8.12.24 – 2024 Tentative Agreement Update #7: Pay Scale/ Reserve Economic Improvements

Monday, August 12, 2024

2024 Tentative Agreement Update #7
Pay Scale/ Reserve Economic Improvements

In this hotline:

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Base Visit and Virtual Town Hall Schedule
• Virtual Town Halls #1 and #2
• Need More Information on the Tentative Agreement?

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions from new-hire and mid-level seniority Flight Attendants.

Q1: I keep hearing I have two raises each year if I am not at the top of the pay scale. Can you explain how I move through the pay scale?

A: Many Flight Attendants hired in the last five years have not experienced a key benefit of having a union contract, which includes two pay increases per year.One increase is on the date of contract signing and the negotiated increases that follow each year, and the other increase is on their personal anniversary date.

For example, in the chart below, a 2nd year Flight Attendant is currently paid $32.18. On the Date of Signing (DOS) of October 1st, 2024, they will move to $37.97. Then, on their anniversary date, they will move to $40.40. On October 1, 2025 (DOS +1), they’ll move to $44.21 and so on. By the end of the contract (DOS+4), they will be paid $66.81, a 108% increase.

The 108% increase in the above example does not include the addition of Boarding Pay which is paid above guarantee and will significantly increase earnings.

click photo to enlarge

Q2: Why are step increases different for different seniority levels?

A: As you will notice, the pay increases from steps 1-6 are 18%, from 7 to 12 are 19% and the top step is 20.5%.

The reason is when we pushed for industry-leading pay (inclusive of Boarding Pay), the top step of the pay scale was furthest behind the industry and required a slightly higher increase when compared to the Southwest pay scale. We encourage all Flight Attendants to use the wage comparison chart to ascertain that the varying percentages were necessary in order to be industry-leading at each pay step.

Adjusting pay scales based on actual steps is standard procedure. This is standard as one can see from the Alaska Airlines agreement and internally within the company with the prior mechanics agreement.

Q3: What are some other economic improvements for reserves contained in this Tentative Agreement?

A: One of the major focuses of negotiations was securing economic and scheduling Reserve improvements. For Flight Attendants serving Reserve, the Tentative Agreement will directly boost earning potential by opening up more ways to be paid above guarantee, and will improve Reserve quality of life.

First, Reserve Flight Attendants will receive their Boarding Pay above guarantee. Additionally, the actual economic impact of the agreement will depend upon how many segments each Flight Attendant flies. We encourage all Flight Attendants to use the boarding pay calculator to see the actual economic impact on their month’s schedule.

The Tentative Agreement adds more items paid above Reserve guarantee, including Sit Rig, Boarding Pay, Hotel Penalty Pay, TTS/UBL pickups on days off, and 30 minutes per day of vacation in blocks of 6 or less days.

Currently, per diem, position premiums, Voluntary Extension pay and training pay are paid above Reserve guarantee. All of these were increased under the 2024 Tentative Agreement. In addition, picking up ETB on days off, international pay, holding time, holiday pay, and red flag all pay above guarantee.

Click here to see three examples of Reserve economic improvements at varying seniorities by comparing what Reserve schedules pay today vs. the Tentative Agreement.

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Base Visit and Virtual Town Hall Schedule

All remaining Base Visits begin at 1030am HBT and end at 1430 HBT. Base visit specific locations may be found here.

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Check out the August 6th Virtual Town Hall #2, where we addressed more of your frequently asked questions.

00:00 – Welcome
01:12 – Implementation Timeline
03:55 – Delayed Programming Boarding Pay
09:11 – Delayed Contract Concerns
17:04 – Outcome of TA Vote
23:23 – Boarding Pay vs Wages
32:27 – Inflation & COLA
35:44 – How the TA is Industry Leading
42:00 – Retro Pay Q&A
46:16 – 401(k) & Profit Sharing Q&A
49:55 – Holiday Q&A
50:50 – Compensation Q&A
55:15 – APFA Website Calculators
57:45 – Boarding Pay Q&A
01:03:40 – Sit Rig Q&A
01:08:32 – Hotel Penalty Pay Q&A
01:11:36 – Cartels Q&A
01:13:43 – Deadheading Q&A
01:18:08 – Electronic Communication System (ECS) Q&A
01:23:44 – Reserve High Seniority Bases & Reserve Q&A
01:31:44 – TTS/UBL Q&A
01:33:35 – TTS/UBL Q&A (and Retro Pay question follow up clarification)
01:33:38 – RHRA Q&A
01:40:10 – Attendance Policy Q&A
01:41:36 – Miscellaneous Q&A

To watch the full video, click here

July 31, 2024 Virtual Town Hall #1

Your APFA Negotiating Committee hosted its first virtual town hall on Wednesday, July 31st, 2024, to discuss the 2024 Tentative Agreement.

Chapters:

00:00 – Welcome and Negotiations Process Recap
07:35 – Economics (Joe Burns and Dan Akins)
27:06 – TA Wages & Compensation (Joe Burns and Dan Akins)
40:43 – Other TA Economic Components (Joe Burns and Dan Akins)
42:27 – 401k Improvements & Profit Sharing (Joe Burns and Dan Akins)
49:40 – Implementation Timeline (Joe Burns and Dan Akins)
56:13 – Next Steps
01:01:53 – Retro Pay
01:07:10 – Boarding Pay & Position Pay
01:10:49 – Holiday Pay
01:11:38 – Compensation for Hotel Delays & Hotel Penalty Pay
01:13:47 – Vacation Pay & Credit
01:15:01 – Protected Work Rules
01:20:40 – PBS, TTS, UBL Improvements
01:27:55 – Pay Protections
01:31:53 – Satellite Bases
01:33:28 – Misuse of Scheduling Systems
01:34:40 – Electronic Communications System (ECS)
01:38:06 – Completed Trip
01:38:57 – Sit Rig & Boarding times
01:42:15 – Voluntary Extension (VE)
01:43:08 – Reserve Pay Above Guarantee
01:50:50 – Reserve Rotation & Scheduling Improvements
02:11:38 – Section 15 Foreign Language Speaker
02:13:10 – Deadheading & Self-Booking
02:15:30 – Deadhead Stand-Up
02:17:30 – Transfers
02:18:50 – IOD & RHRA
02:20:07 – Section 29 Training
02:21:05 – Grievances
02:23:15 – Changes to Commuting
02:24:05 – Crew Rest
02:24:33 – Miscellaneous
02:31:00 – Q&A

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