Negotiating Committee Update #28
Your Negotiating Committee met with the Company on Monday, August 17, to discuss staffing needs and possible recalls from ExTO (Extended Emergency Time Off), when and if needed.
30-second Summary:
- The Company presented information regarding how voluntary leave programs have impacted staffing, and also provided updates on September schedule cuts that led to additional offerings of ETO (Emergency Time Off) and Time Away.
- The Union came prepared to discuss the many questions around provisions of the ExTO program, including return to work as well as expansion of the programs, should the Company need. The Company is working through the details and said it will provide the Union an update by Wednesday, August 19.
- The Union requested the opportunity to review the details around the return-to-work process to ensure compliance with the Contract.
- Further meetings will be held to discuss questions or concerns around the return-to-work process.
Full Recap:
A meeting with the Company on Monday, August 17, was initially established by the Union to discuss provisions around Flight Attendants returning from the Company’s voluntary leave programs, and to answer the many questions surrounding that process. The Company was not prepared to have that discussion, and will provide a draft of that process to the Union for review by Wednesday, August 19.
On Monday, the Company presented information regarding how voluntary leave programs have impacted staffing. To date, 724 Flight Attendants have taken VSP; 4,685 have taken ExTO; and 1,143 have taken ETO. The Company noted that Flight Attendants’ participation in these voluntary programs has been successful in addressing overstaffing thus far.
The Company also provided updates on September schedule cuts that led to additional offerings of ETO and Time Away. A lack of customer demand for September meant additional cuts to the schedule. All Inflight ExTO and VSP bids were awarded and begin September 1, 2020. After additional flight schedule cuts were announced, Inflight offered ETO for September and Time Away for September/October. MRT was also offered with the September bid. The Company again noted that Flight Attendants’ participation in these programs has brought staffing levels closer to what is operationally necessary.
As the Union has warned for months, fluctuating customer demand due to the pandemic has created unprecedented staffing complexities for the Company.
Your Union demanded more clarity around the return-to-work process for Flight Attendants on ExTO, which the Company had initially agreed to provide in this meeting. The Company did not provide that information in the meeting on August 17, but said it would provide a draft of program details via email by August 19. The Union expressed the importance of being able to review the details to ensure the new return-to-work process is in compliance with the Contract, to address Flight Attendants’ concerns.
The Union asked for additional meeting dates. However, the Company’s response was to hold off until it had further information to provide our Team. The Union expressed its interest in meeting again quickly.
As TWU Local 556 continues to advocate on behalf of Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants, securing an extension of the CARES Act is incredibly important. This would help avoid furloughs through March 2021. It is strongly recommended that all Members reach out to your congressional representatives to make our voices heard. Please click here to email your representative.