2014 Fleet Service Discussion

[charlie Brown]

Your medical for a FTer is better partially because it's subsidized by PTers paying the double rate. I was told by one of your guys that currently you're at 27% of PTers so I'm glad to hear that US isn't at the max rate of 40%. We're not at the max rate on our side either.
I pay currently as a single having chosen the best plan (Everyone asks me why) $124.76 per month just for medical. Now we also know that you have to factor in out of pocket costs to make a fair assessment of who's medical choices are better though and this is not meant to be one of those dumb "I'm better than you" shcticks. But I think if you compare the apples and the oranges they probably come out pretty close to each other?
Oh and for Tim. My cousin Donna has a crappy medical plan and pays $800 per month for her and her two kids. My buddy Fred in NY who has mental problems and is on medication pays $1200 per month just for himself. Perspectives Tim even if we do benefit extremely from being Unionized.

Pt'ers do pay double. An issue that no one likes. This was debated for awhile back and forth in negotiations. One of the things we wanted to make better for our members but didn't succeed. In the end, we felt it could be handled in the jcba feeling the issue would be a pretty big issue there since pt'ers pay the same there.

 

[WeAAsles]

Pt'ers do pay double. And issue that no one likes. This was debated for awhile back and forth in negotiations. One of the things we wanted to make better for our members but didn't succeed. In the end, we felt it could be handled in the jcba feeling the issue would be a pretty big issue there since pt'ers pay the same there.

That's going to be a huge issue IMO in the Joint talks. Just putting MIA into the conversation we have a ton of Pters and if us FT guys voted to double their medical in the future for our benefit there could be riots here? I know whoever the Local President might be if that were announced better bring a plastic shield to block the tomatoes.

Anyway unlike a certain someone I think it will all work out ok in the end? I wonder how having a much larger workgroup may affect the group rate also? That should also factor into a lower cost I would think?

 

[charlie Brown]

That's going to be a huge issue IMO in the Joint talks. Just putting MIA into the conversation we have a ton of Pters and if us FT guys voted to double their medical in the future for our benefit there could be riots here? I know whoever the Local President might be if that were announced better bring a plastic shield to block the tomatoes.
Anyway unlike a certain someone I think it will all work out ok in the end? I wonder how having a much larger workgroup may affect the group rate also? That should also factor into a lower cost I would think?

It could definitely effect the rate yes. And I do agree, it will be a big issue in the joint talks. I don't see whoever the US guys that are on there, them trying to make AA people pay double. I would expect them to fight to get the US guys the same as AA.

 

[WeAAsles]

It could definitely effect the rate yes. And I do agree, it will be a big issue in the joint talks. I don't see whoever the US guys that are on there, them trying to make AA people pay double. I would expect them to fight to get the US guys the same as AA.

I say we should get management to subsidize the rate. CSM's have no contract and could pay double in the future instead?

 

[robbedagain]

most of us dont or wont rush given the injuries that can skyrocket.    the inbound flights will mostly be the local bags but the out bound flight are mostly connects with a good amount for locals  and some interline.  Kev  3 is usually the norm at my station but there are select days of the week whereas we have 4 or 5

 

[WeAAsles]

most of us dont or wont rush given the injuries that can skyrocket.    the inbound flights will mostly be the local bags but the out bound flight are mostly connects with a good amount for locals  and some interline.  Kev  3 is usually the norm at my station but there are select days of the week whereas we have 4 or 5

The company stresses the importance of safety and working safe but we all know what the reality is. The CSM that is assigned to your gate could care less what happens to you. If there is a delay they have to give there boss a justifiable reason for it and if they get too many of them that are not considered justified (By COMPANY standards) it's there job that's in jeopardy.

If you decide to rush and get hurt you really have no one to blame but yourself. And honestly I don't care how much insurance they give you, if you get hurt none of that money is worth it.

The emphasis is always on the company to give you the tools to accomplish your job to the expectations they prefer. If they don't do that there's an old saying "That's not my problem"

 

[NYer]

WeAAsles,  how many rampers per aircraft do you have?   in my station some days we have 5 on our PHX but then 3 or 4 on CLT and for the commuters we have typically on the 230   3 or 4 to work the turn then for the 430p 2 agents to work it.   just curious to see how AA does it

Expanding on WeAAsle's post. Depending on where you are and type of operation the crew size is anywhere from 3 to 6 man crews, althought the 6 man crews are going to become extinct with the "depeaking" of the flight schedule. It is also important to note that our Crew Chief, or Leads, are not part of those numbers. The Crew Chief has other primary responsibilities and is not part of the crew, althought they can assist in the flight process.

 

[NYer]

Pt'ers do pay double. An issue that no one likes. This was debated for awhile back and forth in negotiations. One of the things we wanted to make better for our members but didn't succeed. In the end, we felt it could be handled in the jcba feeling the issue would be a pretty big issue there since pt'ers pay the same there.

It was a big issue and it almost became a reality, but aside from trying to protect the families of those in the PT status it is believed that is also helps in keeping them honest as far a creating more FT by not giving them a cost advantage to keep PT within the ranks.

The operation many times dictates the use of PT, but with all things being equal keeping all the costs within the Membership level is something that ultimately helps everyone.

 

[charlie Brown]

It was a big issue and it almost became a reality, but aside from trying to protect the families of those in the PT status it is believed that is also helps in keeping them honest as far a creating more FT by not giving them a cost advantage to keep PT within the ranks.
The operation many times dictates the use of PT, but with all things being equal keeping all the costs within the Membership level is something that ultimately helps everyone.

Good points Nyer. Thanks for the info.

 

[ChockJockey]

Part time leads were established during the America West merger but they were and still are only limited to I believe a dozen or so former Awest stations, mostly in PHX.

 
Last I looked there was only one PT lead in PHX.
 

Something snuck into the lexicon of our job called "Quick Turn" I've been trying to get people to stop using that term because "Quick" to me implies rushing and I don't rush. Rushing causes mistakes and injuries and it's just not something I do or let my crew do. If we don't have the proper manpower to turn the flight then it get's a justifiable delay. Plain and simple.

 
Yep.  The "Quick Turn" used to mean you get the flight in and out as quickly as possible, but now it's just a colloquialism for a minimum-ground-time-turn.  I think once we started charging for checked bags and the number of carry-on's (and thus gate checks) shot up the quick turns stopped being so quick anyway.

 

[Tim Nelson]

The health care issue would be a troublesome one since the ACA was passed. People with lower cost plans saw their rates increased. That was going to happen anytime the insurance companies have a say in the law. At least we had a "do-over" sort to speak where we could at least get a better plan. And a better and lower dental rate. The "low cost" or nearly "free" health care for sUA was going to go by the wayside, no matter what contract we voted in. In this environment it would be problemsome to implement since the company was going to change over EVERYBODYS health plans. The pilots set the tone for what was going to happen. The only thing you can do is figure out the best cost solution for the group as a whole.

Obama sure did become yet another post modern Democrat that effed over the working man with more taxes.  More entitlements that we will have to pay.

 

[Harry Callahan]

The company stresses the importance of safety and working safe but we all know what the reality is. The CSM that is assigned to your gate could care less what happens to you. If there is a delay they have to give there boss a justifiable reason for it and if they get too many of them that are not considered justified (By COMPANY standards) it's there job that's in jeopardy.

If you decide to rush and get hurt you really have no one to blame but yourself. And honestly I don't care how much insurance they give you, if you get hurt none of that money is worth it.

The emphasis is always on the company to give you the tools to accomplish your job to the expectations they prefer. If they don't do that there's an old saying "That's not my problem"

Bingo. This is what I would attempt to stress to the folks I worked with. But the sad thing was to many of them just cared about getting back to the break room tv or their lap top.
Harry

 

[NYer]

Obama sure did become yet another post modern Democrat that effed over the working man with more taxes.  More entitlements that we will have to pay.

For someone that admits not knowing or understanding the ACA, you sure have a definitive opinion of the President. Learn the law, learn why it is the way it is, learn and get perspective on how the changes affect you (if it even does) before making such statements which to be mostly based on ignorance.

 

[WeAAsles]

Obama sure did become yet another post modern Democrat that effed over the working man with more taxes.  More entitlements that we will have to pay.

http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/45231-ACA_Estimates.pdf

http://www.factcheck.org/issue/health-care/

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/09/30/five-reasons-americans-already-love-obamacare-plus-one-reason-why-theyre-gonna/

Tim I hope these links help you on the road to understanding the big bad boogyman known as Obamacare?  "The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010"

Here's one more.

http://useconomy.about.com/od/healthcarereform/f/Patient-Affordable-Care-Act.htm

 

[WeAAsles]

Obamacare rates Statistics in Florida

The lowest available rate for an adult in Florida is $85.81/mo for a catastrophic plan offered by CoventryOne in Broward county. Currently a $10,000 deductible plan can be had for $66.00/mo from Aetna.
The least expensive plan not including catastrophic plans is $128/mo
Prices for individuals (incl catastrophic plans) range from $85.81/mo – $459.24/mo
Monthly premiums for families (see definition above) range from $289.84 to $1551.24/mo
Childrens plans range in price from $51.99 – to $278.26

http://www.halist.com/obamacare-rates-2014-in-florida-47