Negotiations: Update Three
Spirit Flight Attendants,
Our second negotiating session has concluded, and we are progressing. We deal with entire Contract sections at a time. Because negotiations are structured to discuss the non-economic topics first, none of the “interesting” topics (pay increases, per diem, scheduling improvements, etc) get discussed early in the process. However, we are still addressing important topics that impact our daily work lives.So, what’s been going on at the bargaining table?
The following Contract Sections were discussed:
Medical Exams
Sick Leave
General
Filling of Vacancies
Leaves of Absence
Safety and Health
Scope
Grievance + System Board
Uniforms
Travel Expenses
Negotiations are moving quickly, and we are working to resolve the non-economic contract sections so we can dig into the economic discussions, which are at the heart of our negotiations.
What’s being discussed?
SEC 4 – Travel Expenses
An increase to the per diem is on the table, but both parties agree that the exact amount will wait for the economic discussions later. Management wants to eliminate our automatic CPI increases to per diem (which was 6.5% this year!) and eliminate many of our hotel minimum standard requirements (even Grab-n-Go is on their chopping block!). We are having a robust discussion on transportation to and from the hotel and other hotel hot topics. Both sides are working out the parameters of a hotel buy-back program.
SEC 5 – Uniforms
Increasing the uniform allowance will wait for Section 3: Compensation. We are proposing money for luggage. Equally important is a better way to address defective, poor quality, or broken uniform items. Flight Attendants should not have to foot the bill for “wardrobe malfunctions!” We stressed to management that we want to look good, professional, and stylish when we are at work. Management expressed surprise at many of the uniform quality issues we mentioned – so PLEASE make sure to write-up and document uniform item failures! Dress hem unravels and you fix it yourself? Belt buckle falls apart and you replace the screws? Sweater sleeve/pocket falls off and you just toss it and move on? None of this can be remedied unless we document-document-document! Please inform the company about issues with our uniform at this link and request a replacement!
SEC 12 – Sick Leave
Of course, we are seeking to increase our sick leave accruals and to eliminate the secondary bank and combine the balance into one giant bank. We are seeking to add a “negative point” or “banked point” for the perfect attendance program which would go toward reducing a flight attendant’s attendance point balance. A flight attendant’s ability to donate sick leave to other flight attendants is agreed upon – only the details need to be ironed out. The Company seeks to eliminate the perfect attendance program and the ability to borrow sick leave from the company. Additionally, management wants to increase sick leave call out time from 2 hours to 3 hours before your report time/reserve notification time.
SEC 13 – Leaves of Absence
Significant improvements are on our agenda in this section: some period of paid maternity/baby bonding/paternity/adoption leave, improving longevity accruals while on leaves, eliminating the FMLA service requirements for receiving a baby bonding/paternity/adoption leave. Management seeks to require sick leave use while on FMLA.
SEC 15 - Filling of Vacancies
We are discussing how to accomplish mutual/multiple base swaps when several bases are closed while protecting seniority. We are incorporating our previous agreement with the company to continue to allow flight attendant’s on probation to change bases. We have also improved the process for new hires to get their 4 days off after completing OE.
SEC 22 – Grievance Procedure
We are working to streamline and improve the procedures outlined in this section. Both sides agree with establishing a grievance mediation step to resolve outstanding grievances. AFA is pressing to have flight attendant’s attending a NOI be paid if the NOI occurs on a day off or if a trip must be dropped to accommodate it.
SEC 23 – General
The current battle is over crew “snacks”. We want to establish crew “meal” delivery or at least a chance to get off the plane and secure food on long days.
SEC 20 – Safety and Health
We are pressing the company to expand the emergency situations after which a flight attendant can be removed if she/he feels that is best. Simultaneously, we want AFA’s safety representative to be included in all safety meetings that pertain to flight attendant’s and to receive all the safety alerts.
Tentative Agreements (TA)
TA means that the parties have reached full agreement on an entire Contract section, and we set that aside while we negotiate over other Contract sections. It is “tentative” because we must reach agreement on all Contract sections.
SEC 1 - Scope – TA, current contract language
SEC 14 - Medical Exams – TA, current contract language
We head back to the bargaining table November 30-December 2.
In the meantime – below are some action items for you to assist us in bargaining:
WEAR YOUR AFA PIN!
If you have a uniform item malfunction, please make the company aware by the link aforementioned or using this QR code below. Please only report manufacturing defects.
In solidarity,
Your Negotiations Committee
Jason Kachenmeister
Colleen Burns
Olson Santiago
Paula Mastrangelo
