3.14.03

This is APFA President John Ward with the APFA hotline. Today is Friday, March 14.

I wanted to update everyone on where things are with our discussions with American Airlines Management. As you know, the Company has stated that without $1.8 billion in cost reductions, including $340 million from the APFA, it will be forced to file bankruptcy. APFA intends to reach an agreement with Management that will be sent to the membership for ratification.

Members of the Negotiating Committee and our economic and legal advisors have been working tirelessly toward that goal. The APFA Board of Directors, at its recent Annual Convention, provided the Negotiating Committee with clear guidance and direction as we prepare to resume our talks with the Company next week, after spending most of this week costing out various scenarios. And the input the membership has provided has been extremely valuable to us. Please keep the voicemail messages and e-mails coming to your Base Chairs as they, in turn, share that information with us. In addition, the APFA now has on the APFA web site a place for suggestions to the Negotiating Committee.

APFA will continue to approach this very difficult situation with the best interests of the membership in mind. As we move forward, please continue to stay informed, visit the web site and call this hotline regularly. Stay strong; together we can do this and avoid bankruptcy.

Please stay on the line for the remainder of this week’s message

Hello. Today is Friday, March 14, 2003. This is George Price, APFA National Communications Coordinator, with the APFA Hotline.

The APFA has added a feature to the APFA Web site that will allow members to submit suggestions for the APFA Negotiating Team. Members can access the form by clicking the icon “Suggestions For APFA Negotiating Committee” on the opening page of the web site. This form should be used to submit suggestions only. Members utilizing this form will not receive a response.

If you have not already registered your e-mail address with the APFA Membership Department, please do so today. You can contact Membership by calling 1-800-395-2732, extension 8308, or by sending an e-mail to [email protected]. APFA will be utilizing mass e-mails more frequently to communicate with the membership throughout the negotiations process.

On Wednesday, March 12th, APFA members joined members of the APA, TWU, ALPA, and AFA in an AMR Union Coalition event at major airports throughout the country. The unions conducted informational picketing and leafleting in an attempt to heighten the flying public’s awareness that the ailing airline industry must have immediate relief from Congress from excessive taxes and fees and the cost of security enhancements. The information provided to our passengers was well received, and the event received a great deal of positive media attention.

The APFA will build on the momentum of this campaign for Congressional relief in the weeks to come. We will be asking all APFA members to get involved through direct communication with their members of Congress. In addition, we are planning a Washington, D.C. Lobby effort on March 25th and 26th. Once plans are final, the hotlines will be updated and the information posted on the APFA Web site. For those members who have e-mails registered with the APFA Membership Department, please be watching for an APFA Action Alert!

The results of the BOSI, IDF, LAX, and IMA base elections are now available on the APFA Web site under “Hot Topics.” The ballots for the IOR Chair and Vice Chair elections are due by 0900 Central Time on March 18th. Once the National Ballot Committee has certified the results, they will be announced on the APFA Hotline and posted on the APFA Web site.

From the APFA Hotel Department. The Long layover hotel in Paris will remain the same through the contractual month of April. Please visit the APFA Hotel Page on the web site for more information.

The APFA Safety Department would like to remind all Flight Attendants that the FAA will soon increase its presence on property at American. This is often the case when a carrier’s financial situation is in question. Please be sure to follow all stated security rules. Make sure that you have an up-to-date In-Flight Manual, cockpit and jetbridge keys, and a working flashlight with you when on duty.

There will be a Boston base meeting on Tuesday, April 1, 2003, from 1030-1300 in the Virgin Atlantic Room, Terminal B, Logan Airport. All Boston APFA members in good standing are urged to attend.

For news on the aviation industry and American specifically, please visit the Aviation Industry News page of the APFA Web site.

That is it for this edition of the APFA Hotline. Please call the hotline more frequently and visit the web site for the latest news.

Remember, there are currently 2,396 American Airlines Flight Attendants currently on furlough.