7.27.01 – (LAA) – Negotiations Update, Contract Langauge for the TA Being Printed, Pay and Pension Calculator, TA Briefings Schedule

This is APFA President John Ward with a Negotiations Update. Today is Friday, July 27.

After much work by the Negotiating Committee over the last three weeks, I am pleased to report that the actual contract language for the Tentative Agreement is now being printed. It will be mailed to your home address beginning next week. The schedule for the T.A. briefings has now been finalized; a complete list of base cities, dates, locations, and times will follow at the end of this HotLine.

It appears Profit Sharing, and whether it is “in” or “out” of the new Tentative Agreement, continues to be a hot topic of discussion among some out on the Line. This issue should not divert attention from the overall T.A. However, I thought it might be informative if I’d mention a few things about APFA’s position on Profit Sharing and exactly how it relates to this T.A. The clamor seems to have begun two weeks ago when the Company, unhappy over APFA’s description of the treatment of profit sharing in the T.A. Highlights, suggested that the APFA had agreed to all-but-certain discontinuation of the Profit Sharing Plan as part of the T.A. That is simply not true.

Under the existing Company Profit Sharing Plan, the Company has the right to amend, suspend, or terminate the Plan. As we have previously reported, the Tentative Agreement contractually guarantees our continued participation in the existing Company profit sharing plan through 12/31/03, with a maximum annual payout of 3.25% in plan years 2002 and 2003. The Company is precluded from amending, suspending, or terminating the Plan through 12/31/03. Among other things, this guarantees that the return on investment trigger for payment of profit sharing cannot be adversely changed during this period of time. Beginning 1/1/04, Flight Attendants will return to the existing Profit Sharing Plan without the 3.25% caps unless the Company thereafter modifies or eliminates the Plan – something the Company could possibly do. Although the T.A. acknowledges the Company’s existing rights with respect to the Profit Sharing Plan, APFA flatly refused to be a party to encouraging, supporting, or endorsing, either directly or indirectly, a possible decision by the Company to eliminate the Plan.

APFA’s position since returning to the bargaining table last year has been that Flight Attendants deserve profit sharing in addition to acceptable pay increases. We don’t believe profit sharing should be considered as part of our compensation, but according to the Company “bean counters,” it is. Seeing that it was vulnerable in the Company’s control, the Negotiating Committee contractually secured as much profit sharing as we could for as long as we could. This does not mean, however, that we are naive to the fact that, effective 1/1/04, profit sharing “snaps back” to a Company controlled plan – one which could be eliminated if the Company, at that point, was foolishly inclined to do so.

I look forward to meeting many of you at the T.A. Briefings next month. Please stay on the line for the remainder of this week’s HotLine.

This is Leslie Mayo, National Communications Coordinator, with more APFA HotLine news for Friday, July 27, 2001.

You may want to check out the Pay & Pension Calculator on the APFA web site that will allow you to view how the new T.A. will personally effect your pay and pension under different scenarios. You control the variables such as number of hours you expect to fly, any additional pay categories, etc. The password needed to enter the site is the first 5 digits of your social security number.

The Tentative Agreement Briefing schedule is final and you should have received a postcard at your home with details, including dates, times, and locations for these meetings. The schedule is also posted on the web site at www.www.apfa.org. Remember, if you cannot attend a meeting at your base, you are welcome to attend any meeting throughout the system. You must be dues current or have made arrangements with the APFA Dues Department for payment of dues owed. You cannot vote on the Contract if you are not dues current on the day ballots are counted. Please contact APFA immediately if you believe you are not dues current.

The details for the T.A. Briefings are as follows:

All meetings will begin at 10:00 a.m. local time and end no later than 3:00 p.m. For further information, including addresses, phone numbers, and parking information, please call PhoneWatch at 866-Ask-APFA Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or visit www.apfa.org.

It is very important that all members have their current mailing address on file with the APFA. This will ensure that you receive the complete TA language, and the contract ratification ballot. If you or someone you know has recently moved, please be sure to update APFA by sending an e-mail to [email protected] or by calling the Membership Department-800-395-2732, extension 8153. You can also go to the web site at www.www.apfa.org to enter updated information there.

We hope to see you at one of the T.A. Briefings. That’s it for this week, be sure to wear your Union Pin, Wings, and Nametag on your uniform, and thank you for calling the APFA HotLine.