- Aug 9, 2005
- 504
- 7
With all the issues facing the flight attendant group our mec at AFA is focused in supervisors seniority and embroiled in a dance of constitutional legality? we have much larger issues to focus on my friends one being reserve and the overall morale of the flight attendants. who is Mike Flores to introduce this agenda item to the mec as his position takes direction from the respective lec presidents not the other way around! afa has turned into nothing more than a circus with not enough rings. Cindi Simone and the company approach mike about something they want yet when we ask for relief it falls on deaf ears. what a disgrace. :angry: :down: :angry:
Agenda Item to change Contract Section 16.G-
Contract Section 16.G, negotiated as part of the 2004 Flight Attendant Agreement, pertains to the seniority rights of Flight Attendants who transfer to non-flying or to supervisory duties. For Flight Attendants who transfer to supervisory duties, full time training instructors or to administrative positions within the InFlight department Section 16.G freezes such Flight Attendants’ seniority for competitive bidding ninety (90) days after the effective date of the transfer. While one could argue the intent and the merits of the language that was implemented as a result of the 2004 agreement one can’t argue the fact the language restricts the ability to retain and attract Flight Attendants in these positions.
As a result, in order not to lose seniority, Flight Attendants in these positions have chosen to return to the line. The current contract severely limits the pool of Flight Attendants applying for these positions. In an effort to retain and attract Flight Attendants in these positions I brought forward an MEC Agenda Item to change the provisions of the contract with respect to seniority for Flight Attendants transferring to non-flying or supervisory duties. As with any Agenda Item, the full MEC weighs the merits of the item through debate.
The MEC concluded the provisions of section 16.G were in fact detrimental to the members. The MEC believes it is important to have as many Flight Attendants as possible in line supervisor, training instructor and InFlight Administration positions. The MEC realized that without a change we would begin to see more non-Flight Attendants filling these positions.
The MEC unanimously passed a resolution to rescind the provisions of section 16.G thus allowing Flight Attendants the ability to continue to accrue seniority for the duration of the time spent in non-flying or supervisory positions. The resolution requires that each Flight Attendant in a non-flying or supervisory position fly one trip per quarter, at their seniority, in order to continue to accrue seniority. The resolution also provided for the ability to make the policy retroactive to January 10, 2005 (date of signing of the 2004 Flight Attendant Agreement. In order for the resolution to become fact a Letter of Agreement must be drafted and signed by the Company and the Union.
Any Letter of Agreement must also be signed by the AFA International President. Upon consultation with AFA International President, Pat Friend, it became clear the retroactive clause of the resolution was a violation of the AFA Constitution and Bylaws. On its’ face the resolution would restore lost seniority to those that have returned to the line and also not adjust the seniority of those Flight Attendants who are currently serving in non-flying positions. Both circumstances are in conflict with the AFA C&B and therefore the retroactive clause of the resolution must be removed from consideration. While member ratification of a side letter that alters seniority is possible, the resolution, as proposed, violates the merger policy of the AFA C&B (Section X). Section X mandates that once a merged seniority list is compiled and certified, such list can’t be altered.
Therefore, the adjusted seniority date for those Flight Attendants who served in non-flying or supervisory positions will have to remain as adjusted. Furthermore, any Flight Attendant currently serving in a non-flying or supervisory position will have her/his seniority adjusted in accordance with the provisions of 16.G until the date a Letter of Agreement between the Company and the Union is signed by both parties.
A Letter of Agreement has been drafted and sent to the Company for their review. The letter requires the following for those Flight Attendants serving in non-flying or supervisory duties who wish to continue to accrue seniority upon the signing date:
A Flight Attendant must fly one trip per quarter.
Such trip must be picked up at the seniority of the Flight Attendant and not "bought", as is the case in the Co-Fly program.
If the status of a Flight Attendant is that of a Reserve, such Flight Attendant will be processed in LTO order and may be awarded or assigned a trip or OPR duty.
Absent mitigating circumstances, such as sick, injury, unfit for duty, leaves of absence, etc, a Flight Attendant who fails to fly the one trip per quarter requirement will forfeit the right to accrue seniority.
A Flight Attendant must notify the Company and the Union within 30 days of the date of the Letter of Agreement her/his willingness to comply with the provisions of the letter.
Nothing in the Letter of Agreement will allow a Flight Attendant to fly more than one trip per quarter unless as part of the Co-Fly program.
A Flight Attendant currently performing non-flying or supervisory duties will have her/his seniority adjusted in accordance with the provision of section 16.G up until the date of signing of the Letter of Agreement.
Once the Company reviews the letter, the MEC will review any changes the Company may want in the letter and will have the final say in whether the Union enters into an agreement with the Company. If such an agreement is reached, the complete and final copy of the Letter of Agreement will be posted your review.
Negotiations Update-
A closed session was held to update the members of the MEC on the status of the single agreement negotiations. A separate update for the members will be provided next week.
Mike Flores MEC President
Agenda Item to change Contract Section 16.G-
Contract Section 16.G, negotiated as part of the 2004 Flight Attendant Agreement, pertains to the seniority rights of Flight Attendants who transfer to non-flying or to supervisory duties. For Flight Attendants who transfer to supervisory duties, full time training instructors or to administrative positions within the InFlight department Section 16.G freezes such Flight Attendants’ seniority for competitive bidding ninety (90) days after the effective date of the transfer. While one could argue the intent and the merits of the language that was implemented as a result of the 2004 agreement one can’t argue the fact the language restricts the ability to retain and attract Flight Attendants in these positions.
As a result, in order not to lose seniority, Flight Attendants in these positions have chosen to return to the line. The current contract severely limits the pool of Flight Attendants applying for these positions. In an effort to retain and attract Flight Attendants in these positions I brought forward an MEC Agenda Item to change the provisions of the contract with respect to seniority for Flight Attendants transferring to non-flying or supervisory duties. As with any Agenda Item, the full MEC weighs the merits of the item through debate.
The MEC concluded the provisions of section 16.G were in fact detrimental to the members. The MEC believes it is important to have as many Flight Attendants as possible in line supervisor, training instructor and InFlight Administration positions. The MEC realized that without a change we would begin to see more non-Flight Attendants filling these positions.
The MEC unanimously passed a resolution to rescind the provisions of section 16.G thus allowing Flight Attendants the ability to continue to accrue seniority for the duration of the time spent in non-flying or supervisory positions. The resolution requires that each Flight Attendant in a non-flying or supervisory position fly one trip per quarter, at their seniority, in order to continue to accrue seniority. The resolution also provided for the ability to make the policy retroactive to January 10, 2005 (date of signing of the 2004 Flight Attendant Agreement. In order for the resolution to become fact a Letter of Agreement must be drafted and signed by the Company and the Union.
Any Letter of Agreement must also be signed by the AFA International President. Upon consultation with AFA International President, Pat Friend, it became clear the retroactive clause of the resolution was a violation of the AFA Constitution and Bylaws. On its’ face the resolution would restore lost seniority to those that have returned to the line and also not adjust the seniority of those Flight Attendants who are currently serving in non-flying positions. Both circumstances are in conflict with the AFA C&B and therefore the retroactive clause of the resolution must be removed from consideration. While member ratification of a side letter that alters seniority is possible, the resolution, as proposed, violates the merger policy of the AFA C&B (Section X). Section X mandates that once a merged seniority list is compiled and certified, such list can’t be altered.
Therefore, the adjusted seniority date for those Flight Attendants who served in non-flying or supervisory positions will have to remain as adjusted. Furthermore, any Flight Attendant currently serving in a non-flying or supervisory position will have her/his seniority adjusted in accordance with the provisions of 16.G until the date a Letter of Agreement between the Company and the Union is signed by both parties.
A Letter of Agreement has been drafted and sent to the Company for their review. The letter requires the following for those Flight Attendants serving in non-flying or supervisory duties who wish to continue to accrue seniority upon the signing date:
A Flight Attendant must fly one trip per quarter.
Such trip must be picked up at the seniority of the Flight Attendant and not "bought", as is the case in the Co-Fly program.
If the status of a Flight Attendant is that of a Reserve, such Flight Attendant will be processed in LTO order and may be awarded or assigned a trip or OPR duty.
Absent mitigating circumstances, such as sick, injury, unfit for duty, leaves of absence, etc, a Flight Attendant who fails to fly the one trip per quarter requirement will forfeit the right to accrue seniority.
A Flight Attendant must notify the Company and the Union within 30 days of the date of the Letter of Agreement her/his willingness to comply with the provisions of the letter.
Nothing in the Letter of Agreement will allow a Flight Attendant to fly more than one trip per quarter unless as part of the Co-Fly program.
A Flight Attendant currently performing non-flying or supervisory duties will have her/his seniority adjusted in accordance with the provision of section 16.G up until the date of signing of the Letter of Agreement.
Once the Company reviews the letter, the MEC will review any changes the Company may want in the letter and will have the final say in whether the Union enters into an agreement with the Company. If such an agreement is reached, the complete and final copy of the Letter of Agreement will be posted your review.
Negotiations Update-
A closed session was held to update the members of the MEC on the status of the single agreement negotiations. A separate update for the members will be provided next week.
Mike Flores MEC President
