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Fewer Speakers = Fewer Recalls

Please read laurie's post on aaflightservice.com. The purpose of fewer speakers is they can spread us out thinner. It would of been a violation of the contract to have less than 2 speakers per flight. They would of had to recall to keep the terms of the contract. So in order not to recall they changed their formula. Believe me this does not help those on furlough.
DCAI only has Caribbean, but almost evryone of thier Carribean trips has a spanish speaker on it. Whereas I could of held a better schedule or airport (as we also fly out of three), I was bid denied monthly for whatever slot they needed me for. I was also bid denied at JFK in the past for both SP and FR.
Again this will help me with trading, etc...but many junior to me will be back on crappier trips after being denied continuously for the past 8 years. I was looking forward to someday flying EZE as a speaker but now that will only happen ifI stay around 35-45 years. It just isn't going to happen.
 
Art,
I agree with you, I will document. Especially if I am working galley and am expected to drop everything to help with language or announcements. As for break, unless someone is in need of dire help, I hope other f/a's will have the sense not to wake us up. This will certainly affect service, but AA new motto is give them what they want.....
 
AAStew said:
Please read laurie's post on aaflightservice.com. The purpose of fewer speakers is they can spread us out thinner. It would of been a violation of the contract to have less than 2 speakers per flight. They would of had to recall to keep the terms of the contract. So in order not to recall they changed their formula. Believe me this does not help those on furlough.
DCAI only has Caribbean, but almost evryone of thier Carribean trips has a spanish speaker on it. Whereas I could of held a better schedule or airport (as we also fly out of three), I was bid denied monthly for whatever slot they needed me for. I was also bid denied at JFK in the past for both SP and FR.
Again this will help me with trading, etc...but many junior to me will be back on crappier trips after being denied continuously for the past 8 years. I was looking forward to someday flying EZE as a speaker but now that will only happen ifI stay around 35-45 years. It just isn't going to happen.
[post="274856"][/post]​
I did not read any where in Lauries post that says we are reducing the Speakers in order to not recall TWA flight Attendants. If I missed it please copy and paste it for me. I also did not see the part where it said the reduction in speakers is intended to spread you thin. WOW i must lead a pretty bad life walking through it not being able to find what people are saying.
 
L1011Ret said:
Ok, they reduce the numbers of speakers per airplane but that does that reduce the number of F/As per airplane?
[post="274851"][/post]​

No. It just means that fewer of the required positions will have to be filled by a qualified speaker. Say an A/C is usually bid with 9 positions 3 of which are to be filled by a speaker, now only 2 of the 9 need to be qualified by a speaker opening up more options for non-speakers and speakers alike. So if you have a pool of speakers now not eveyone in the pool is needed to fly speaker positions. If a more senior speaker wants to bid off of a speaker line they can do it. On the A300 sometimes the speaker is the 5 (first class galley) and yes sometimes they have to drop what their doing and help with a situation. I have yet to have anyone complain about doing p/a's or helping with a foriegn language pax - I guess its because they get extra pay to be speaker qualified and don't mind doing what they get the extra $$$ for doing.
 
Language Speaker Test Announced

This is Lauri Curtis and it's Wednesday, June 01, 2005.


I'm pleased to share this week that working together with APFA, we've agreed to a six-month test period that will change our speaker requirements on international widebody flights.


I realize that this decision will not be popular with some of you, so let me explain why we are trying this test. First of all, we need to address the fact that we do not have enough language-qualified flight attendants available to cover those flights that require a language speaker. While, there are language-qualified flight attendants on furlough, the provisions of the AA/APFA CBA dictate that we must recall flight attendants in seniority order and cannot hire additional flight attendants until those flight attendants on furlough are brought back. Along the same lines, we want to address the concern that flight attendants have about the increase in the seniority of flight attendants serving reserve. Secondly, from a competitive standpoint, we realize the value of having language speakers for our foreign language customers and do not feel that this test will place us at a competitive disadvantage. Finally, please keep in mind that this is only a test to gain feedback that will help us find a workable solution for these issues. AA and APFA will monitor feedback and statistics during this test to see if it is effective.


Here are some of the highlights of the test:



767 & A300 two-class flights will be staffed with one (1) speaker

777 three-class flights will be staffed with two (2) speakers

On the 777 where there are two language speakers, one will be assigned to a premium cabin - either First or Business- and the other will be assigned to Main Cabin

Otherwise, speakers will no longer be designated by cabin or position and may even hold a galley position

The test will begin July 2, 2005 and run through January 1, 2006


There are a couple of exceptions built into the agreement. First, between Chicago and Nagoya, Japan (NGO), we'll continue to staff one Japanese speaker per cabin for a total of three. In addition, we'll maintain both a Dutch and a French speaker in the Brussels markets for a total of two (2) speakers – the same as today. Zurich will be similar since we'll keep both a German and French speaker aboard those flights.


The Letter of Agreement between APFA and the Company is now posted on the Flight Service website for those of you interested in more detail. I'm very happy that our continued efforts continue to provide more and more flexibility


Regardless of anyone's interpretation of this announcement, you can see by our post's the great divides even within our workgroup. The powers that be in the company must sit back and laugh their asses off! A BIENTOT.
 
It was my understanding that AA could put up to one speaker per cabin, but if they so desired could put zero onboard. They have for the last couple months had only 2 speakers to NRT from ORD and I think JFK as well. They don't need APFA's consent to lower the amount of speakers on a flight.
 
AAStew said:
American and the APFA announced last night that on our language trips, which formerly required 1 speaker per cabin, there would now be one speaker per airplane at any position! This was in order to not recall as they could not recall out of sequence and we are short of language speakers.
This will be very unpopular! After 14 years of being denied for my languages. I can finally use them to my advantage to hold better trips. For those of you who felt this is unfair, remember I was unable to hold or trip trade anything my seniority would of afforded me! NOw the company has come up with this doozy!
If the TWA'rs think there is any chance of getting called back, this proves again the company and the APFA will do anything not to bring you back!
[post="274795"][/post]​
I'm glad that it's helping you, but it's not doing anything, but disadvantage for some of us more junior speakers. Now, starting July, we will have to fly LAX-SAL or Hawaii all nighters instead of LAX-NRT. Maybe, I will become fluent in Spanish by flying LAX-SAL, cuz those Salvadorians don't speak English!!!!!
 
Guess AA let too many speakers resign.


Bid denials happen when a person does not bid and hold something there quals are going to require them to fly. When you not back yourself up, you get stuck. Bid denials also happen in reverse order of seniority. You are also protected and paid the greater of the two schedules. If you held xyz line worth 85 hours and got denied in to abc worth 74, you get the greater and paid the difference.
 
okoge1027 said:
I'm glad that it's helping you, but it's not doing anything, but disadvantage for some of us more junior speakers. Now, starting July, we will have to fly LAX-SAL or Hawaii all nighters instead of LAX-NRT. Maybe, I will become fluent in Spanish by flying LAX-SAL, cuz those Salvadorians don't speak English!!!!!
[post="275251"][/post]​
Isnt the National language in El Salvador Spanish?
 
Ms. Curtis erred in the wording of her announcement by even mentioning recalls. The recalling of f/as or not has NOTHING to do with the current announcement except as a side issue.

1. We are short of speakers in some languages.
2. This test is an attempt to get along with fewer speakers per a/c.

3. The ONLY connection to recalls is what Ms. Curtis DIDN'T say. There are a number of language speakers on furlough. A lot of them are in the very junior ranks--particularly Chinese speakers.
4. These speakers can not be recalled out of order. That is the one and only connection of speakers and recalls.

To say that they are cutting the number of speakers per airplane in order to avoid recalling former TW flight attendants is not the brightest statement that could be made. There is no cause and effect. Ms. Curtis should have simply said they are cutting the number of speakers per a/c in order to cover more flights.

Miaami is correct. Barring unforeseen circumstances there will have to be a recall before the end of this year or the company will have to eliminate some flying. The only people who seem to trumpeting the company's supposed determination not to recall the former TW flight attendants are those who don't WANT them recalled because they think it will make their seniority number go up.

By the way AAstew, the bulk of the former TW flight attendants were furloughed on 02JUL2003. With contractually mandated 5 year recall rights, it will be 3 years before the last of the former TW flight attendants lose their recall rights. Math must not have been your strong suit.
 
Had a great laugh on the bus. listening to a couple speakers talking how its all about service and this is so wrong, blah blah blah. Two I know from working flights who I have to call to remind them every time to do the PA's and listen to the huff and puffs if they have to get off the j/s to help with a problem in the cabin.

UAL 2 speakers
DAL 2 speakers
I think we will get by.
 
FA Mikey said:
UAL 2 speakers
DAL 2 speakers
I think we will get by.
[post="275410"][/post]​
I think you'll get by, too. Two is what we had at TWA even on the 747 with 434 seats.

We had the same problem with people being bid denied (drafted is what we called it) and that stopped a lot of people from qualifying. They didn't want to get locked into flying to one country or one flight so they never took the test. In later years the union convinced the company that if they stopped drafting they'd have many more people come out of the woodwork and qualify. The company did a test, and sure enough, it worked. That's something APFA and AA might consider discussing.

MK
 
kirkpatrick said:
We had the same problem with people being bid denied (drafted is what we called it) and that stopped a lot of people from qualifying...The company did a test, and sure enough, it worked. That's something APFA and AA might consider discussing.
MK
[post="275432"][/post]​

Now you've done it, K! Since the suggestion came from a former TW flight attendant, it will be dismissed with prejudice (as they say in court) by APFA and will never be considered again. :lol:
 
That would make too much sense and be to the benefit of everyone! There are hundreds if not thousands of f/a's who have dropped or haven't tested out in languages because of this. But that would be like not seing the trees because of the forest....
 
That would make too much sense and be to the benefit of everyone! There are hundreds if not thousands of f/a's who have dropped or haven't tested out in languages because of this. But that would be like not seing the trees because of the forest....
 

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