Know Your 2025 TA - Scheduling and Block Hours

Dear Crew, 

We are sending out a series of communications about the TA to highlight changes in the TA and answer crew questions. 

Today’s comms discusses scheduling and block hours. 

Block Hours

We know that crew are disappointed that we were not able to raise the guaranteed block hours above 60 for all crew. We fought hard for this at the table, however, we were not successful in passing any proposals that included a general increase in block hours for crew. 

We have made significant financial improvements in other areas of the contract and so that will offset the lack of increase there. 

Scheduling

As it relates to our scheduling article, we have made significant improvements and will be continuing to negotiate a formal scheduling policy separately with the company. 

The current improvements in our Scheduling Article (Article 6) are as follows: 

• Regular check-in time at all destinations is 90mins prior to departure at the check in counter. 
• For flights that require security searches, check-in time is 120mins prior to departure and will also be at the check in counter. 
• We have also included a provision (part G) that ensure that the company will accurately reflect on crew members rosters pick up time, deadhead time, check in time, and check out time 
• Part I referring to inflight rest facilities on the aircraft include language about what is required to be maintained in the crew rest area, and how often it is cleaned.
• Part M ensures that crew are provided with the following when scheduled for deadhead/positioning travel 
  • A meal, 1 piece of carry-on luggage, 1 piece of checked luggage, and that crew will be afforded the same check-in and seat assignment opportunities as passengers. 
    • Please note that some airlines do not allow passengers to choose seats for free, and so on such flights, crew may be assigned seats or may have to pay for their preferred seat selection. 
• Part N includes one note which indicates that an automatic swapping system will be put in place to award requested swaps
  • Our current swap system still requires a member of crew planning/control look at the swap and manually approve or deny. The transfer to an automatic system is something that is currently in progress and we have received assurances from the company that it will be completed within a few months. 

We will be travelling to Riga in May to learn about our current system, how it works, planned improvements and capabilities, and to meet with stakeholders to negotiate a formal scheduling policy for crew. 

Please see LOA - Interim Roster Bidding System. 

You can find all the information about our TA at norseafa.org/2025TA

Submit any questions you may have about the TA to https://forms.gle/PNNCSFGEqVR95EoL8 and we will be sure to answer them in upcoming communications

Our last live TA Town Hall is on April 7, 2025 at 10am. We look forward to seeing you there

Thank you and Solidarity,

Your Negotiations Team: Kat, Ted, Dylan and Jhenelle