Fa Shortage For The Holidays?

[PITbull]

MMW,

You my friend, are soooo out to lunch on the topic of sick.....

This Sunday sick calls were worst than Xmas Day. Try to the tune of 310.

I don't know where you get you information or are you just guessing to exagerate your point. But, get your facts straight. You know I have the stats.

Morale is at an all time low specifically this holiday. Reserves ARENOT breaking guarantee, therefore the co. has to pay them in guarantee or sick, they can't get both.

Your assumptions are unfounded, and I am done discussing this with you now, otherwise, I will walk away from you with NO respect even on a humanity level.


PS: you also need to know how many mangers were OFF today. I know of 4. And 1 called in sick today. Do they have to get a note from a medical professional? Why is it that they are more trusted than rank and file?


N6,

I agree with all your solutions to assist with this problem except the Meds. U can not supply the meds for the reasons MMW stated. That's why they took the aspirins off the planes even for the customers.

 

[FlyGuyBWI]

With yesterday evenings announcement by the Company that they will furlough 200 active F/A's on January 15th, do you think there will be coverage problems over New Years? 🙄

 

[AtlanticBeach]

Let me try the nearly impossible and bring this topic back on track.

I'm just a lowly customer, but let me weigh in on how this subject affects the people paying the bills. My connection CLT-LGA on 12/26 was cancelled due to lack of crew. A totally full 734. Next three flights were oversold. A 7 hour delay. Six of the eight FA's I spoke with on my four flights this week were flying reserves. They were all great and positive as was the wonderful lady in the CLT Club who figured out how to circumvent this mess for the three of us traveling together.

Seems that there is responsibility to be shared. The FA's for not showing up for their scheduled work. The originating gate agent who might have check busted connections and cancellations for those folks who had checked-in online. The company for lack of appropriate work rules.

I don't know what percentage of FA's called in sick. It really doesn't matter. Just think of the time, extra cost and poor customer perception from this experience. Rather than blame each other and management, consider how any of your actions may result in decreased revenue from the people who will no longer fly US Airways.

 

[Whatnow?]

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.

MMW,

Wow, I cannot believe how much time you are spending on this dying subject! You WILL never understand the FULL problem here. The sick calls have always and will always be there in ANY department at this wonderful company! I bet even yours! Yes, there will be days where it does hinder an operation, always has, always will! The problem isn't the sick calls when you really look at it! It's an availability issue....how many people are actually on duty that are not going into their days off by taking one of those trips! We all need our days off, especially when we (F/A's) are out of town 3-4 days a week like we are! It's almost like playing catch-up on those days off! Doctors' appts, kids, laundry, shopping, A LIFE,etc..,. There have been a LOT of changes the F/A's have made in their work enviroment since 9/11. Not to mention the fact that the position that we once thought was a safe and secure one, isn't anymore! All of this new security is just of "SHOW' for the government and we all know it. I really don't think flying is any safer now, than it was before 9/11. Throw that on top of working for less money, with less F/A's, and horrible productivity, and you now have MORE problems! Not to mention this new "WONDERFUL" reserve system, that has F/A's with up to 30 years struggling to get a paycheck anymore! There is more to this issue than just people not wanting to go to work......they are fed up with these ridiculous changes and constant appeals to give more money back to this dysfunctionally run airline!

 

[PITbull]

Atlantic beach,

The local Pres. of PIT tried to work with managment to provide an incentive for the f/as to make themselves available and pick up a trip starting from the 12/26 until the end of the year. Management was moving along, and then scraped the whole incentive and was willing to risk cancellations and delays vs. giving folks a monetary incentive to fly, even those that were not scheduled to fly. Some added cost , for less risk and in the end, and ensure customer satisfaction with no hassles for them.

Did they do that? NO! They decided to announce a furlough BEFORE New Years. That should really give folks the incentive knowing they are hitting the streets in two weeks.

Everyone needs to take a piece of this to find a solution. Everyone needs to consider the pax interest who chose our airline above another. When folks can't pay their bills, "work ethic" won't buy a cup of coffee in this environment.

What Now,

You know the issues very, very well, Why? Because you are on the "inside".

 

[Whatnow?]

Pitbull,

Yeah....unfortunately been on the inside of this issue for 15 years....struggling to defend a job that I love!

 

[Bear96]

The local Pres. of PIT tried to work with managment to provide an incentive for the f/as to make themselves available and pick up a trip starting from the 12/26 until the end of the year.

How does picking up trips starting on the 26th help coverage on the 24th and 25th?

 

[PITbull]

Neither the co. nor AFA knew there was going to be a significant problem, until it was right in front of them. On 12/25, Scheduling still had over 100 trips not covered for the 26th and "0" reserves available.

 

[TheLarkAscending]

Neither the co. nor AFA knew there was going to be a significant problem, until it was right in front of them. On 12/25, Scheduling still had over 100 trips not covered for the 26th and "0" reserves available.

Sorry about that--was one base stricken more heavily than another or was it system wide?

 

[PITbull]

Over 100 trips in just the Big 3 bases.....that was significant enough. A trip may entail 18 cities depending if it is a 3 or 4 day trip. PHL was the worst shape with uncovered trips.

 

[MarkMyWords]

MMW,

Wow, I cannot believe how much time you are spending on this dying subject! You WILL never understand the FULL problem here. The sick calls have always and will always be there in ANY department at this wonderful company! I bet even yours! Yes, there will be days where it does hinder an operation, always has, always will! The problem isn't the sick calls when you really look at it! It's an availability issue....how many people are actually on duty that are not going into their days off by taking one of those trips! We all need our days off, especially when we (F/A's) are out of town 3-4 days a week like we are! It's almost like playing catch-up on those days off! Doctors' appts, kids, laundry, shopping, A LIFE,etc..,. There have been a LOT of changes the F/A's have made in their work enviroment since 9/11. Not to mention the fact that the position that we once thought was a safe and secure one, isn't anymore! All of this new security is just of "SHOW' for the government and we all know it. I really don't think flying is any safer now, than it was before 9/11. Throw that on top of working for less money, with less F/A's, and horrible productivity, and you now have MORE problems! Not to mention this new "WONDERFUL" reserve system, that has F/A's with up to 30 years struggling to get a paycheck anymore! There is more to this issue than just people not wanting to go to work......they are fed up with these ridiculous changes and constant appeals to give more money back to this dysfunctionally run airline!

Whatnow -

Just a couple of things on this subject and I am done.

1 - The department that I work in had 0, that is ZERO, sick calls over the Christmas Holiday. The neighboring departments that I work with had 0, that is ZERO, sick calls over the Christmas Holiday. And yes, we do work Christmas day - with a full staff.

2 - I full understand crew legality issues and days off. You say that they sick calls will always be there in ANY department....So we are supposed to just roll over accept the sick calls as no big deal? At what point would you say there is a problem and what would you do about it? When we cancel 5% of the flights? 10?50%? With only 20 reserves out of 1800 breaking guarantee (pitbull's numbers), so you still believe there is a crew shortage issue?

Following your logic, becaus the F/A's suffered pay cuts, reduced staffing, changes in security, changes in the reserve system, additional furloughs (unannounced) and possible concessions, it is OK for them to call off cause they deserve the holiday off? Following that logic, what is to stop every department in this company from doing the same thing and bringing the airline to a hault?

 

[PITbull]

MMW,

You probably work in a dept. of 2 you, the boss, and a crony, you kick around.

Unless you tell us the dept you work in, how do we know your info is credible???

Just because you say it???

How many "pink slips" were given in your dept on Monday? Any? Anyone in your dept. take a 38% pay cut two months ago? I'll be curious to see what you present on these boards as part of your "contribution" to the concessions in the form of "work rules" to be more productive and DO MORE WITH LESS. :angry:

 

[MarkMyWords]

I will not entertain you with the full details of the dept I work in, but suffice to say, my dept suffered a staffing level loss of over 65% and we contributed the same when it came to wage reductions, vacation accrual reductions, sick time reductions, holidays reductions and productivity enhancements as any other employee in the company with no stock (as worthless as it may be) to show for it. (As a note, the work level in our department did not decrease by 65% when the employees were let go. The work was redistributed to the remaining employees.

As for how do you know if I am telling the truth, because my word is my honor and I should have proven that to you many times over on this board in the last year.

 

[PITbull]

You and your dept suffered, what we suffered 1 year ago. The difference now, iMO, is we are still suffering reductions and pay cuts with looming future concessions.

Don't want to get into..."my house is bigger than your house" song, but did these events you cite happen in this month?

A work ethic comes in to play for many people when the job you perform offers a "livable and respectable standard of living. One that pays your bills and keeps a roof over your head. That is a job that has value. You may be able to maintain that standard presently along with your co-workers in your dept. even present day.

Many of my co-workers can not maintain that standard. So sacrificing for the"job" diminishes. Its nice to have ideals, when all things are relative, but when expectation turns to disappointment, and the "job" is no longer of value, apathy sets in. Unless the work environment changes, folks either quit if they have some other employment opportunity, or put themselves in a position to be terminated.

It is predicted that MAA will have a very high "turn over" rate. There is no "value" to the job with respect to being able to support yourself without assistance. Case in point.
Again, you can not "will" an attitude change.

 

[MarkMyWords]

It is sad that you think yours is the only department that has suffered and continues to sacrifice. You continue to dodge the real issues and ensue on personal attacks for anyone that challenges the thinking of the Almighty PitBull. You are not the only employee group to suffer cuts and concessions and you will not be the last. It is called shared sacrifice my dear, and we will all pay the price.

The excuses and dribble that you spew forth trying to "justify" YOUR employees calling in sick will never wash with me, and I believe that many people on here have had their eyes opened to what really goes on. Apathy is no excuse for calling in sick.