Vol Furlough Info Out

[IMisstheAladdinTrays]

How exactly is this f!@#ing over the Senior F/A's for the Junior? As far as I can tell the Senior F/A's are getting screwed as well since MANY have said they would be out like yesterday's trash if they COULD JUST GET MEDICAL! And here the company offered it, but AFA in their shortsighted and narrow viewpoint says "No, someone in a tiny base (LGA, BOS, DCA) that is not even affected by reductions this Fall might want a VF?" Bullsh!t!

I hope everyone is calling their Local Councils today and CLT in particular to voice their disgust. I've called already and no surprise that Ann wouldn't take my call. No surprise since she has clearly demonstrated during her tenure her concern only for Blockholders. Only this time, she has screwed them over as well. Great job.

Sometimes, you need to step away from the "this violates system seniority" mentality when being offered something BETTER than what exists in the contract. That's what side letters are for!

But what does my voice matter since I'm just a lowly reserve who is likely looking at an Involuntary Furlough or displacement now? I'll tell you what, I didn't want either one, but at this point I'd rather be furloughed than displaced.

The company would NOT give numbers to the MEC. When asked to put a base specific number on DC for instance, they would not give one. That being said if you were the DC LECP how would you have voted? Mmm hmm that's what I thought!

What if the company said hey AFA let us furlough from the bottom "base specific" and we will give those junior people benefits the whole time, would "base specific" have been the way to go? NO!

 

[missthe727]

This is completely outrageous!!! Once again, Ann and her cronies show clearly their COMPLETE AND UTTER DISREGARD for the Reserves!

I'm not surprised at all, but totally disgusted!

So great! A higher paid blockholder that was willing to take a leave because the company WILLINGLY OFFERED medical benefits (win for blockholders) will now be less likely to take a voluntary furlough, and the Junior meagerly paid flight attendants THAT JUST CAME BACK will now be furloughed or displaced???!!!

Great job AFA!!! (sarcasm intended) You truly show us why you ABSOLUTELY DO NOT LOOK OUT FOR OUR BEST INTERESTS Blockholder and Reserve alike!!!

Needless to say I will be on the phone like a MAD DOG tomorrow out for BLOOD!

AFA has proven completely worthless to me as a Reserve. And likewise in this case, has settled for something LESS than the company was proposing!!!! WTF???!!!

Ann & Company better not ever cross my path. It WON'T be pretty! I urge all to get involved and contact AFA telling them what a horrible and detrimental choice was truly made for ALL involved!!!

As I said in an earlier post, I only have 11 years but I want to see our contract protected for when I AM senior. The one thing about being senior....those people are older than me and will retire before me. When I started here, an F/A who has now become a good friend told me that she thought that flying below 50 was part time work and should be treated as such...however, she didn't want to see it changed because eventually she might want to take advantage of it...guess what, she now flies 50 because she has another job on the side. I want to see my seniority protected for when I AM senior and hope there is a company left when that happens.

We need to look at how this decision/change in the contract would impact our seniority in the FUTURE....not just now.

 

[galley princess]

45 letters.

How many actually provided something worthwhile for FAs?

There is an argument here in favor of seniority, however I just think that in the face of such a favorable outcome for those who Voluntary Furloughs were DESIGNED TO PROTECT, as well as the senior members of the affected bases this was one time where a side letter would have been completely defensible.

You know, we are still talking about seniority. It's just that the furlough would have been isolated to those affected bases.

The point is moot. What is done is done. I wish AFA would get its house in order. This stuff is petty garbage considering what else we've got going on. It does, however reinforce the perception that there is a filthy side to AFA. If not for JM's disclosure the MECs would have gone their merry way, it makes you wonder what other nonsense has gone on.

BTW, don't be surprised if this reinforces what may be a lurking desire on the part of Tempe to eliminate small bases. Mr. Parker has been clear that he dislikes how many bases US east has. Displacements are resource consuming and scream "useless" to the bottom line. Remeber, all they care is that we have a pulse.

Brace for impact.

 

[theFLYonthewall]

I am going to have to agree with the MEC on this one. You add a side letter like that you are only asking for trouble. The company at any given time can then start offering these types of packages to any base they want. One month LGA (the most jr base) will be offered 3 month leaves. The next thing you know you got PHL and CLT screaming because they couldn't bid it.

That is just one big can of worms we do not need opened right now. Just my opinion.

 

[missthe727]

It does, however reinforce the perception that there is a filthy side to AFA.

A filthy side to AFA??? You're kidding right??? Of course there is and that's a given....however, in this instance, it didn't come from that side. It came from all but one of the LEP Presidents knowing how to protect the contract. JM is the one who was once again trying to force the PHL base wishes on the whole membership which is not what unionization is all about.

 

[IMisstheAladdinTrays]

A filthy side to AFA??? You're kidding right??? Of course there is and that's a given....however, in this instance, it didn't come from that side. It came from all but one of the LEP Presidents knowing how to protect the contract. JM is the one who was once again trying to force the PHL base wishes on the whole membership which is not what unionization is all about.

Not to mention he didn't "put" himself out to do it. He knew that a large number would be offered in PHL either way.

 

[Furloughd4now]

I am going to have to agree with the MEC on this one. You add a side letter like that you are only asking for trouble. The company at any given time can then start offering these types of packages to any base they want. One month LGA (the most jr base) will be offered 3 month leaves. The next thing you know you got PHL and CLT screaming because they couldn't bid it.

That is just one big can of worms we do not need opened right now. Just my opinion.

They offered VPLOA for DCA ONLY for the month of August ... what's the difference?? Were peeps screaming in PHL and CLT for that?

In addition Local 70 (Ie. JM) so far is the ONLY office that has taken the time and write a letter to send to his FAs ... Has ANY other Rep done that?.... Uh No! He is stirring the pot, and most think it is for selfish reasons (namely PHL). However, not one other union rep from ANY base has said a word in defense of us the FAs .... so what does that tell us???????? Oh, and not a word from our main MEC on this latest diatribe from the sandcastle? :down: I used to get my nails done for $39 a month, but now all i get is a hole in my pocket and no nails nbut a hell of a headache and the threat of losing my job ... yet again !

 

[IMisstheAladdinTrays]

They offered VPLOA for DCA ONLY for the month of August ... what's the difference?? Were peeps screaming in PHL and CLT for that?

In addition Local 70 (Ie. JM) so far is the ONLY office that has taken the time and write a letter to send to his FAs ... Has ANY other Rep done that?.... Uh No! He is stirring the pot, and most think it is for selfish reasons (namely PHL). However, not one other union rep from ANY base has said a word in defense of us the FAs .... so what does that tell us???????? Oh, and not a word from our main MEC on this latest diatribe from the sandcastle? :down: I used to get my nails done for $39 a month, but now all i get is a hole in my pocket and no nails nbut a hell of a headache and the threat of losing my job ... yet again !

VPLOA's and VF's are different things...get out your contract.

 

[songbirdstew]

In addition Local 70 (Ie. JM) so far is the ONLY office that has taken the time and write a letter to send to his FAs ... Has ANY other Rep done that?.... Uh No! He is stirring the pot, and most think it is for selfish reasons (namely PHL). However, not one other union rep from ANY base has said a word in defense of us the FAs .... so what does that tell us???????? Oh, and not a word from our main MEC on this latest diatribe from the sandcastle? :down: I used to get my nails done for $39 a month, but now all i get is a hole in my pocket and no nails nbut a hell of a headache and the threat of losing my job ... yet again !

Perhaps the LECPs from other bases do not want to fill our inboxes with an explanation of why they did the right thing....they give us credit for knowing that the integrity of the contract should not be jeopordized by something like this.

 

[Career Reserve]

While I am a true advocate of seniority THIS clearly shows the old fashioned views of our union and elected officials. I understand upholding seniority BUT I also see the need to adapt to changes. Changes in fact that would benefit those senior that want to take a VF and those just RECALLED that want to stay. This system of shuffling around bases is BS and it causes the most junior person (if you wanna call them JUNIOR) agony and suffering. So someone senior from BOS wants to take the damn VF it could possibly bump the most JUNIOR person who doesn't LIVE in BOS to have to go there or bump someone from LGA to BOS. It's a BS process and we all know it. As PHLfa88 said, "there are like 45 side letters to our contract". This MOST CERTAINLY regardless of how anyone wants to twist it is a FLAT OUT possible sacrifice of a hard working junior f/a to give a more senior f/a a "little time off". I call BS! ! ! ! 🙄

I disagree.
If the Union gave the company the latitude they asked for (then only) the most Senior f/a's in Philly would benefit. They would have an all expense paid vacation for what?
So a more junior f/a may or may not get displaced to/from a base?
The reason for the VF in the first place is the company would have to pay furlough pay to a more Junior flight attendant. In Lieu of that (bulk payout) it's a VF w/o the furlough pay.
Remember if you get displaced it'll cost the company to move you.
They don't want to pay for any more than they have to pay!!
This is why the company asked for relief from the CBA.
Bravo for the Union's solidarity, well almost!

 

[beachboy]

One good thing at least it got the flight attendants talking and debating in the crew room. God, you get something that catches their attention and they really do know a little. I was amazed and slightly scared they are not like this about most issues. I see both sides and there is merit to both arguments. I just feel like this could have ben handled better and for them to just slam the door and once again throw the JR people off the balloon like sandbags to make it rise is crap. Bottom line folks: Flight Attendants really only care for the most part about what affects them. The fait of the recalls or Jr people are the last thing on their mind when at 25 years you want a leave in DCA or BOS but your base is staffed fine. It's dog eat dog and step on who you can or the window will close.you never have to invest in understanding those actions. Until we start to take care of each other and work as a group, even if it doesn't fit your little life plan, we are doomed. Period. Exclamation point!
An afterthought. What sets AFA apart from Tempe when they are so unwilling to treat each other with respect and think outside the box? Sad.

 

[Furloughd4now]

Irrespective of anything the notice was base specific .... But the Q&A says it is seniority driven ... Oh Help me Ise confused! :blink: Maybe I need another Martini

 

[USCREW]

Until we start to take care of each other and work as a group, even if it doesn't fit your little life plan, we are doomed. Period. Exclamation point!

I have big life plans. If my system seniority grants me a leave, then I will take it gladly. I will feel no guilt. Stop thinking like a Westie and thinking that it is okay to add amendments and side letters when it suits you. It's all about SENIORITY, unless you are from the West.

 

[lildutchgrl]

I have big life plans. If my system seniority grants me a leave, then I will take it gladly. I will feel no guilt. Stop thinking like a Westie and thinking that it is okay to add amendments and side letters when it suits you. It's all about SENIORITY, unless you are from the West.

Will you try for the 3 or the 8 month? Would you have been happier if the package had med benefits included for the duration? Just curious

 

[beachboy]

I have big life plans. If my system seniority grants me a leave, then I will take it gladly. I will feel no guilt. Stop thinking like a Westie and thinking that it is okay to add amendments and side letters when it suits you. It's all about SENIORITY, unless you are from the West.

Case in point. Keep stepping . No worries . One of my best friends said similar. Maybe I just care too much about others. This whole nation is going down the crapper.