Mike's Fired Up-US AFA LABOR THREAD

[flybynite]

I have heard of too many f/a's that have been hoo-dooed into flying up to 16 in a duty day. Busting FAR's.

And I want names. <_<

 

[Travelpro72]

Everyone always preaches to, "Read the contract, Know the contract". Well granted some sections are a little more clear than others but some are just downright confusing. Some sections will give examples but you still can't get it. That's many people on the line. You need a G'damn attorney to decipher it for you. NOTHING is cut and dry in that useless P.O.S. Ya need to read it and understand it agreed but many don't understand. When you have scheduling barking something else from what your reading or twists it to read something else....well there ya have it. Many crews bamboozled into flying over 16.

 

[usfa304]

Um...maximum duty period during an irregular ops is 15 hours, and the block time of the last flight + :15 to take you there is how it's calculated...NOT what anyone will tell you they can make it in.

 

[flybynite]

It's so simple. You can't schedule yourself over 14 hours. Nor can the company.

If it's irregular ops ....you can't go over 15. How hard is that?

What's happening is we are getting pushed by the pilots. They can go up to 16 hrs in a duty day. Not us. And they are being a bunch of ding-a-lings by trying to push us over our limits.

Now don't get me wrong....the pilots are trying to do the right thing....but sometimes they don't know which way to go.

This is one of those rare situations where the F/A contract protects the pilots.

 

[aredeeyou22]

Everyone always preaches to, "Read the contract, Know the contract". Well granted some sections are a little more clear than others but some are just downright confusing. Some sections will give examples but you still can't get it. That's many people on the line. You need a G'damn attorney to decipher it for you. NOTHING is cut and dry in that useless P.O.S. Ya need to read it and understand it agreed but many don't understand. When you have scheduling barking something else from what your reading or twists it to read something else....well there ya have it. Many crews bamboozled into flying over 16.

What do you mean "flying over 16?" You don't have to fly over 15. :blink:


While I agree that some parts of the contract can be confusing, it is 100% the FA's fault if they find themselves "bamboozled" into flying 16 hour duty days. How many times do you hear blatant misinformation regarding the contract on the jump seat? Many FA's are apathetic about the contract and work rules, and expect others to know the rules. They assume someone else will have a copy of the contract with them. Again, some things in the contract can be confusing, but the number of FA's that don't know the rules regarding duty days and other general scheduling practices is astounding.

 

[flybynite]

I think most of the confusion lays with the FAR's.

Per the FAR's, f/a's can go up to 16 hrs in a duty day but and this a big but....the airline has to put an extra f/a on the flight.

It's our contract that states we can't go over 15 hrs in a duty day. And that's where the hoo-do comes in.

 

[Travelpro72]

What do you mean "flying over 16?" You don't have to fly over 15. :blink:

I understand what your saying. I'm not saying you can fly over 16. What I AM saying is that many flight attendants during irregular ops pow wowed in the f/c cabin while the captain is on the phone with systems don't know what the rule is. It certainly IS the flight attendants fault and you shouldn't rely on a fellow flight attendant to know the answers. Now as far as the gray areas in that contract go you can read one thing while the scheduler will tell you another. When you have a minute to make a decision many times you find out you were screwed AFTER your done flying. I happen to know when I'm being jacked over but many do not. Reading and rereading the language in that contract sometimes does NOT answer your question. For instance I was quick called when I knew damn well that I shouldn't have been called. My days off were taken away and was assigned the trip. I called the union and STILL had to fly the G'damn thing. It's pure BS. Was told over the phone that a grievance could have been filed to prevent it from happening again. What in HELL did that do for me? The contract clearly states one thing but you find yourself forced to do another.

 

[usfa304]

I completely understand how that happens...just know that the magic number is 15+01...and that's minus your BLOCK time + :15...period...when I'm getting close to that 'situation' I've already figured out what time i turn into a PUMPKIN...and don't say a word...because, if you do, they'll make sure you're off the gate before hand...that's a whole separate issue..BTW

 

[beachboy]

I was a new hire and sat on my jumpseat and read that contract cover to cover about 5 times. If I had questions I asked. Scheduling doesn't even bother with me and if they do I ask them to turn to the page and read along. You don't carry the contract? Don't complain. While complicated we are not stupid people. Read it, digest it and if you still have a problem call the union office. (call the office first and not the cell phones or John McCorkle will pop an artery with another email)
I don't call scheduling anymore going illegal. Scheduling wants to walk the tightrope fine. I used to call and say "hey we may be going illegal just a heads up" Scheduler: "YOU ARE STILL ON THE TRIP. NOTHING WE CAN DO UNTIL THEN!" Usually they are spitting pea soup with me holding the phone 10 inches from my ear. Fast forward 3 hours later and 2 min before we go illegal just getting ready to board. Ring ring: Hi this is ***** # ***** and we are now illegal, can you please get us a hotel? Scheduler: WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US BEFORE!!!!!!????????" I did, you didn't want to hear it. So what hotel are we at and you may want to tell the agents this flight is canceled. They want to play it right to the last minute and then wonder why it blows up in their face. If they had been proactive they would have saved re booking fees, hotel costs and thousands of $$$. But no.

 

[BajaBabe]

Mec Officers need to be above reproach this is the first sweep of the dirty house. One thing I will say MF is visible! Call it what you like he takes the punches at the meetings and rolls. If I were not current for flying or never showed my face, I would be ashamed but then that's their MO 😛h34r: 😛h34r: . As a person who negotiated Bankrupty 1 with Buddy he can do the work but if he has nothing to push him he will just sit back at home in Boston. When are they in Charlotte, March 27th? The MEC sits around and pontificates about protecting there positions but where is the accountability? Come on in, the water is warm. Get to know the people you all represent ............

 

[beachboy]

My God K-SLAM! Baja just tore the house down in a nutshell. No more true words were ever spoken. We would love a clean sweep but lets try to tidy one room at a time. TAKE BACK YOUR UNION FOLKS.....or you will fail in the end.

 

[theFLYonthewall]

Anyone else on here based in CLT? We need you at the union meeting, its time to hold Council 89 to some accountability. At least return a phone call in a reasonable amount of time. My last call to that office was returned 4 days later, needless to say 4 days too late as well. I asked how many calls does it take to get a response, and she kind of got a bit testy with me. I reminded them they were elected by the membership and are being paid by the membership, again I got a nasty attitude in response. I'm sorry but I don't believe I want my $43 a month to support leadership that is not working for the best interest of the flight attendants. I'd like to know where our LECP was when the flight attendants from flight 1549 where being pulled from the Hudon? I heard NO one from CLT AFA went to LGA to assist that crew, I'd like to know why. We have 5 elected positions and NO one was available to go to New York, that doesn't give me much faith in our leadership here in CLT.

 

[Travelpro72]

PHL counsel 70 has to answer calls from the CLT base because you can't get a call back from anyone in councel 89. It certainly can't be just you Fly. Something must be done. AFA Int'l should bring Anne and the rest of the LEC 89 up on charges for not showing up in LGA. Unacceptable. Didn't Anne tell Mile Flores to handle MEC issues and I'll handle CLT. Well girlfriend ya didn't. THAT is when Mike tried to send Buddy up there and he didn't. REGARDLESS if Buddy wasn't required under the circumstances he should have. Well get your brooms out folks and START sweeping. Oh and by the way anyone based in CLT should tell Anne that she is in violation of the bylaws without "new business" on the meeting agenda. Without that no new business can be brought up. 😉

 

[beachboy]

Be careful TravelPro "Annie" as she known in Charlotte will sick Daddy Warbucks and Miss Hanigan all over you! LOL

 

[Travelpro72]

Man oh man this thread is QUIET! Hmmmmmm 😉