AirTran contract summary by section

[Lear70]

Section 16 – Physical Exam & Drug/Alcohol tests

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]16.A – Standards – No change, duplicate of current book.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]16.B – Company Required Physical Exams/Texts - No change, duplicate of current book.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]16.C – Testing – Largely unchanged, except for 16.C.5.b
[FONT=&quot]o[FONT=&quot] [/FONT][/FONT]16.C.5.b – Deletion of pay protection if you test between .02 and .04 and have to “wait” to fly your next leg (covers possible positive from mouth wash, etc). If you are removed from your trip and not put back on it, you’re not pay protected for it in this scenario.

 

[Lear70]

hey guys....floy just put out a crew message saying that anything for or against the contract cannot be put in the crew rooms or anything that is company property....and a threat to remove people from their trip that do not comply....i guess that they are gonna play hardball....

Yeah, that came out yesterday.

Funny thing... the anti-Brad's top 10 rebuttal is still behind the glass case. I guess THEY can post pro-TA material, but we can't... whatever.

i say we get about 20 or so guys to get removed from their trips and see if they have enough reserves to do it and then see what happens....

Probably not a great idea, that whole "illegal job action" and all, but it would be kinda humorous to have everyone with tags on their bags and see what they do.

also does this apply to the union....in other words, if i cant be in the crew room talking against the t/a, can they be in there speaking for it?

the time for unity is now....

I don't believe they can keep that distinction anymore and, from reading the NPA emails on the new road show locations off-property, I think they've decided just to distance themselves from anything.

For what it's worth, the information I'm getting is that AP and the BOD reacted properly to this, telling the company it was improper for them to issue such a notice when NPA bag tags and stickers have been OK for several years.

If it doesn't disparage the company and is concentrated around union business, as long as it's not foul language or inappropriate caricatures, I don't see what the company's problem is, unless they just want this to pass THAT BAD and, if that's so, what does that tell us?

 

[Lear70]

Section 17 – Transfer to Supervisory / Management Duty

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]17.A.1 – Addition of language specifying that management / supervisory pilots still have the grievance recourse if they are disciplined, up to and including termination.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]17.A.2 – Management pilots may be removed from their position “at-will” and will be returned to flying.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]17.A.3 – A pilot leaving a management position voluntarily returns to line flying and becomes a normal line pilot with regular RLA protections.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]17.B – Seniority and Longevity of Management Pilots - Unchanged, current book.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]17.C.2 – Management pilot taking a line pilot’s trip – Changed language that more specifically tells the line pilot what their new report time is if they will be reinstated on their trip or released for the remainder. Deletes 48 hour notice required, so now you can be pulled off with no notice.

 

[Lear70]

Section 18 – Furlough and Recall

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]18.A.1.a – changed verbiage from “re-employed” to “recalled”.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]18.A.3.a – When any pilot(s) are on furlough more than 4 months, the company is restricted to 50% of the total flying that may be pulled for training and qualification purposes per section 5.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]18.A.3.b – When any pilot(s) are on furlough, an involuntary reduction the number of ground and sim instructors shall be accomplished so as to retain at least the same ratio of seniority list pilots to total pilots/instructors that existed at the time of furlough.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]18.B.1.a – Addition of “Conditions and time permitting” clause to make an offer for volunteers for leaves of absence prior to furloughs. What purpose does this serve? Replaced “At the company’s discretion” language in the current CBA. Also added language that says such leaves of absence will not result in tracining events which would not have otherwise occurred if no leaves were offered, i.e. a huge number of 737 F/O’s take a Leave of Absence and they needed a uniform amount from both fleets would restrict the number of Voluntary Leaves awarded.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]Removal of current CBA language 17.B.1.b which requires the ground school people to be furloughed first. Protected class of employees.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]18.B.1.b – States that pilots are then furloughed in inverse seniority, including ground / sim instructors if they are even ON the seniority list. If not, they’re protected.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]18.B.1.c – No pay or notice required if pilots are furloughed because of a work action by another group (F/A’s, mechanics, etc), or if the fleet is grounded by FAA or other government agency, or an Act of God (Tornados run through ATL and wipe out 40 aircraft). Current book requires 14 days notice or 30 days pay. Concession again.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]18.B.1.c – If furlough for any other reason than above, 14 day’s notice will be given or pay in lieu of notice. Current book requires 30 days pay in lieu of. Concession again.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]18.B.2.c.3 – Adds an extra month of furlough pay for employees with 5 or more years of service.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]18.B.2.d – Again, adds the distinction that if the furlough occurs because of a work stoppage by another group or if the fleet is grounded by a government agency, or an Act of God, we don’t get paid our accrued vacation.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]18.B.3 – Extends medical coverage up to 3 months per the same terms as our furlough pay. Current book is 1 month.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]18.C.2 – A pilot only has 14 days to accept recall notice instead of 30. That’s the time from the receipt of the notice until the time you have to have the notice to the company, not just mailed.

-[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]18.c.4 – Addition of language requiring the furlough recall bypass for continuing education to be “full-time towards an accredited degree”. Also allows up to 36 months instead of 24.

 

[Lear70]

No changes worth mentioning for the rest of the document.

That completes everything except Section 13, Grievance & Discipline, which is being put together by another pilot.

When he's done, I'll post it and that will be it.

In the meantime, the full text is available here:

http://home.earthlink.net/~lear70/NPA_TA_Comparison_By_Section.doc

It's over 30 pages, I'm going to try to put a bulletpoint 2 page document out and then I'll be taking them to road shows.

 

[Just thinking]

KING LEAR! Time to change your screen name. I wish that the NC and BOD would have exercised the same due dilligence before they recommended this TA to the pilot group. Thank you for all of your hard work and efforts. I am looking forward to engaging in conversation with others that think this TA is worth an approval. Thanks again for the FACTUAL information.

 

[T3700]

Something to think about:

Retiree health insurance. Company will continue to pay its part for one year after you retire or until 1 day before the amenable date of the contract. Then you get to pay 100% of the premium based on COBRA. COBRA only applies for 18 months. Anyone want to try to find individual health insurance to cover you from age 61 1/2 til age 65? There went your pay raise. Current and future AirTran retirees just got thrown under the bus.

I went to one of the road shows. Quick summary:

1.) Trust us. It's not in writing, but the company would never do that

2.) Look at the shiny new pay rates!

3.) If we don't sign this, there is no merger protection and we will be whipsawed to death*

4.) Look at the shiny new pay rates!

5.) FOs will be Captains in three years so don't worry about FO pay

6.) Look at the shiny new pay rates!

7.) Don't worry about the less than 100 seat pay scale. We will never replace the 717 with E190s. Joe says he just loves the 717. Joe hates foreign airplanes anyways

8.) Did I mention the shiny new pay rates?

9.) Scheduling promises that we will have more time off and more productive trips. We trust them, why won't you?

10.) Wow! did you see these new pay rates?

* Why worry about whipsawing us between Midwest and Airtran when you can do it between the 717/737 and a new 98 seat aircraft. "If you guys won't give up some concessions, we will have to convert those new 737s to the E190". But hey, at least we kept that flying in house!

 

[CitationLover]

the regional operators would love to whipsaw the NPA with some "regional" flying versus the MEH pilots who simply want their QOL to stay the same. whose the bigger threat?

once again MEH pilots represent, at most, 20% of a threat (and that's only if ALL MEH flying goes away and they are put on top of the list - ie ain't going to happen). single carrier status would fix the MEH "threat" also.

scope relief is the true "whipsaw" threat. i am sure chitrepshutqua would love to fly 190's in ATL / MKE / MCI (or skywest and the crj 900 / 1000).

 

[Yuppyguppy]

******************** FP and coach!

 

[Lear70]

http://home.earthlink.net/~lear70/NPA_TA_Rebuttal_Bulletpoints.doc

This is for anyone who wants a 2-page synopsis of the worst of it. Print it and take it with you, it has the address link to the website where people can download and print the full version with exact T.A. section references.

http://home.earthlink.net/~lear70/NPA_TA_Rebuttal_Bulletpoints.doc

 

[SkiFishFly]

No Concessions!

I just want current contract with:
- Higher pay - especially 3 -7 year FOs
- Better protection against the company using regional/contract carriers instead of NPA pilots
- Better medical (and I don't even use AAI medical)
- Better Hotels

Why do we have what appears to be major rewrites to sections that should have been left alone?

Why are we being asked to give concessions when the company (and all airlines) are in an up cycle?

I'm solidly in the NO category! When do I get to vote?!!

 

[Lear70]

They keep putting off the opening of the polls. It was originally supposed to have been done by the 28th, but they are now saying "some time in July", which isn't exactly a firm commitment.

I'm hearing a lot of grumblings from the roadshows that, as time goes by, there are several BOD members who are having second thoughts over this T.A. now that the details are coming to light and the membership is obviously upset and taking it out on the reps.

As soon as I get the Sec 14 stuff from BD I'll be forwarding copies of the long document with section references you've seen here to the BOD members so they can finally see what they voted for. I've met and been around a couple of those guys for recurrent & other events and, with the exception of AP and the NC, I honestly and truly don't believe these guys had the opportunity to read and decide for themselves on the full document before they voted.

I think they got sold a bill of goods that's not turning out to be what they were originally convinced of, which is what happens when you rush a vote on something as important as this, and they now wish they hadn't. I think most of them will have learned their lesson on this; those that haven't have committed political suicide and won't, in all likelihood, remain in office much longer.

Will be interesting to see what happens... There's no provision in place in the RLA that I'm aware of for the BOD to pull it from the table for ratification unless the company agrees to and, even then, I'm not sure it's technically "legal".

A large "NO" vote would hurt the company's position by giving the pilots more ammunition to take back into negotiations and this whole thing has really gotten the pilot group active in a way nothing else has...

 

[BFL370]

Went to the road show today, and CK had the new TA pairings available. Sits still are around but they seems to be shorter. A lot more variations on 2, 3 and 4 day trips. The days with flying under our current 4 hour min duty was VERY small. But the increase in flying per day was VERY serious. 3 days worth around 20 hours and 4 days with 25 to 28 hours wow, some not al. They looked good to me, better than what we have now. The average duty period didnt look that much longer than now. Oh and with a 1:2 the CDO's seemed to pay better that just the 4 hour duty period. Go check it out and decide for yourselves. The documentation was for a full month and not just a straw pole.

 

[captainj]

but those parings dont take into account the at's outstation RR needs. They could just as easy build 4 day trips with day 2 and 3 with sits of 5 or 6 hr's there is nothing stoping them as long as they come close to a 4.5 avg. We would all like to think that they would max out our flying for a trip but the never do so why would we think a 13hr day would change the way they build trips. I think a 13 hr day could get more flying but it's all up to the at as to what prioritys they put into place.

 

[BFL370]

Thats why you have the SSC, started this in a new thread.

 

[AA717driver]

Lear--You're doing an incredible service for your fellow pilots! Maybe if ALPA had people like you, it wouldn't be such a basket case!

BTW, I missed the proposed pay rates. Are they posted somewhere here? Thanks. TC

 

[Lear70]

Here are the small jet rates:

http://forums.flightinfo.com/showthread.php?t=99095&page=5&highlight=airtran+pay+rates

Can't find the other pay rates I posted, they may have been taken down. If you can't find them, let me know, I'll see about reposting them.

 

[Enterprise]

They are slightly higher than JB's 190 rates. I am not sure that is a standard you want to strive for.

 

[RIDETHELIGHTING]

They are slightly higher than JB's 190 rates. I am not sure that is a standard you want to strive for.

The problem is we did not set the standard, Jetblue and Airways did. All we can do is fight not to have those rates shoved down our throats.

 

[CitationLover]

They are slightly higher than JB's 190 rates. I am not sure that is a standard you want to strive for.

not only that but they did not factor in jetbue's blended rates (ie after a certain hour, 70, jetblue is paid at 150%. most jetblue lines are over 70 hours and their reserve credit includes 5 premium hours.