3.09.01 – (LAA) – NMB Adjourns Mediated Talks, Fed Bankruptcy Judge Rules in Favor of AA’s Bid for TWA, Hit and Run Picketings in Dallas and Miami, AMFA Sets a STrike Deadline, Comair Pilots Set Strike Date

This is APFA President John Ward with a hotline update for Wednesday, March 14.

The APFA and the Company concluded mediated talks this week without reaching an agreement. The National Mediation Board adjourned talks until the week of April 2. Both parties have been directed by the NMB to observe a communication blackout concerning the substance of this week’s talks until the resumption of negotiations.

Although the imposed gag order prevents us from reporting the latest details of negotiations, we want to assure you that the APFA negotiating team holds strong in our resolve to do what is necessary to bring you a contract we can all be proud of.

March 12, 2001

APFA HOTLINE UPDATE
This is APFA Vice President Jeff Bott with an APFA Hotline Update for Monday, March 12, 2001.

Federal Bankruptcy Judge Peter Walsh today ruled in favor of American Airlines bid for TWA. This bid included $742 million in cash, assumption of 3.5 billion in debt, and employment for all TWA employees including approximately 4,000 Flight Attendants. The deal faces one last hurdle which is approval from the Department of Justice.

The APFA Board of Directors will be meeting March 17-22 in Manhattan Beach, California for the annual board convention. On the Board’s agenda will be issues related to the TWA acquisition including seniority integration. The Board’s decision will be based on input from the APFA Membership, the Merger and Acquisition Committee, and our legal advisors.

The APFA continues to remain discouraged at the lack of progress at the negotiating table; it is obvious American is more interested in investing its time and money in other outside endeavors and other employee groups, than those currently on their own property.

Please check the APFA web site and stay tuned to the APFA Hotline and InfoRep Hotline for the latest information.

APFA HOTLINE

March 09, 2001

This is Peter Day and this is the negotiations portion of the hotline for March 9, 2001. As we reported from negotiations in Chicago last weekend, our first session back to the table after the long recess was disappointing to say the least. The Company did not show the will or the means to close a deal.

We are returning to bargaining this weekend in Washington DC. The parties will continue to discuss outstanding Language, Crew Rest and Scheduling issues. Then hopefully and finally Compensation. The Team will be traveling to the APFA Annual Convention in Los Angeles at the end of the week to report to the Board of Directors. If there is no progress in negotiations the BOD will be authorizing the escalation of our campaign, efforts to be released and strike preparation.

Our team is returning to the table ready, willing and able to conclude these negotiations, but we cannot achieve that goal unless the Company is coming to the table with the same objective. Unfortunately, last week has left us very doubtful that the Company has the same intentions. Everyday we read about American Airlines coughing up lots of cash to have American’s name attached to an arena or theatre, to install new overheads bins, to buy one airline and other airline’s assets, and even to fund the benefits of retired employees of a bankrupt carrier. The cost of concluding these negotiations is just a fraction of these cumulative costs yet the Company seems to have money for anything and everything but their own employees. What they don’t realize is that one of the reasons that they have the funds to invest in these various endeavors is that twenty three thousand of us invested so much in helping American to be the successful carrier that it is today.

And they wonder why we don’t like them.

Please stay on the line for rest of the HOTLINE.

This is George Price, Central Division Strike Coordinator, with more APFA HotLine news for the week ending March 9, 2001.

The APFA conducted Hit and Run Picketings in Dallas and Miami on Wednesday, March 7. We would like to thank all members who came out to show their support. We had an incredible turnout in both cities and the weather was more than cooperative. There was a good amount of press and our message that “American Airlines Invests In Everything But Its Own People” was heard loud and clear.

Speaking of investing, AA sweetened their offer for TWA by $242million dollars bringing the grand total to $742 million dollars in cash and $3.5billion in assumption of debt. Interestingly enough, following the increased bid, the TWA board voted to back AA’s offer. Keep in mind that to date, American Airlines has spent ZERO on a new contract for its own Flight Attendants.

The APFA was well represented at the TWA Bankruptcy Hearing in Wilmington, DE on Friday morning, March 9th. Flight Attendants from New York, DC, Philly and the surrounding area made the trip and received even more press from the fact that we are still waiting for AA to invest in US! A special thank you to all the volunteers who helped organize these events.

The APFA Board of Directors will be meeting in Los Angeles beginning March 17, 2001. The Merger and Acquisition Committee will be presenting their research on the acquisition of TWA and seniority integration issues to the base chairs for review. If you have any questions or comments, please contact your base chair via e-mail or voice mail. Check your last issue of Skyword, center section, or the web site for the appropriate extensions and e-mail addresses.

There are several membership actions being planned for the month of April. Please stay tuned to this HotLine or check the web site at www.www.apfa.org for details.

IDF will be holding their base meeting on March 13th at 11:00 a.m. at APFA Headquarters. DFW will be holding their base meeting at the DFW office on March 14th at 11:00 a.m. LAX will also be holding their base meeting on the 14th at noon at the LAX base office. All members in good standing are welcome to attend. DFW and IDF Reps will be in DFW Ops at 10:00 a.m., terminal C on Thursday, March 18th to answer any questions you might have.

In industry news, the airline industry remains in a state of unrest. First at Northwest, AMFA, the union representing Northwest Mechanics, has set a strike deadline of Monday, March 12, 2001 at 12:01a.m. Eastern Standard Time. Today, President Bush established a Presidential Emergency Board in the AMFA/Northwest dispute. This will delay a strike at least 60 days from the stated March 12th strike date. Pilots at Delta have said that if contract is not reached with Delta management soon , they will ask the NMB for release.

Comair Pilots have set a strike date of March 26th if a contract agreement is not reached between their Union and Comair. Finally, Flight Attendants at United announced this week that they will strike using CHAOS if United completes a merger with USAirways without a merger agreement with AFA, the union representing both United and USAirways Flight Attendants. AFA plans to send out a strike authorization ballot within weeks.

That’s it for this week. Remember it’s Union Pin and Wings and your bagtag should read 4,3,2,1… Thanks for calling the APFA HotLine.