|
Not Always Fun in the Summertime!
MEC Reserve-E-Line
Summer is upon us. For most this means BBQ's, days at the beach,
and exotic vacations, but for reserves, the summer brings
Thunderstorms, ground stops, endless runway delays, and QCK
calls. I know that you are sick of hearing it, but these times
demand that reserves are armed with the contract at all times!
Now would be a great time to review Section 10-4 E. Minimum Off
Duty Periods/Duty Breaks. Screen 1 in CATCREW becomes an
invaluable tool. After the conclusion of a trip print or make a
note of when scheduling can contact you. While in the middle of
an endless duty day start keeping track of your hours. Ask
scheduling to run a legality check if you are having questions
about being legal for the next day's trip. Legality checks are
not automatically run until 2am!
On weather days/nights f/a's are having legality issues all over
the system. This can create QCK calls during the night and into
the next morning. No matter what has caused the demand for a QCK
call please keep 11-18 H. Minimum Reserve Report Time in mind.
4-2 C. Transportation
2. Actual expenses
for round-trip cab transportation within a sixty minute
(0:60) radius of the airport will be allowed when
substantiated by appropriate receipts when a flight
attendant is called to duty with less than two (2:00) hours'
notice prior to the scheduled departure of a flight.
Exceptions will be considered on an individual basis. In
lieu of cab transportation, the Company will reimburse
reasonable expenses for short term parking (i.e., daily
parking if available; if not available, hourly parking).
3. At a domicile, a
flight attendant will be allowed actual transportation
charges substantiated by receipts if the flight on which
he/she is assigned terminates between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00
a.m. as a result of late operation.
Minimum Reserve Report Time
1. A reserve shall
have a minimum of one hour and thirty minutes (1:30) from
the time he/she is awarded/assigned a pairing by Crew
Scheduling to report to the airport. A reserve may reside in
a location that falls within this parameter given normal
surface transportation conditions.
So, when scheduling calls you and asks, "Do you need 90
minutes to get to the airport?" Your answer will probably be
yes or you can reference 11-18.
2. A quick called reserve with less than one hour and
thirty minutes (1:30)notice shall make every effort to
report to the airport as soon as possible.
Keep scheduling informed,
and advise that you are making every effort to get to the
airport. Sometimes pictures taken with your cell phone add
an artistic touch to explaining the delays encountered
during your journey.
Drug and Alcohol Testing
during OPR
If you are being drug or alcohol tested while sitting OPR, keep
in mind that seniority still applies. For example, I am the most
senior reserve and I am being alcohol tested, a trip that I
really want opens up. Scheduling will not bypass me because I am
being alcohol tested. The same would apply if I were the most
junior OPR and was being drug tested. A trip opens and is
offered in seniority. The senior reserve or reserves can pass
the trip down to me, even if I am being drug tested. Again
communication with crew scheduling to let them know your being
tested is imperative.
QCK call on an NFL day
Reserves can make themselves available for QCK call on their NFL
day as long as it is not the actual day 7 of AVL. The reserve
can at any hour during the day call Scheduling and advise them
that they would like to make themselves available for a QCK
call. If the reserve does not receive a trip, the NFL day stands
and they would not be entitled to an additional NFL day.
Document, Document, Document!!!!!!
CATCREW constantly changes. How screen 18 looked at 11 pm last
night is completely different from how it looked at 11am this
morning. If you see something that seems unusual, print the
screen or take a snap shot as soon as you see it!
If you feel that you are in the incorrect LTO grouping, call
scheduling to ask them to look at it. Also keep in mind that
Scheduling has the more up to date data i.e., if a claim has
just been processed it may not be reflected on our screen 18.
This can give the appearance of a trip being assigned out of LTO
order. If you are filing a claim on a trip that was assigned
incorrectly keep in mind that only 1 person per position is due
that claim. There is no per diem, just the published value of
the trip or assignment.
Out of Base trips
Reserves can be assigned trips in another base. Always keep an
eye on screen 44 in all bases during bad weather. Unfortunately.
10 Q, the dreaded split trip language tends to apply, but the
dead heads are paid above guarantee. Reserves can also be
assigned OPR in another base. Definitely know your legalities in
that scenario!
Paragraph 10 Q. Split Pairings can be found in section 10-13.
Reserve Lines
Recently there has been a change if personnel in the
construction of the reserve lines. Paul Camacho will now be
constructing the reserve lines. Myself and your local reserve
chairs look forward to a positive working relationship with
Paul.
I guess what I am stressing is that especially as reserves, we
need to arm ourselves with information and documentation in
order to navigate through this frustrating and dare I say broken
reserve system, especially during the summer months. Always keep
your local office advised of problems.
Take care and fly safe!
Sherri Baker
MEC Reserve Chair
SBaker@afausairways.org |
