4.26.02 – (LAA) – NMB Determines that APFA is the Certified Bargaining Rep for TWA-LLC FAs, 777 Staffing Presidential Arbitration

This is John Ward, President of APFA. Today is Friday, April 26th.

As was reported on last week’s HotLine, the National Mediation Board (NMB) has determined that APFA is the certified bargaining representative for the TWA-LLC Flight Attendants. On behalf of all the APFA Officers and Representatives, I would like to welcome all TWA-LLC Flight Attendants to our Union, the APFA.

Since the NMB decision came down last Friday, APFA Representatives have been in St. Louis Operations providing assistance to our soon-to-be members based at St. Louis and St. Louis International. Earlier this week, the APFA was successful in resolving a problem with the TWA-LLC bid run.

The informational sessions that took place this week have been well attendants, and there are three additional meetings scheduled for this weekend. The schedule for the remaining meetings is as follows: Tomorrow, Saturday, April 27th, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m., and a second meeting from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.; on Sunday, April 28th, from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. The location for all meetings is the JoAnn Wayne Room at St. Louis International Airport. All TWA-LLC Flight Attendants are encouraged to attend.

Please stay on the line for the remainder of this week’s message. Thank you for calling.

This is Leslie Mayo, National Communications Coordinator, with the APFA HotLine for Friday, April 26, 2002.

The 777 staffing Presidential arbitration will be held on May 7, 8, and 9 at the DFW Airport Hyatt. All APFA members are encouraged to attend this very important arbitration. This is a unique opportunity to see your Union at work. If you live in the D/FW area or if you are on sit-time or on a layover in D/FW and would like to attend, please call APFA at 800-395-2732, extension 8743 to RSVP. You will be asked to leave your name, base, employee number, phone number, and the day or dates you plan to attend. The Hyatt does have an airport courtesy van.

The APFA Treasurer’s Department is aggressively pursuing the collection of all back dues. The names of all Flight Attendants in dues arrears will be printed in Skyword, Issue 4, posted on APFA Base Bulletin Boards, and published on the APFA web site. Those Flight Attendants in dues arrears will have until May 8th to contact the APFA Dues Department at extension 8152 in order to make payment arrangements.

The easiest way for TWA-LLC Flight Attendants to become APFA members and satisfy their dues obligations is by completing the Membership Application and Dues Check off Authorization form and sending it to APFA at 1004 W. Euless Blvd., Euless, Texas 76040. You will receive this form in a packet to be sent to all TWA-LLC Flight Attendants next week.

In accordance with Article 31 of the contract, “Flight Attendants covered by this agreement shall as a condition of employment, maintain membership in the APFA so long as this agreement remains in effect, to the extent of paying an initiation fee and membership dues”. Failure to remain dues current will result in Article 31 termination proceedings being started.

Once you become a member and are dues current, you will be eligible to vote in all elections and referendums. You will also receive all mailings and be able to access the Members Only portion of the APFA website at www.www.apfa.org.

American Airlines does not provide APFA with Flight Attendant addresses. It is the responsibility of each Flight Attendant to keep contact information current with the APFA Membership Department. If your personal information changes, please fill out a Change of Address Card in the center section of Skyword magazine, APFA’s official newsletter. The postage paid card can be mailed to APFA or dropped in any APFA lock-box in Flight Service Operations.

Those Flight Attendants on an Overage Leave should plan to paper bid for the month prior to your vacation. This will ensure you maximize your vacation bidding for purposes of pay. Remember, you will need to use the paper bid option on your bid ballot.

APFA has not received the final list for those furloughed Flight Attendants with an effective recall date of May 23rd. Training for those who were offered and accepted reemployment will be conducted at the Learning Center on May 1 and 2. Report to base will be May 22nd. All Flight Attendants included in this recall will be based at LGA. There has been no word from American regarding the additional recalls, however, when we are notified, we will update this HotLine and the APFA website.

The APFA Archives is still looking for pictures of both the interiors and exteriors of all American Airlines aircraft. If you have pictures you would like to permanently donate to the APFA Archives, please send them to APFA Archives, 1004 West Euless Blvd., Euless, TX 76040. Please be sure to list the year and location of the pictures. If you or other Flight Attendants are in the pictures, also include the names of each person that appears.

Speaking of archives, the APFA bids a fond farewell to the Boeing 727. The 727 will make its last flight from Miami on April 30th. The 727 has been the workhorse of the American fleet for almost 40 years beginning in 1964. This retirement brings to an end the days of three man cockpits, the profession of Flight Engineer, tri-jet engine travel, and the last of the original “luxury jets.”

That’s it for this week, and that’s it for me – George Price will begin his term as Communications Coordinator on May 1st. Thank you, as always, for calling the APFA HotLine.