8.23.02 – (LAA) – APFA and AA Contiue to Work on Details of Upcoming Overage Leave of Absence Proffer, APFA and AA Sign Letter of Agreement to Increase Nmber of FAs Eligible for Overage Leaves and Partnership Flying in STL

Hello. Today is Friday, August 23, 2002. This is George Price, APFA National Communications Coordinator.

APFA and American continue to work on the details of the upcoming Overage Leave of Absence proffer. Once the specific overages by base are known-the first week in September-the proffer will be posted. Specific information regarding Overage Leaves and Partnership Flying will soon be available on the APFA Web site.

Overage Leaves and Partnership Flying are covered in Article 16 and Appendix F of our Contract and in the Presidential Grievance Settlement on Article 16 and Appendix F, which can be found under Reduction in Force on the APFA Web site. Overage Leaves and Partnership Flying offer those Flight Attendants not subject to the reduction in force the opportunity to either take time off or to work a part-time Schedule. Both are ways of mitigating Flight Attendant overages.

During an Overage Leave, Flight Attendants continue to accrue company, classification, and bidding seniority. They receive passes on American Airlines, have access to their health insurance at the same rates they pay as an active employee, and receive retirement credits for monthly guarantee. Basically, the only thing that someone on Overage Leave does not get is a paycheck.

Partnership Flying is much like a job share. Two Flight Attendants with like qualifications will create a partnership. They will be awarded a bid based on the senior person’s seniority, and will decide who flies which trips each month. APFA will soon activate a “Partner Finder” on the APFA Web site. This will enable Flight Attendants at each base to list their desire to create a partnership and list their qualifications for matching purposes.

Overage Leaves and Partnership Flying proffers will go out on September 3rd. They will close on September 16th. Notification of awards will take place the week of September 23.

APFA and American Airlines signed a Letter of Agreement this week that will increase the number of Flight Attendants eligible for Overage Leaves and Partnership Flying in STL. The complete text of this agreement can be found on the web site under Reduction in Force.

This week, American Airlines began notifying those Flight Attendants subject to furlough. The effective date of furloughs will be October 13, 2002. As more specific information regarding furloughs become available, we will update the Furlough and Reduction in Force page of the APFA Web site and the APFA HotLine.

The Integration Training Proffer for TWA Flight Attendants is out and will close on August 27th. Awards will be posted on August 28th. The first training class will begin on September 3rd. Per the TWA Seniority Integration Agreement, the seniority lists will be combined on the first day of the calendar month following the first trip flown by a TWA Flight Attendant on an American Airlines airplane. It is anticipated, based on this timeline, that the integration of the seniority lists will take place on October 1, 2002.

The APFA National Ballot Committee retrieved Willingness-to-Serve Notifications on Wednesday, August 21st for the positions of STL and ISL Base Chairs, Vice Chairs, and Operational Council Representatives and Vice Chair of LGA. Susan Lantz was duly elected Chair of ISL, Jon Howard was duly elected Vice Chair of ISL and Eric Hodgson was duly elected Vice Chair of LGA. Willingness-to-Serves were received from several candidates for the position of Chair and Vice Chair of STL; However, all candidates, with the exception of Sherry Cooper, Chair, and Greg Bertolini, Vice Chair, withdrew from the election on Friday afternoon. Sherry Cooper is therefore the duly elected Chair and Greg Bertolini is the duly elected Vice Chair of STL. These positions are effective immediately.

The APFA Safety Department would like to remind Flight Attendants to limit the amount of personal information they display on their bag tags. Simply stated, use reasonable means to limit casual observation of identity. Using bag tags that identify you as a “crewmember” or part of a “crew” is highly discouraged.

The APFA is aware of the problems Flight Attendants had accessing SABRE through the Internet and the Flight Service Web site Tuesday evening. Despite APFA’s repeated requests, American refused to extend the bidding period and re-run the bids. The Company told APFA that their server does not have the capacity to handle the volume that is created on the last day of bidding. The company feels the resolution is to remind Flight Attendants to plan ahead and bid earlier. Meanwhile, they plan to look into new and improved Web SABRE that does not have the same limitations as the Citrix System.

The Scheduling and Contract Desks would like to encourage Flight Attendants to visit the APFA Web site for information on Reserve Preferences. The information can be found under the “Hot Topics.”

Many Flight Attendants have reported receiving virus-laden e-mails from APFA Representatives and addresses within the APFA. The APFA has several safeguards in place that does not allow viruses in or to be mailed out of the APFA computer system. What appears to have happened is someone who has corresponded with the APFA has had their computer infected by the worm virus. This has caused their computer to send the virus to addresses in their computer address book or to addresses of those they have sent mail to or received mail from in the past. APFA encourages all members to install virus protection in their personal computers or update the protection they currently have installed. You can find links to virus protection information on the APFA Web site under “General Information.”

American recently announced plans to reconfigure all 767-300’s to two-class. As a result, in accordance with our contract, there will be one speaker staffed per cabin for a total of two versus three on the current configuration.

The APFA Executive Committee will hold its quarterly meeting on Thursday, August 29th at the DFW Hilton Lakes Hotel located at1800 Highway 26 East in Grapevine, Texas. The meeting will begin at 1000 Central Time. Shuttle service is available from the DFW Airport. All members in good standing are welcomed and encouraged to attend all open portions of the meeting.

It has been a busy week in industry news:

American Airlines announced this week that it will consolidate an estimated 5,000 employees from eleven buildings in Ft. Worth to two by 2005. This latest move by American will save an estimated $6 million annually.

Southwest Pilots have approved a 2-year contract extension against their union’s recommendations. The extension provides Southwest Pilots with a 35% pay increase over four years.

United Airlines this week announced plans to reduce their fall flight schedules by 9%. ALPA representing Pilots at United have canceled a vote on a tentative agreement that included a 10% pay cut because the airline is now seeking larger concessions in order to secure government loan guarantees.

Continental Airlines will be cutting capacity by 4% by 2003 by grounding their 11 MD-80 aircraft. The airline will also cut flight schedules and assess new fees to low-fare customers.

US Airways said it will be cutting 200 flights and grounding 31 planes by the end of the year in order to cut costs.

ATA joins other airlines this week in announcing cost cutting plans. They will ground their remaining L-1011 aircraft and reduce fall flight schedules.

That’s it for this week’s HotLine. Remember, there are currently 1,566 Flight Attendants on furlough. If you are in a position to take one of the upcoming Overage Leaves or participate in Partnership Flying, please consider doing so. It will help keep another Flight Attendant from being furloughed. Emotions are running high right now. Please be professional at all times and let cool heads prevail! Please visit the APFA Web site for the latest information.