planejoe

Back when I went through nobody was left behind. Always someone offering a ride or easily coordinated via your own class group chat. Was never an issue.

spooldup

Ive thought about idea of just not doing a preflight or post flight until I have a vest, but I am not going to chase around gate agents for a vest to borrow. I don't think it would go over well though. Most days I would just rather go get my flight over with and be home, so I just use my vest the union guys hand out when you see them.

Even MIA now requires them apparently? Same with LGA and a lot of international destinations... Can't believe each plane doesn't have a vest on it. Or why the company doesn't hand out vests to new hires.

I am sure things would change if they started taking a lot of delays and losing money because of no vests.

turbojet28

I wasn’t aware that the union was providing vests. Nice to know. Honestly, we should just get with the times and use them on all walk-arounds IMHO. There’s plenty of reason to, and it’s also pretty much standard throughout the industry by now.

Leslie Chow

This is a prime example of our union leadership’s thought process: using our ALPA dues to hold the company’s hand and provide vests that the company should be providing. SMFH.

Aero1900

Yeah but the vest says something on it. Maybe "Career contract done right"?

Leslie Chow

Yeah, because the rampers really care about our plight.

It’s a waste of our money and, again, is holding the company’s hand. If they want to find something to put the slogan on, that’s all fine and good but let’s not do the company’s job for them in the process.

spooldup

Yeah, I guess wearing it past customers and gate agents, etc through the jet bridge, and when doing the walk around in front of windows and all that is just wasted potential.

Leslie Chow

The wasted potential is in us, through our dues, supplying ourselves required safety equipment so the company doesn’t have to.

Maybe folks can wear the vest and go throw some bags when they’re understaffed, too, and get even more exposure for the slogan.

dracir1

Should the company be providing vests? Depends. It's not required via our own pubs (but is at some airports). AT THOSE AIRPORTS, the vests should be available. If they are not, what do you propose - the FO stay at the plane until one is located/found? They don't do the walkaround? Outside of filing a grievance every time, what choice do they have? I understand your frustration but I'm not sure your complaining makes sense in the grand scheme of things unless you can propose a viable alternative.

At least our dues are going toward something we can all see as useful (vs. more talk/newsletters). What might have been better for the union would be to WORK OUT A DEAL w/ the company to provide a shipset of vests (2 per ship i would imagine is good enough). That way, the actual # of vests would be less AND we could get something in return. I supposed if they had tried (unsuccessfully), that they would've let us know...

buzzer

My advice particularly in contact negotiations when you aren’t happy with the company is yes…wait till you can locate a provided vest in those required locations.