3.01.02 – (LAA) – Recall Packets for Furloughed FAs, Primary Vacation Bidding, IOD Reports, Rejecting Offers of Reemployment

This is Leslie Mayo, National Communications Coordinator, with the APFA HotLine for Friday, March 1, 2002.

It has come to our attention that some of the furloughed flight attendants subject to recall beginning April 1, 2002, have not received their recall packet. Please stay tuned to the end of this hotline for details on the remedy for this issue.

APFA was notified this week that, beginning today, boarding times for all aircraft will be standardized by aircraft type. On the 737, F-100 and S-80, boarding will begin no later than 30 minutes prior to departure. On the 757, 767, 777 and A-300, boarding will begin no later than 40 minutes prior to departure. We would like to remind you that the one-hour sign-in prior to departure has NOT changed.

Primary vacation bidding will close at 0001 Central Time on Thursday, March 7th. Awards will be posted no later than March 15th. Secondary bidding will begin on March 16th and close at 0001 Central Time on Saturday, March 23rd. Vacation bidding is for the period May 1, 2002 through April 30, 2003.

We have set up a temporary bulletin board on APFA’s website at www.www.apfa.org for those furloughed flight attendants who will be relocating to another city beginning April 1. There is an area for any Flight Attendant who may be offering a room or apartment for rent, and there is an area for the furloughees to post their requests, as well. Please take a moment to fill out this form if you are either in need of an apartment or have one for rent.

Two weeks ago, we reported that H.R. 622, which would extend unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks, had passed in the House of Representatives. It did pass, however, allow us to clarify: the House approved H.R. 622 as an amendment to a larger Bill. This bill, commonly known as the “Economic Stimulus Package,” has not yet passed. We apologize for leaving the impression that H.R. 622 would soon become law. We will keep you informed on the status of this legislation.

Following several IOD reports from our members, APFA’s Health Department has been involved in the re-designing of corkscrews onboard our aircraft since 9/11. The newer models have levers that will aid in avoiding injuries, unlike the older model that required you to pull out the cork using force. 55,000 of these have been put on the line; however, we are receiving reports that these corkscrews are not making it back into the appropriate utensil drawer. In some cases, the old corkscrews are being boarded in their place. In order to avoid further injuries due to the poor design of the former corkscrew, please ensure that the new models are returned to the appropriate area for the next down line crew.

American Airlines has provided the following information to ensure that all Flight Attendants on the recall list have the ability to communicate their interest in returning to AA.

Informational packages and a form to either accept or reject reemployment were sent out Friday, February 22nd. A response is required to be Federal Expressed or postmarked no later than March 4th, 2001. Failure to do so results in forfeiture of reemployment rights and seniority. If you are one of the furloughed Flight Attendants included in the recall and have not received your package, the following are the steps to take to ensure the March 4th deadline is met:

Write on a piece of paper either ‘I accept’ or ‘I reject the offer of reemployment’. Clearly print your name and employee number. If accepting, rank your Base preferences between ORD, LGA, DCA, and BOS with 1 being your first choice. Sign the document and mail to:

American Airlines MD 5142
People Selection Center
4333 Amon Carter Blvd
Ft Worth, TX 76155

This signed document can also be faxed to 817-963-3305.

If you need additional clarification on these mailing instructions, representatives will be available at 1-888-565-5431 between the hours of 0830 and 1730 CST to assist you. If you call during the hours the hotline is closed, you will be instructed to leave a message and someone will return your call the following morning.

To clarify the recall procedure, training will last two days. Classes will begin on March 19th, March 20th and March 21st. You do NOT need to bring your uniform to training. Please review your recall packet carefully to ensure you meet all of the deadlines and provisions for recall.

On Tuesday, February 26th, the LGA APFA Representatives hosted a meeting for furloughed members in the New York area. Over 50 people attended the meeting, many of whom are included on the April 1 recall list. The meeting went very well, and a great deal of information was shared with those in attendance.

That’s it for this week. This HotLine will be updated Friday, March 8, 2002, or sooner if events warrant.