A: No. That’s what happens today: the reality is that normally only those on duty get JA’d. With today’s technology (cell phones, caller ID, etc) FAs rarely answer the phone at home/off duty if they suspect that Crew Scheduling is calling to JA.
Remember: Under the TA provisions, after the 15 minute debrief in Domicile, you cannot be JA’d, even if you are still in the terminal. You are off duty.
The NC accepted that reality and instead focused on improving the provisions governing a FA JA’d.
How So?
- JA Premium increased to 2.5x from today’s 1.5x.
- If JA’d, a FA can immediately post the trip for pick-up and the premium follows the trade.
- A FA can Jet Bridge Trade a JA trip.
- If a FA is assigned a JA trip out of order s/he is paid 3.0x trip value. The FA who was “skipped” is paid 2.5x the trip value.
- FAs are not contactable for JA while on vacation, including the last day.
- If you trade flying off your line and do not replace it, you are immune from JA for those days.
- A FA cannot be JA’s while on a JA assignment.
- A FA cannot be JA’d while non-revving.
E Webley says
Hi Jake –
Why is scheduling not required to FIRST post a JA assignment in Premium Open Time BEFORE JA by “tag”? I thought that was the whole purpose behind Premium Open Time – so those who may want to work the premium pay trip would have first shot, to minimize JA by tag!
Thanks for your input-
Beth
Jake Jones (SEA LEC Vice President/Negotiating Committee Member) says
Hi Beth,
There is no requirement for Crew Scheduling to post JA assignment in Premium OT prior to JA’ing. Management would not agree to limiting their ability to cover the operation. The NC and management had many discussions regarding the subject and the parties were not able to come to agreement on a provision that required this process. Crew Schedulers should be offering Premium OT prior to JA’ing, however there is no contractual requirement.
Ed Smith says
Curious how one would know they had been assigned “out-of-order”. Does this pertain to the crew on the trip you are working when JA’ed? Base seniority? The system seniority list? What determines the order assignment should occur? Also, how can an FA possibly monitor these assignments and their validity, once the proper assignment priority is known, to either challenge the assignment, or claim the 3x pay? Will we have access for the days crew orders to see who is on duty when we are assigned? Will the FA be responsible for monitoring crew scheduling, and their adherence to the rules? Finally, how could you possibly know you had been “skipped” for a JA? If this does occur, do you receive 2.5x the assignment although you haven’t worked? Please clarify the procedures of this new process that seems complicated and difficult to administer accurately or fairly. Thanks
Christina Frees (Negotiating Committee Member) says
Hi Ed- Thanks for your question-
To answer your question about JAing in inverse seniority order – it is by DOMICILE of all FAs on DUTY that day (so not just within your crew). As far as policing the policy – there will be many eyes on this situation.
First of all, I know that when JA happens, it is a big deal. However, the incidents of JAing here are not overwhelming. But when it does happen, Crew Scheduling will first have to consult with the AFA Scheduling Chairperson who will be present in Crew Scheduling. So this AFA Representative will be able to police “real time” how the company is JAing.
Secondly, every time the company JAs a FA, they have to send a report to AFA with all the relevant information, including a list in seniority order of ALL FAs who were eligible for the JA. We will be policing all the JAs that happen. AFA will publish this list to all FAs if the company does not do so.
Lastly, If you are JAd, I am sure that you will be checking that list.
We hope that the company never pays that JA out of order premium – because they shouldn’t do it in the first place.
I know it sounds complicated, but it is in place for the protection of all Flight Attendants and to curb bad behavior on the part of Crew Schedulers. Hope this answers your questions.
Regards, Paula Mastrangelo
Jake Jones (SEA LEC Vice President/Negotiating Committee Member) says
Hi Ed,
When Crew Scheduling must JA a Flight Attendant for a sequence, the assignment must be given as follows:
1. The assignment may be given no earlier than the calendar day prior to the departure of the sequence.
2. If the JA is made the day prior to the sequence departure, the monthly seniority list must be used starting with the most junior available lineholder on duty no earlier than 12:00AM midnight the day prior in the domicile from which the sequence departs who is completely legal for the flight or sequence to be assigned. If there is no such Flight Attendant available, Crew Scheduling will start over, contacting the most junior lineholder on duty that requires the least amount of future flights to be pulled to make such Flight Attendant legal for the JA flight or sequence to be assigned.
3. If the JA is made such that the Flight Attendant is given additional flying on the same day that s/he completes a scheduled sequence, it must be legally scheduled. The monthly seniority list must be used starting with the most junior JA Lineholder on duty that day. If there is no such Flight Attendant available, Crew Scheduling will start over, contacting the most junior lineholder on duty that requires the least amount of future flights to be pulled to make such Flight Attendant legal for the JA flight or sequence to be assigned.
Though it is not contractually required, the Crew Scheduling handbook does tell Schedulers they should attempt to offer Premium OT prior to JA assignments.
Under Section 27 of the full text TA you will also see there is a AFA Scheduling Chair that must be consulted prior to any JA. This individual will have access to information including but not limited to JAs out of order with the ability to assist Flight Attendants in researching their concerns should one arise.
Hope this information is helpful. Once the full text TA is available you will see this language in the agreement.