AFA labor discussion (Work related)

[Americawestie]

"I agree... it was great watching that.... too bad they all did not go...
what was up with them? "

We cleared the room, except for management. The ones that were left were pilots that came before their Crew News and the FA's that were there for training and told they had to go back. I guess Dougie thought they needed "seat fillers".

 

[Travelpro72]

They were not part of the union theatrical company. If you look at past crew news sessions the room was never packed like it was for this staged event. It was rather comical.
[/quote]

You won't usually find that many flight attendants at the crew news sessions as they have turned into BS sessions. A flight attendant at any given crew news session could ask the most important question only to hear someone from management answer them with some crackass answer OR be answered with a smart attitude. They will sit there and right to your face insist that a square is a circle and a triangle is a rectangle. Doug and his nervous laughter can put on whatever front he likes, same goes for Kirby at the CLT session but they need to know this.....THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS OF USAIRWAYS not east and west but USAIRWAYS ARE THROUGH WITH THEIR ANTICS AND WILL DRIVE THIS AIRLINE INTO THE GROUND BEFORE WE EVER, EVER, EVER WORK UNDER THEIR CONDITIONS POSED. We will gain what is rightfully ours if it takes every ounce of energy in our bodies. The games are over and we're cleaning house within our union and certainly standing firm with management. Nighty nite. 😀

 

[galley princess]

See, this is where I get absolutely enraged.

WHERE the hell is our AFA legal when USair makes us work for free?

That form that apparently can be printed out and filled out on the a/c is resulting in f/as being contacted by inflight and ordered to do it online anyway. Then, said f/a puts in a claim for that time and the claim is denied.

In recurrent training, you're talking about a 16 hour duty day. Then they come to you and--if anyone has had this happen, please advise, but my understanding is that your instructors basically escort you to the Koolaid session. Guess what? That's not a break, that's duty time. I don't care if they buy lunch. So that means that you have a 16 hour duty day with NO BREAK. I KNOW that's illegal in Pennsylvania, North Carolina?

There ARE labor laws in this country. One of them is the right not to work for free. I would really like to know how US gets away with this, and wonder if there's a class action in here somewhere?

 

[Onestep2flt]

See, this is where I get absolutely enraged.

WHERE the hell is our AFA legal when USair makes us work for free?

That form that apparently can be printed out and filled out on the a/c is resulting in f/as being contacted by inflight and ordered to do it online anyway. Then, said f/a puts in a claim for that time and the claim is denied.

In recurrent training, you're talking about a 16 hour duty day. Then they come to you and--if anyone has had this happen, please advise, but my understanding is that your instructors basically escort you to the Koolaid session. Guess what? That's not a break, that's duty time. I don't care if they buy lunch. So that means that you have a 16 hour duty day with NO BREAK. I KNOW that's illegal in Pennsylvania, North Carolina?

There ARE labor laws in this country. One of them is the right not to work for free. I would really like to know how US gets away with this, and wonder if there's a class action in here somewhere?

I certainly agree you should not be forced into being an extra on the cast of "Who wants to run an airline"? However, I believe they can probably call it part of your training session for which you have already agreed to the pay in your contract. A couple of those sessions that have been shown to me included some of the evil villains of the whole dog and pony show like Mr. Flores. He might be a good one to ask about this sort of thing. It is pretty clear that none of the regulars are professionals though. Guess maybe they are not members of the screen actors gild!

 

[Harry Callahan]

Deleted by me

 

[crazylikefox]

I certainly agree you should not be forced into being an extra on the cast of "Who wants to run an airline"? However, I believe they can probably call it part of your training session for which you have already agreed to the pay in your contract. A couple of those sessions that have been shown to me included some of the evil villains of the whole dog and pony show like Mr. Flores. He might be a good one to ask about this sort of thing. It is pretty clear that none of the regulars are professionals though. Guess maybe they are not members of the screen actors gild!

Actually, your lunch "hour" (30 mins.) is NOT considered part of the time they pay you for. It is a required break by law. One reason they can't let you "work through" in order to get out of RT early. That stopped some time back.
I have never been summoned to a Dougie meeeting but I know others have.
You're right, if this is being mandated then where's the MEC, LEC etc. about lunch rights being violated?

 

[crazylikefox]

Travel,

The way I've been vilified about this from the "Cathy Posse" makes me think that not only is this true but they think it's okay.

Well, guess what...it's not.

Cathy has a responsibility to represent everyone....not just the skinny girls. I could no more have someone taken off their trip over this than sprout wings and fly to Egypt. But hey, that's just me. Dear lord, whoever that was....probably walked off in tears. How awful.

It takes one cold so and so to have a f/a removed from their trip....deny them income...over a perceived safety issue. And believe me...that's all it is. There's not one shred of evidence that wearing an extension is unsafe. Even the company own's up to that. But they pushed it anyway.

Those extensions are made by the same company that makes our regular seat belts. They are made with the same high quality materials and they are rated to hold 3000 LPs. Yep, 3000 pounds. The very same as our regular seat belts. It's stamped on them. Go take a look.

There is also a huge double standard going on here too. Do you ever see this issue with the pilots? Why is that? You and I both know we have fellows out there that are as big as bulls. How do they wear their seat belt/harnesses? Because their's have lots of room. Their seat belt/harnesses will pull out to the dash board. Not ours. We're lucky if ours pullout at all.

Now I'm not saying if you need to use one you might need to go on a diet but I wouldn't deny a person employment or income. And that's what the company is doing. If the company feels that strongly about it, they should have a weight loss program in place and disability insurance to cover lost wages.

Just my opinion.

We received a CBS regarding a grievance that was settled and the result was that according to the FAR (not a perceived opinion) a F/A could not use an extension on the j/s and they that would be deemed "not fit to fly" (I believe that's the actual language they used) and removed if they did so. If this was not correct then Barrington should have said so in his letter to the membership regarding the company's CBS. He did not, he reiterated the same language.
It has nothing to do with the extensions being "strong enough" only that the basic design of the J/S does not accommodate them. We all know that you can't alter the function of even a seatback tray once the FAA has certifed its use on an a/c.
As to denying a F/A income, what about the F/A that would take a fine for knowingly allowing someone to use an extension? Remeber, now that we are all "card carrying" certified safety professionals, we are responsible for everything. Staying silent only gets you a personal fine if FAA is watching.
And our harnesses are long enough. You virtually trip over them everytime you walk near the J/S. They hang down to the floor on most a/c. On the newer a/c they can pull out pretty far as well.

 

[I Was... Now US]

We received a CBS regarding a grievance that was settled and the result was that according to the FAR (not a perceived opinion) a F/A could not use an extension on the j/s and they that would be deemed "not fit to fly" (I believe that's the actual language they used) and removed if they did so. If this was not correct then Barrington should have said so in his letter to the membership regarding the company's CBS. He did not, he reiterated the same language.
It has nothing to do with the extensions being "strong enough" only that the basic design of the J/S does not accommodate them. We all know that you can't alter the function of even a seatback tray once the FAA has certifed its use on an a/c.
As to denying a F/A income, what about the F/A that would take a fine for knowingly allowing someone to use an extension? Remeber, now that we are all "card carrying" certified safety professionals, we are responsible for everything. Staying silent only gets you a personal fine if FAA is watching.
And our harnesses are long enough. You virtually trip over them everytime you walk near the J/S. They hang down to the floor on most a/c. On the newer a/c they can pull out pretty far as well.

I just worked on 2 separate Airbus aircraft that had a different style buckle that would not accomodate a seatbelt extension. I am wondering if they are being replaced so that an extension cannot be used?

 

[airportman]

You know for a fact she was sick? To my understanding she was meeting with Flores and others to bring her up to speed on the state of the MEC. Second, it would be inappropriate for her not to have been there as the CLT President Elect. I am willing to say she was out on AFA business. Grow up people.

NO She was out on a sick call..........and it was in Catcrew for a brief moment. AND I KNOW WHO GOT THE TRIP. So she was SICK this is the kind of person she is. NO AFA< Just a mis guided sense of PURPOSE.


AND NO IM NOT FOR ANN OR MIKE........I JUST WANT AN HONEST AFA LOCAL PRESIDENT.

 

[crazylikefox]

NO She was out on a sick call..........and it was in Catcrew for a brief moment. AND I KNOW WHO GOT THE TRIP. So she was SICK this is the kind of person she is. NO AFA< Just a mis guided sense of PURPOSE.


AND NO IM NOT FOR ANN OR MIKE........I JUST WANT AN HONEST AFA LOCAL PRESIDENT.

Newsflash, nothing shows up in catcrew (I presume you're referring to the AIL?) for anyone calling in sick. The ONLY place that would show is on their individual screen or an inflight supervisor's screen. It's not displayed for public knowledge...not even for a brief moment. Not even for reserves, simply says unavailable for them. Hmmmm.
Besides, do you think for one millesecond that I believe you just happened to be on her name for that supposedly brief moment? Or that you just happen to know the exact person who got that trip?
Read my lips, get over it. You know nothing, your argument is as flimsy as a wet piece of toilet paper, and you are completely unbelievable in rational debate.

 

[700UW]

NO She was out on a sick call..........and it was in Catcrew for a brief moment. AND I KNOW WHO GOT THE TRIP. So she was SICK this is the kind of person she is. NO AFA< Just a mis guided sense of PURPOSE.


AND NO IM NOT FOR ANN OR MIKE........I JUST WANT AN HONEST AFA LOCAL PRESIDENT.

You know a pilot got fired for posting Catcrew information on this board, its not for public use.

 

[missthe727]

I have to agree with you there. I understand why it becomes a talking point because this person is the new union leader in Charlotte. However, whoever started this newsflash would have to have access to someones files to know. As I understand it per your MEC president that information like this is no longer viewable in the company computer system. I was told if there are remarks it will only say something like not available. I would think that could mean a whole host of things including as suggested union business.

I think some of you are just so used to unethical practices with your union leadership you just automatically assume this must be the case here. I don't know. I think in this case I would be wondering why some of your union leaders were not at any of the rallies like Travelpro pointed out. I am sure a lot of people that would have liked to show up had to work. However, I would certainly think that union folks have a legitimate reason to be off for union business that day. Was Miss Austin there or was she busy flying a trip? I don't know the answer so my curiosity is as high as the next person.

You've got to be kidding right ? It's so easy to find someone via CATCREW. When they magically disappear off their trip, you see a RSV or someone else who was riding the bid sheet is now in their place. Remember a few years back in PHL when people were tracking JMs every move and complaining he wasn't in his office the 21 days a month because he was flying?? If Cathy was on a trip one minute and gone the next, she either called in sick or took a PER day. The computer doesn't lie.

 

[missthe727]

Travel,

The way I've been vilified about this from the "Cathy Posse" makes me think that not only is this true but they think it's okay.

Well, guess what...it's not.

Cathy has a responsibility to represent everyone....not just the skinny girls. I could no more have someone taken off their trip over this than sprout wings and fly to Egypt. But hey, that's just me. Dear lord, whoever that was....probably walked off in tears. How awful.

It takes one cold so and so to have a f/a removed from their trip....deny them income...over a perceived safety issue. And believe me...that's all it is. There's not one shred of evidence that wearing an extension is unsafe. Even the company own's up to that. But they pushed it anyway.

Those extensions are made by the same company that makes our regular seat belts. They are made with the same high quality materials and they are rated to hold 3000 LPs. Yep, 3000 pounds. The very same as our regular seat belts. It's stamped on them. Go take a look.

There is also a huge double standard going on here too. Do you ever see this issue with the pilots? Why is that? You and I both know we have fellows out there that are as big as bulls. How do they wear their seat belt/harnesses? Because their's have lots of room. Their seat belt/harnesses will pull out to the dash board. Not ours. We're lucky if ours pullout at all.

Now I'm not saying if you need to use one you might need to go on a diet but I wouldn't deny a person employment or income. And that's what the company is doing. If the company feels that strongly about it, they should have a weight loss program in place and disability insurance to cover lost wages.

Just my opinion.

If someone is too large to sit on the jumpseat and needs an extension and I am sitting with them unable to properly sit in my brace position because of their girth then yes, they DO need to be taken off the trip because they are NOT safe and are jeopardizing my safety and the safety of the passengers. period..

 

[airportman]

Newsflash, nothing shows up in catcrew (I presume you're referring to the AIL?) for anyone calling in sick. The ONLY place that would show is on their individual screen or an inflight supervisor's screen. It's not displayed for public knowledge...not even for a brief moment. Not even for reserves, simply says unavailable for them. Hmmmm.
Besides, do you think for one millesecond that I believe you just happened to be on her name for that supposedly brief moment? Or that you just happen to know the exact person who got that trip?
Read my lips, get over it. You know nothing, your argument is as flimsy as a wet piece of toilet paper, and you are completely unbelievable in rational debate.

You have never really used catcre have you, you dont need to be in a supervisors screen to see what is happening you just need to know what screen to find what. Call Cathy and ask her.........She Called in sick and was not sick period. It was a stupid mistake and now She WILL pay the piper.

BTW I WILL NOT GET OVER IT I WILL SEE TO IT THAT MY UNION REP IS HELD TO STANDARD, NO LIES.......I AM ENTITLED TO THAT FOR MY MONTHLY DUES

SO IN CLOSING U GET OVER IT

 

[NoMoreKoolAid]

As a clt based f/a I will say she went on the ail for pay purposes & never owned a trip from the get go. From my understanding she called in sick days before with a dr's note. A condition that prevented flight. when asked for a note b/c of you ppl, she provided it within the hour. people get a life and stop being so clt catty (love ur hair hate ur guts). I am new to this base but it's sick and thank God I commute. Get help.