2017 Mesa AFA Tentative Agreement - Vote Opens: September 7, 2017 at Noon ET Vote Closes: September 27, 2017 at Noon ET - OurContract.org
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2017 Mesa AFA
Tentative Agreement
Vote Opens: September 7, 2017 at Noon ET
Vote Closes: September 27, 2017 at Noon ET
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO | OurContract.org
Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 1
2 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org
Mesa AFA
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO | OurContract.org
Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 3
August 28, 2017 Dear Flying Partners: We are voting on a Tentative Agreement! Your commitment to stand together, wear your red AFA pins and turn out an historic strike vote made the difference. We also had the support and action of Flight Attendants from every other airline in AFA-CWA, along with other union members across the labor movement. Our action with Flight Attendants across our union resulted in a significant change in the dynamics at the negotiating table. You made management move from a model of a low wage job with continual turnover at Mesa to a substantial increase in the airline’s Flight Attendant costs and a contract that creates a career for us at our airline. The new tentative agreement is a game changer for Mesa Flight Attendants. No longer will we lag behind the industry in pay rates and work rules. We’ve gone from ranking dead last on the pay scale among comparable airlines to solidly at or above industry average within a couple of years. In addition, we’ve negotiated new provisions for line guarantee, pay for the greater of actual or scheduled block time, a 200% junior-assignment premium and a preferential bidding system with necessary protections. This contract is really about our career as Mesa Flight Attendants. In fact, for the first time, the contract provides true incentives for us to have a career here. We have achieved increased vacation accruals and new pay steps so that everyone will receive two raises a year throughout the life of the contract and beyond to ensure increases continue while negotiating our next contract. While pay scale increases for the most junior Flight Attendants are small when the contract first goes into effect, new hires will receive four increases in just over a year. During this time, they will also benefit from the other new compensation items in the tentative agreement. Although the focus of our negotiations was on building a career, the new agreement really is a contract for ALL Mesa Flight Attendants. Negotiations are all about timing and leverage. We exercised our leverage at just the right time. Ultimately, this is about you, your family and your vote. We are eager to answer any questions you have to ensure you can cast an informed vote for our future. Watch a webcast 4 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org
or attend a meeting. Flight Attendants will be on hand most days at our
base crew rooms. Get your questions answered and cast your vote by
Noon Eastern Time on Thursday, September 28th.
We are proud of what we have accomplished together and we believe
this Tentative Agreement is a strong step forward. The MEC and the
Negotiating Committee all stand behind this tentative agreement and
urge you to vote YES for our future. We look forward to locking in these
improvements and starting the clock toward our next negotiations to
gain even more. No matter the outcome of this vote we are never done
working to better our careers and we are proud to stand with you for our
future. We are stronger and better together.
In Solidarity,
AFA Mesa Master Executive Council and Negotiating Committee
Heather Stevenson Maggie Fox Melissa Levya-Trujillo
MEC President MEC Vice President MEC Secretary-Treasurer
Andy Ferguson Traci Hagans
Council 56 President Council 88 President
Cathy Lindig Sandra Mills
Negotiating Committee Negotiating Committee
Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 5
Summary of the 2017 Tentative Agreement
Compensation
• Two pay raises a year for all Flight Attendants. In the first year of
the agreement there are three increases for Flight Attendants
currently in the 2nd six months and four increases for Flight
Attendants currently in the 1st six months. Pay charts are on
page 8.
• 74-hour minimum guarantee, increased from 70
• Deadhead pay increased from 50% to 62.5%
• Premium for junior assignment/extensions increased from 150%
to the greater of 200% of what the Company is offering for OT
pick at time of assignment
• Layovers of more than 28 hours paid an additional 2 credit
hours
• Line guarantee: Paid greater of value of original line, 74 hour
guarantee or what you actually flew. (Reduced only if Flight
Attendant chooses to drop flying.)
• Pilot version of greater of scheduled or actual block - will count
actual overfly and compare with line guarantee
• Per Diem
• DOS: $1.60
• DOS + 1: $1.65
• DOS + 2: $1.70
• Beginning on DOS + 3 and every anniversary of DOS
thereafter, the per diem rate will be adjusted by the CPI
• International per diem of additional $25/night per RON outside
continental US, Canada and Mexico
• Company paid KCM
4 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.orgBenefits
• Increased sick leave payout for perfect attendance from 25% to
50% of bank
• Retiring Flight Attendant can cash out entire sick bank if she/he
has perfect attendance in the quarter prior to retirement
• Mesa Flight Attendant eligible to retire based on mainline policy
(Currently American and United are the same: minimum 10
years of service AND age + years of service must equal at least
65)
• Vacation accruals increased:
• 0-12 months - 1 week (no change)
• 1-5 years - 2 weeks (no change)
• 6-15 years (was 20) - 3 weeks
• 16-20 years - 4 weeks
• Over 20 years - 5 weeks
• Vacation will accrue on 12/31 of each year, and must be used by
the following 12/31 (was anniversary date)
• Commuter Policy changes:
• Primary flight—90 minutes; secondary flight 45 minutes
(currently 120 and 90)
• Flight Attendant not required to continue to commute if
last flight she/he could take would arrive within 4 hours
of release time on last day of trip
• Flight Attendants earn one credit per year (now accrues
on anniversary date, not January 1); plus ½ credit per
quarter of perfect attendance
• May use as many times as have credits, except only
once during holiday period
• Hotels: If Flight Attendant eligible to use commuter
clause, company will book hotel room in domicile for
night before checkin; cost will be payroll deducted ($25
per pay period)
Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 5Work Rules
• 24 in 7 rest scheduled in domicile but may be elsewhere due to
irregular ops if Flight Attendant agrees
• Flight Attendant cannot be rescheduled over 16 hours without
consent; time over 16 paid at 150% (maximum scheduled
remains 14 hours)
• Flight Attendant may drop last leg of trip if it is a deadhead (DH),
with no reduction in pay guarantees (minimum, line guarantee)
• Upon request, Company will provide paid hotel room in base if
you RON in base due to reassignment or re-crew
• Preferential bid system:
• Achieved value with PBS including:
• Greater of actual or scheduled block pay
• Line guarantee
• 74-hour guarantee
• 2 hour credit for 28-hour layovers
• Increased vacation accrual
• Specific strong rules to protect vacation time and schedule
flexibility (high and low options)
• Union oversight of all facets of PBS, including training,
implementation and integrity of line awards
• PBS on a trial basis so Flight Attendants can decide for
themselves based on experience.
• Flight Attendants can bid for RT in early, base and grace months
- done before PBS opens so that it will be a planned absence
• Maintained seniority-based SAP (pilots do not have this)
• Reserve order of assignment will be time balanced until all in
domicile reach guarantee, then call me first, call me last
• Reserve blocks cannot be more than 5 days
6 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org• Ready reserve assigned based on legalities, credited hours to
date in the bid period and days of availability
Miscellaneous
• Four year duration, with two additional pay increases after
amendable date.
• Improved Safety Provisions
• Mesa will recognize AFA’s Professional Standards and EAP
• When closing a domicile does not result in decrease in
headcount, Flight Attendants considered displaced and will be
awarded new domicile based on seniority; may pass until no one
more junior.
Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 7Current % DOS
Increase
8 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.orgMesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 9
***Pages 11-13 further explain this chart. For all pay steps, look at the additional money
earned in wages, pages 12-13, plus per diem and other pay factors, page 11.
10 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.orgOther provisions add more Money
Defining our time on the job often increases the number of hours we
are paid on the job. This also provides stability and the ability to plan a
budget because we know what to count on in our paychecks. Our goal
is to make your paycheck bigger at the end of the month. Pay scales are
only one way of doing it – pay guarantees and other pay factors increase
our pay too. Other provisions negotiated add close to 3 million into our
pocket books over the course of the Agreement, including:
• Cancellation pay.
• Line guarantee based on final line award.
• Block or better (paid higher of scheduled or actual).
• Increase in deadhead pay.
• Minimum Guarantee increased to 74 hours.
• Junior assignment pay at 200%.
Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 1112 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org
Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 13
14 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org
Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 15
Questions and Answers We will be posting answers to frequently asked questions several times between now and the end of voting. Check ourcontact.org/mesa for the latest information. We want to make sure you have all of the information necessary to cast a fully informed vote. Please send your questions about the tentative agreement, the voting process, or the Railway Labor Act to info@ourcontract.org. 1. Why do the MEC and the Negotiating Committee recommend a YES vote on the TA? Through our strike vote, our mobilization and the support of other AFA carriers we sent a strong message to Mesa management that we needed immediate contract improvements. We pushed for wage increases that bring us above the average of comparator carriers flying for United and American, contract improvements such as block or better, and contract rules that protect Flight Attendants. We demanded respect for us and the work we do. This TA accomplished all those goals. Our wage scales are above the average of those flying for United and American, providing immediate increases for Mesa Flight Attendants. Increases in per diem and other pay protections such as block or better and line guarantee directly increase take home pay. The TA has a lot of good scheduling rules that will improve our quality of life like the tail end deadhead with no loss of pay, paid hotel room in base if you RON in base due to reassignment or re-crew, etc. Mesa has put about five times more money into this agreement than in the previous TA. And we achieved an amazing intangible: respect. Mesa management is looking at us differently and treating us better. We’ve already seen the difference in the way they’re dealing with us and processing our grievances. In any negotiations, the calculation is always “did you push hard to win what could be won.” Here, the answer is clear. Mesa Flight Attendants stood together to fight for a strong contract. We banded together to take one of the highest strike votes in recent memory at AFA, and we had the support of our sisters and brothers at other AFA airlines. We strongly believe we squeezed every last cent out of the company and far beyond what they intended to pay. We don’t believe holding out and delaying longer will yield a better result and for that reason have recommended a FOR vote on ratification of this agreement. 16 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org
2. How is this Tentative Agreement is good for a new hire Flight
Attendant?
This agreement is about giving New Hire Flight Attendants a reason
to stay at Mesa. Our goal was to transform this from a short term,
high turnover job to a career. Under this Tentative Agreement, a new
hire’s take home annual pay will rise more than $12,500, including
approximately $10,000 in the wage rates alone, $1000 in per diem, and
$1000 from other pay provisions. It’s not just about the beginning wage
increases because these Flight Attendants will progress through the
wage scale, and it’s important to take into account the improved work
rules, and factor in per diem. If the plan is not to stay at Mesa, then
let’s also make it better for those who are. Work rules matter. The better
of scheduled and actual, line guarantee, and increase of the minimum
guarantee benefit all Flight Attendants and will increase monthly take
home pay.
3. I know line guarantee was one of our top bargaining
priorities, but I am not quite sure how it works. Can you
explain it?
Having a line guarantee means that you will always be paid AT LEAST
the value of your awarded line (which is your line after SAP), less any
flying you choose to drop. So regardless of how many cancellations,
reassignments or re-crews you have during a month, you will always be
paid at least the value of your line as it looks when SAP is completed.
Of course, if you drop time, your line guarantee will be reduced by
the same amount. If you pick up flying, it will be paid above the line
guarantee.
Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 174. I looked at the pay chart you posted a few days ago. It should be straightforward, but it’s just not making sense to me. Can you walk me through it? Let’s review a few scenarios to describe how this works. Reference the chart on page 8 to follow along. Sophie – first six months of flying. Sophie has a hire date of May 1, 2017. She is currently paid $15.91 per hour, since she is in her first six months. When the contract goes into effect on (DOS), the new pay rate for the first six months will be $16.00. On November 1, 2017, when she starts her second six months, her pay increases to $17.30 per hour. On her anniversary date of May 1, 2018, she moves to Step 2 and will receive $19.00 per hour. On (DOS +1), Step 2 increases to $19.25. On Sophie’s next anniversary date, May 1, 2019, she moves to Step 3, which will be $21.00. On (DOS +2), Step 3 increases to $21.25. Then on her next anniversary date, May 1, 2020, Sophie moves to Step 4, which will be $23.11. On (DOS +3), Step 4 increases to $23.92. On her next anniversary date, May 1, 2021, Sophie moves to Step 5, which will be $25.82. (In contrast, Step 5 today is $22.54.) Jackson – nearly six years of flying. Jackson’s hire date is October 29, 2011. He is currently at Step 6, or $23.61 per hour. When the new contract takes effect after ratification (DOS), Step 6 will increase to $25.03. On his anniversary date of October 29, 2017, he moves to Step 7 and will receive $25.90 per hour. On DOS +1, Step 7 increases to $26.55. On Jackson’s next anniversary date, October 29, 2018, he moves to Step 8, which will be $27.44. On DOS +2, Step 8 increases to $28.13. Then on his next anniversary date, October 29, 2019, Jackson moves to Step 9, which will be $29.15. On DOS +3, Step 9 increases to $30.17. On his next anniversary date, October 29, 2020, Jackson moves to Step 10, which will be $30.99. (In contrast, Step 10 today is $26.69.) Sheri – 17 years of flying. Sheri was hired on January 14, 2000. She is currently topped out at Step 18, which pays $30.34 per hour. When the contract goes into effect on DOS, she will move to the new step 18, at $33.37. On January 14, she moves to Step 19 and will receive $33.53 per hour. On DOS +1, Step 19 increases to $34.37. On Sheri’s next anniversary date, January 14, 2019, she moves to Step 20, which will be $34.60. On DOS +2, Step 20 increases to $35.47. Then on her next anniversary date, January 14, 2020, Sheri moves to Step 21, which will be $36.00. On DOS +3, Step 21 increases to $37.26. On her next anniversary date, January 14, 2021, Sheri moves to Step 22, which will be $37.82. (In contrast, Step 22 today doesn’t exist, so Sheri would still be earning $30.34 under the current contract.) 18 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org
5. How do line guarantee, minimum guarantee and being paid
the greater of actual or scheduled block work together?
To answer this question, we will start with a quick overview of how
scheduled vs. actual block will be paid. First, your actual block time will
be calculated for each leg. If your actual flight time (for the month) is
greater than your line guarantee, you will be paid the actual flight time.
If your line as awarded was under 74 hours, you would be paid the
greatest of 74 hours (minimum guarantee), your awarded line value, or
the greater of scheduled or actual flight time. In no case would be paid
fewer than 74 hours, unless you voluntarily dropped time or called in
sick and did not have enough sick hours in your bank.
Examples:
1. A Flight Attendant is awarded an 80-hour line. Her total actual flight
time for the month (as calculated on a flight segment basis) is 78 hours
(comprised of 75 hours scheduled and 3 hours of over block). The Flight
Attendant had 5 hours of cancellations. She would be paid 80 hours for
the month.
2. A Flight Attendant is awarded an 80-hour line. His total actual flight
time for the month (as calculated on a flight segment basis) is 82 hours
(comprised of 79 hours scheduled and 3 hours of over block). The Flight
Attendant has 1 hour of flying dropped by the Company for a re-crew.
He would be paid 82 hours for the month.
3. A Flight Attendant is awarded an 80-hour line. Her total actual flight
time for the month (as calculated on a flight segment basis) is 63 hours
(comprised of 60 hours scheduled and 3 hours over block). The Flight
Attendant called in sick for a trip worth 20 hours and flew the rest of
the month as scheduled. She would be paid 83 hours for the month
(assumes sufficient sick bank hours).
4. A Flight Attendant is awarded an 80-hour line. He calls in sick for a
trip worth 20 hours. His actual flight time for the month (as calculated on
a flight segment basis) is 61 hours (comprised of 60 hours scheduled, 2
hours dropped and 3 hours over block). The Flight Attendant would be
paid 81 hours for the month (assumes sufficient sick bank hours).
Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 196. What is PBS? PBS stands for preferential bidding system. When you use PBS, you bid on trips, rather than on lines. You enter certain preferences (such as check-in time, trip length, credit value), and the system fulfills your preferences based on the trips available at your seniority. It starts with the most senior Flight Attendant in each base and works its way down the domicile seniority list. Reserves bid for days on and off, and then for their preferred reserve shift. In PBS, there are no pre-built lines and no bid packets. Instead, you will bid directly for the trips themselves. The combination of trips you receive will be your line. You can bid for trips by pairing number and date (which works best if you’re senior) or by a description of the types of trips you like to fly. For example, if you’re a commuter, you might bid for high- time 4-day trips that check in after noon and release before noon. If you are dating someone who lives in TUS, you can bid for trips with TUS layovers. You can also bid for specific days off. PBS is a big change. AFA trainers will be available to help you learn the system. We are committed to a substantial training period before PBS “goes live.” The Tentative Agreement includes strong protections including AFA Scheduling committee role in reviewing PBS awards, strong contract language governing PBS and guarantees of a transition process to PBS including parallel bids. 7. Can we go on strike if we vote this TA down? The short answer is not right away, but we want to give a longer, more helpful answer. Like all airline labor negotiations, we are governed by the Railway Labor Act (“RLA”). Under the RLA, the National Mediation Board (“NMB”) has authority to decide whether a union can legally strike. Our strike vote authorized the MEC to lobby the NMB for a proffer at an appropriate time so that we could be released into a 30-day cooling off period. The MEC recently passed a resolution that they would seek a proffer if we did not reach a TA at our last mediation session. If the TA is voted down, that is where we will be. We would immediately begin the process of requesting a proffer, which is the first step to achieving the legal right to strike. This generally takes several months, and given that the President has still not appointed the new members of the NMB, it could be even longer. And that is assuming that this administration would allow a strike in the first place—which is by no means a certainty. It’s equally likely that at the end of the cooling-off 20 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org
period, the President could order a Presidential Emergency Board—
another form of arbitration.
Ultimately, each Flight Attendant has to ask herself/himself if waiting
another year (or more) is worth the risk. Waiting could result in the same
contract, a worse one, or a better one. It depends on the economy, how
Mesa is doing at the time, and whether we will be allowed to strike at all.
In the meantime, we will have worked another year under our (sub-par)
current agreement.
Voting
8. When can I cast my vote?
Voting is open September 7, 2017 at Noon Eastern Time through
September 28, 2017 at Noon Eastern Time.
9. How do I cast a vote?
Voting is done electronically by phone or internet. Balloting is conducted
electronically through VoteNet Solutions, the leading provider of secure
on-demand voting and balloting software and telephone voting for
unions, membership, trade and other organizations. The member voting
credentials are provided directly to the printer used by VoteNet and do
not pass through AFA. Duplicate instructions are also only provided
by the VoteNet system. A link to the VoteNet secure site is accessible
through OurContract.org once balloting opens. Simple vote instructions
are included on the back cover of this booklet.
10. Once I cast a vote, can I access the system again if I change
my mind?
This voting process is the same as the Strike Vote. Once a ballot is cast,
it cannot be changed.
11. What should I do if my voting instructions don’t arrive or I
lose them?
Call the AFA Ballot Help Line Monday-Friday from 9 am to 5 pm at 800-
424-2401, press 1, and extension 706. Outside of office hours leave a
message. Your message will be returned the following business day.
Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 2112. Who Votes on a Tentative Agreement?
Eligibility to vote will be determined prior to the ballot mailing. The
Tentative Agreement (TA) summary and balloting instructions will be
provided to all members eligible to vote, including members who have
the opportunity to become eligible during the voting process.
All active AFA Members in good standing (dues current, active AFA
member) are eligible to vote. Members ineligible due to non-payment of
dues will be notified when attempting to vote and will be directed to the
AFA Membership Department to become current in order to vote.
Inactive Members (Leaves of Absence of more than 3 months, etc.)
may choose to “leave and remain active” to continue payment of dues
during the leave in order to be eligible to vote. Contact the AFA Ballot
Help Line at 800-424-2401, press 1 and extension 706, to complete the
process to “leave and remain active.”
New Flight Attendants who are scheduled to become a dues paying
member (four months of flying) before the ballot closes will be able to
vote during the entire period the ballot is open.
AFA Board of
Directors marching
outside Mesa
Headquarters in
Phoenix, Arizona on
June 23, 2017.
22 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.orgWe stood together. Other Flight Attendants and supporters stood with
us. These are pictures of some of the locations where our supporters
stood up for us.
Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 23Notes: 24 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org
Notes: Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.org 25
2017 Tentative Agreement
Quick Reference Voting Guide
Steps to Vote by Telephone: Steps to Vote by Internet:
1. Dial 1-888-488-7288. 1. Go to OurContract.org
2. Enter your Activation Code. click on “Mesa AFA 2017
3. Write down your Username. Tentative Agreement Vote.”
4. Create, confirm and write 2. Enter your activation code.
down your password, 3. Write down your Username.
4-number minimum. 4. Create, confirm and write
5. Follow the prompts to cast down your password,
your vote. 8-number minimum.
6. Write down your 5. Follow the prompts to cast
confirmation number. your vote.
6. Print your confirmation.
Important Voting Notes
• Remember, once your vote is cast, you cannot change it. Get all of
your questions answered before you cast your vote.
• If you need a new Activation Code or technical assistance call the
Ballot Help Line at 800-424-2401, press 1 and then ext. 706.
For more information, go to:
OurContract.org
26 Mesa AFA 2017 Tentative Agreement | OurContract.orgYou can also read
