What is the MEC’s position regarding the Early Push Program?

The Master Executive Council (MEC) has several concerns with the Early Push program. The MEC is supportive of achieving operational performance metrics such as on-time arrival, but there are limits to what management can reasonably ask Flight Attendants to do in order to achieve those metrics—such as early boarding.

Boarding should begin no earlier than 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure

Contractually, you are under no obligation to arrive at the aircraft earlier than 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure. It is acceptable to begin boarding right at 45 minutes prior to departure—but only if all required safety checks and the Flight Attendant briefing have been completed and the entire Flight Attendant crew voluntarily agrees without feeling pressured. Allowing boarding to commence right at 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure adds a few extra minutes to help out the operation (as compared to regular boarding). However, AFA strongly recommends boarding no earlier than 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure.

AFA is concerned about the contractual pay and duty implications of the Early Push Program

AFA is very concerned about the contractual pay and duty implications of boarding earlier than 45 minutes prior to scheduled departure. AFA has also asked how the FAA would interpret early boarding for duty purposes, and we are currently awaiting clarification from management and the FAA on that point. Additionally, let’s not forget that in the current contract we agreed to shorten domicile release at the end of a sequence by 15 minutes—from 30 minutes after block-in to 15 minutes after block-in. The MEC is not supportive of further potential incursions into our duty day, especially “freebies” like boarding earlier than 45 minutes prior without adequate pay improvements and duty adjustments.

Contact AFA if you experience the following…

The MEC was recently assured that hotel transportation departure times would not be changed in order to achieve an early push. The MEC was also informed that although the projected departure time will change, the report time would not change. Finally, the MEC has received reports of Flight Attendants being pressured by various parties to board early. If you believe your van time has been adjusted in anticipation of an early push, your report time is changed or if you experience pressure to board earlier than 45 minutes prior to departure, contact one of your local AFA representatives as soon as possible.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Linda Christou, Lisa Pinkston, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Melissa Osborne, Tim Green and Brice McGee