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Los Angeles E-Connection

by | Dec 21, 2022 | Base News, Los Angeles

Note: The following update was emailed to Los Angeles Flight Attendants on December 21, 2022. If you’d like to receive emails from TWU Local 556, please email communications@staging1.twu556.org.

I’ve got some good news to share – since the month of November – LAX has had over 1,000 + Flight Attendants. While this year started off with a lot of uncertainty, we are now experiencing solid growth for our base and starting off 2023 with 1096 LAX-based Flight Attendants. I am proud to represent you, and I hope you will share in our base reaching this milestone.

Los Angeles (LAX) and Oakland (OAK) based Flight Attendants are still covered under the 2022 COVID-19 Supplemental Sick Leave Policy through December 31, 2022. If you need to utilize this supplemental sick leave, please contact an LAX Base Supervisor. While we are still advocating for an extension of this policy, we are unsure if it will continue beyond the current timeframe.

I will be participating in the virtual townhall style meetings in the New Year, and I hope we are able to connect through this platform. See more information below and be on the lookout for our first scheduled townhall.

I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season. Whether you are with the family your were given, or the family you have created,  I hope you are able to spend some extra time with them this month.

As always, thank you for consistently proving our base to be a shining example of what makes Southwest Airlines legendary. I am humbled and grateful to be able to serve as your LAX base representative.

In Solidarity,

 

Mark Torrez

TWU Local 556 Los Angeles Domicile Executive Board Member

 Base News

Welcome to LAX

For those of you new to LAX, please utilize this helpful guide. There is information about employee parking options, commuter hotels, local happenings, and essential base information. 

LAX Welcome Letter

Holiday Traffic 
With the busy holiday season upon us, there will be increased shuttle times. Please plan to give yourself some extra time, and don’t forget, in addition to your free quarterly Might Be Late (MBL), we also have our annual bonus MBL if you haven’t used it yet in 2022. Remember to say “bonus” when utilizing the bonus MBL. Also, please note that you must check-in with Crew Scheduling after using your MBL to avoid any additional attendance infractions. 

Uniform Reminder on APSB
When sitting APSB, the expectation is that you are ready at a moment’s notice to go to board a flight or be assigned a pairing. Please do not take a chance and potentially delay getting to a gate because you had to change into your uniform. 

Regulatory Requirement Flight Reminder
Please make sure you’re reporting to the gate at least 45 minutes prior to your scheduled departure on regulatory requirement flights this includes Hawaii and International.

Predesignation of Personal Physician Form for OJI
One of the benefits of being based in LAX, as well as OAK, is that we are able to designate a physician in the event we are injured on the job. With the new year coming up, you may have scheduled appointments with your physician, please keep in mind that your physician must take Workman’s Comp Insurance. 

Click for the Predesignation of Personal Physician Form.

 Info To Know

Toys for Tots Virtual Toy Drive 
The 2022 holiday season marks the 75th anniversary of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program! Please join us in participating in this year’s Virtual Toy Drive. Participating virtually allows the organization to distribute funds to serve the needs of communities best. click here to make a donation. 
Fare Saver Codes
Annual Fare Saver Codes have been sent to your Company email. A total of four (4) codes have been distributed to you. Each code is valid for one-time use on Southwest Airlines domestic and international flights. To be eligible to receive the codes, you must have been a Southwest Employee by October 31, 2022. Far Save Codes cannot be replaced. Company emails are saved for ninety (90) days. Please make sure you print the codes, take a screen grab of the codes, or record the codes before the email is archived. The codes can not be recovered or replaced. For more information, check your company email from November 22, 2022. 

KCM Rules for Use, effective November 21, 2022
While procedures for Crew Members using Known Crewmember (KCM) have not changed, the following information was shared with airlines by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). As such, you may notice more conversation and/or questions when using Known Crewmember (KCM) to ensure everyone is following procedures.

Effectively immediately, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has provided new guidance to the Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) staffing the Known Crewmember® (KCM®) Access Points. TSOs are directed to advise crewmembers utilizing the KCM® access points of the following procedures that are not allowed.

  • Advise the crewmember/s that they:
    • Are not allowed to carry property belonging to other individuals through the KCM® Access Point,
    • Must not be in possession of any TSA-prohibited items, weapons, or firearms,
    • May not access the sterile area through the KCM® access point if any portion of their travel itinerary includes personal international travel.
  • If the crewmember/s indicates possession of the items above or personal international travel, the TSO will notify a Supervisory-TSO (STSO). The STSO must:
    • Deny entry and inform the crewmember/s, as applicable, that they are not authorized through the KCM® access point.
    • Direct the crewmember/s with personal international travel on their itinerary to the passenger screening checkpoint.

Visit https://www.knowncrewmember.org/rules/ for more information.
DEBM Virtual EConnection coming in 2023
Virtual EConnection Zoomcast is coming to a base near you. Your Domicile Executive Board Members (DEBM’s) are working on a new way to engage and speak directly with you. Once per quarter we are planning to host a virtual outreach for our base(s)

  1. EConnection Zoomcast once per quarter. The zoomcast will give Members a chance to engage with their DEBM, ask questions, and receive any news the DEBM has shared about the base.
  2. The initial plan is to hold this with in conjunction with other bases that face similar issues. An Example of a thiswould be LAX and OAK co-hosting a Zoomcast, inviting Members from those bases.
  3. The first DEBM EC Zoomcast is planned for March 2023, please watch for future communications on registering for your event.

We are excited to bring forward this new option for Flight Attendants in their
bases and look forward to our first meeting.

Professional Standards
Talk it Out – Don’t Write it Up! 

Over the last several months we have seen an increase in the number of Flight Attendants writing up another Flight Attendant. We want to take this opportunity to remind you of an important resource that may be able to assist in resolving any type of conflict you may encounter.

As safety professionals we should first attempt to resolve the conflict by talking it out especially while on duty. We all have stressors off the job that can impact our performance at work. Just as we do with de-escalating a situation with a customer – we should use the same skills to try to resolve any on-duty conflict. Also keep in mind if you verbally report an incident to any Supervisor or Base Manager (including the NOC Base Manager) that could cause a Flight Attendant to be called in for a meeting. 

If you are unable to resolve the conflict then contacting Professional Standards should be the next step. Professional Standards are trained peers who will help support and guide you through resolving an issue with a co-worker. They will also be able to guide you through whether or not the incident rises to the level of needing to notify management. 

Please save Professional Standards contact information in your phone and share with others if you witness a situation or if someone seeks out advice about an incident. 
The views contained herein do not necessarily represent those of TWU Local 556 or TWU International. The purpose of this email communication is intended only to educate and inform TWU Local 556 Members. It is not intended to officially establish or clarify past practice, Contract language, or grievance/arbitration positions. It is therefore not to be utilized or relied upon by any person or party as evidence of the Union’s position on any past practices, Contract language, grievances/arbitrations, or any other disputes or issues between TWU Local 556 and Southwest Airlines.