September 2023 Newsletter
Dear Colleagues,
In this newsletter we will talk about:
1. Our own Norse AFA Website
2. Winter Vacations
3. Fatigue reports
4. Drug and alcohol testing
5. Mandatory meetings with the management
6. Grievances update
7. September 11th team’s meeting with the crew control
8. Employees parking in MIA
1) Website
We are almost done with the website design. Planning to launch it within next 2 weeks. You will find there tabs with information such as our CBA, for quick references, FTL condensed information, references to all committees and crew information volunteering to serve on them, just to mention few. At the bottom of the page you will be able to find a short form to report your concerns, and the messages will be directed to appropriate committee so you won’t have to write emails and remember all individual addresses. This will help us all manage the topics and allow for quick response.
You will be able to see updates and current topics we are working to resolve with the management.
Website will be easy to access from any device, including your cell phone.
2) Winter Vacations
We had the talk with the management in Arendal last week asking when AFA can be of assistance to help US based crew bid for winter vacations as we are seriously delayed. We were informed that the delay is caused by the fact that the Commercial Department hasn’t finalized the winter routes yet, and that keeps crew control unable to allocate the vacation slots. In the meantime we agreed that if any crew member has still unused vacations days from the last year and this year, they will be transferred to the next year so no one will suffer any loss. We keep reminding Arendal that this is an urgent issue that needs to be resolved ASAP. Any updates will be published on our Website, FB and in a Newsletter as soon as we get “ all ready” heads-up.
3) Fatigue Reports
As we are scheduled to fly “W” patterns from East Coast to Europe to West Coast and back, often with 1 night layovers that some of us prefer, there are others who don’t. Without the bidding system we don’t have any control over what type of trips we fly. Until then, the only recourse we have, when we start to feel increasingly tired and affected negatively by intense flying patterns, is to file Fatigue reports. It is an individual decision of each crew to file a Fatigue Report. There is a threshold of the total number of such reports that triggers “ the red flag” with the Authorities. When the number of Fatigue Reports is high, CAA conducts audits and issues directives for the airline to follow immediately. We haven’t reach the threshold.
4) Drug and alcohol testing of the crew
Recently we have been subjected to frequent drug/alcohol testing. What we need to clarify that the airlines can test crew before and/or after the duty. When they are administered in the USA, crew should be provided privacy. In Europe there is no such requirement as long as it is done away from passengers. We asked the management to make an effort to keep caterers away when testing is done onboard after arriving to any European destination. Please keep us informed if the issue was resolved. Mark the date and time of such testing because according to our CBA we are to be compensated for it in amount of 2 hrs. of pay for each testing.
5) Mandatory meetings with the management.
Any disciplinary meetings with the management must be attended. Notice of such a meeting should be sent to the crew members by email. Since it is mandatory it should be reflected in the roster. Crew member who is called for such a meeting has the right to request a presence of a Union representative. Union representatives are to make sure that the management follows the protocol, and be of assistance to the crew member after such meeting. Mandatory meetings are not compensated.
6) Grievances update
Last week we held a meeting with the management in Arendal to discuss the solutions to settle the grievances. Arbitration is a very lengthy and costly process, just like any court case, where the third party Arbitrator ( usually retired judge with the experience/knowledge of the aviation industry) decides the outcome. There is always a risk like with any court case that the outcome doesn’t benefit either party. Recently, the management recognized the benefit of resolving outstanding issues internally. We are making progress. Scheduling was one of the topics we spent some time on.The meeting concluded with the understanding that the crew control will meet with AFA scheduling committee to work the manual bidding process for trial with the US crew. We are now actively preparing for this trial. We are expecting to start working on it together with crew control within next two weeks. We are also expecting to hear from the company their response to all Letters of Agreement. We will share details as soon as we have them finalized.
7) September 11th teams meeting of US crew with crew control
We encourage you to attend. You can also ask the crew control to start workin with our Scheduling Committee to build lines that are not only legal under the EASA regulations, but also balanced with adequate rest, especially when flying to the West Coast/ California. Focus on the topics such as : flying patterns, swapping, denials of swaps and information on reasons for denial to gain understanding of the process. Keep the questions focus on Crew Control Issues!!
8) Employee Parking in MIA
We were informed that employee parking information will be available as soon as the management of Norse signs the contract agreement with the airport authorities. We were inquiring about past few weeks. We will continue to inquire about it.
We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for sharing your reports and emails to the company with us. This gives us necessary information about the current affairs. Thank you for wearing the AFA pins as a sign of unity in this challenging time and thank you for getting involved!! This is our Union and together we are making it strong !!
In Unity,
Katarzyna, Ted and Ish
