3.15.02 – (LAA) – NMB Determines that AA and TWA-LLC are Single Carriers for the Purposes of the Railway Labor Act, Changes to D-3 Travel Program, BOD Training

This is Leslie Mayo, National Communications Coordinator, with an updated HotLine for Tuesday, March 19, 2002.

The National Mediation Board today determined that American Airlines and TWA-LLC are a single carrier for purposes of the Railway Labor Act. This does not affect APFA’s status for the next 30 days. We anticipate that immediately after the conclusion of the 30-day period, APFA will be certified as the bargaining representative of the TWA-LLC Flight Attendants in addition to continuing as bargaining representative of the American Airlines Flight Attendants. We look forward to welcoming the TWA-LLC Flight Attendants to APFA in the very near future.

The complete text of the NMB decision will be posted on the APFA website shortly. This hotline will be updated on Friday. Thank you for calling

This is Leslie Mayo, National Communications Coordinator, with the APFA HotLine for Friday, March 15, 2002.

The FAA is likely to direct the inspection of a target group of A-300 tail sections following the results of a test on one of American Airlines’ airbuses that experienced turbulence in May 1997. The test showed that some delamination occurred to one of six attachment points on the vertical stabilizer. American says it will cooperate fully with the anticipated FAA directive.

APFA President John Ward has sent a letter to all APFA members regarding a resolution recently passed by the APFA Board of Directors at its Annual Convention. This resolution calls for a balloting of the membership for a dues increase from the current $35 per month to $41 per month, effective July 1, 2002. Please read this letter carefully and call your Base Chair with any questions.

American Airlines this week announced some changes to the D-3 travel program that are expected to take effect later this year. American will restore D-3 travel, including the ability for extended family and friends to travel up to a maximum of 12 guest travelers annually. These travelers must be registered on the Jetnet website at aa.Jetnet.com and must still meal list eight days in advance. The number of one-way tickets will remain at 24 per year.

The Seattle Flight Attendant base closed last Friday, March 8, 2002. The Company has reached an agreement with APFA that, in the event the SEA base re-opens in the next three years, the Flight Attendants who were based at SEA as of November 8, 2001, will have the right of first refusal to transfer back to SEA, over and above any Flight Attendant who was not SEA-based as of November 8, 2001.

The APFA Board of Directors Annual Training will take place this weekend in Dallas/Fort Worth. This year’s training will be devoted to Critical Incident and Stress Management (CISM) in order to provide assistance to Flight Attendants who experienced an unusual event or situation where a CISM Debrief is required. These events include a death onboard or on a layover, an aircraft accident, severe turbulence, an F/A assault in-flight or on a layover or an evacuation using slides. The events of the past six months certainly underscore the importance of this type of training.

That’s it for this week. This HotLine will be updated Friday, March 22, or as events warrant.