In one of the side-letters of ou

In one of the side-letters of our new contract with the company under “Implementation Agreement” reads:

The parties further agree that upon ratification by the Union membership, a Joint

Implementation Committee (JIC) will be created, the purpose of which is to ensure

the Agreement is implemented consistent with the intent of the parties and to quickly

REPRESENTING THE COMPANY: Cathy Jacobs (Vice President-Human Resources); Linda Kunz (Vice President-Flight Service); Doug Matalucci (Manager-Crew Scheduling); Tammy Coffey (Regional Managing Director-Flight Service; Stephanie Babish (called “Counsel” – but not an attorney), Keith Curtis (Crew Scheduling)

REPRESENTING THE UNION: Veronica Tenerelli (MEC President); Diana Kishaba (AFA Negotiating Team); Armando Ramos (AFA Council 49 President); Debora Sutor (Chair-MEC Grievance Committee); Richard Wrede (AFA Senior Staff Attorney)

One of the most questioned sections we received during our Contract Tour at the bases has been the Reserve Section.

We wanted to let you all know that the issues you have brought to us are being addressed at these meetings and we will keep you updated on their progress.

The company has agreed to language drafted and proposed by the Association. Letter will be contained in the final printed version of the agreement. No Flight Attendant may be extended when there are available standby reserves.

Revised JIC Sideletter

The company has agreed to language drafted and proposed by the Association. Letter will be contained in the final printed version of the agreement.

The company has agreed to language drafted and proposed by the Association. Language will contained in the final printed version of the agreement.

The Company has agreed to the language drafted and proposed by the Association for bidines projected below the minimum monthly guarantee. Letter will be contained in the final printed version of the agreement. It should be noted however, that the Company has explained that the way the process will work due to the limited capability of the computer, is that the whole trip will be coded as OT instead of MU. The computer is not capable of using different codes on individual flight legs within a sequence. Once the required amount of MU has been fulfilled, the remainder of the scheduled flight time will be credited at OT. Pay Comp. will separate the time out on a leg by leg basis. The Company proposes the following language be added to the RF 200 OT mask:

During the November crew scheduling roundtable meeting, Matt Bartle stated that scheduling could interrupt a reserve flight attendant’s rest after 8 hours into their 10 hour required rest period and that if the flight attendant failed to answer their call, they would receive a MA. AFA strongly disagreed.

The Company has looked into this issue from the last meeting and has concluded that Crew Scheduling may call after 8 hours and prior to the required rest of 10 hours if the flight attendant was released from a trip and placed into a RAP for the next day. The language in Section 7.E.2.c. only applies between trip sequences; Airport Reserve assignment and a trip sequence; a trip sequence and an Airport Reserve assignment; or within a sequence prior to duty on the next calendar day. The language does not apply between a trip and a RAP or a RAP and a RAP.

Reserves on Voluntary Junior Man List

Reserves may sign up to be on the voluntary Junior Man list, but they must be on a day(s) off and the assignment will only be given if it does not conflict with their other days of availability.

Seniority List on Bid Package

Linda Kunz explains that when the language in Section 14.B.4. was negotiated, she was still with TWA. She did not review that language until the end of Negotiations. During discussion, she claims that she pointed out that the language was out of date, but that Laurette told her that the Union still wanted it. Linda points out that the language as referenced in 14.B.4. reads that a seniority list “will be included with every monthly bid packet.” It does not say the list has to be “on or in” every bid packet. Therefore, she feels the Company is complying with the language of the agreement. Additionally, Section 8.A.2. does not require the list to be shown on the bid package. Conversely, Section 19.A. does require training dates to be published “in the bid package”, therefore, this differs from the language found in 14.B.4.

Per Jill Zimmer, the list found in JetNet is more accurate because it is pulled using a managers’ code, one that is not accessible to Flight Attendants. It differs from the 3BR. It should also be noted that an accurate list cannot be generated until after the bids open, because of computer programming issues. Therefore any list that would potentially be placed on a bid package would not be accurate.

The JIC committee caucused. We agreed that the contract language may not be strong enough to win an arbitration. We then reconvened with the Company.

Veronica explains that she feels the whole issue was mishandled from the beginning. We agree that an accurate list will be posted in each crew lounge and be visible to Flight Attendants at all times. Further an updated list will be posted on JetNet 24-48 hours after bids open and a disclaimer will be posted there as well to notify Flight Attendants of such.

Automated TTOT

The Company advised us that the automated trip trade with open time system for the pilots is estimated to be completed by the third quarter of this year. Since a lot of the legalities have already been programmed at that point, the task of programming on the Flight Attendant side should be minimized.

Before the program is implemented on the pilot side it first needs to be tested. They can’t estimate yet when this function will be available for Flight Attendants.

Are Requests for OT Processed Before or After TTOT Requests

Requests for OT must be submitted before 12:00 noon each day. Then, from 12:00 noon until 18:00, each day, TTOT requests are suspended to that Swaps/Drops may process OT requests. Then, from 18:00 today, until 12:00 noon the next day, TTOT requests are processed.

The Association requests that before the printing of the contract, that actual language be added to reflect the agreement reached by the parties in which a Reserve Flight Attendant may pick up OT, but will only be credited for the actual time flown as opposed to the amount of time awarded.

The Company agrees. AFA proposed the following language to be added to Section 4 and become new paragraph 4.F.4.

A Reserve Flight Attendant may bid for and fly open time. Such Reserve Flight Attendant will receive pay and credit above guarantee for all hours actually flown.

Preference for RAP

SJU reports that Reserve Flight Attendants have been told they cannot preference for RAPs.

Company agrees that this is incorrect. Section 9 paragraph C.3. permits Flight Attendants to preference for RAPs. Doug Matalucci will follow up with Executive crew sked department.

2 Hour Call Out

SJU reports being told by crew sked that if a Flight Attendant is called at 12:00 for a flight that departs at 14:00, they have to sign in at 13:00. While this only provides one hour to get to the airport, crew sked maintained their actions were in compliance with Section 9 paragraph E. Four Flight Attendants were issued missed assignments as a result.

Company agreed that this is an incorrect interpretation of 9.E. You have two hours to get to the airport. Doug Matalucci will follow up with Executive crew sked department.

7 Day Conflict Over Transition

LAX reported that Flight Attendants who elected to be removed from the current month’s schedule and fly the conflicting trip in the new month were only given a 24 hour duty free period off instead of a calendar day.

Doug Matalucci agrees that just because a Flight Attendant elects this option does not automatically mean that they have agreed to waive their right to a calendar day off in any seven-day period. Doug will speak to crew sked to prevent this from happening again.

The Association asked the company if they believed they had the right to involuntarily assign a Reserve to Airport Standby upon return to domicile at the conclusion of their sequence? We explained that we believed that a Reserve who showed up at the airport and performed no flying could be given an assignment to an Airport Standby shift, but pursuant to Section 9. G. if a Reserve has already been performing flying, then assignment to an Airport Standby shift is not legal.