Catching Up with Local 556

We hope all of you had a great Thanksgiving week, and thank you to everyone who was out there showing time and time again why we deserve a Contract.

On November 18, 2022, the last Inflight Class graduated for the year. The most senior person was hired on June 18, 1971, and the most junior person was hired on November 19, 2022. Ending what has been a historic year and the largest our Membership has ever been, with 19,378 Flight Attendants on the seniority list.

The MCO Picket was postponed due to Hurricane Ian, but we are happy to report that we will be holding the picket on December 16, 2022. We welcome all who want to attend and hope that we can show Management that we are ready for the long fight. Wearing your union pin is another way to show your support as we continue through the mediation process.

A season of kindness – in our jobs, we encounter all sorts of people – fellow employees, van drivers, restaurant workers, and hotel staff. We all share in common that we are working during the Holidays. While you’re out working or traveling this Holiday Season remember a little kindness can go a long way.

We wish you good physical and mental health this Holiday Season. With all of our newest Flight Attendants out there flying, please remember when you were new – the first holidays away from family and friends can be the hardest. Check on each other and know resources are available if you or someone you’re flying with is struggling. Holidays can mean different things to those in our diverse workgroup. 

In Unity, 

Ashley Breuer and Drew Shy 
TWU Local 556 Communications Co-Chairpersons

Find the perfect holiday gift that carries a Union label and is made in the USA.

In recognition of the Christmas Holiday, the Union Office hours will be 0900 – 1700 Central Time (CT) on Friday, December 23, 2023, and Monday, December 26, 2022, and for the New Year’s Holiday on Monday, January 2, 2023. You may reach a Grievance Team Specialist by calling (214) 640-4300 or utilizing the TWU Local 556 Chat App.

As a reminder, December 25, Christmas Day, and December 31, New Year’s Day, are designated PIN Black Out Days. A Doctor’s Note can still be used to avoid point accrual for these days. You may use only one Doctor’s Note per quarter. For more information, review Article 32: Attendance Policy of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). 

The 2023 Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Program is underway. The application for a one-time grant of $1,500 has opened for high school seniors whose parent or legal guardian belongs to a union affiliated both with the Texas AFL-CIO and any applicable Central Labor Council (CLC). The program is highly competitive and is judged on grades, extracurricular activities, financial need, performance on a test about the basics of labor unions, and a local interview. CLC Scholarship Committees evaluate applications and make recommendations to the Texas AFL-CIO Scholarship Committee. Notification of scholarship awards will take place by early June. 

The postmark deadline for applying is January 31, 2023.

For the 2023 high school application, click below:

For further scholarship application, click below:

With December, we have a few important areas of the Contract to highlight. December has some important attendance and sick bank accrual language. In addition, we bid for January during December, so it is essential to understand how our bid months for the first quarter of the year are slightly different than the rest of the year.

December Record Improvement Bonus – Article 32.7.B
Regarding attendance points, if you have a perfect December, you can reduce your point total by an additional one point or bank into the negative by an additional point. This is the only way to attain a negative seven (-7) point total.

Remember that you must be active for all of December to be eligible for this December Bonus. Using FMLA, being on a Medical Leave, receiving a No Show, etc., will disqualify you from this point improvement. However, Jury Duty and Funeral Leave will not affect your ability to attain a Perfect December. Also, utilizing your Free Quarterly Might Be Late (MBL), and yearly Bonus MBL will not affect your ability to have a perfect December.

Increase in Sick Bank Accrual – Article 16.1.B
In addition to the Perfect Attendance for December, you can accrue additional sick bank. Our regular sick bank accrual is one (1) TFP of sick time for every ten (10) TFP worked. In December, with Perfect Attendance, the accrual rate is one and a half (1.5) TFP for every ten (10) TFP worked. For example, if you work 100 TFP in a month, our normal accrual rate is ten (10) TFP in your sick bank. In December, you would earn fifteen (15) TFP for your sick bank, if you worked 100 TFP.

First Quarter Bid Periods – Article 5
Because February is a shorter month, our bid months in the first quarter of every year (January, February, March) are adjusted to even out February. 

• January Bid Month is January 1 – January 30
• February Bid Month is January 31 – March 1
• March Bid Month is March 2 – March 31

These adjusted months are always in effect, regardless of leap year.

Please take a look at the graphic below for these adjusted Bid Months.

Save the date! The 2023 First Membership Meeting will be held on Monday, April 24, 2023. More information to come at a later date.

A primary and secondary amendment was made to the motion on the floor at the 2022 Third Membership Meeting. Per TWU Local 556 Bylaws, these amendments will be deliberated and voted on at the 2023 First Membership Meeting.

Primary Amendment:
I move to amend the motion on the floor by striking  “effective immediately” and adding  “upon ratification of a Tentative Agreement approved by the Membership.” 

Secondary Amendment:
I move to amend the amendment on the floor by striking “upon ratification of a Tentative Agreement approved by the Membership.” and inserting the words, “30 days after the last Membership Meeting of 2023.” 

The main motion will be deliberated and voted on at the 2023 Second Membership Meeting.

Main Motion:
I move to remove the Negotiation Assessment fee, effective immediately. 

Future Leaders Organizing Committee (FLOC) is devoted to empowering and educating the new and young workers of the Transport Workers Union. FLOC works to excel the next generation of union workers by giving them the tools, resources, and relationships that will prepare them to take action and further workers’ rights.

FLOC was first established in 2018 by International Administrative Vice President Mike Mayes, who saw a need for a young workers committee for the Transport Workers Union (TWU). Vice President Mayes sent three young workers to observe an overseas Young Workers Committee Meeting for the Rail, Maritime, and Transport Workers Union (RMT). After attending the conference, the young workers hosted the first FLOC conference in December 2018. During the conference, workers attended workshops, participated in leadership-building activities, and networked with other young workers throughout the TWU.

For questions or information, please email floc@staging1.twu556.org. 

In Unity,

Alison Head
TWU Local 556 Atlanta Domicile Executive Board Member and TWU Local 556 Future Leaders Organizing Committee Chairperson

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.