12.15.00 – (LAA) – NMB, Santa Leafleting, January 19th Nationwide Membership Action, New SFO Chair and Vice Chair

Hello this is Alexis Boilini, member of the APFA Negotiating Team and Fellow Flight Attendant, and this is the negotiations portion of the Hotline for Friday December 15th, 2000.

The APFA negotiating team worked internally this week evaluating proposals and cost outs in addition to helping plan the membership activities related to negotiations.

To recap all of the latest developments:

Dec 4 – The National Mediation Board recessed the parties indefinitely. Simply put, there are no scheduled meetings between the parties. Both sides are reminded by the Board of their “obligation to maintain the status quo”.

Dec 4 – Shortly after the National Mediation Board notified the parties of the recess, Sue Oliver contacted APFA President John Ward and “offered” an 8% pay increase effective immediately. The offer of a “band-aid” salary adjustment during bargaining is an old, played out negotiations tactic used to test the resolve of the membership. We have made it clear to the Company that we will not be bribed into submission and that the only way to resolve our differences is through negotiation of a total agreement. And, of course, the Company was well aware that, in any event, it would be impossible to immediately implement any pay increase. Under our Constitution and Policy Manual, any such substantive change to our contract would first have to be approved by the Executive Committee, presented to the Board of Directors and ratified by the membership — a process that would take at least two months.

Dec 6 – APFA officially requested that the National Mediation Board release the parties into a 30-day cooling off period because the Union believes negotiations are at an impasse and that the Company will not get serious without a specific timetable for promptly concluding an agreement. We have not received a response to this request. Consideration is being given to holding an APFA Board of Directors meeting next month for the purpose of passing a resolution authorizing the mailing of a Strike Ballot to the membership.

Dec 6 – The Company went public with the 8% bribe. In response, the Flight Attendants have stood strong and insisted on obtaining a complete, acceptable, agreement at the bargaining table.

A full, fair and negotiated agreement is the only means to the end of this escalating dispute. As John Ward told the National Mediation Board in his letter requesting release” our fundamental objective is not conflict, but a negotiated agreement”.

Indicative of the fact that the Company is simply playing games is that Sue Oliver recently told the Dallas press “the airline has not made its final and best offer to the union”. We have been negotiating with the Company for two years and we have known all along that they have always had the resources to offer us a fair and equitable agreement. It is incomprehensible that they would now boast that have a better deal in their back pocket. That they have gone through the time, expense and adversarial lengths to keep it deep in that pocket is a sad reminder of how little they think of us. We implore the Company to “stop the conflict” and offer us a fair agreement.

As always, the APFA Negotiating Committee thanks you for all of your hard work and support. We pledge our continued commitment to achieving the deal you so rightfully deserve.

This is Leslie Mayo, National Communications Coordinator with more APFA HotLine news for the week ending December 15, 2000.

PhoneWatch, is up and running at Headquarters. If any of you have questions about negotiations, please call toll-free: 1.866.ASK.APFA. Volunteer Flight Attendants are standing by, Monday thru Friday, to assist you with your questions. This phone line is being manned as needed and may increase to 24-hours a day if enough of you utilize this service.

Santa Leafleting is this Friday, December 22nd, the busiest travel day of the year. We know you’re busy with Holiday Plans, but come out in your uniform for a few hours and let the Company know you want a contract sooner rather than later. Wear a santa hat if you’d like and join your co-workers at the following base and co-terminal cities: Boston, La Guardia, Newark, JFK, DCA, Baltimore, Dulles, Raleigh-Durham, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, DFW, Dallas Love Field, Chicago, Seattle, San Jose, San Francisco, LAX and Orange County. West Coast leafleting times are from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m; Central leafleting times are from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on the East Coast, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Chicago and JFK will also be picketing as well as handing out leaflets. Please call APFA Headquarters at 800.395.2732, ext. 8743 to sign up for your two-hour shift.

January 19th will be our next nationwide membership action so please mark your calendars accordingly! If you live in any one of the following cities and would like to lead your commuter city in a membership action, please call APFA HDQ, ext. 8743 to volunteer: ABQ, AMA, BDL, BHM, BNA, CLE, CLT, CRP, DSM, DTW, ELP, GRR, IND, LBB, (LIT) Little Rock, MKE, MDT (Harrisburg, PA), OMA, ORF, RIC, PDX, PVD, SBA, SLC and TUL.

We would like to announce the new Chair and Vice-Chair in San Francisco, who were duly elected today by way of submitting a Willingness to Serve. Your new SFO-I Base Chair is Arlene LeWinter and your new SFO-I Vice Chair is Lauren Michelle Chaisson. APFA would like to thank you for stepping up to the plate. These two representatives will serve in their position through the term ending March 31, 2001. Also, please note that the SFO Domestic/International Base Meeting will be canceled for the month of December.

Please check the APFA web site at www.www.apfa.org for the latest information. Stay informed because things are changing rapidly.

Thank you for calling the APFA Hotline, and remember it’s pins, wings, nametag and 7,6,5…!