8.10.01 – (LAA) – AA’s Position on Carrying FA Manual Binders

APFA HotLine for August 10, 2001

This is Leslie Mayo, APFA National Communications Coordinator, with APFA HotLine news for Friday, August 10, 2001.

The manual saga continues and it appears that the Company has altered their position on the Flight Attendant manual binders. Donna Snepp, managing director of flight service, has sent an email message to all Flight Attendants requiring F/As to carry their manuals in the AA originally-issued black binder ONLY. This is not an FAA requirement, however, it is now company policy. You cannot be fined by the FAA for carrying your manual in a binder other than the black binder issued by the company, but company policy requires that these manuals be contained within that original cover. The company has also stated that they are researching the prospect of issuing smaller-sized manual covers, so we will keep you updated as the company position changes.

Onto the food service problem, copies of the three-section food service portions of the manual are now available at all bases. The cost is $10. If you are carrying a manual with an incomplete food service section, for example if you threw away IFS because you’re domestic, Flight Service will be charging $10 for replacement sections. This is one issue that could lead to an FAA fine. As APFA stated last week in our HotLine, APFA has communicated our concerns to the Company regarding the lack of clarity from Flight Service pertaining to the required contents of our manuals. APFA will be initiating a Presidential Grievance over the $10 charge for these replacement sections and we hope to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

Contract Ratification ballots will be in the mail on Monday, August 13 and are due back by September 12. The next issue of Skyword will also be in the mail on Monday the 13th and it is full of information about the Tentative Agreement. T.A. Briefings are in full swing and the remaining three-week schedule is as follows:

Meetings begin at 10:00 a.m. and last until about 3:00 p.m. If you have any questions regarding location, parking or hotel phone numbers, please contact APFA PhoneWatch at 866.ASK.APFA. PhoneWatch is open from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Don’t forget to bring your Tentative Agreement language with you. If you have not yet received your language in the mail, please call APFA Headquarters, ext. 8200 and one will be sent to you. Leave a message and include your full name, employee number and correct mailing address, as the problem could be that we do not have your correct address on file.

T.A. language will be available on the APFA web site beginning Monday. Log on with your personal mode and click on Negotiations. Our web site has a lot of information regarding the Tentative Agreement so have a look at www.www.apfa.org.

Senator John McCain has introduced a bill that would remove our right to strike. This bill, the Aviation Labor Dispute Resolution Act, would basically require all labor disputes to be submitted to binding arbitration if negotiations reach an impasse. This bill requests arbitration that is similar to “baseball arbitration” in that winner takes all. Removing our right to strike puts all of the power into the hands of the Company by removing the threat of a strike. APFA joins other airline labor unions in strong opposition of this bill. Stay tuned to this HotLine for further information on how APFA will play our part in ensuring this bill is defeated.

That’s it for this week. Remember to wear your Union pin proudly and exercise your right, as a member in good standing, to vote for your next contract. Thank you for calling the APFA Hotline.