Tap here to download Minimum Pay Rules or Ratios in Guarantee (RIG)
Contract 101
Article 21 – Compensation
Minimum Pay Rules -or- Ratios in Guarantee (RIGs)
Too often you will hear someone say that we are unpaid while at work…during boarding, for example. This is actually not the case. As TWU Local 556 Members, our Contract contains four different RIGS (or Minimum Pay Rules) which are in place to protect our pay and ensure that we are compensated for all of our time on duty. There are two duty RIGs (DHR and DPM), meaning they are calculated daily, and two trip RIGs (THR and ADG) in place to protect the entirety of the pairing. For more information about these four RIGs, check out Article 21.22 of our CBA.
REMEMBER: We are paid the RIG (minimum pay) or what we work, whichever is greater.
Average Daily Guarantee (ADG)
Average Daily Guarantee (ADG) ensures that an original pairing pays no less than an average of 6.50 TFP per scheduled day of duty. This means that an original turn must pay at least 6.50 TFP, an original 2-day must pay at least 13.00 TFP, an original 3-day must pay at least 19.50 TFP, and an original 4-day must pay at least 26.00 TFP.
“What is ADG, and how do I know if my trip has this RIG applied?”
ADG makes sure that over the course of your trip, you are paid a minimum of 6.50 TFP per day on average. ADG is one of the most commonly applied RIGs.
The “A” next to the total trip credit indicates that ADG has been applied to this pairing.
Helpful Tip:
If you are looking to work a trip for VJA, keep in mind that you are only paid the greater of the RIG – OR – 1.5x on actual trips worked (leg credits, overfly, etc.). Keep an eye out for this little “A” when picking up for VJA!
If the trip above was VJA, it would not pay 29.25 TFP (19.50 TFP x 1.5).
It would pay 28.80 TFP (19.20 TFP x 1.5).
Duty Period Minimum (DPM)
“What is Duty Period Minimum (DPM)? How do I know if my trip has this RIG?”
DPM ensures that every duty period pays AT LEAST 4.00 TFP. This day’s leg credits would only total 2.60 TFP. The DPM kicks in and bumps it up to 4.00 TFP for the day. The “M” after that day’s trip credit indicates that DPM has been applied.
Notice the 3-day trip total on the same trip and how it is coded. The “A” indicates the ADG RIG has been applied. So, this trip actually has two RIGS! The DPM didn’t work to bring the trip pay up to the required minimum pay for a 3-day… so the ADG did!
Duty Hour Ratio (DHR)
“I’ve heard about DHR… but what is it?”
Duty Hour Ratio (DHR) says that you will be paid the greater of what your trip legs pay from all sources -OR- a ratio of .74 for every hour on duty (including the 30 minute debrief into an overnight). Keep in mind that DHR adjustments will not show up on your trip until the duty day is complete and the flight times are confirmed.
20/60 = 0.333 + 9 = 9.333 (decimal equivalent of 9:20 hours)
9.333 x 0.74 TFP = 6.91 TFP
This RIG helps protect our pay when lengthy delays and IROPs affect our duty day.
Trip Hour Ratio (THR)
“There’s one more RIG, right? What is it and how will I know it’s been applied?”
Trip Hour Ratio (THR) is the last of the Article 21.22 – Compensation RIGs. THR guarantees a minimum of 1.0 TFP for every 3 hours away from base (check-in to end of debrief, scheduled or actual, whichever is later). You will know this has been applied to your trip if there is a “T” next to your trip credit. This RIG protects our time away from base on the entirety of the pairing.
Prorated and Split Pairings
“Why are there trips in Open Time and Trip Trade/Giveaway that pay less than these minimums?”
Flight Attendants will often times “SIP out” or giveaway portions of their trip when they are scheduled to fly back through base. If a pairing that was SIP’d has RIGs on it, the duty periods where the SIP occurs will have the applicable RIGs prorated to equally distribute the RIG TFP amongst the duty periods.
You can tell this trip has been prorated by the “P” next to the trip credit. This turn is not an original trip so the ADG (6.50 TFP) is not applicable and it will only pay 4.90 TFP.
This pairing was originally attached to more flying. You can see the original trip before the SIP by clicking on the blue link (“Originally Trip OA84”).