7.07.22 – APFA PHX Base Brief – August 2022 Staffing and Allocations

Thursday, July 7, 2022

August 2022 Allocations and Staffing

On Sunday, July 3, 2022, APFA Base representation had the monthly staffing call with the Company. Representing the PHX Base were Robin Agee and Secorra Flowers.

The Reserve percentages at all the bases were over 20% for August, with PHX, SFO, and LAX having the highest percentages. When Robin spoke regarding the projections for PHX, she brought to their attention that the absenteeism in PHX has slowly declined and does not warrant the 24.3% Reserve average slated for August.

Crew Planning continuously noted to the other Base Presidents with high projected August Reserve numbers that weather and the number of flights that pass through their bases (DFW and CLT) were just a few reasons for the higher Reserve numbers. When PHX was given the opportunity to speak, Robin mentioned that we do not have inclement weather nor a high number of flights going through PHX to warrant the highest Reserve numbers of any base.

It was noted that if the Company was trying to upset the FAs with high Reserve numbers, they were too late. That shipped sailed a long time ago. We also noted that morale is the lowest we have seen since 1990, when Robin began her career with the airline, and it starts with the Reserve numbers. While we were told they would look at the PHX numbers and see if they could reduce the number of Reserves, we have heard that statement before, and nothing was changed.

APFA National President Julie Hedrick spoke out for all the bases regarding the unacceptably high Reserves and line averages. Once again, a meeting at the end of each month to discuss how the staffing was utilized was requested.

The allocations call to discuss the sequence construction, type of trips (i.e. number of 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-day sequences, ODANs, red eyes, etc.), any contractual violations, the length of duty day and overnights, was held July 3rd after the staffing call.

For August, PHX will see an increase of 3,242 hours of flying, going from 56,189 in July to 59,431 in August. PHX will see an increase in 1-days by 2%, 2-days by 1% of our flying, with a decrease in 3 days of 3% and an increase of 1% in our 4-day sequences, (3% to 4%) with the high majority commutable. ODANs increased from 8.6 to 10. While we do not like seeing an increase in 4-days, it is a very small increase.

Secorra spoke for PHX and voiced that while we are happy with the increase in the 1- and 2-days. We would like to see more. She also noted that a higher percentage of the multiple leg 1-days have very little sit time, making them more desirable.

As for the quality of the sequences, we noticed that while there are still some 3+ hour sit times, they are mostly limited to DFW/CLT/ORD/MIA and always with a plane change. These sit times are not limited to PHX but are systemwide. We requested to see more commutable 2-days, in addition to the ability for Flight Attendants to bid back-to-back 2-days in PBS. An increase in 1- and 2-days and a decrease in the 3-days is also preferable for flexibility.

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Bid Sheet Information

Since paper copies of the Bid Sheets are no longer printed you may not know about some of the information available on the Flight Service website. The Flight Service Website now has a Bidding & Resource Tab where you can find the Current and Archived Bid Sheets.

The PBS Cover Sheet PDF has a lot of useful information:

• Bidding Timeline
• Support Tab Information
• VIP Crew Phone Tree Prompt Directory
• Contractual Scheduling Charts for Duty Days and Rest Periods
• How to find Standby and RAP information for your base
• Onboard Service Information
• Equipment Bid Position Information by A/C
• Service Highlights
• Changes to the Master Bid Sheet
• Equipment codes
• Monthly Airline Schedule Highlights
• Monthly Sequence Construction Highlights
• Charters

Hotel and Transportation information has been moved to its own document (Master Hotel List):

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Calling out Sick
If you know you are going to be missing work and taking a Block FMLA or Medical Leave. Make sure you keep track of the paperwork progress. You are responsible for calling out sick to avoid and Missed Trips (TM) or Late Sick/Sick on Contact (LC). We encourage you to contact Crew Scheduling and call out sick for the block of days you know you will not be available.

You do not have to call out trip by trip, or day by day, you may call out in advance. If you do not know the ending date of the leave, then do not call out too far in advance, but just keep track of what your Schedule states.

The APFA National Health Department is a great resource should you have any questions regarding Medical Leaves.

Here is the link to the APFA Health Department page:
https://www.apfa.org/departments/health-department/

Email Address:
[email protected]

Online Contact Form:
https://www.apfa.org/departments/health-department/health-department-contact-form/

Phone Number:
817-540-0108, ext. 1, 3

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New COVID-19 Absence Procedures

APFA has reached an agreement with American on a procedure to mitigate attendance infractions for Flight Attendants who test positive for COVID-19. The changes went into effect on July 5, 2022, and is retroactively applied.

If you have had a positive COVID-19 absence with a “proctored test” between April 4, 2022, and July 4, 2022, attendance points will be mitigated for up to five (5) days from the date of your positive test or the onset date of your symptoms – whichever is earlier. Proctored tests include those administered in pharmacies, local testing centers, health care provider offices or tests proctored virtually. Self-tests are not eligible.

If you received an attendance point, you may recode the absence through Comply365 on your iPhone EFB:

• Open the Comply365 app.
• Enter your company ID and password.
• Select the “My Forms” icon.
• Select the appropriate AAFA > FA Admin Requests>COVID-19 Sick Call Recode form and fill out the form.
• Click Submit at the top right.

You may also recode the attendance point on your personal device:

• Log in to the Comply365 website: aa.comply365.net
• Click on My Forms on the homepage.
• Select AAFA > FA Admin Requests > COVID-19 Sick Call Recode. 
• Select and fill out the appropriate form.
• Click Submit at the bottom right.

If you have questions regarding recode requests, please reach out to Flight Service Administration at 800-VIP-CREW, 6,2. You will receive acknowledgment at the email you provide  when completing the form.

If you have a positive COVID-19 “proctored test” from today moving forward, you will not incur attendance points for COVID-19 sick-related absences for up to five (5) days from the date of your positive test or the onset date of your symptoms – whichever is earlier. You must provide a request for recode within seven (7) days of the positive test, although exceptions to this seven day requirement will be considered.

Please use Absence Tracker to open a medical leave of absence if you need more time off past the initial recode. Continue to call in sick to Crew Scheduling until your medical leave of absence is approved or once you are able to return to work.

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Contract Negotiations and the Contract ACTION Team

The new Negotiations page offers more transparency to the negotiations process then we have seen in the past. Remember, knowledge is power! This is your source for factual information, and exactly where we are in the negotiation process. Check the page often for updates.

As Activists for the Contract ACTION Team, you will be a direct link between the general membership and our Negotiations Committee. You will be tasked with talking to your flying partners about communication sent out by the Union’s Negotiations Committee, directing Flight Attendants how to sign up for the hotlines, how to access information as well as how to participate in ACTION events such as: email campaigns, base, regional and systemwide events.

As we continue to build our movement, we encourage all PHX Flight Attendants to sign up as Activists.

https://www.apfa.org/contract-action-team-sign-up/

You can get the latest updates on negotiations by visiting ContractAction.org.

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APFA PHX Phone Number
800-595-1471

• Ext. 1 – National Office and Contract & Scheduling Desk
• Ext. 2 – PHX Base President Robin Agee
• Ext. 3 – PHX Base Vice President Secorra Flowers
• Ext. 4 – Mandatory Meeting Representation
• Ext. 5 – Medical and Injury on Duty
• Ext. 6 – Reserves
• Ext. 0 – General Questions

Save the image below, for when you do not have access to the internet:

Please reach out to us with any questions or concerns.

In Solidarity,

Robin Agee
APFA PHX Base President
480-238-2303
[email protected]

Secorra Flowers
APFA PHX Base Vice President
602-551-8116
[email protected]