6.07.02 – (LAA) – EC Voites to Appoint Susan Lantz as Interim SLT Base Chair, Overage Leaves of Absence, FML Procedures, EC Voted to Honor 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment

Hello. This is George Price, APFA National Communications Coordinator, with the APFA HotLine for Friday, June 7, 2002.

On Thursday, June 6th, the APFA Executive Committee voted unanimously to appoint Susan Lantz as the interim APFA Base Chair for St. Louis International and Greg Bertolini as the interim APFA Base Chair for St. Louis Domestic. Susan and Greg will appoint Vice Chairs for their respective bases in the near future. Training for our new STL and ISL Base Representatives will be conducted at APFA Headquarters beginning Tuesday, June 12th. The process of membership elections for STL and ISL Base Representatives will begin shortly.

The APFA would like to remind all STL and ISL based Flight Attendants that in order to become a member of the APFA and begin dues check-off, you must complete and sign a Membership Application/Dues Check-off Authorization Card. These were included in the APFA Information Packet mailed in early May by American Airlines. If you have not received your packet, please contact the APFA Membership Department by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 800-395-2732, extension 8153 to request one. Remember you may provide your personal contact information via the APFA Web site, but you must complete the Membership Application/Dues Check-off Authorization Card to become a member and begin dues check-off.

This update from the Contract Department: Flight Attendants who took Overage Leaves of Absence and were paid for their vacation during their leave were paid at the 2001 pay rates when they should have received the 2002 pay rates. The company is currently working on refunding the difference to each of those affected. If you have called American Airlines Payroll and been told otherwise, understand that the resolution to this problem may not have reached them yet.

We are pleased to announce that diversion pay is scheduled to take effect on June 23rd. This provision provides full flight time pay and credit for all time on board when the aircraft is not blocked in at a gate, and/or passengers are not allowed to deplane. Please refer to Article 8.K., and Appendix I, Article 8.K.for additional information regarding the application of diversion pay. In other contract implementation news reserve preferences are still set to take effect in August.

APFA National Safety Coordinator, Joann Matley, met with American Airlines’ Vice President of Safety and Security today to discuss a number of important issues regarding aircraft and airport security.

While on the subject of security, the Company this week sent an e-mail to all Flight Attendants advising of a change in the procedures for the handling of passenger screening at the gate and to agent and Flight Attendant responsibilities during boarding with respect to that screening. This new procedure has been mandated by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Company is obligated to comply.

As you are aware, the company has made a series of changes to Family and Medical Leave procedures. APFA has filed a Presidential Grievance regarding these changes, and an arbitration has been scheduled for October 14, 15, and 16.

The APFA Executive Committee voted unanimously to honor the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne). Members of this Division (known also as the “Night Stalkers”) flew Flight Attendant Sara Low’s American Airlines wings on several combat missions over Afghanistan at the request of her father. APFA President John Ward will attend a meeting of the 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment on June 15th to personally thank them for honoring Sara Low, one of our fallen heroes.

Patty Bias, National Hotel Coordinator, reports that the review of New York City Long layover hotels will take place the week of June 10th. We will advise you via this hotline of the decision. Your hundreds of e-mails to the company and copies to the APFA have certainly made it clear that a change from the Park Central would be unwelcome at best. It is the position of the APFA that, of the hotels being considered, the Park Central will provide the safest, most secure and cleanest accommodations for our Flight Attendants.

That is it for this week. Remain vigilant and safety conscious at all times. Please visit the APFA Web site for the latest news. Web site for the latest news.