AFA labor discussion (Work related)

[Travelpro72]

There is no divide in our solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are based in PHX. I refuse to use the term "east" and "west" any longer. Let management use that term but as flight attendants I refer to us as where we are based. We don't use the term "north" or "south" flight attendants. Well maybe back in the day. 😉 NOW, talking about the profit sharing, though the PHX f/a's certainly DO contribute this was a contractual item as mentioned. Our union gave away a contractual item while the membership wasn't asked how they felt about it. It's not that we don't feel PHX f/a's don't deserve profit sharing but how would you feel if a contractual item was stripped from you and you got NOTHING in return for it? It wasn't right to do REGARDLESS of opinion as it was a contractual item.

Oh and MISS727...believe me we know about LC and RW. I forget NOTHING! ! ! ! Thanks for bringing that up though. 😉

 

[Onestep2flt]

There is no divide in our solidarity with our brothers and sisters who are based in PHX. I refuse to use the term "east" and "west" any longer. Let management use that term but as flight attendants I refer to us as where we are based. We don't use the term "north" or "south" flight attendants. Well maybe back in the day. 😉 NOW, talking about the profit sharing, though the PHX f/a's certainly DO contribute this was a contractual item as mentioned. Our union gave away a contractual item while the membership wasn't asked how they felt about it. It's not that we don't feel PHX f/a's don't deserve profit sharing but how would you feel if a contractual item was stripped from you and you got NOTHING in return for it? It wasn't right to do REGARDLESS of opinion as it was a contractual item.

Oh and MISS727...believe me we know about LC and RW. I forget NOTHING! ! ! ! Thanks for bringing that up though. 😉

Very good point on the east, west thing. Something that does need to disappear. I do find it interesting they so easily gave a contractual item away, but have not but said a few times that the PHX based flight attendants should be making what the rest of the flight attendants are. Seems even the union leadership is fine with the paper pushing shell game of cost neutral.

 

[Career Reserve]

Why is grace jones going by grace allen on ballot? I don't think she is a contender in either case since she is being recalled.....ooooohhhh, that's why!

 

[Toothy Grin]

"It is an argument that can not be won as in the eyes of both sides they feel they are right."

Because they are approaching this from greed & pride...there are no eyes involved in that fight - thus the sayings "blind greed" "foolish pride". I do believe they are attempting to solve it in the correct method given both groups limited abilities to reason soundly.



"It's not that we don't feel PHX f/a's don't deserve profit sharing but how would you feel if a contractual item was stripped from you and you got NOTHING in return for it? It wasn't right to do REGARDLESS of opinion as it was a contractual item. "

This item was stripped from you, but now returned...as you now work within a joined "new/old" entity - US Airways. BTW, Did this clause say that you as flight attendants receive profit sharing or did it say you receive profit sharing and it is not to be split with any future flight attendant groups should a merger occur? What kind of messed up person would vote for the latter?

Everything changes - EVERYTHING with the seeming exception of people wanting things to be the way they once were in some other time. I truly hope that many of you that hold onto that item/clause with your claws stop romanticizing what once was and remain focused on what is best for all of us now.

It is, I believe very childlike of some of you to believe that the candidate you select will go forward and fulfill all his/her promises or even poll the membership time and again in order to make a decision. Promises can be broken. Have not some of you stood on an alter and promised in sickness and health, etc. yet here you are in life a single mom or dad. Still others cannot keep promises to themselves to stop doing certain behaviors drinking, smoking etc.

So, to answer your question, how would I feel? I would be mad that I lost profit sharing, I would be glad to get it back and I would be irked slightly to be receiving less of it once it was returned, but I would be an adult and understand that things have changed and that I am now in a "new" company with more brothers and sisters. Besides, to go forth without sharing in such a way is evil.

Doing things solely on the basis of contracts at the expense of others makes you a real living breathing soulless robot or trained monkey that lives off of some weird reaction/gratification reward paradigm. This is real life and sometimes you do things because it is the right thing to do from an ethical standpoint regardless of what the book says. This means that you may not receive anything in return other than a thank you, but by doing these actions you will grow.

 

[Travelpro72]

Well if we went by what you are saying why doesn't the PHX f/a's just allow the company to take away their CONTRACTUAL right to their travel policy? Hmmmmm? Contractual is contractual and it was written pretty plainly. The point is that they and I'll say it EAST AFA did not consult the f/a's about this matter in the transition agreement. Certain officers voted FOR this and are running for office in the upcoming PHL election.

 

[Toothy Grin]

Well if we went by what you are saying why doesn't the PHX f/a's just allow the company to take away their CONTRACTUAL right to their travel policy? Hmmmmm? Contractual is contractual and it was written pretty plainly. The point is that they and I'll say it EAST AFA did not consult the f/a's about this matter in the transition agreement. Certain officers voted FOR this and are running for office in the upcoming PHL election.

But Travelpro72 it has happened already. . ."first come, first serve" for one.

Also, there is a difference between how two similar work groups reach an equilibrium and how the company v. a work group reach agreement. The former when conducted properly achieves an outcome that is fare for all (with wiggle room for some unhappiness) and provides feelings that mostly inspire benign resolution, unity AND an even starting ground for all to move ahead.

You can correctly state it is in the contract, but how would you remedy or suggest a remedy that recognizes that the results of your profit sharing were being obtained at the expense of another work group that does exactly the same job you do?

I am not privy to the ins and outs of the actual reasons why the Reps voted YES, but I imagine the company or West Union proposed the West FA's be rolled into the East plan as a symbol of good will. Did they need to do it? No.

Further, if you read the Company issued document on Profit Sharing you will see that Contract and Non Contract employees receive profit sharing regardless of givebacks experienced during the bankruptcy. The company could have easily said we are going to match the West to the East and you would therefore still receive the same amount you would now. The only difference would be that a vote didn't take place and we wouldn't see the thoughtless petty antics about how many more granules of sugar person A received than person B.

So at the end of the day you would still be sharing the profit pool with me and I with you as well as many other employees around the world and this is the way it should be. We all did the work and we all deserve positive financial recognition for doing our jobs.

 

[MUTATIS MUTANDIS]

We all did the work and we all deserve positive financial recognition for doing our jobs. , Really! try selling that line to DP and living in PHL, DCA, ETC!

 

[Travelpro72]

I have no problem with unity and becoming one as a group. I believe that the majority of our DCA,PHL and CLT f/a's and PHX f/a's are on the same page. That said, the profit sharing was contractual and considering what the DCA, PHL and CLT f/a's gave up in two BK's it was a small thing that meant A LOT to us in return. While I have absolutely no problem sharing it was done with NOTHING in return by our AFA. We weren't even aware of this until it happened. Regardless of whether you or anyone else feels that it's right or wrong is beside the point. It was done on the sly and we were NEVER asked. SNEAKY! ! !

 

[missthe727]

Try to grow... try very hard...you are no longer an immature infant that lives on rules of "mine" . Please do realize that West flight attendants also contributed to the companies overall profits. Sounds as though you would bring back slavery if you could so long as you have "what's yours".

In 2006 when this vote was held the merger was relatively new. We gave A LOT with our two BK give backs...to the point that I have to fly like a mad person and beg on the ETB to make what I was making back then......let's not even talk about what I was making 5-6 years before that.
Yes, now we are one in unity against mgmt. but back then it wasn't so and I'm sorry if you think I am selfish but if we had not had our LECPs vote that in, my share would be bigger and buddy, I have bills to pay just like you do..

Final note for those reading based in DCA...the present LECP (AB) running for re-election voted for profit sharing to be shared too....just some food for thought.

 

[Travelpro72]

Dont worry about the DCA election as it's in the bag for (AB). The majority of members in DCA apparently like him as he goes uncontested. Have a spine people and rid the office of same old same old. Just as asked in PHL or CLT before, "What has he done for the membership there"? Just askin'

 

[flyus2]

Dont worry about the DCA election as it's in the bag for (AB). The majority of members in DCA apparently like him as he goes uncontested. Have a spine people and rid the office of same old same old. Just as asked in PHL or CLT before, "What has he done for the membership there"? Just askin'

Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about "it's in the bag for AB"...............he has a formidable opponent and the word on the street is the DCA f/as want change as well..............should be an interesting race..............stay tuned.............you might be suprised!!!

 

[Career Reserve]

Ok, I just re-read the MEC E-Line dated 2-6-2006 concerning the transition agreement where the MEC unanimously agreed to share the profit sharing w/ all flt attendants and in doing so secured "mainline rate" for all flight attendants that fly the E 190 where as the pilots have a substantial paycut when flying this a/c.

How many f/a's on the East side fly this a/c on monthly basis, whether once or all month?

If the union didn't agree to this, it would be the Junior f/a's who would be stuck w/ less pay for flying the E 190. Senior mama's would NOT touch it at a lower pay rate.
Remember how sh*t rolls down hill?!?

So depending if you are at the top, bottom or somewhere in between (of the seniority list) you are looking at the shared profit sharing as a blessing or a curse.......

I try to look at the glass half full.

 

[Zarah]

IMO, Parker should have stood up and added the West FAs to the Profit Sharing Plan. By doing so, he would have been a leader. Instead, he let the Union do it, knowing full well that the East FAs would be mad and direct their anger toward their Union and West FA group.

Divide and Concur.

While the FA groups does disagree on some points, Parker and the Union have taken so very long in their negotiation of a concessionary contract that the US Airways FA Group is more united then ever.

We are all US Airways Flight Attendants in 4 bases CLT, DCA, PHX, PHL and we are all chanting E.I.E.I.O.

 

[VAflyGal]

Just curious how you guys feel about LEC officers living in base versus commuting? Do you think one situation provides for a better opportunity to be productive? I wonder how many of us consider all the ins and outs of what each candidate brings to the table for the group at large?

 

[KARL ROVER]

Just curious how you guys feel about LEC officers living in base versus commuting? Do you think one situation provides for a better opportunity to be productive? I wonder how many of us consider all the ins and outs of what each candidate brings to the table for the group at large?

Wow. I see the negative campaigning is in full swing in philly. Now the candidates are coming on this site with their negative campaigning. If the members took notice of our CLT re run election they will see the negative campaigning is what sunk the ship for the incumbent. The members are tired of the rhetoric and negative campaigning. AC never told us what she was going to do differently but only how crazy Cathy was. Apparently the members are looking at what the candidates can actually do. Good luck with the typical philly bashing. Look where it got you the last 3 LEC offices. We listened to what Cathy had to say and not what Ann couldnt do and made our choice. Seems the numbers indicated what the members wanted. It appears as long as the candidate lives in philly they must be the best candidate. Amazing the way you guys think up there. Sounds like the nuts running the assylum once again. Will philly ever change?