SIDELETTER # 7

LETTER OF AGREEMENT

between

AMERICA WEST AIRLINES, INC.

and the

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

in the service of

AMERICA WEST AIRLINES, INC.

as represented by the

ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

AFL-CIO

CRAF

THIS LETTER OF AGREEMENT is made and entered into in accordance with the provisions of the Railway Labor Act, as amended, by and between America West Airlines, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as the "Company"), and the FLIGHT ATTENDANTS in the service of AMERICA WEST AIRLINES, INC., as represented by the ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS, AFL-CIO (hereinafter referred to as the "Union").

WHEREAS, the Company and the Union desire to supplement their Basic Agreement, signed , (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement"), by providing certain rates of pay and work rules with respect to the Company's Civil Reserve Air Fleet (CRAF) Operation.

NOW THEREFORE, it is hereby mutually agreed and understood by and between the parties of this Letter of Agreement that the rates of pay and work rules stipulated herein shall be in full force and effect on the Company's CRAF Operation; and further provided that all other provisions of the Agreement, except as specifically modified or excepted by this Letter of Agreement, shall be applicable to the Company's CRAF Operation.

A.      CRAF OPERATION

For the purpose of this Letter of Agreement, the term "CRAF Operation" means all flight operations conducted in accordance with the agreement between America West Airlines and the Department of Defense, but shall not include the Company's certified service or commercial charter service of any other government operation.

B.      CRAF LIST

1.     A system-wide CRAF volunteer list will be bid and awarded. It will be the recognized CRAF list until replaced as the result of any subsequent system bid.

2.     From the CRAF volunteer list, the size of the active CRAF list will be determined by the Company after consultation with the Union. The active list will be awarded in seniority order.

3.     If there are insufficient volunteers for the CRAF list the Company may assign Flight Attendants in inverse order of system seniority.

4.     A Flight Attendant may remove her/his name from the system-wide CRAF volunteer list or the active list with sixty (60) days written notice to the Company.

C.      FLIGHT ASSIGNMENTS

1.     The Company will post CRAF assignments for bid if the assignments are known more than a month in advance and the assignment will be at least thirty (30) days in duration.

2.     The Company will post CRAF assignments in COT and available for bid/trade/ pick-up by Flight Attendants on the active CRAF list. The bid shall close seventy-two (72) hours prior to report time of the assignment and the assignment will be awarded in seniority order.

1.    If an assignment remains open after Paragraphs C.1 and 2. above, or if the assignment was not known at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to report time, the assignment will be made from the CRAF active list on the basis of seniority, availability and contactability in the following manner:

               

The Company will make two (2) calls to the Flight Attendant's primary and alternate numbers. The second phone call will take place no earlier than two (2) hours after the first call.

4.     The Company may junior assign, in inverse seniority order, from the active CRAF list if necessary to cover a CRAF assignment. If insufficient coverage still exists, the Company may then mandatorily assign Flight Attendants on the CRAF volunteer list in seniority order.

5.     A Flight Attendant will be removed from her/his trip assignment(s) so that she/he may accept a CRAF assignment.

6.     When covering multiple assignments on a daily basis, the Company may assign Flight Attendants from the active list in a manner which will minimize positioning.

D.      TDY CRAF ASSIGNMENTS

1.     A TDY CRAF assignment is an assignment to perform inflight duties at a location other than a Flight Attendant's domicile. TDY assignments shall be for a period of no more than 30/31 days.

2.     TDY CRAF assignments shall be posted and available for bid by Flight Attendants on the active CRAF list, in accordance with Section 23, TDY, Paragraphs B. and D.

3.     A Flight Attendant may be required to work the trip to or from her/his TDY location. For International flights only, she/he shall receive one (1) extra day off for each trip worked in addition to the days provided for in D.4., upon arrival at or return from the TDY assignment. The extra days off shall be in addition to the minimum monthly days off as set forth in this Agreement.

4.     When a TDY assignment is seven (7) days or more, a Flight Attendant shall be guaranteed one (1) day off prior to departing for a TDY assignment and one (1) day off upon return from a TDY assignment. These days off may be counted toward the minimum monthly days off as provided for in this Agreement.

5.     If multiple crews are assigned to a TDY assignment and one crew is required to work to the TDY location, the deadheading crews shall be first assigned for duty at the TDY location.

6.     All lodging, including accommodations that are provided by an entity other than the Company during the TDY assignment shall be selected in accordance with Section 12, Crew Accommodations.

7.     If a Flight Attendant has been mandatorily assigned to a TDY assignment for two (2) consecutive months, the Company shall provide a Flight Attendant with round-trip positive space transportation to her/his domicile, or to another location on the Company's route system at the Flight Attendant's request. A Flight Attendant is eligible for this benefit after the first month of the assignment.

E.      CANCELLATION

If a CRAF assignment cancels prior to the departure of its first segment, a Flight Attendant will cover any trips she/he dropped in order to fly the CRAF trip. If the trip dropped is no longer available, the Flight Attendant will be placed on guaranteed reserve.

F.      EXPENSES

1.     Flight Attendants on a CRAF assignment shall be provided with expenses in accordance Section 4, Expenses, of this Agreement.

2.     Flight Attendants on an International CRAF TDY assignment will receive an hourly supplemental allowance in addition to expenses if the relative cost of living at the TDY location is higher than the U.S.

a.     The allowance shall be based on the Organization Resources Counselors, Inc. (ORC) semi-annual pricing survey "food away" category.

b.     The allowance shall be paid only from actual release to the actual report time at the layover city.

c.      Upon request, the Company shall provide the MEC President with the pricing surveys and related information for the applicable layover cities in the format in which it is received from ORC.

3.     A Flight Attendant may request and shall receive an advance on her/his per diem prior to departure for a CRAF TDY assignment of seven (7) days or more. Such request must be in writing to the Payroll department at least five (5) business days before the scheduled departure, when possible.

4.     The Company shall pay necessary laundry and cleaning expenses, supported by receipt(s), for uniforms and personal clothing for Flight Attendants on a CRAF TDY assignment of more than seven (7) days. The Flight Attendant shall be paid on the paycheck that contains pay exception the month following submission of the expense.

5.     Where logistically feasible, the Company shall arrange to deliver paychecks to Flight Attendants at their TDY location on the same days of the month as they would normally receive them at their domicile. If a Flight Attendant normally receives her/his paycheck through direct deposit, she/he may elect to continue the direct deposit or receive the paycheck at the TDY location.

G.      COMPENSATION

Flight Attendants on a CRAF assignment shall be paid as follows:

1.     Domestic flying in a non-war zone will be the regular rate.

2.     International CRAF rates will be the same as the International rate.

3.     War Zone pay will be $1.25 in addition to all other premiums.

H.      GENERAL

1.     The Company agrees to meet with the Union to resolve unanticipated issues that may arise as a result of the CRAF operation.

2.     Flight Attendants who participate in a CRAF assignment will not suffer a loss of benefits, or receive diminished benefits, as a result of the CRAF assignment.

     I.            DURATION

This Letter of Agreement shall remain in full force and effect concurrently with the Collective Bargaining Agreement.

 

FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT         FOR AMERICA WEST AIRLINES, INC.:

ATTENDANTS, AFL-CIO:

 

 

Patricia A. Friend        

International President                        America West Airlines, Inc.

 

 

William McGlashen

MEC President

 

 

Date:___________________________