Swaps and drops

[wildirishrose]

Can anyone tell me why USAirways wants to take away the swaps from the America West agents? Most of them have other jobs and they certainly aren't in their USAir jobs :blink: for the money, so why is management (or Union) so adamantly against allowing them to swap as much as they want? If there is an agent working then who cares? I just don't get it.

 

[allstrike]

Can anyone tell me why USAirways wants to take away the swaps from the America West agents? Most of them have other jobs and they certainly aren't in their USAir jobs :blink: for the money, so why is management (or Union) so adamantly against allowing them to swap as much as they want? If there is an agent working then who cares? I just don't get it.

Do they want to take em away,or just tighten up the rules.

 

[crusher]

The rules on swaps were agreed to in the CWA contract of either 20 or 25 swaps per quarter. A swap is only counted if you swap off a shift or shift trade to a different shift differential ie: day to night. Picking up shifts on a swap does not count for the agent picking up , only for the one dropping shift.

 

[crusher]

The number of swaps was originally restricted to keep people from abusing it by swapping off most of their schedule yet still remaining on the payroll for flight benefits and insurance. You must work I believe 80 - 85% of your assigned schedule.

 

[philly rocks]

Does management wants you to reap the bennies without working? No. Most agents are in it for the money and the job. With 26 swap per quarter and your days off that is quite flexible. If you work the swaps the right way, you can have 4 days off a week. Do you just want to work 8 days a month and get medical and flt bennies? Some of us still consider this a career if you can believe that! Maybe you can ask management for a voluntary furlough for up to 30 day, that might help you out with your other job.

 

[crusher]

Maybe that is one of the bigger differences between East and West. For many in the east , this is still a career of sorts. There are those of course , particularly those P/T agts that are just here for the benefits and not much more. It has been my understanding that in the west that is pretty much the case. The F/T complement is apparently much heavier on the east than west hence the stronger leaning toward career rather than just a job .

 

[HP_JACK]

I've been into LAX a lot recently and have had the original east agents boarding my flights and it has been so nice!!!! In LAX prior to merger we had tons of turnover. Always dealing with someone new and who didn't care. Maybe this policy will shake these agents who don't like the job.

 

[crusher]

Therein lies the difference between someone who looks at his job as a career rather than just a job, an airline professional rather than a Walmart cashier.

 

[avion]

i agree 100 pct with all the replies. the 25 swaps per quarter is plenty. when the contract came out and limited us to 20 i even thought that was not enough. but it was more than enough. the east agents.. we have been around a long time and it is a career and thats what we had in mind when we took the job. unfortunately management does not consider the industry a career anymore and would love to see the senior leave and replace them for 8.72 per hour. but that is happening all over the country and many companies. i heard that the west has a larger turnover in employees than the east. not sure if that is true or not.