Mark Torrez

..::work post warning::..

There seems to still be just a few sticking points for some folks in this new TA. Here is some food for thought on the sunset if the 16 month roll off.

I have seen many peoples concerns over the past two weeks regarding the sunset of the 16 month roll off. “If it’s so unimportant why does the company want it so bad?” Is one of the most frequently asked questions online and in person.

Over time, our operation changes. Our contract changes. The way we fly as Flight Attendants changes.

In 2004 we were presented with a TA that had vast improvements to the way we sat reserve as well as significant wage increases through the pay scale and RIGS. However it wasn’t all gains, there were some concessions. A major sticking point during that TA rollout surrounded a significant change to the way we trade. Previously we were able to trade a trip down by 3 legs as opposed to the current procedure of a maximum 6.5 TFP value.

Many of us did not want that change as it seemed it would significantly affect our flexibility. However, the way we were flying had evolved significantly by the early 2000’s since the 3 leg rule had been implemented in the 80’s. When the language was originally negotiated, we were averaging 5 legs per day. 3 legs made sense because it was less than a full duty period. As we started flying to more and more destinations and added new types of aircraft, our trips started seeing less scheduled legs. As we entered the long haul market with the -700, you might see a 4 day with 8 legs and a turn with 5 in the same bid packet. If one of those turns dropped into OT (who wants to fly a 5 leg turn) you could trade down 3 duty periods in one transaction! The company was losing FA’s scheduled to work at an astronomical rate and led to numerous staffing problems. Obviously, this was a problem for the company so the need to alter the trading situation was paramount for them in that negotiation because they couldn’t manage the operation.

Fast forward to today with the 16 month roll off sunset. When the rolloff program was implemented you had to have a perfect quarter to record improve. Period. The only exception to this was if you physically went to the Doctor and got a note to physically turn in to your supervisor. Over the years we have added numerous other exceptions to perfect attendance in the form of non chargeable occurrence’s. The current TA not only adds Intermittent FMLA to that list, it also expands the qualified medical professionals who can fill out a Dr. Note. By adding so many different ways to record improve over the past 20 years it became a high priority for SWA to address the roll off portion of our incredibly liberal no fault attendance policy.

I hope this gives some context as to why SWA would want to see a change like this. Personally I think it’s a change they are putting way to much weight in as it’s rarely a form of points reduction that actually helps members in trouble in a timely fashion.

I got my ballot fairly compared to others. I know we are all feeling the election fatigue, but please vote in this officer election. Many have already voted and I thank you for that. If you haven’t cast your ballot yet don’t delay. I am an independent candidate for President and I would appreciate your consideration. Visit me at marktorrez.com for some insight into me, what experience I bring to the table, and how I would like to see our Union grow!

If you haven’t mailed them in yet, please mail your ballot today!

I got my ballot fairly late compared to others. I know we are all feeling the election fatigue, but please vote in this officer election. Many have already voted and I thank you for that. If you haven’t cast your ballot yet don’t delay. I am an independent candidate for President and I would appreciate your consideration. Visit me at marktorrez.com for some insight into me, what experience I bring to the table, and how I would like to see our Union grow!

If you haven’t mailed them in yet, please mail your ballot today!

If you haven’t mailed them in yet, please mail your ballot today!

Please visit me at marktorrez.com for more insights as to why I’ve decided to run for President of TWU Local 556

Mark Torrez TWU Local 556

Out for a walk getting some fresh air after the rain reflecting on challenges we face running for office in such a large community.

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Q&A’s pt 1

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Let me introduce myself.

I’m Mark Torrez and I’m running for President of TWU Local 556.

It’s time to elect a well rounded Leader who knows what it takes to lead this organization, is focused on repairing relationships,will forge new paths, and is willing to be completely member driven.

Please visit me at marktorrez.com and send your questions for my Q&A’s.

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Friends and Fam! I’m running for President of TWU Local 556, The Union of Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants.

I am running as a stand alone candidate, so this is a solo effort and completely new endeavor for me.

I am tuned in to the needs of my Fellow Flight Attendants, and can be the bridge that brings us together as we change the industry forever. We are Stronger Together and Better Together.

To all my 556 siblings, ballots are in the mail. Voting opens 02/26 and closes 03/18 at noon central.

Please vote Mark Torrez, President TWU Local 556

www.marktorrez.com
FB.me/MarkTorrez24

TikTok · Mark Gregory Torrez Check out Mark Gregory Torrez's video.

Friends & Family! If you can join me and my Union Siblings on 02/13 I’d love the support!

To all my SWA coHearts and friends! Please join us for the worldwide day of action! Bring a friend!

Hello everyone!

The nomination and acceptance window officially closed today. I will not be seeking re-election as your LAX Domicile Executive Board Member. It has been my pleasure and honor to watch our base morph from a fledging domicile into a powerhouse of Unity.

My goal when I took this position 3 years ago was to foster new leaders who will continue to drive this Union in a positive direction when it was time for me to move on. I feel like I've accomplished that during my tenure and am happy to say you have great choices eager to step up to the plate for LAX in the upcoming election. I hope my successor will continue this path of "each one, teach one" so we will always have a strong voice at the 556 table representing LAX.

That being said, I am not yet done serving this membership and I am going to ask you for your vote once more. I hope to be the next President of TWU Local 556 and I need every one of your support to get there. This organization should always be member driven, I would like to steer us back in that direction. I have so much to say and so many ideas, but I will leave that for the campaign trail. Thank you again for allowing me to serve LAX for the past three years. It truly has been my honor.

We’ve got less than 24 hours left to vote! SAV Yes! It’s time to Strike back 556! We haven’t yet reached 100% participation so please call, text, DM, email, our coHearts to ensure everyone’s vote has been cast!

Please visit the Strike Authorization Page on the TWU Local 556 website and click the link to "Request Voting Credentials" of you can’t find your ballot. This self-service portal will verify your identity and re-send voting credentials.

Please reach out to [email protected] if further assistance is needed.

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Hey everyone! Voting opens tomorrow!

Here is a link to the SAV 2024 information page on the TWU 556 website. On this page, you can find the SAV education booklet, frequently asked SAV questions and answers, and more. https://twu556.org/members/sav/ (https://twu556.org/members/sav/)

Strike Authorization Voting opens on Monday, January 15 at Noon CT. On Monday afternoon, each Member will receive a personalized link to submit your vote. This link will be sent to the personal email address on file with TWU Local 556. If you do not receive your link on Monday, you can re-send it to yourself via the TWU 556 website (www.twu556.org (http://www.twu556.org/))
or contact this email address for the link to be re-sent.

Just finished my first meeting with my counterparts at AFA (UA, AS, HA, DL organizing), APFA (AA) & TWU 579 (B6).

We are doing our best to make sure this picket is one for the record books! Please save the date and be a part of the largest showing of Flight Attendant solidarity in history as we come together to change our industry standards!

We have a unique opportunity in LAX due to so many airlines having crew bases here. Please join me in standing together with our Union siblings who may wear different uniforms but have earned the same wings we proudly wear.

Are you ready to Vote Yes? #

4 days before Voting begins

SAV Yes!

Are you ready! 🗳️ Voting opens in 5 days 💪

Hello friends,

This holiday season I would like to share with you something we should all be proud of and celebrate as TWU Local 556 Members. Today, Board Member at Large and Grievance Team Chairperson sent an email to the entire membership with news of the Elliot Meltdown Group Grievance from last December. After a long year of fighting for our members who were left out in the cold last Holiday Season, she and her Grievance Team reached a settlement with the company and the Executive Board voted to approve it. This settlement awards thousands of TFP and countless hours of missing per diem to our affected members. Several hundred thousand dollars will be award to our members across the system over the next week.

As some of you close to me already know, I was fortunate to be a part of this process in a research capacity. Through the Reschedule, Research, and Analysis Committee (RRAC), I was able to build a team of incredibly knowledgeable fellow Flight Attendants who researched every situation brought to us (as well as others we found in our research) from members who were stranded, delayed, canceled, rerouted, etc to ensure they were paid properly during the meltdown.

This simply would not have happened without the tireless efforts of your Union advocates. While they may not love the attention, I cannot help but thank my Union Sisters and Brothers for not giving up this fight. My endless thanks goes out to RRAC member Karen Jaburek, Education Committee Co-Chair Amanda (Gauger) Lowe, Education Committee Co-Chair Angie Kilbourne, Negotiator Sam Wilkins, Education Committee member Courtney Davis, and everyone else who worked with me personally on this project over the past year. They put in so much effort in on the front end of this grievance by extensively researching everyone's individual cases and making incredibly thought out and detailed remedy proposals to submit to the grievance team to make everyone whole.

I also must thank Grievance Team members Brandon Hillhouse, and Lauren Childs, who along with Gayle, took these individual settlement proposals to our company Labor department to fight for settlements. Several Board members also deserve recognition for assisting the Grievance Team in gathering data to support our position. Houston Domicile Executive Board Member David Jackson and Atlanta Domicile Executive Board Member Alison Head spent hours upon hours contributing to this Grievance and we wouldn't be here today without their willingness to jump in and assist where we needed.

This has truly been a labor of love. It has been challenging for us all as we encountered hurdle after hurdle before making it to the finish line. I truly hope we can all celebrate this victory together as it is a historic milestone victory for our Union. I am sure I missing others here, and I apologize for that because I could go on and on, but I am grateful for EVERYONE involved and I thank everyone who was affected for their patience during this process. Today, I am a