Negotiations News Archives

Now that TA2 has been ratified as our new Collective Bargaining Agreement, what do you need to know or to expect over the next two weeks?

Effective today 12/17

• New Step rate effective midnight this morning.
• Per diem of $2.50 for all sequences touching today and credited back to the beginning of the sequence.
• Sit pay of 1 TFP for any scheduled sit over 2 hours (this will be paid automatically!!!); any unscheduled sit over 2 hours should be submitted manually via an Activity Claim Form until automated.
• Trade jail has been negated.
• Management flying to prevent cancellations is allowed.

Effective tomorrow 12/18

• Section 8 Hours of Service
  • G.1 CSKD may ask a FA at domicile or co-terminal to depart on a flight scheduled to land more than 14 hours. FA not required to take the flight.
  • H.2 F/A can waive double out rest. CSKD can call FA asking if F/A wants to waive but not required to call and F/A not required to waive. Pay is 1.5x for the sequence if the FA waives the rest.
  • L.2.b If F/A has a 48/7 issue they must call CSKD at least 2 hours prior to check-in for the subsequent sequence for CSKD to adjust.
  • T.1 Base Turn min time between sequences is 1:45. Trades will be manual if time between sequences is 1:45 to 1:59 until automated.
  • Double out rest is now the same for APSB’s.
• Section 9 Junior Available and Premium Open Time
  • D.1.f JA pay is now 2.5x
  • D.2.g F/A can trade JA assignment and premium follows the trade; must be done manually until automated.
• Section 10 Scheduling
  • S.1.c If a sequence cancels between 8pm and midnight the FA will be pay protected.
  • T Non-rev F/A use – can only help once per bid month.
  • X Deadhead changes
    • 4 or more hours must have a M/C seat.
    • DH on last day of sequence F/A can request to be released from DH no earlier than the completion of the last live flight preceding the DH.
    • A Scheduled DH, CSKD may require a F/A to work in lieu of a scheduled DH but 1.5x premium must be paid.
    • Non Scheduled DH can be changed at anytime but must be paid 1.5x premium if working.
    • With CSKD’s approval a F/A may decline a DH and meet up with a sequence on the first working leg.
    • If DH’ing a F/A home due to Sick On Line, CSKD can DH them to domicile or commuter city.
  • Any company employee may accompany F/A to hospital. Employee does not need to be another F/A.
  • Z Personal Drops List posted noon daily on webpage if PD’s were awarded.
  • CC New process for handling a No Show sequence if F/A would like to recover flying.
• Section 11 Reserve
  • C.5 Last day of block Reserve may request release. Last flight out (actual) will be posted on FA web page. For now, CSKD process requests manually. Working with IT on this, so hopefully a link on the webpage just like the LTFA will be available soon.
  • Double out rest is now the same for APSB’s.
• Section 12 Exchanges of Sequence
  • C Jet Bridge Trades: Lineholders & Reserves
    • Flight Attendants from the same domicile may trade or give-away a sequence or portion of a sequence at any station no earlier than three (3) hours prior to departure for domestic and international flights.
    • A Flight Attendant accepting the trade must be physically present in the city where the flight is departing from and must accept responsibility for covering the flight.
    • The Jet Bridge Trade will apply to any (or all) leg(s) of a sequence and must encompass the remainder of the sequence involved.
    • The trade or give- away will be granted unless doing so would cause an illegality (CFR) or delay in boarding.
    • Within one (1) hour of departure, trades will be processed only if CSKD has the capacity to handle the request.
    • If the Jet Bridge Trade request is made less than one (1) hour to departure, trades will be processed only if Crew Scheduling has the capacity to handle the request.
    • If the duty encompassing the Jet Bridge trade contains ten hours and thirty minutes (10:30) or less, all language in this agreement regarding such duty limitations will apply. Pay will apply pursuant to Section 8.F. [Over-Duty Pay].
    • If such duty is scheduled for more than ten hours and thirty minutes (10:30) then the Flight Attendant(s) will be considered to have waived over-duty pay and rest.
  • Section 22 Expenses
    • Crew snacks start going away.
    • Ability to purchase one item per duty period at 50% of retail price (option being updated into the Point of Sale devices currently); no change to current practice of consuming perishable items at the conclusion of the service.

December 22, 2014

• Signing Bonus paid

By next week

• Section 16 Sick Leave Make Up begins (see 16.N.)

December 25, 2014

• APSB holiday pay begins

December 31, 2014

• Section 32 Attendance Policy Quarterly and Annual points adjustments will be made in accordance with current contract, not the new one.
• New Year’s Day holiday pay at 2x

Jan 1, 2015

More information will be forthcoming as we get deeper into the implementation process. In the meantime, you may refer to the Implementation LOA at the back of the TA2 document.

In solidarity,

Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

The ballot results for TA2 are in. With a 90.8% participation, TA2 has been ratified. AFA thanks you for being engaged in the process.

Click here for full ballot results: Certified Results

In solidarity,

Your MEC—Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow and Stephen Couckuyt; and

Your Negotiating Committee—MEC President Jeffrey Peterson, Kristy Stratton, Lisa Pinkston, Jake Jones, Christina Frees and AFA Senior Staff Negotiator Paula Mastrangelo

No.  A signing bonus will NOT reduce workers’ compensation benefits.  Quite the contrary – the bonus will be added to wages used to calculate future benefits, thereby increasing disability benefits paid on claims with a date of injury approximately one year after the bonus is earned.

If you are currently on a workers’ comp you will receive a separate check for the signing bonus if the TA is ratified.  The check will not affect your current workers’ comp benefits.

FINAL VOTING REMINDER!

Polls close: TOMORROW—Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at 9:00am Pacific Standard Time.

As of this morning, 77.1% of the Membership has voted. It is imperative that all eligible voters cast their ballot prior to polls closing tomorrow. You must vote in order for your vote to count!

AFA International must process all inquiries regarding voting—either via the Ballot Helpline or Membership Services as outlined below. At this point neither the Master Executive Council nor your Local Executive Council can assist.

If you have not received your Tentative Agreement Voting Instructions please contact the AFA Ballot Helpline at 1-800-424-2401 EXT 706 (press 1 then 706). If the call is not answered please leave a message. All calls received by 5 pm ET will be returned the same day.

Credentials for Voting

The AFA Ballot Helpline can provide you with a new 16-digit activation code. This will allow you to enter the voting system and cast your vote. The 16-digit code will be sent via email along with instructions for voting via the internet or telephone.

When calling to obtain a new 16-digit activation code please verify your email address and current status with AFA. If you must leave a message, please make sure you leave your name, airline, employee ID & telephone number along with your email address. The email should be in your inbox however be sure to check your spam/junk folder just in case.

Voter Eligibility

In order to vote, you must be an ACTIVE MEMBER in GOOD STANDING. That means you must be actively flying, a member of AFA and you do not have a delinquent balance on your account. If you can log into the ballot system but the system states there are no ballots for you, you must contact the AFA Membership Services Department. 1-800-424-2401 EXT 707.

If you did receive your voting packet containing your 16-digit number you may go directly to the website https://eballotuv.votenet.com/afa or www.afacwa-elections.org to cast your vote.