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Scheduling of CQ Training

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MEC Grievance Committee

Scheduling of CQ Training

Flight Attendants who do not schedule themselves for CQ training prior to the first day of the bid month should understand the conditions under which the company may schedule them for CQ training. The rules have changed: we have a new Section 11.D.6. and the Union and the company have just signed a Letter of Agreement to clarify the contractual process. The LOA is linked [HERE].

The Timelines Have Changed

The new Section 11.D.6. permits the company to assign CQ training on the first day of the bid month of a Flight Attendant’s “Due” or “Grace” month if they have not picked up training. This means you no longer have until the fifth day of the month to pick up training before it may be assigned. In addition, the company now needs to provide only three (3) days’ notice of a CQ assignment. Be on your toes! CQ training for Reserves will be scheduled on Reserve days of availability. Reserves may request to be assigned a training pairing on specific Reserve day(s).

Pay Protection Is Limited

Getting pay-protected for trip(s) dropped because of a CQ training assignment is unlikely, because of the following factors in the LOA:

1. When assigning CQ the company will always default to assigning training on days off, if possible.

2. If you have changed your original schedule in your “Due” month, so that the company would now have to drop a trip to schedule training, they may decline to assign CQ.

3. If you have changed your original schedule in your “Grace” month, so that the company has to drop a trip to schedule training, the trip will be dropped without pay protection (the company will do everything they can to assign CQ in your “Grace” month in order that you do not go non-qualified!)

The only situation where you will be provided pay protection for trip(s) dropped for the assignment of CQ training is when “the training is not offered on any of the days off in the Flight Attendant’s originally awarded schedule” AND a training class is not available on any of your current schedule’s days off. In this limited situation you will be pay protected even though you altered your originally awarded schedule.

Going NQ is Still Possible

The goal of the LOA was to eliminate the many situations where Flight Attendants have gone Non-Qualified because they were expecting to be assigned CQ training or forgot to pick up training. Falling into NQ status after your “Grace” month disqualifies you from any flying the following month (loss of flying) and may subject you to performance discipline up to termination. On this topic, please be aware that if all classes become filled in your “Grace” month the company will not be able to schedule you for CQ. Also, if you schedule significant vacation during your “Grace” month this may prohibit the company from scheduling CQ.

Ultimately, Flight Attendants are responsible for maintaining their flight qualifications by completing all required training(11.F) Making scheduling CQ a priority will ensure you always remain in control of your schedule. Classes fill up quickly so picking up CQ as early as you can will eliminate the stress of class availability. If you elect not to pick up CQ, we highly encourage you to read the LOA in detail.