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Greetings, AFA 66 eCommunication - Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Software Glitch Creates Published Short November LinesAFA was
notified by the Company yesterday of a glitch in the pairing
publishing software that dropped trips and created lines with
values of less than 70 credit hours in the November monthly bid.
On the mixed
equipment files, Flight 305 (PHX-CLT) reports at 23:15 pm and
departs at 00:15 am. The software glitch caused a misread of the
report time as the following night instead of the night before
and these pairings were dropped from the affected lines creating
8 lines that are under the 70-hour monthly guarantee.
On the
757/321 file, some carry-out trips were also dropped from
certain lines, creating 9 short lines on this equipment.
These lines
have been published in the printed bid. AFA and the Company has
agreed that flight attendants who bid for and are awarded these
lines will be guaranteed 70 hours pay and credit for the short
lines. Based upon
past practice, the 70-hour credit will only be guaranteed if no
changes are made to the original pairings on the line. Any increase or decrease
in the line value through DPU will negate the 70-hour
guarantee.
Additional time picked up or dropped through the ETB will
not affect the 70-hour guarantee, but will increase or decrease
the overall line accordingly. Please keep this in mind when bidding these
lines. The affected
mixed lines are: Line
# 140
Line value
63:45
Line # 157
Line value
39:38
Line # 178
Line value
57:58
Line # 189
Line value
57:47
Line # 238
Line value
50:40
Line # 256
Line value
63:45
Line # 276
Line value
62:44
Line # 349
Line value
63:17
The affected
757/321 lines are: Line #
59
Line value
66:51 Line # 80
Line value
68:44 Line # 99
Line value
57:25 Line # 110
Line value
66:39 Line #112
Line value
63:16 Line # 115
Line value
62:54 Line #116
Line value
67:20 Line #118
Line value
69:06 Line # 134
Line value
69:22 Line # 389
Line value
63:45 Line # 406
Line value
39:38 Line # 427
Line value
57:58 Line # 438
Line value
57:47 Line # 487
Line value
50:40 Line # 505
Line value
63:45 Line # 525
Line value
62:44 Line # 598
Line value
63:17 In the published pairings are 14 trips that have the incorrect report date. The report time of 23:15 is correct and the departure time of flight 305 is correct, however, the report date should be one day earlier than what has been published. This issues only affects the printed pairings. In Maestro these pairings will show the correct adjustment. This issue only affects flight 305 PHX CLT, and is only contained in the following pairings. Pairings Affected Your Budget Questions
Answered The AFA office has received numerous phone calls
regarding questions of the union budget. In order to assure
transparency the following budget analysis was prepared. The most common
questions that we received in the office will be answered as
well. Should you
have further questions regarding these or any other budget
issues, please contact the MEC Secretary-Treasurer, Jeff Albers
in the union office. Q: Is the AFA union
over budget? A: No. There are two ways of looking at our budgets. One is on an annual
basis, which is the how we are provided a budget from
International, and the other is on a monthly basis. On a monthly basis there
may be fluctuations of overage that are rectified through
adjustments as the year progresses. The key is to remain within
the annual budget, which is always accomplished. Last year, adjustments
ended with a surplus of $130,472.
Q: I have heard that
our Secretary-Treasurer wants to use the entire budget allotted
to our council, if possible. Can you clarify that statement?
A: According to the AFA C&Bs budgets are based upon
the number of members in Good Standing along with formulas
decided by the AFA Board of Directors. Therefore, depending on the number of members
out on medical, personal leaves, VLOAs etc. the monthly dues
income will fluctuate.
However, once a budget amount is allocated to our council
it becomes a “use it or lose it” proposition.
Section IV.B.7. Twenty percent (20%) of all Master Executive
Council controlled budget surplus, not to exceed ten thousand
dollars ($10,000.00), may be carried over in succeeding
years. Section IV.C.1. Each Local Council
will be allowed a regular monthly allowance based on 18.75% of
the total monthly dues including service charge monies of the
Council affected. However, in no event shall such monthly
allowance be less than an amount equal to 18.75% of a total of
100 members' and service charge payers' dues. Effective January
1, 2009, the 18.75% will be increased to 19.5%. (Board
2008) Twenty percent (20%) of any funds remaining at the
end of the fiscal year are to be carried over into the
succeeding year's local budget. All remaining funds are to be
returned to the Airline Master Executive Council Administration
fund. As you can see, any monies not used by the local
will be returned to International. Therefore, our Secretary-Treasurer wants to
use as much of our budget here at the local level for our
members who are paying the dues as opposed to sending it back to
International at the end of a fiscal year. That philosophy just
makes sense. Q: What expenses are
allowed by AFA for union officers and others doing union
work? A: The allowances are written in the AFA C&Bs under
Section IV Accounting and Finance as
such: Allowable Expenses When Properly
Substantiated a. The most economical transportation
should be used while on Union business. Rental cars may be used
with approval of the appropriate Local Council President or
Master Executive Council President. Taxi fares in excess of five
dollars ($5.00) must be accompanied by a
receipt.
b. Automobile expenses will be
allowed at the current maximum IRS- rate per mile. For 2008 that
rate is $0.585 per mile. (Board
2008)
c. Allowable meal expenses for
all locations are as follows: breakfast up to ten dollars and
($10.00); lunch up to fifteen dollars ($15.00); dinner up to
twenty-three dollars ($23.00). (Board 2008-Effective Date July
1, 2008)
d. Reasonable and adequate
hotel accommodations, in the form of single rooms, will be
provided, unless otherwise specified. If price, availability,
location and amenities are comparable, preferred lodging is at a
union hotel.
e. Reasonable telephone and
telegraph expenses, installation charges, necessary to conduct
Union business.
f. Reasonable expenses, such as
tipping (not to exceed 20%) and laundry expenses, for meetings
of five (5) days duration or
more.
g. Reasonable expenses for porter
tipping.
h. Allowable expenses up to
seven dollars and fifty cents ($7.50) per hour for child care
with receipt and approval of Local Council or Master Executive
Council President. Q: Why are laptop computers necessary for the officers
and AFA Committee
Chairs? A: As we all know,
flight attendants are very mobile and need access to the
Internet and to email when on trips. Our committee chairs are dedicated to the
membership but also must be a line flight attendant. Laptops allow our
committee chairs the ability to be available more often and more
easily. While
the best scenario would be for laptops to be passed to the next
person when a chair steps down, it is not always the case and
the option is to purchase another. Additionally, laptops do have
an expiration date that depends on the system and the
upgrades. We all
are aware that older computers do not run as well as newer ones
or may not have the software to process graphics etc.
Q: I have heard so many
crazy rumors regarding what the AFA officers and chairs spend.
How can I find out the truth about what is really being
spent? A: Every member in good standing has
the ability to schedule a meeting with the Secretary-Treasurer
who can explain any concerns you have regarding budgets and
union expenditures. The Secretary-Treasurer is more than happy
to provide an explanation, as it is an expectation of the
office. US
Airways Announces Sale of Ten Embraer E-190s to
Republic US Airways announced last week that they are in
discussion regarding the pending sale of certain E-190 aircraft.
Scott Kirby shared in a letter to employees that the Company was
close to finalizing a deal to sell ten of our 25 Embraer 190
aircraft to another carrier. Today US Airways reached an agreement with Republic
Airways to sell ten Embraer-190s. Please note that these
aircraft will be used to support Republic’s aircraft
replacement plans at its wholly owned branded
subsidiaries. The E-190s are not part of the minimum required fleet protected by the provisions of the Transition Agreement. This sale represents one of the few options available for the Company to reduce capacity and increase available cash at this time. The Company
currently has 25 Embraer 190s flying East routes out of CLT and
PHL, therefore, this sale will have a minimal if any impact on
West operations and crews. US Airways Responds to Proposed $5.4 million
Civil Penalty from the Federal Aviation
Administration The Federal Aviation Administration
(FAA) has proposed a $5.4 million civil penalty against US
Airways, Inc. for allegedly operating eight aircraft on a total
of 1,647 flights from October 2008 to January 2009 while not in
compliance with certain Airworthiness Directives (ADs) or the
airline’s maintenance program. ADs are rules issued by the FAA when
an unsafe condition exists on a type of aircraft, and additional
maintenance is required to remedy the
problem. Each year the FAA issues about 250 ADs
requiring air carriers to correct potentially unsafe conditions.
Compliance deadlines range from immediate action before further
flight, to days, months, or years depending on the severity and
complexity of the safety issue. Air carriers must fully comply
with all of these legally enforceable
directives.
"Safety is at the forefront of
everything we do at US Airways. Today's proposed penalty dates
back to challenges we experienced during the integration of
maintenance systems and processes on flights that occurred in
2008 and January 2009. Our team worked cooperatively with the
FAA to investigate and correct any discrepancies to the FAA's
satisfaction. "Over the past nine months, we and the
FAA have completed a formal review of our aircraft maintenance
tracking systems as well as a comprehensive review of our
maintenance program. This collaborative process included efforts
to identify the issues, drill down to find the root cause and
develop comprehensive fixes. "We appreciate the FAA's guidance and
oversight throughout this process. The changes we have made have
improved upon an already solid maintenance program. With these
challenges behind us, we look forward to continuing our
relationship with the FAA to deliver on our common mission of
safety first. "US Airways will continue to work with the
FAA in a cooperative manner to promptly achieve a negotiated
resolution of the FAA's civil penalty proposal."
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