Policy Changes – Change of Shift and Day at a Time, Effective September 1, 2015

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Change of Shift (CS) Policy

Change of Shift (CS) Policy – Tech Ops For TWU Represented Employees

Effective September 1, 2015

Change of shift (CS) is a privilege that provides employees enhanced flexibility and allows the Company to attract and retain valuable employees. In fairness to everyone, employees may not use shift trades as a means of circumventing the regular shift bid process. Shift trades are a privilege the company extends to employees and for which it reserves the right to suspend this privilege. CS policy must remain cost neutral to the company. The Company will pay all time worked because of the CS at straight time rates. If any Federal, State, or other local laws or ordinances create an additional cost to the company due to the CS, then the CS will not be allowed such as in Puerto Rico (SJU).

A. General

  1. Employees are allowed a maximum of twenty six (26) CS off (CSO) occurrences per quarter. Employees are allowed a maximum of four (4) CS work (CSW) per week. An employee cannot CS with himself.
  2. Employees are permitted to work a maximum of two (2) double shifts per week as a result of a CS work (CSW). The two double shifts can be “back to back”. Employees cannot exceed two (2) consecutive double shifts per week.
  3. The company may disapprove any back to back CS work (CSW) for any employee where the company finds that there is evidence the employee’s productivity, safety, or job performance is adversely affected. The employee’s supervisor shall discuss the concerns with the employee.
  4. Back to back double shift CS work (CSW) will not be approved for any employee who is on a 1st Advisory, or higher for attendance.
  5. Each employee is responsible for understanding, adhering to, and staying current with the CS policy.
  6. This policy is applicable throughout Tech Ops and supersedes any existing local policy or practices. The Company will apply this policy to all eligible Tech Ops employees.

B: Policy

  1. Employees must submit CS requests at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the scheduled start time for the CS. If an employee fails to submit the CS request at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of the scheduled start time for the CS, it will not be approved. Exceptions may be granted for extraordinary/emergency situations with management approval based on needs of service.
  2. Employees must submit CS requests through an approved automated program (AAP). If no AAP is available, the request must be in writing. Outside of an AAP, management personnel must approve a CS request. Employees are responsible for ensuring that a CS does not violate Federal Aviation Requirements and Company policy related to duty time.
  3. CS overlaps will not exceed thirty (30) minutes. Employees may work a maximum of sixteen (16) consecutive hours (excluding unpaid meal periods) during a twenty-four (24) hour period. An employee working a double cannot make up the difference in overlap. Employees on 4/10 shifts are not eligible for double CSs. An employee working a CS is responsible to maintain a minimum seven and one half (7.5) hours rest period between actual punch- out and the next punch-in. The employee cannot adjust a regularly scheduled shift to meet this seven and one half (7.5) hours required rest period. The CS policy does not permit partial shift trades.
  4. No employee may schedule any triple shifts. An employee may not accept a CSW that results in being released from duty less than seven and one half (7.5) hours prior to the beginning of his next shift.
  5. An employee on transitional duty (TD), restricted duty (RD), or who is otherwise being accommodated may CS off (CSO). Employees on TD, RD, or who are otherwise being accommodated that would like to CS work (CSW), must check with management in advance of the CS work (CSW) request to determine whether restrictions can be accommodated for the CS work (CSW) shift.
  6. Employees who wish to engage in a CS must both be normally assigned to the same HOC (Base MTC Only) or bid area. For example, an employee who is normally assigned to TULE hangars 1/2 may not CS with an employee normally assigned to TULE hangars 5/6.
  7. Probationary employees under Article 9 of the CBA or employees working under a one-hundred and eighty (180) day trial period under Article 12(m) of the CBA will not CSW or CSO. Exceptions may be granted in certain situations with management approval.
  8. Employees may CSW or CSO with other employees only if they are qualified in the same job duties and classification as the employees with whom they CS. It is the responsibility of both employees to ensure that the employee working is qualified and proficient for scheduled assignments, such as Taxi/Run-up, ETOPs, Tow qualified, etc. Exceptions may be granted in certain situations with management approval based on needs of service.
  9. A Crew Chief can CS work (CSW) for a mechanic, if he is qualified for the CSW work assignment. Crew Chiefs can CSO with mechanics. Mechanic’s that CSW for a Crew Chief will be expected to work as a Crew Chief during that shift. A Crew Chief on a CSW for a mechanic can be assigned to work in their normal capacity as a Crew Chief.
  10. Employees may not do multiple CSs. For example, employee B picks up a shift from employee A. Employee B cannot give that same shift to employee C.
  11. Employees cannot split a CS work (CSW) with another employee.
  12. Employees cannot CS work (CSW) during their scheduled vacation week(s). Employees may CSW their days off before and after their scheduled vacation week(s), subject to provision A.1., listed above.
  13. Employees may not CS a shift during scheduled training hours. Employees must schedule any CSW to ensure a minimum of seven and one half (7.5) hours of off duty time prior to training.
  14. Employees working a CSW will report to the local designated area as set by management and immediately report to the work area Crew Chief or Supervisor.
  15. Employees must work their assigned location and shift as scheduled. Any non-management initiated CS of location constitutes a change of shift and must follow the CS policies outlined in this document.
  16. If an employee is contacted for overtime while on or scheduled for a CSW, it is the employee’s responsibility to notify the person proffering the overtime that he is on or scheduled for CSW. If you are scheduled for a CSW prior to the calling of Overtime/Field Trip, you will not be allowed to cancel the CSW.
  17. In order to be eligible to CS, employees must accomplish and maintain current all assigned training, medical requirements, OSHA requirements, airport SIDA badge, and/or qualifications.
  18. CSs cannot be utilized to make shift adjustments. If an employee wishes to begin their shift late or leave early, the employee can request unpaid Timecard Leave (TL) with management approval, based on needs of service.

C. Violations of Policy

  1. An employee that violates the Federal Aviation Requirements and Company policy related to duty time as the result of working a CSW may be restricted from utilizing a CS for one year (365) calendar days, not counting days of sick, industrial injury, or vacation.
  2. An employee who fails to report or is late for a scheduled CSW for any reason, other than sickness supplemented by a physician’s statement may be restricted from utilizing a CS for one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days, not counting days of sick, industrial injury, or vacation.
  3. An employee who fails to comply with this policy may be restricted from utilizing a CS for one hundred and eighty (180) calendar days, not counting sick, industrial injury, or vacation.

CS Policy -Tech Ops June 2015 in PDF

Day at a Time (DAT) Policy

Day at a Time (DAT) Policy- Tech Ops For TWU Represented Employees

Effective September 1, 2015

Day at a Time (DAT) provides employees enhanced flexibility and allows the Company to attract and retain valuable employees. DAT provide an employee the flexible to use vacation days one day at a time

A. General

  1. For the remainder of 2015, employees may designate one of their remaining block vacation weeks to be converted to DAT vacation. Once the vacation week is designated, it may not be changed to another vacation week at a later date.
  2. Beginning with the 2016 annual vacation bid process, an AMT may designate up to 120 hours of their accrued vacation for DAT usage.

B. Policy

  1. When a DAT is desired, the request must be submitted in writing to their immediate supervisor, or designated admin person(s), no more than fourteen (14) and no less than five (5) days prior to the requested day.
  2. Granting of a DAT will occur no more than seven (7) days and no less than five (5) days prior to the day requested off.
  3. DATs will be granted if the allowable vacation ratio, for the requested day, is not met and the request is submitted within the timeline identified above.
  4. If an employee gives less than the required five (5) day notice, and/or the request exceeds the vacation ratio, the company may grant the request based on the needs of service.
  5. Multiple DAT requests, by the same person, will be granted if the vacation ratio allows and submitted within the timeline. For all other instances, the approval will be based on needs of service.
  6. If multiple requests by different AMTs for the same day are received, the DATs will be granted to the company senior employee(s) as long as the vacation ratio is not exceeded and the submittal timeline is met. Once granted, a senior employee may not “bump” the junior employee already awarded the DAT.
  7. If an employee is denied a requested DAT day due to needs of service, and subsequently arranges for another employee to work in his/her place, the employee shall be paid for the day at his appropriate straight time rate and a DAT day will be deducted. This DAT CS shall not count as a CS for purposes of the limitations in the provisions detailed in the CS policy.
  1. No restriction if a DAT is requested in conjunction with a holiday.
  2. A DAT will not be awarded on a holiday, regular Day off (RDO), or during a bid vacation period.
  3. Block vacation takes precedence over a DAT.
  4. DATs may be take in Half or Full day increments.

DAT Policy -Tech OPS June 2015 in PDF

FAQ’s

 FAQ’s for the Tech Ops – DAT and CS Policies

Do the new DAT/CS policies affect the IAM?

  • No, the IAM is not affected. Existing contractual provisions remain in place.

Where can I see the new policies, as well as the latest FAQ’s?

  • The mechanic home page is the best resource for this information.

Why is this policy being rolled out now?

  • Consistent feedback from TWU membership across the system that there is no ability to take vacation “a day at a time” (DAT). We have been working for some time to provide DATs but in order to do so we also need to have a consistent CS policy across Tech Ops

When does the company plan to roll these policy changes out?

  • On or about September 1st, 2015

Will DAT’s be approved by seniority?

  • Yes

Can multiple “Back to Back” DAT’s be requested?

  • Yes, there are no restriction on how many DAT’s you can string together

Can I take a DAT in conjunction with a holiday?

  • Yes

What increments can I take a DAT?

  • DAT’s must be taken in either full or half day increments

Once a DAT has been granted can a senior employee bump me?

  • No, once a DAT has been awarded you cannot be displaced by a senior employee

What happens to unused DAT’s?

  • Unused DAT’s will be paid out to the employee after the end of the year (normally in January)

Can a senior employee requesting a DAT displace me from my block vacation?

  • No, block vacation takes precedence over DAT’s

What if I need a DAT within 5 days out?

  • Management can approve DAT requests inside the 5 day request window based on needs of service

Can Crew Chiefs CSO/CSW with a mechanic?

  • Yes, if qualified for the CSW work assignment. Crew Chiefs can also CSO with mechanics from the same bid area. Mechanics that elect to work a CS (CSW) for a Crew Chief will be expected to act as Crew Chief during that shift.
    Your start time would be expected to be the same as the Crew Chief that you are working for.

Will I be able to work “back to back” doubles as the result of a CS?

  • Yes, employees will be permitted to work “back to back” doubles as the result of CS’s once per week as defined in the policy

How many times can I CSO?

  • Employees can CSO a maximum of 26 times per quarter. There are no restrictions as to how many CSO’s can be strung together

How many times can I CSW?

  • Employees are permitted to CSW up to 4 times per week, but can only result in a maximum of two doubles

Is it possible to CS within the 24 hour request window?

  • Yes, employees will be permitted to CS within the 24 hour request window but it requires management approval

Can CS’s be utilized to make shift adjustments?

  • No, your scheduled shift is your scheduled shift. An employee wishing to leave early and/or come in late can request unpaid TL (Timecard Leave), or request a half day DAT. Management approval will be based on needs of service.

Can I CS with myself?

  • No, employees wishing to exercise a CS must do so with another employee in the same bid area that meets the qualification requirement.

Can employees on 10 hour shifts CSW resulting in a double shift?

  • No, employees can only be on the clock 16.5 hours (includes unpaid meal period) as the result of working a CS

I work in Technical Operations Facilities. Am I covered by this policy?

  • All Technical Operations employees are covered by this policy. Therefore all Facilities employees are covered by this policy in the following stations: BOS, DFW, JFK, LAX, MIA, ORD, SFO, STL (BOS, SFO, STL are led by GSE).

I work in Customer Experience Facilities and will transition to Technical Operations later this year. Am I covered by this policy?

  • ORD Facilities will transition from Customer Experience to Technical Operations with the July 2, 2015 shift bid, and will adhere to the Technical Operations Policy when they become part of Technical Operations.
  • JFK, LAX, MIA, BOS, SFO, STL will transition from Customer Experience to Technical Operations with the October shift bid, and will adhere to the Technical Operations Policy when they become part of Technical Operations.

I work in GSE am I covered by this policy?

  • All technical operations employees are covered by this policy. Therefore all GSE employees are covered by this policy EXCEPT those in the following stations (which currently remain in the Customer Experience Division): ATL, AUS, MCO, TPA, SAT, SJU.

FAQ’s DAT and CS Policies Rev Date 6-24-15 in PDF