Christmas sick calls ?

[goingboeing]

To be fair to those who are truly sick, what do they expect when we spend our days shut up in aluminum tubes with every sick person in North America? And, this time of year is the prime time for communicable bugs of all kinds.

The other day we had a young man (18-25 or so) throwing up his lungs, liver, and intestines during flight. His mother said, (and I quote), "Oh, it's nothing to worry about. Just that stomach bug that everyone is catching these days."

When the #4 f/a asked her if she thought it wise or considerate to travel while ill with a communicable disease, the woman replied, "We are NOT going to change our travel plans just because [her son] is sick! I've been looking forward to this trip to Vegas for weeks."

Yeah,I work a B-737 C check line at TUL and you should see how nasty the interiors are when they come in for a check.
Humans are the dirtiest creatures on earth and the aircraft interior is visual proof of that.
We find enough snacks in the seat tracks under the track covers to bag it up for trail mix.You won't believe all the places we find chewing gum in the aircraft and on the seats.Used hyperdermic needles have been found under the seat cushions. Never mind some of the things that are found in the lavatory trash cans.Oh Yeah,did I forget to mention mice droppings throughout the main cabin?
No wonder flight attendants get sick from having to work in an enviornment like this on a daily basis.

 

[AC AA LA FA]

???? PVDs for SFO t/a granted for 12/27.....

go figure..this whole system is just plain broken...

 

[nbmcg01]

???? PVDs for SFO t/a granted for 12/27.....

go figure..this whole system is just plain broken...

Just an FYI..I was extended while PVDs were being given out. Was "given" an additional 4 hours of overtime in settlement.

 

[Bob Owens]

It is my understanding that sick calls were always high among FAs during the holidays.Could be because they did not have Holiday pay.

Well in the 20 years I've been in Aircraft Maintenance the sick calls were usually pretty low on the holidays until they took away Holiday pay.

The fact is that when we took this job we knew we had to work holidays, weekends, shifts etc, however we also knew that we would get shift premiums, holiday pay and a good base wage. We also got more vacation time to partially compensate for the fact that we worked 10 more days a year than the average worker.If you want to pay crap wages and give nothing extra for holidays then you should expect this from your employees.

The BS about putting an extra burden on your fellow workers is an ineffective attempt to try and guilt workers into dragging themselves in, the fact is the company has succeeded in busting the unions and with it any team spirit that went along with unionism.

When the company rammed the concessions down our throats they didnt just take what they needed, they deliberately sought to humiliate us. They took more than what was needed out of spite. The act of having us surrender five sets of uniforms is one obvious example. Remenisant of the practice whereby the victor in a war would have the losers surrender their arms. They literally took the clothes off our backs-an act that didnt save the company one penny but was done out of pure spite, with the intention of humiliating us, then they have the nerve to complain about the lack of dedication that the desertion of "duty" that occurs on holidays displays.

Spout out all you like about committment and responsiblity, but we all remember that this is coming from a company that threatened to go Bankrupt rather than live up to its obligations to us. Its quite hypocritical for the company officials who are off the holidays to complain, why not just shut down on the holidays like most other places?

 

[FA Mikey]

The FA's had few years of holiday pay and different incentives. It didn't make a dent.

It has little to do with the concessions. They just use that to justify there complete laziness, on a day to day basis.

Some FA's simply believe they have the right to stay home, because of small children. They cant afford to miss that. I know so many senior folks who kids grew up celebrating Christmas on Dec 26. Others Sharing the memories on the phone with pictures and 8 mm later.

There is a younger work group out there who believe they are entitled to be GIVEN everything. Who will tell you of a friend at JB with only 4 years who has Christmas off. A friend who works at a bank who also gets every holiday off. Not putting 2 and 2 together, or hoping no one else actually can.

 

[operaations]

The FA's had few years of holiday pay and different incentives. It didn't make a dent.

It has little to do with the concessions. They just use that to justify there complete laziness, on a day to day basis.

Some FA's simply believe they have the right to stay home, because of small children. They cant afford to miss that. I know so many senior folks who kids grew up celebrating Christmas on Dec 26. Others Sharing the memories on the phone with pictures and 8 mm later.

There is a younger work group out there who believe they are entitled to be GIVEN everything. Who will tell you of a friend at JB with only 4 years who has Christmas off. A friend who works at a bank who also gets every holiday off. Not putting 2 and 2 together, or hoping no one else actually can.

well put Jim. But we really just need to stop talking about holiday sick calls. they are high like always and you the Flight Attendant on the line that are getting re assigned are dealing with it. Every year we get better at covering trips so they dont cancel. It will never end so we all deal with it. Happy Holidays Jim hope you have a great 2006

 

[Garfield1966]

It is my understanding that sick calls were always high among FAs during the holidays.Could be because they did not have Holiday pay.

No.

The FA's had few years of holiday pay and different incentives. It didn't make a dent.

It has little to do with the concessions. They just use that to justify there complete laziness, on a day to day basis.

Some FA's simply believe they have the right to stay home, because of small children. They cant afford to miss that. I know so many senior folks who kids grew up celebrating Christmas on Dec 26. Others Sharing the memories on the phone with pictures and 8 mm later.

There is a younger work group out there who believe they are entitled to be GIVEN everything. Who will tell you of a friend at JB with only 4 years who has Christmas off. A friend who works at a bank who also gets every holiday off. Not putting 2 and 2 together, or hoping no one else actually can.

What he said.

 

[kirkpatrick]

Here at Home Depot I had xmas off, and Thanksgiving as well. Of course, those are the only two days of the year that the store is closed.

I'll still come back to flying. It's a choice I made 34 years ago. If holidays had been of paramount importance, I would have chosen something else.

A comment on sick leave numbers. Yes, there are people who really are sick over holidays. I know, it's happened to me. And there are those who fly while sick because they've used up their sick leave, or are afraid of retribution from the company, etc. But when the sick calls run around 800 on average and suddenly jump to 1500 or 1800 on holidays, let's not try kidding ourselves or anyone else. Of course half the people who called in really aren't sick. And of course those who are flying will pay the penalty by being extended, etc. It happened to me in STL the last xmas I flew.

There doesn't seem to be anything we can do to remedy this. Ranting on the boards is like preaching to the choir; the people who need it don't hear it. All we can do is accept it.

MK

 

[operaations]

Exactly. Just the other day I helped a flight attendant with a trip trade. For Example drop his wifes trip onto his line because he didnt have access to a computer. 4 hours later he called in sick for that trip i put on his schedule. (25 december 2 day). I looked at his sick bank. He had sick time built up his wife didnt. Now someone else had to fly a trip he should have flown and When I sent a message to his and her supv they replied with, we have no proof no matter how it looks.

Sad Sad Sad

 

[Skymess]

It is my understanding that sick calls were always high among FAs during the holidays.Could be because they did not have Holiday pay.

Well in the 20 years I've been in Aircraft Maintenance the sick calls were usually pretty low on the holidays until they took away Holiday pay.

The fact is that when we took this job we knew we had to work holidays, weekends, shifts etc, however we also knew that we would get shift premiums, holiday pay and a good base wage. We also got more vacation time to partially compensate for the fact that we worked 10 more days a year than the average worker.If you want to pay crap wages and give nothing extra for holidays then you should expect this from your employees.

The BS about putting an extra burden on your fellow workers is an ineffective attempt to try and guilt workers into dragging themselves in, the fact is the company has succeeded in busting the unions and with it any team spirit that went along with unionism.

When the company rammed the concessions down our throats they didnt just take what they needed, they deliberately sought to humiliate us. They took more than what was needed out of spite. The act of having us surrender five sets of uniforms is one obvious example. Remenisant of the practice whereby the victor in a war would have the losers surrender their arms. They literally took the clothes off our backs-an act that didnt save the company one penny but was done out of pure spite, with the intention of humiliating us, then they have the nerve to complain about the lack of dedication that the desertion of "duty" that occurs on holidays displays.

Spout out all you like about committment and responsiblity, but we all remember that this is coming from a company that threatened to go Bankrupt rather than live up to its obligations to us. Its quite hypocritical for the company officials who are off the holidays to complain, why not just shut down on the holidays like most other places?

I agree Bob. I don't think it is pure laziness making those sick calls jump. I think it is the fact that people have finally had enough BS on their plate and realize that the company doesn't give a crud about them so they don't think they need to ruin their holiday to show up, especially when there's not a manager to be found working on a holiday.

What's good for the geese should be good for the ganders.

 

[FA Mikey]

Perhaps those Ganders should take some personal responsibility and live up to their word. Fly the line they bid and their seniority dictated.

When has the flight service staff ever been in on a holiday? Nothing new, happens every weekend as well.

There are openings all the time, maybe some of the ganders should apply. But unlikely many ganders would get a chance based on there work habits, and ethics.

laziness and selfishness are two good words to describe those people.

 

[Bob Owens]

Perhaps those Ganders should take some personal responsibility and live up to their word. Fly the line they bid and their seniority dictated.

When has the flight service staff ever been in on a holiday? Nothing new, happens every weekend as well.

There are openings all the time, maybe some of the ganders should apply. But unlikely many ganders would get a chance based on there work habits, and ethics.

laziness and selfishness are two good words to describe those people.

Live up to their word? Like the company did/does?

Seems to me they are.

 

[FA Mikey]

If they bid a line that worked chrismas and didnt work it. They showed there true selfishness. For Christmas they made someone else work, while they stayed home.

Flight service management didnt work christmas, or the weekend. Then again they were not scheduled to.

 

[Bob Owens]

If they bid a line that worked chrismas and didnt work it. They showed there true selfishness. For Christmas they made someone else work, while they stayed home.

Flight service management didnt work christmas, or the weekend. Then again they were not scheduled to.

So what do you call it when you sign a contract then lie cheat and steal to get out of it? Is the act of not showing up for one shift out of hundreds any more of a selfish act than what the executives of the company did to their employees?

 

[FA Mikey]

To answer your question Bob, is it worse than what AA did to us? Yea much worse. What we call it is "screwing your own."

Is that the best way to get back at AA? Screw over the people in your work group? Do you really believe that ANY sick call was to get back at AA?

Every single one that was not legit, was a screw job to there fellow workers. I am not senior enough to hold it off, so I am just taking it off.