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Education Committee

The TWU Local 556 Education Committee is tasked with providing educational content for our Membership to be used as helpful resources. While the focus is primarily on current Contractual language education, we have also introduced Local 556, Labor, and Work Rule pieces. This page will provide our Members a library of all Education Committee content, including: “Contract 101” series, “Contract 201” continuation series, “Basics of” resources, hosted Education Committee Zoomcast recordings, and more. We look forward to growing this library and continuing to create useful resources in multiple formats for you, our Union Family.

If you have any questions about current Contract language, please reach out to the Committee via email at education@staging1.twu556.org.

The Basics

Basics of Bidding

From primary to secondary bids, how to find the Electronic Bidding System (EBS), and how to verify your bid results (and who to contact if an error is found) – We’ve got you covered!

Basics of Fatigue

When snowstorms, hurricanes, aircraft issues (the list goes on) arise, we can end up on long duty days and short overnights. While we do not have a “drop dead” clause in our Contract, we do have language in Article 25 that pertains to when a Flight Attendant is unsafe to fly or perform required duties. Let’s take a moment to discuss this language. Updated to include the 10-Hour Rest Rule.

 

Basics of Floating Vacation

Floating Vacation (FV) is defined in Article 5 of our CBA as “(a) week of vacation awarded a Flight Attendant without an actual date assigned.” You can bid for a FV 7-day slot(s) during the annual Vacation Bidding process. Most recently, we’ve seen an influx of FV slots due to ETO and ExTO. So how does FV work? Let’s look at Article 14.3 and discuss!

Basics of Class 1.17

Included in our “Flight Attendant Work Rules and Expectations/Company Policies” are classes of “Unacceptable Conduct/Behavior” that can result in discipline up to termination. Class I Violations include (but are not limited to): theft, dishonesty, use of illegal drugs, working while under the influence of alcohol, possession of firearms, and sleeping or appearing to sleep while working as a Crewmember (not DHing). Number 17 on the Class I Violation list has been the reason for a VAST number of terminations over the last several years… and it simply involves not being within two (2) hours driving distance of the domicile associated with a Reserve block while liable for contact.

Basics of Reports

Reporting… one of the most tedious parts of our job as Flight Attendants! However, it is a necessary “evil”, especially in certain situations. We are provided with many avenues to make the Company aware of what occurs on the aircraft, and in doing so, we can affect positive change to our workplace. Let’s go over the different reporting options available to us and how to find them.

Basics of Vacation Bidding

How do I bid? What are all these rounds and how does Vacation Bidding work? Should I bid for 7, 14, or 21 day slots? How about trading after vacation bidding? We’ve got answers to all these questions and more in our Basics of Vacation Bidding.

Basics of Minimum Crew

How many Flight Attendants need to be in their boarding positions to start boarding? What about deplaning during a plane change? How is Minimum Crew different when we’re at our overnight as opposed to finishing a trip in domicile? FAA Minimum Crew Requirements and SWA policy can be a bit confusing. So, let’s break down what is expected of us and our Contractual protections when it comes to fulfill our Minimum Crew obligations.

Basics of Submitting a PIN

A Personal Illness Note (PIN) must be submitted electronically via SWALife, within the time restrictions listed in Article 32.5 in order to excuse your absence. Keep in mind, you may use the PIN – OR – a Doctor’s note once per quarter to not accrue points for a sick call. A PIN can be extended with a Doctor’s note that states the absence was a continuous illness (14 consecutive days of absence from the day following the last day of the initial report of illness).

Contract 101s

Article 8 – Hours of Service

Duty Day

Article 8 – Hours of Service

Crew Rest

Article 8

Article 9 – Additional Flying

Article 10 – Scheduling / Bidding

Overlap

Article 10

Deadheading

Article 10

Article 11 – Reserve

Article 14 – Vacation

Article 21 – Compensation

Article 29 – Domiciles

Vacancy

Article 29

Article 32 – Attendance

Article 33 – Commuter Policy

Commuter Policy

Article 33

Contract 201s

Vacation

Article 14

Attendance Policy

Article 32

Fast Fact Friday Archive

Fast Fact Friday

Meet Your Education Committee:

Sam Wilkins

Sam Wilkins

TWU Local 556 1st Vice President - Education Committee Chairperson - Oakland-based Flight Attendant

Annie Buras

Annie Buras

Education Committee Vice-Chairperson & Houston-based Flight Attendant

Amanda Gauger

Amanda Gauger

Education Committee Vice-Chairperson & Las Vegas-based Flight Attendant