Dear AFA: March 25, 2014

Date: March 25, 2014
Type: Dear AFA

Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to Dear AFA.  A democratic, Member driven Union of Flight Attendants for Flight Attendants.  Today is Tuesday, March 25, 2014 and this is Aly Carswell reporting. I am a Member of Chicago Council 8, and I am one of the 685.

Aircraft Schedule Changes Drive Revisions to Some April LOFs
Yesterday, we
published information regarding questions we received regarding the sudden appearance of GUAR in some Flight Attendants April Lines of Flying, especially when it appears that several of the flights are still operating.

The United MEC Central Schedule Committee met with representatives from the company yesterday, to review the changes that were made to the April aircraft schedule after schedules were awarded.  

As we understand it from the company, and for maintenance reasons, the company elected to remove some 737 aircraft at both subsidiaries from the April schedule, for use as “spares."  As a result of the removal of these aircraft, there were approximately 300 IDs that were impacted on multiple days, affecting every domestic domicile across the schedule month.

We continue to work with United Crew Schedule Planning to expedite the process by which these repairs to your April schedules will be made.  Additional details are available on our website.

2014 Purser Recurrent Re-Bid Required
We have learned that the company has made changes to the 2014 Purser Recurrent program, including changes to the dates being offered.  As a result, pursers will need to rebid for a preference month.

Purser Recurrent preference month re-bidding will open on April 9, 2014 at 0700 Central Time and close on April 30, 2014 at 0700 Central Time.

We have not yet received the new training dates from the company, however they have indicated they will be included in the May cover pages.

In the interim, be aware the original dates and information published are no longer valid.  Be sure you have the most current and up to date information when bidding and scheduling your training requirements. Contact your Purser supervisor with any questions you may have.

Preference Month Bidding For 787 and Customer Service Training - Update
Last week we communicated information about 787/customer service training for 2014 as it relates to the new trainer arriving at the ORD training center.  Training requirements will depend on where you are domiciled.

You should refer to your specific domicile April cover letter for the requirements for completing the 787/customer service training.  Contact your supervisor if you have any additional questions.

Take Action Against Outsourcing our Jobs – No NAI
We’ve reported on the massive treat to U.S. Airlines and workers as Norwegian Air International (NAI) seeks to invade our air space.  Norwegian Air International (NAI) is attempting to severely undercut our companies, threaten our jobs, and set a harmful precedent that would undermine US labor and safety rules, unless the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) stops them.

With principal operations in Oslo, Norway, NAI wants to register to operate as an Irish airline, although it does not plan to operate flights from Ireland. It is a ploy to circumvent labor standards. Its pilots are contracted through a Singapore employment company, although NAI does not operate in Singapore.

Now, NAI is scheming to fly into the United States, avoiding regulatory oversight and labor accountability. By gaming the system to take advantage of the lowest labor costs and to circumvent regulations, NAI would drive U.S. air carriers out of the competition and would profit at the expense of tens of thousands of U.S. airline jobs– and to our recovering economy as a whole.

We need to defend the U.S. aviation industry and our jobs, and spread the word to friends and family. Sign the petition that tells the Obama Administration to defend our U.S. airlines and U.S. airline workers.

That’s all for tonight and thank you for calling.  Through strength and solidarity, we will continue building our collective future.  After all, it’s our future.

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