniority integration should be directed to the SMIC: seniority@afacwa.org.
