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Union Update May 27, 2025

Dear Crew,

This update will cover the following topics:

  • Riga Update
    • Bidding
    • Swapping
    • Updating Crew Notes on PDC
    • IT Issues
  • Vacation Bidding
  • Sick Days and Vacation Days Error in PDC
  • Sick Days out of Base
  • Travel Benefits: Issues and Misuse 
  • Call-In-Honest and Commuting
  • Meetings With Management
  • Crew Reduction
  • Latest Communications

  

Riga Update

Kat, Ted, Jhenelle and Ayana (scheduling committee representative) have returned from their Scheduling policy negotiations in Riga.

While we were there, we got to meet everyone in crew resources (crew planning, crew control, etc) at the office and see how the operation runs on their end and learn more about PDC.

While there, we also met briefly with the Commercial Director, Bard Nordhagen. We were able to gain some insight into our current summer routes and how they are performing, as well as a few routes for the winter. We are hoping we will be able to meet with him soon to discuss the offerings on the aircraft for the cafe and duty-free and how this is affecting our crew's ability to sell on board. We will let you know when we are able to secure that meeting.

While in Riga, we worked on creating a new scheduling agreement, incorporating our previous one, and passed it along to management and the head of crew resources, Hanna-Liisa. They are reviewing the details of our proposal and will get back to us within the next week or so.

Two of the main things we tried to achieve while there was creating a bidding system, and also ensuring that the automated swapping system is up and running.

Bidding

Once we learned how trips were built, we were able to get a greater understanding of what a potential bidding system could look like for our crew. Hanna-Liisa and the team were willing to work with us to do a bidding system on a trial basis to see how this could work for our crew. 

Ayana and Jhenelle will be returning to Riga in Mid June to work with Crew Planning on building trips for the month of August that crew can bid on. This bidding will be done through our Scheduling Committee and the information passed on to Riga for the rosters to be released to the crew.. Crew will have a certain time period to bid, receive their rosters, and then have a window of time to dispute these.

More details on this system will be released after further conversations with Crew Resources and Management.

Swapping

We have noted that some swaps have been granted automatically while others hang in limbo. The company will be working with PDC to update swapping capabilities to cut down on swaps being sent in manually via email. 

Crew expressed concern that their manual swaps were not being processed in a timely manner and we were able to see why. Replanning receives hundreds of emails requesting swaps from the entire company and each has to be evaluated manually. If the swap cannot be processed as is, replanning then attempts to see how the swap could be legal - which might mean moving or swapping more days off/sby/rsv/flights. They then have to respond to those emails to see if the crew are willing to make those changes and wait for a response before those swaps can be processed. 

Sometimes, they do not have staff available to this, and as a result, swaps that are emailed are not prioritized due to other more pressing matters that have to be covered.

The company has committed to working with PDC to update the functionality of swapping on the app to reduce the amount of emails that are being sent to replanning.

Updating Crew Notes on PDC

We are assisting Crew Control in updating the notes on file for crew with their local airport code and flying preferences. Please note that these preferences are not guaranteed and is being used more as a guide.

Fill out the form HERE. Only one response is necessary per crew member. We currently have over 120 crew having responded so just a few more to go. This survey will close on Saturday May 31, 2025 at 11:59pm ET

IT Issues

We were also able to meet with the two (2) IT members on staff while in Riga. They have a large workload, managing the entire company, and are aware of crew issues with not receiving some emails sent - including the requests for crew from crew control. 

They are currently backlogged but are aware of the issue and will hopefully have a solution some time soon. 

 

Vacation Bidding 

US Vacation Bidding is now open. You can now request vacation until January 4, 2026.

Our standard policy for vacation is that only 14 days are rolled over and so we recommend those that have excess vacation days use as many as possible this year.

We have been in talks with management to discuss rolling over the entirety of the vacation balance one more year due to the late opening of the vacation bidding system. We will update you when we have more details.

 

Sick Days and Vacation Days Error in PDC

We are aware that some people do not have their vacation and sick days listed correctly in PDC.

Gine is manually keeping track of them all, despite the errors in the system, and so she has the correct number of vacation and sick days for all our crew. 

She has tried to add the correct amount to PDC but it has not worked for some of our crew. We have been told that the system will have the correct numbers for all crew next year.

 

Sick Days Out Of Base

When you call sick while out of home base, the code on your roster shows as ILL (the same as if you call sick at home), however, your sick days are not being deducted in this time period.

The company may require you to see a doctor to provide proof of your illness, but rest assured, your sick days are not being used when you call out sick while you are on a trip.

Your sick days are only deducted when you call out at home.

 

Travel Benefits: Issues and Misuse

Jumpseat Agreements

Jumpseat agreements are only to be used by active crew. You cannot use Jumpseat benefits if you are on medical leave, leave of absence or any such leaves. If this is found out, Norse could lose jumpseat agreements entirely. Please ensure that you are following this procedure.

ID Travel Issues

While on ID Travel, it is not allowed to get into disputes with ground staff or other passengers. As a reminder, this is a benefit that is being granted to you through the company and you are representing Norse.

If there are any issues that you, your family members and/or your friends have with ground staff while using the benefits, we kindly ask that you comply with the requests of ground staff and write a report. 

If there are issues with passengers, we ask that you remove yourself from the situation and write a report.

These reports will be investigated by the company. If it is found that you or the people on your benefits engaged in any wrongdoing, you could lose access to your benefits.

Travel Benefit Misuse

Misuse of any travel benefits will cause you to lose your benefits, including jumpseat benefits. If these benefits are misused in any way, the union will not be able to assist you in regaining access to these. 

 

Call-In-Honest and Commuting

As the summer travel season picks up, it becomes increasingly harder to commute via air to work. Whether it's oversold flights or weather delays, it can make it very difficult to get to work, even if you think you have given yourself more than enough time.

The Call-In-Honest (CIH) Policy is currently in effect, but as a reminder, it is only on a trial basis. To avoid overusing this policy, we recommend that you attempt to commute on the first flight of the day to work. While this can be tiring for crew due to the late departure of most of our flights, it is the most effective way to ensure that you are at work on time and will not have to Call-In-Honest.

There are nap/rest facilities located in and around JFK airport, as well as a variety of hotels close by that can be used to ensure you are well rested for your flight.

 

Meetings With Management

If you are asked to have a meeting with management, you are allowed to ask for union representation. If you request a union representative be present with you at the meeting, please send an email to [email protected] to let your MEC know what is going on, including what the meeting/situation is about, so that they can be fully informed. and present at the meeting.

 

Crew Reduction

Management has informed all the unions, and sent an email to the crew, indicating that it is necessary to have a reduction in cabin crew due to the moving of 6 Norse airplanes to IndiGo by early next year.

They have not indicated how many crew are needed, but have stated that these reductions will happen in all cabin crew bases. We are working to ensure that we can preserve as many jobs for US crew as possible.

We do not have any further information at this time but we will update you once we have all the facts.

 

Latest Communications

You can find all of our latest union communications on our website https://norseafa.org. This includes all previous newsletters.

Most Recent Newsletter: May 2025 HRE Update

 

Thank you for all that you do.

In Solidarity,
Kat & Ted