Top Issue Flight Duty

September 5, 2014
Dear members,
Top Issue
Resumption of CLA Negotiations Swiss – kapers: What Is the Status Quo?
On Friday, August 29, 2014, the Board of kapers got together with a delegation of Swiss for a first meeting.
The goal was to plan the resumption of CLA negotiations in terms of time and contents. Another objective
was to define what both parties intend to handle differently in comparison to the last round of negotiations.
One of the findings was for example that it had not been a good idea to inform you only after the ‘Letter of
Intent’ had been drawn up and only after the negotiations had been concluded, respectively. We are agreed
that this time we have to communicate more regularly. We will discuss the framework of this adapted
communication with Swiss.
During a preparation period, both negotiation delegations will elaborate their proposals and ideas and make
the respective calculations. The actual negotiations will only start after the “#you Count!” workshops in
November are concluded. Swiss attaches great importance to including your inputs from these workshops in
the negotiations. Of course we will also consider the results from the kapers member survey, as well as your
feedback after the CLA ‘No’, in the negotiations.
There is a good deal of work in store for all of us. The expectations seem to be huge on both sides. This is
why we chose “expectations” as the motto for the next edition of ‘kabine’.
Recently, Swiss presented their concept of our future with the campaign “Next Generation – Airline of
Switzerland” in a rather amusing way. One of our members will comment on this video in ‘kabine’.
Flight Duty
Rotation Negotiations
Just like in the past years, the kapers delegation again entered into the negotiations with the maximum of
their demands, in order to point out to Swiss and emphasise the need for action in connection with the longhaul rotations and to achieve a mitigation of the overall strain for the CCMs. Unfortunately, we have to inform
you that once again no agreement for the WTT14/15 has been reached between Swiss and kapers. As an
immediate measure, the arbitration which is decisive for kapers’ right of co-determination (on rotations as
well) was reactivated after the clear ‘No’ to the CLA14. It is however still pending.
GRU
As a consequence of the three, or four respectively, additional flights to São Paulo during the winter
timetable, we will fortunately have layovers again – finally - of more than one night. Since the flights ex ZRH
are operated as day flights, the free day value is correspondingly low, due to the missing night duty, even
though the actual overall strain on the crews is perceived as being much higher. We were able to negotiate a
PFD 3.0 for this rotation. Regrettably, in the case of LX92/93 (one night layover), the PFD 4.0 is not granted
any longer and the calculated free day value of 3.24 is applied. kapers has sharply criticised the abolishment
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of the PFD 4.0 after the GRU rotation with a one-night layover. It is not comprehensible for us why Swiss
“subsidises” the free day value of multi-night rotations by reducing the free day value of the one-night
rotation. The free day value PFD 4.0 after the GRU one-night rotation had been acknowledged by Swiss for
years, due to the overall strain of the rotation and as a consequence of the abolishment of the two-night
layover.
MIA
In contrast to our proposal, Swiss has again decided to apply the same solution as last year with the later
reporting time (1.15 instead of 1.30) and the “Welcome Team” until the end of November, and to introduce
the two-night layover only as of December 1. The modalities (free day values, increase of the MFDP, as well
as handling of voluntariness) are planned to be applied and published in line with the last WTT 13/14. If a
CCM does not accept the increase of the MFDP from 12.30 to 13.30 hours out of principle, they have to
inform Dispo early enough in order for them to adapt the CCM’s schedule. Swiss will inform you about the
detailed procedure well in time.
BKK 2-nights
The BKK rotation will furthermore be operated with a two-night layover, however with the known modified
departure times. The rotation is therefore reduced from five to four days and the free day value must be
rounded up to four free days. Due to the new departure times and based on our FDR, BKK must now be
operated with a two-night layover. The second night in BKK is thus no longer a concession exceeding the
contractual minimum, but an FDR “must”.
We perceive a selective deterioration of the long-haul rotations, which we interpret as being a consequence
of the rejected CLA. The rotations with values above the contractual minimum, which were assured by
contract, were a topic of the CLA14. Due to the rejection of the CLA, Swiss apparently does not feel obliged
any more to adhere to these important “above-contract rotations” and their free day values.
Reports about Overall Strain on Short-haul
We have noticed a general increase of the number of reports about the subject ‘overall strain on short-haul’.
In particular the late Athens night-stop (LX1842 onto LX1831) is very often an issue.
Normally, the crew arrives at the hotel at around 2:30 a.m. (local time) and would have to set the alarm clock
almost two hours before crew call, in order to have the possibility to eat and drink something before starting
the new flight duty. This is due to the fact that breakfast is only offered until 10:30 a.m. In addition, the
layover which is already very short anyway, is followed by a strenuous duty day of more than 11 hours with
packed A321.
We see urgent need for action particularly in connection with this rotation and expect Swiss to assume their
responsibility and mitigate this rotation sustainably.
On kapers‘ Note
Jürg Hunziker – On a Personal Note
At the beginning of this year, I was elected by the Board of kapers - in line with the self-completion option in order to bridge the vacant position and to support kapers in the division communication (and IT), after
Doris Affolter’s resignation. I have decided not to run for office in the upcoming elections. After the present
term of office has elapsed, I will continue supporting kapers as a committee member and will concern myself
fully with their IT issues, as of December 2014.
Since Chris Chollet has already announced his interest in the communication division, he will start working
with me as a committee member, as of mid September, which thus ensures a controlled hand-over of
communication affairs.
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Facts & Figures
kapers Reports Statistics January – August 2014
A detailed listing of all reports which were sent to kapers can be found at www.kapers.ch > Member Section
> Member Infos > “Report Statistics”.
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Pending Issues / Outlook
Subject
Update at the latest
Arbitration …………………………………………………………………….. December
CLA Negotiations …………………………………………………………….. Ongoing
Contact Us
The kapers office with its assistants, operation/security committee members and its Managing
Director is at your service during the opening hours. The Board of kapers is on flight duty for the next two
weeks (September 8–21, 2014) and will be back at the kapers office from September 22 – October 3, 2014.
Representatives of the Board of kapers will be at the Operations Center on September 26, 2014, from
10:30h – 12:30h (Infotisch) to answer your questions and hear your concerns.
kapers opening hours:
Mon - Thu
09:00 – 12:00h 13:30 – 16:00h
Fri
09:00 – 12:00h
Tel.:
+41 (0) 43 2 555 777
email:
[email protected] www.kapers.ch
Kind regards,
Board of kapers
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