Fa Shortage For The Holidays?

[BillLumbergh]

Let me step in here. The name calling, ID scanning, condescending comments, etc., etc., must cease in this thread.

As to the salary/benefits issue, that's kind of a touchstone of an airline message boards where employees post. So, as far as I'm concerned, the general discussion of pay/benefits is fair game.

 

[cavalier]

MODERATOR: It's time to close this thread. It's offensive to many of us to have our pay and benefits dragged through the airline forums. It's just a thread going nowhere fast and has become a thread to vent frustrations...my own include.

I agree especially since we have self-righteous crusaders on here pointing out the merits and woes of not submitting 100% to a management that believes in the term tyranny and zero tolerance and where the human factor gets in their way. The sole purpose of this management team is to becomes millionaires at any cost totally disregarding the human factor. We are hearing lectures from non employees like a preacher ministers to a child. End this threat and this holier then thou crowd with it.

 

[The Truth]

Pitbull said: THEY GET SICK PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FROM TIME TO TIME IN A CAREER.

The Truth says: It is amazing that a large number F/As are sick during the Christmas Holidays, especially on the 25th.

It is sad that we even have to discuss this issue in a public forum. Pitbull is the first one to avoid the truth when facts are presented that do not support her crusade. Pineybob should be thanked for his ability to debate certain issues.

Each employee group will have to step up to the plate again once the plan is announced. Especially the two LEC presidents that are planning to picket in a few weeks. They both need to end their self promotion agendas and get in the Real World.

 

[cavalier]

Pitbull said: THEY GET SICK PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FROM TIME TO TIME IN A CAREER.

The Truth says: It is amazing that a large number F/As are sick during the Christmas Holidays, especially on the 25th.

It is sad that we even have to discuss this issue in a public forum. Pitbull is the first one to avoid the truth when facts are presented that do not support her crusade. Pineybob should be thanked for his ability to debate certain issues.

Each employee group will have to step up to the plate again once the plan is announced. Especially the two LEC presidents that are planning to picket in a few weeks. They both need to end their self promotion agendas and get in the Real World.

Truth you are dreaming if you actually believe we as employees we just as you say, step up to the plate. It's also amazing people like you still believe in this pathetic management team. What incentive does anyone have to even show up at work with the way this management team is running over the employees with their scorched earth policies. I will step up to the plate only when the plate is cleaned free of this management team. Until then I say...go F/A’s and keep up the good work.

 

[PITbull]

Pitbull said: THEY GET SICK PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FROM TIME TO TIME IN A CAREER.

The Truth says: It is amazing that a large number F/As are sick during the Christmas Holidays, especially on the 25th.

It is sad that we even have to discuss this issue in a public forum. Pitbull is the first one to avoid the truth when facts are presented that do not support her crusade. Pineybob should be thanked for his ability to debate certain issues.

Each employee group will have to step up to the plate again once the plan is announced. Especially the two LEC presidents that are planning to picket in a few weeks. They both need to end their self promotion agendas and get in the Real World.

Well, well, mangement is on the "prowl" AGAIN just perusing the boards instead of looking for solutions.

Auhhh, you nervous that the AFA bases will picket again????

 

[ITRADE]

Well, well, mangement is on the "prowl" AGAIN just perusing the boards instead of looking for solutions.

Amazing how anybody who does not kiss Pitbull's sceptre is necessarily management.

No wonder why there must be so many managers.

 

[PITbull]

Amazing how anybody who does not kiss Pitbull's sceptre is necessarily management.

No wonder why there must be so many managers.

ITRADE,

Haven't you been suspended off these boards, yet?????

Pickets have not been announced, accept through the PMs to management. Hey, go figure.....

Oh, and I found out today that there are some MANAGERS out sick today....nahh their just faking.....I wonder if they have to bring in a Doctor's note. Nah, only f/as are liars and thieves......

 

[ITRADE]

Haven't you been suspended off these boards, yet?????

Now why would a silly thing like that happen?

 

[PITbull]

Think REAL hard, a few posts ago??? Got deleted.

 

[cavalier]

Amazing how anybody who does not kiss Pitbull's sceptre is necessarily management.

No wonder why there must be so many managers.

So you're saying this is pit?

 

[ITRADE]

Amazing how anybody who does not kiss Pitbull's sceptre is necessarily management.

No wonder why there must be so many managers.

So you're saying this is pit?

Naw, I know what Pitbull looks like. That ain't PitBull.

 

[Hula Girl]

When I read the posts on this forum. I get the feeling that 'someone' has created alter egos to argue with and/or get praise from. Just a feeling... (check a few pages back. It is almost hysterical if it weren't so sad.)

 

[MarkMyWords]

Oy! I need to get a job like PitBull so I can keep up with discussions like this. I hate coming back to a discussion 3 pages later.

USeYourHead - I agree that the entitlement issue cuts across all departments and employee groups. The issue of sick abuse is not just an issue with F/A's. The thread topic though was to discuss F/A shortages and the discussion drifted into the issue of sick calls.

Cav - I realize that you have an issue with management "stuffing" their pockets with cash at the expenseof employees, but aren't employee sick abuses doing the same thing? Some employees feel that it is OK to "Dail-for-Dollars" for any given reason. THEY ARE STEALING FROM THE COMPANY TOO! I am no fan of executive compensation packages either, but I also know that there are employees stealing from the company too.

FirstAmendment - It is your attitude and abuse of your sick time that has brought upon you the policies that are nowbeing enforced. When you are called on the carpet and being slapped around by a manager, don't come crying on here about getting your job back. The two things that I will give you are that there does need to be an incentive program for attendance and it wouldn't break the bank to put hand santitizer in the galleys. There is no way the company could provide any type of medication on an aircraft for crews to take - you would be setting yourself up for a lawsuit if someone took something and had a reaction. They have not closed a crew base in quite a while. If you wanted Holiday pay, then you should have negotiated for it in your contract.

PitBull - I am not saying that the NSA is no big deal. It is meant to heighten your awareness of things around you and deal with a potential threat. But you trying to use that to justify a boost in sick calls over the holiday is BS. With every up and down in the NSA there has not been a significant jump in sick call numbers. It was purely a matter of people not wanting to come to work on the holiday. Has crew staffing been an issue since the morning of the 26th? Have we canceled any fights due to crew shortages since the 26th? Have sick call number dropped from their peak on the 25th? Guaranteed, by Jan 2nd or 3rd, sick calls will return to normal. You also made this comment, "I believe Molly is just like me...NO LIFE AND MARRIED TO THE DAMN JOB." Let me ask then.....since when is it OK to allow having a life interfere with HAVING A JOB? See there are those of us that have learned to balance having a job and having a life and realize that there are somethings in life that you will miss out on because you have a job. Since when is it alright to call in sick to go to a party or social event?

PitBull, you and I will never see eye to eye on this issue and I will continue to take you to task for trying to defend the indefenseable. Yes, I realize that are differences in different ailments and one work groups ability to come to work versus another. I fully understand and respect that. I don't have any respect for abuses and the whinning about the policies that are put in place to address the problem. If you don't like the policies then help to constructively push for positive changes.


Bear - I appreciate all that you have said about the job you do and the germ contacts. Every job has their "drawbacks" so to speak. Ramp Agents, Mechanics and Utility working in the elements - running in and out, etc. Gate and Ticket agents having face to face contact and having to handle tickets after someone sneezes or coughs and then uses the same hand to hand you their ticket. Offices like Res, CCY and RIDC with their poor ventilation and close quarters...sharing phones and keyboards, etc. Granted I would not want to be grabbing snot rags and diappers, but there is enough exposure to go around. I didn't take your comments as a complaint, I thought it was more of a picture of reality.

Moderator Bill - Ummmm, yeah......were going to need you to work on Saturday, say around 10am. Could you bring that swingline stapler too.

Lastly - FirstAmendment must be an AFA Union Representatvie....a topic like this brings out all those lurking Union Reps! 😀 😀

 

[N628AU]

Go ahead and take the moral high ground. I don't blame anyone who burns their sick bank before retirement. When there is an end to new CEO teams coming in and then leaving every few years with their pockets bursting which has been going on for years, then and only then will I agree with this self-righteous statement. Funny. A friend of mine who retired from the government had 5 years sick time on the books and was given it in total upon retirement, yet we here at U don’t own it! I guess it’s a gift then. Did we received this GIFT through negotiations without having to give anything up? Yep kill yourself, never take a sick day even when you’re sick, and guess what. They will still cut your pay and bennies and will even furlough you. But that’s ok, you took the moral high ground and your unemployed checks will last longer because you did the right thing.

Cav,

Using a government entity as a model of business efficiency is laughable. With all the problems US has, at least they know when they can't balance their books, they must either find a way to or go under. Only the government can get away otherwise. Subtract your net from your gross, and tell me you are happy with your friend getting cashed out five years sick time. You and I paid for that!

 

[N628AU]

Pojnt by Point:

If the company wants to really stop abuse, I recommend the following:

1. Sick time payout at retirement or letter of intent from retiring f/a that they are using time up until retirement date

This company has no money, and this would be a huge expense that it can ill afford. I have only seen government entities do this, and we all know how they are with money, they can always go tax the public to get more. We have a limit to what we can get from the public, if we go over that, they go to the competition.

2. Holiday pay that covers the ENTIRE trip that touches Christmas day and pay at double time.

Working holidays come with the territory, and everyone knew that when they signed on. What if you got the company to agree to give everyone one holiday off of their choosing (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years), and awarded it on seniority, allowing as many as operationally possible off that day. Everyone is guaranteed at least one of the days off. Paying an entire trip double time when you may have a 4 day with only one being a holiday is cost prohibitive. Again, money does not grow on trees.

3. Provide soap in the galleys to encourage more frequent handwashing...I should not have to bring my own soap just because the company only has soap in the bathroom. Sometimes it is hard to get in there when the flight is full.

Absolutely. Very little expense, and with F/As handling food, handwashing important to the health of our customers as well. The only question is, do the galleys have sinks with hot water to make handwashing feasbile. I haven't spent a lot of time in them, so I don't know.

4. Stop closing bases, causing more and more f/a's to commute.

Make it cost neutral, no problem. I think it could save money if done right, by eliminating some overnighting in hotels, which are skanky places for the most part anyway. Ever see someone take a black light to a hotel room? Yuck. The only question here is do you incur more costs by deadheading crews and paying them that D/H time, which is non-productive. It would be interesting to see AFA/ALPA put out a cost analysis of what is spent on hotel rooms, per diem and such that could be saved. Eliminate the freaking managers and supervisors in every base. That can probably be done regionally so you don't incur that base expense. Have a management team cover a region, and put them on the road if they need to go see people. No big deal, the airfare is free.

As for the F/As commuting, if you don't live in your base, it is your responsibility to get to work somehow. That goes for any employee. I could have taken PIT or PHL when I was displaced in CLT, I did not feel like moving or commuting, so I took the furlough. My choice. My good friend AOG took the move. His choice. Just because I live in PHX and really like it, does not entitle me to call in sick because I don't feel like flying to PIT a day early, or the flights are full and I cannot make it. Again, getting displaced sucks, but it comes with the job.

5. Provide preventive meds on the aircraft for the crew to take in case there is exposer to cold or flu on that enclosed tube.

Can you find a preventative med for the cold or flu? Flu shots are not perfect, and there is no cure for the cold. Wash your hands frequently, keep your hands away from your face. and hope for the best