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When we personalize an issue for our Congressperson we
are more likely to help them understand the importance
of the legislation and also stand a better chance of
them coming to the defense of their constituent in
helping support the legislation.
Do you
have a story to share about why FMLA (Family Medical
Leave Act) has been important to you?
Would
losing your eligibility for FMLA because of the
company increasing the qualification level from 625
credit hours to 1250 duty hours make a difference to
you?
The FMLA of 1993 provides unpaid protected leave for
employee who works 60% of a full time schedule over
the past 12 months. The Fair Labor Standards Act set
the qualifying level at 1,250 hours, (based on working
a 9-5, 40-hour work week, times 52 weeks and then
taking 60%, which is 1,248 and was rounded up to
1,250).
During Congressional debate when
FMLA was being discussed by Congress, the question was
asked whether or not flight attendants and pilots were
to be covered by this legislation, due to the
uniqueness of their hours worked. The answer from the
author
of the legislation was yes, absolutely.
Additionally,
Senate report language stated that the
eligibility hours should be interpreted broadly.
Qualifying hours for FMLA are all over the board at
U.S.
carriers. Some have 1,250 duty hours, others have 470,
520, 540, 586, 600, 625, 700 credit or flight hours
and some only require a year of service and put no
requirement on the number of hours worked.
The
Technical Correction to FMLA for Flight Crew Members
(HR-2744) states that “the employee will be considered
to be qualified if the employee has been paid for or
has worked 60 percent of the employer's monthly hour
or trip guarantee, or the equivalent annualized over
the preceding 12-month period.”. The correction will
provide a fair qualifying formula for all airlines for
flight attendants and pilots.
If you are comfortable in sharing your FMLA story
please send your letter to
nmkirkeby@cox.net
or mail to the AFA office to the attention of Nicki
Kirkeby at
505 S. 48th St. Ste
101,
Tempe,
AZ
85281.
The letters can be done on the computer or hand
written. As a salutation for your letter put Dear
Representative and start your letter out by stating
that you are writing to ask them to cosponsor HR-2744,
the Technical Correction to FMLA for Flight Crew
Members and then let them know why FMLA has been
important to you. Also state that airlines set the
qualifying level for FMLA at various levels from 1,250
duty hours to 470 credit hours and your airline is
proposing increasing their qualifying level from 625
credit hours to 1,250 duty hours. This legislation
provides a fair qualifying level for all flight
attendants and pilots based on 60% of what each
airline considers a full time schedule.
Your letters will be sent to your U.S. Representative.
Include your name and address at the bottom, so your
Representative can be determined. It does not matter
what state you live in, as there are 438 members in
the House of Representatives and we are reaching out
to all of them to support this legislation.
Nevada
Residents and Members with 502 Area Codes (Phone #’s)
This week generic FMLA Dear Representative letters
were placed into members AFA v-files whose residence
is Nevada or whose telephone area code is 502 (Tucson
area). If you have not already signed a letter please
take a few minutes when you check in for your next
flight to fill out and sign a letter. It can be placed
in the AFA Talk box, located in the small computer
room across from the check-in area.
The
following legislators have not yet signed onto the
legislation in
Arizona: John
Shadegg, Trent Franks, Jeff Flake, Gabrielle Giffords,
Rick Renzi and in
Nevada
Jon Porter and Dean Heller.
If you took action on the internet through the AFA
Interactive that was sent out earlier in the month, it
would still be very helpful to sign one of the letters
and put in the AFA Talk Box. The internet action is
not as effective as writing a physical letter to your
Representative and a letter will usually prompt a
written response from your Congressperson as to
whether they are or are not supporting the issue.
A generic Dear Representative letter can be printed
from the
Government Affairs page.
There will also be a generic letter added to the
website for members to have their family, friends and
neighbors sign. Many thanks to all who have taken the
time to take action on this issue! Over 400 letters
have already been sent to legislators. Currently there
are 58 cosponsors on this legislation and through your
actions we hope to see that number go up dramatically
when Congress returns after the Labor Day weekend.
Respectfully,
Nicki Kirkeby
Government Affairs Chair |
