09.19.03 – (LAA) – Reduced Layover Rest, Finalization of 777-Award Options, Changes to Language of the FAA Reauthorization Bill, Reissuance of Mandated ID Badges

Hello. This is Liz Geiss, DFW InfoRep Captain, with the APFA Hotline for Friday, September 19th, 2003.

The Safety, Health and Scheduling Departments need to hear from you on the issue of reduced layover rest. In order to better address our members’ concerns, we need to collect additional information. The APFA has posted a reduced layover rest survey on the APFA web site. The survey can be found on the opening page and the Safety, Health, and Scheduling pages of the web site. Please take a moment to complete the survey, and encourage other APFA members to do the same. The more information we have, the more effectively we can deal with the problems associated with reduced layover rest.

The company has begun the process of sending stock option information packets to all eligible employees’ homes. Due to the amount of packets being distributed, the mailings will be staggered by workgroup. The information packet will explain the Equity Plan as well as provide information on the amount of shares you have been granted. Eligible employees can log on to www.retireonline.com to view their awards. All Flight Attendants either on an approved leave of absence or on active status as of April 17th, 2003 are eligible for stock options. Those furloughed in May 2003 and July 2003 are still eligible.

The APFA is pleased to announce the finalization of the 777-award options. Personalized letters and Q&A’s relevant to this award have been sent to each eligible Flight Attendant covered under the terms of the award. This letter contains the specific dollar amount for each F/A as well as the second option of vacation days as compensation. Flight Attendants may also access this information on the Flight Service web site @ www.aaflightservice.com .

You will make your election through the Flight Service web site, not via U.S. Mail, and your election must be made no later than October 6, 2003, at 8:00a.m. CDT. Details of how to access your personal options on the Flight Service web site are included in your 777-award letter.

This is a one-time election option. If you do not make your election, your option will default to the monetary award. If you still have questions after reviewing the 777 Award Letter and Q & A’s, please contact your APFA representative @ (800)395-2732, Ext. 8723.

The APFA continues to meet with the company on a weekly basis on issues associated with the Family Medical Leave (FML) Presidential Grievance Award. While progress has been made, there are still outstanding issues that need to be resolved. All administrative eligibility changes relating to required hours for FML qualification resolved as a result of this grievance will be retroactive to October 22, 2001. If you have been denied Family Leave or received discipline due to prior hourly-administrative ineligibility, you should save all medical documentation pertaining to those absences. Please do not forward any documentation to APFA or the Company at this time. APFA will advise you on this HotLine when and if this documentation is required and to whom it should be submitted.

APFA Legislation Action Alert!

First Issue: The APFA has stated our strong opposition to the last minute changes to the language in the FAA Reauthorization Bill. These changes would no longer mandate comprehensive security and anti-hijacking training for crew members. The airlines will continue to offer only the bare minimum until forced to change.

The FAA bill also had last minute changes that would allow the privatization of 69 air traffic control towers. The threat of private operators cutting corners by hiring inexperienced controllers is not in the best interest of the traveling public. Another last minute change would allow foreign air cargo carriers to service the U. S. domestic market. This could open the door for the policy to be extended to foreign passenger carriers, something APFA has objected to.

Please take a moment to contact your Senators and Representative in Congress and urge them to oppose the FAA Reauthorization Bill and send it back to conference to strengthen language for Flight Attendant security training, restrict privatization of the air traffic control system, and eliminate the language provisions of this bill.

Second issue: On December 31, 2003, the Temporary Extended Unemployment Compensation (TEUC) eligibility will end. There are many American Airlines Flight Attendants who were recently furloughed who, despite valid efforts, have not yet found gainful employment and rely on unemployment compensation at this time. APFA is asking all of its members to contact their members of Congress to ask them to pass legislation now that would extend unemployment compensation for displaced airline workers beyond the current December deadline.

The contact information for all members of Congress can be found on the opening page of the APFA web site by clicking on “Resource Center” and then the “Government Affairs” page of the APFA Web site. Members can also use Capwiz on the same page to e-mail their Senators and Representatives.

The Scheduling Department would like to remind you that less than half of the Flight Attendants on reserve are utilizing the reserve preference option, even though approximately 85% are normally within range. A Flight Attendant may indicate one or more of the following reserve preferences: co-terminal, departure time, trip duration, layover city, long call ready, short call-out, duty free slide, and release assignment. Please refer to Article 10.J Reserve Preferences on pages 150-152 of the contract for more information. For instructions on imputing preferences, please refer to HIDIR/FA/CNT/RSV in DECS.

As a reminder, the TSA deadline for reissuance of mandated ID badges is November 15th, 2003. For information on the dates, times, and locations available at your base, please contact your Flight Service Manager.

Ballots for the Boston domestic OCR election were mailed on Wednesday, August 27, 2003. They are due back by 1000 Central Daylight Time on Friday, September 26, 2003.

For information on industry news, please visit the News and Events page of the APFA web site.

That’s it for this edition of the APFA Hotline. Please visit the web site for the latest information and past editions of the APFA Hotline.

Thanks for calling.