rotating reserve

[N965VJ]

Do you mean that if someone continuously passed for trips they knew they would never get, and not meet their monthly obligation, they would never get called in for that?

 

[N109UW]

Do you mean that if someone continuously passed for trips they knew they would never get, and not meet their monthly obligation, they would never get called in for that?

Pretty much, the union would argue that they "legally" passed for a trip. It was pathetic. And when they did fly, they had the most negative attitude. You almost wished would have just stayed the hell home. People would end up with 10 hours for the month. I know of one girl, when sched would call her, they would just say" Pass you for a 2E?" Yep. About 1 out of 20 times did they ever get a trip.

 

[N965VJ]

I’m really surprised to hear that people were underflying on a regular basis in CLT.

To be honest, I’ve passed for trips I knew I wouldn’t get to suit my personal schedule. But if I ever dropped even a few minutes below my option, I would’ve heard about it. I’ve had a number of different Supervisors over the years and they were all great people, so it’s not like I had someone that was hard to deal with.

All of yinz have a great New Year! I’m going to fire some steaks on the grill and rotate some beers.

 

[flightattend21]

"rsv passing is not intended to give rsv f/a's additional days off" People would pass for the highest % of what they would not get(EX 2E, or all-nighter). They would flat out tell you, "I don't want to work, but I like getting free money. The company knew there was a problem, but when pushed on defining a "day off", it came down to the one thing that you Can legally do on a day off, as apposed to an on-duty day, drink alcohol. So when it came time to change the system, this is what we got. The company was not going to let f/a's get away with not working and paying them 71 hours plus benny's. My LEC in CLT told me that. That is when I proposed "limited passing" or no passing, or just having a round table meeting to gather ideas from all of us who had been on rsv for 14 years(at that time). He didn't want to be proactive about it, just like now. Guess what? He was voted out and now, isn't even with the company.

thank goodness but we still have horrible union people that have to be voted/recalled. If the company was so upset about f/a passing then why is the company letting us sit so we cannot make our time? what is the difference? the company is till paying us?? if they build lines we all would be working and the company would not be paying us for nothing - Oh yeah that makes sense so I guess that would not work either..

 

[N109UW]

thank goodness but we still have horrible union people that have to be voted/recalled. If the company was so upset about f/a passing then why is the company letting us sit so we cannot make our time? what is the difference? the company is till paying us?? if they build lines we all would be working and the company would not be paying us for nothing - Oh yeah that makes sense so I guess that would not work either..

We know this system doesn't work. The company knows it doesn't work(like they expected) and that we don't like it. The company knows we want it changed. That is why they are using it as a bargaining tool in negotiations. By dropping the idea of Pref Bid, our union put the ball in the company's favor, leaving all rsv's hung out to dry. They have the upper hand now. As I said before, our union should have explored other options, like limited passing or not being able to fly on our days off. Or better yet, how about coming to us, the rsv's and asking us what we wanted. Too little, too late. They, the union, got us screwed.
Morning sky cat, you out flying today?

 

[NYCDelta]

Well, if it's any consolation to the reserves, we have the same attitude at AA. I.E, "Reserve was crap when I was on it; so, it has to remain crap for you." Or, "I agree. Your situation is awful and the company and the union must do something to improve the conditions for reserves--as long as it doesn't inconvenience me in any way, any time, anywhere."

The reserve system we have here at AA is just about the best of the major airlines.

I agree. I would rather do one month a year, than what we do at DL which is 3 days EVERY month. I'd rather just get it over with. We can preference which trips we want, which is good. I've always gotten a preference so I was never called at 3AM. Of course, 14 years in NYC is pretty senior!
Either way, though, I'm glad we don't have people sitting reserve month after month (like we did). Why should their lives suck just because ours did?

 

[700UW]

The AFA needs to hire Teddy X as a consultant, she would be the best at fixing the problems, and Glass and Hemenway would crap their pants when she walked in the room.

 

[safety stud]

I have read this whole thread. Alot of points have been brought up that make sense, and alot doesn't. The fact the reserve system is what it is, can be brought back to the original contract language that DIDN'T provide a swing back to original language if other certain language is not implemented. IE if preferential bidding wasn't implemented within a certain time. The original bidding system would have swung back into effect. Its a way the union would be able to guarantee the company would hold there end of the bargin.

Having snap back language only protects what you negotiate. It is a shame the RES system is what it is. Once again the negtiators of past contracts didn't look far enough ahead to see how neglected negotiated items would effect it's membership.

I have also seen posts on here that basically stated "Senior" flight attendants seem they are entitled to the perks of years of service. I have to agree with that statement. If I have been working for a company for as long as I have, I too feel I should get what is coming to me. Granted I never worked under the present RES system, however, I was a reserve at one time also. People at my seniority who were original US before the PSA and PIA mergers had there pay remain stagnent while the other airlines where brought up to our pay scale, then obliterated by BK's. It is a matter of what is important to each of us that comes into play.

Negotiating a contract that is viable, approvable, and prosperous is the only way ALL flight attendants would feel comfortable with their working environment. The sad part is you would never be able to negotiate a contract pleasing everyone about everything. People in general will find fault in everything, all the time. It is human nature. Now, to the nitty gritty. Would I vote "FOR", a floating RES system....... Absolutely NO...... The whole premise of any contract is to provide protection for the system of "Date of Hire". If you in any way take away the strength of this agenda, you erode it's relivance. This is why in all contracts you award seniority with the perks of years of service (ie: pay, vacation, etc).

DOH is the foundation of all AFA's unionized contracts. Changing the RES system by making a BH'er fly floating RES is not the answer. Providing a solid foundation of contract language the company and union can agree to, is. The present system doen't work. Fact... Negotiate one that does... Better...

Just my opinion...

 

[legacy-to-LCC]

The whole premise of any contract is to provide protection for the system of "Date of Hire". If you in any way take away the strength of this agenda, you erode it's relivance. This is why in all contracts you award seniority with the perks of years of service (ie: pay, vacation, etc).

on this point, i could not agree more!! it's sad that our (east) pilots are getting burned on this most basic principle of equity. actually, it's beyond sad. typical westie thinking: give me something for nothing...sure, i'll give you a $0.03 bag of pretzels--please choke!!
i do, however, believe that there is a system that could alleviate some of the f/a reserve hardship and without violating the sacrality of DOH. penalizing overflying is a really good place to start--more time trickels down. there are a lot of other options, too...

 

[flybynite]

As a suggestion, they need to raise the amount of the minimum guarantee to at least 75 hrs.

What they have now are pauper's wages. With the price of fuel at it's current price and rising, real wages shrink dramatically. It wouldn't surprise me that some folks could qualify for food stamps.

Now that's something that should hit the press if true. I can see the headlines now............

Us Airways Banks 3 Billion Dollars...Parker Pockets 24 Cool Mil While His Employees Barely Survive On Food Stamps!!!
:down:

 

[FlightChic]

The whole premise of any contract is to provide protection for the system of "Date of Hire". If you in any way take away the strength of this agenda, you erode it's relivance. This is why in all contracts you award seniority with the perks of years of service (ie: pay, vacation, etc).

DOH is the foundation of all AFA's unionized contracts. Changing the RES system by making a BH'er fly floating RES is not the answer. Providing a solid foundation of contract language the company and union can agree to, is. The present system doen't work. Fact... Negotiate one that does... Better...

Just my opinion...

We're not asking BHs to come back down on reserve. What we're proposing is a system that would allow for more blocks, have better utilization of reserves so that they cover emergencies, sick calls, etc. which would result in fewer rsvs, and have those f/as who are on straight reserve or who hold blocks part of the year and are reserve part of the year to rotate. Once again, there would be FEWER reserves anyway because we would no longer be a cushion to the bhs. That way, we would alll be flying and making our time and no one would be sitting straight reserve for the next 15-20 years. Nobody should be put through that, even if you are the most senior reserve. I don't think that is a crown that I would like to wear. Why do you think allowing someone to sit straight reserve for that long of time is OK? Do you know what we go through? No other airline has this but us. Senior f/as (whether reserve or not) would still have their seniority as far as vacations, schedule, pay, etc. Any reserve system that allows for f/as to be sitting straight reserve for that long period of time is unacceptable.

 

[songbirdstew]

The problem is that approximately 75% of the FA's are blockholders and I don't think there is any way whatsoever that 1/3 of them would support any contract or plan that would expose them to reserve.

I think the whole problem with a rotating reserve system is that we have so many commuters. Think about it, most people on RSV have crash pads. No B/H---senior of junior will go for the idea of sitting a hotel room 1-3 months a year while doing rotating reserve....While I think it is a fair idea to have everyone do a stint on reserve every year I wonder where it is I would stay while sitting RSV for that month. It's not like US has crash pads for rent by the month...anyone have any ideas ???

 

[700UW]

Why don't you all get the language of the other airlines reserve policies and present the one that works the best and would be fair to all the reserves?

Seems to me if the union allows the reserves to be treated like crap, you should slap them with a DFR.

No one should be on duty for 24/6, should be like 8 hour time periods you could sign up for by seniority.

Contact Pitbull and use her expertise.

 

[rsv4ever]

i don't feel bad for the company with yesterdays recorded update- 250 trips to cover... i sat here and laughed. there should never have been that many trips to have to cover in the first place. those 250 trips could have been put into lines.

 

[flybynite]

The transition from Dec to Jan in any year is the hardest to cover under the best of circumstances...throw in some nasty weather and it's a recipe for disaster. I've always wondered why the company doesn't try to not build as many transition trips for that very reason.