5.17.02 – (LAA) – APFA 25th Anniversary, APFA, AFA, APFA, ALPA, and CWA Participate in Unity March at AA Learning Center, Article 31 Enforcement, Vacation Relief Bidding

This is John Ward, President of APFA, with a hotline message for Friday, May 17, 2002.

APFA has reason to celebrate this week, and that’s certainly a good thing for once! Yesterday, May 16, marked APFA’s 25th anniversary as the union representing the American Airlines flight attendants. During the last 25 years, APFA has gone from fewer than 5,000 members to the more than 25,000 that we have today. No doubt this membership has had more than its fair share of struggles and challenges in the last 25 years, including, of course, plenty of long, drawn-out and contentious contract negotiations. Who could forget the strike? And nothing could have possibly prepared us for what happened on September 11. But we’re here today, stronger and more unified, in my opinion than ever before, and that is something worth celebrating. I’m proud to be an American Airlines flight attendant and member of the APFA and most especially proud to represent you as your President. Have a pleasant and safe weekend. Now please stay on the line for the remainder of this week’s message.

Hello. Today is Friday, May 17, 2002. This is APFA National Communications Coordinator George Price with the APFA HotLine.

The APFA joined members of AFA (representing the American Eagle Flight Attendants), APA (representing the American Airlines pilots), ALPA (representing the pilots at American Eagle), and the Communications Workers of America in a Unity March at the American Airlines Learning Center on Wednesday, May 15, 2002 during the Annual AMR Stockholder’s Meeting. Well over 500 Flight Attendants, Pilots, and Agents walked the line together sending a clear message to the AMR Board Members meeting inside, that we are unified and will not fall victim to the Company’s divide and conquer tactics. The event was one of the first of its kind at AMR. The Unity March received a great deal of press coverage. The various unions plan to conduct other joint activities in the future.

The APFA Hotel Department is extremely pleased with the response from APFA members regarding American Airlines proposed change of hotels in New York City. They have received hundreds of messages and e-mails. Please continue to send e-mails to the following members of management: Jane Allen at [email protected], Bob Kudwa at [email protected], and Monica Chamberlin at [email protected]. Please be sure to send a copy to APFA at [email protected]. Per the contract the Company cannot change hotels without the full review process being conducted. Your individual comments and opinions are very valuable. Please make you e-mail brief and be sure to comment on the safety and cleanliness of our previous New York Hotel, the Milford Plaza, versus our current hotel, the Park Central.

The APFA Dues Department is continuing to aggressively enforce Article 31 of our Contract. From January 1, 2002 until April 30, 2002, they collected $60,044.32. In the first 15 days of May 2002, they have collected over $45,000. They are poised to set an all-time record for outstanding dues collection for one year. Members in dues arrears are encouraged to call the Dues Department at extension 8151 in order to make payment arrangements for dues owed.

APFA President John Ward addressed the 2002 International Security Coordinator’s Conference this week in Dallas/Ft. Worth. John’s comments centered around safety and security issues arising from the September 11, 2001 tragedies. He outlined our member’s concerns over safety and security issues.

Joann Matley, APFA’s National Safety Coordinator, along with other APFA Safety Reps were present at the demonstration of the WorldBlackbelt, Inc. cabin crew self-defense training conducted May 15th in DFW. The class stressed situational awareness and provided participants with Flight Attendant user -friendly techniques using items onboard the aircraft. Additionally, basic self- defense techniques were taught. Members of the APFA Safety Department were very impressed with the overall presentation. This program is voluntary and will begin June 3rd in LAX.

The new Vacation Relief Bidding procedures and the “Letter of Agreement” concerning these new procedures have been posted on the APFA Web site. If you are bidding vacation replacement, you may want to print a copy of these new procedures in order to help you through the bidding process. The APFA Contract Desk will be manned Saturday and Sunday May 18th and 19th from 1000 until 1600 to answer questions relating to the new Vacation Relief Bidding procedures. You can reach a Contract Representative at extension 8171. All other calls will still be handled by the Officer-on-Duty.

An APFA information packet was mailed to all STL and ISL Flight Attendants May 3rd, 2002, by American Airlines. If you are based in STL or ISL and have not received your packet, please contact the APFA Membership Department at APFA Headquarters, extension 8153 or by e-mail at [email protected].

For those who have internet access, you may be aware that the number of computer viruses being sent through e-mails has dramatically increased over the past few months. The APFA computer system has built-in protections, which detect viruses in any inbound e-mail. Any e-mail that has a virus detected in it is automatically returned to the sender before it ever has the chance to reach an APFA Representative or Department. The APFA Lan Manager has reported as many as 100 virus laden e-mails being sent to the APFA a month. If you have sent an e-mail to APFA Headquarters and have received no response, it could be that the e-mail you sent contained a virus. If you do not have virus protection on your personal computer, you may want to consider investing in a program. If you currently have a virus protection program, you should ensure that it is updated.

It has come to the APFA’s attention that many Flight Attendants that originally purchased Dell Computers through American Airlines and accepted the free internet access are reaching the end of their internet contracts. If you are one of those affected and have decided to go with another internet provider, please make sure to contact the APFA Membership Department or you may update your information on the APFA web site at: www.www.apfa.org with your new e-mail address. If you have previously registered to have the APFA HotLine and/or InfoRep HotLine automatically e-mailed to you, you will need to re-register once you have changed your e-mail address.

That’s it for this week’s hotline. Please visit the APFA Web Site for more information.

Happy 25th Anniversary APFA!