8.31.07 – (LAA) – Labor Day

This is Leslie Mayo, National Communications Coordinator, with the APFA Hotline for Friday, August 31, 2007.

As Labor Day approaches, there are many things to not only be thankful for, but also many things to achieve in the next several months as we embark on the beginning of the negotiations process. The APFA National Officers have written a letter to all members’ addresses on file that will begin hitting the field next week. This letter contains a special message relating to the current state of affairs and our upcoming negotiations. It also contains a Professional Standards card that we hope you will carry with you and an APFA Union pin. This pin will show management that we are one voice as we enter negotiations in the coming months. Please read this letter carefully and always wear your union pin when on duty. Don’t forget to show management whose side you’re on! This letter can be reviewed on the APFA Web site by clicking on the top right area under Newsflash.

Of the 460 American Airlines Furloughed Flight Attendants recently recalled, 393 accepted the offer of reemployment. For the first wave, 260 were offered reemployment and 220 accepted. These APFA members will report to base on November 13. Of the 200 APFA members offered recall effective December 18, 2007, 173 accepted. For more information on recalls go to the Recall page of the APFA Web site. APFA would like to welcome our returning furlough members back to the line and look forward to your return at the end of the year.

The APFA Executive Committee Quarterly meeting is scheduled for September 11, 2007, at APFA Headquarters. Members in good standing are welcome to attend. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m.

PCFOS CHARGES NO MORE: Trying to eliminate PCFOS deductions from your paycheck is nearly as challenging as convincing the company that “Pull Together/Win Together” is another name for shared sacrifice for all employees not just a few hundred managers. But I digress. This is the latest message for those of you attempting to the company deducting anymore money from your paycheck unnecessarily. The only reason you would need PCFOS is if you are using a bid program that requires PCFOS access. If you are accessing SABRE through aaflightservice or jetnet only, you have no need for PCFOS deductions each month:

You may follow one of the steps below to cease your PCFOS charges (as submitted to APFA by David Cunningham, Manager of Operations Support):

• Send an email to either [email protected] or [email protected]
• Regular mail to:
  American Airlines
  P.O. Box 619616 MD 5420
  DFW Airport, TX 75261-9616
• Company Boardmail to WebPCFOS, MD 5420, HDQ1
• HI18 send message
• Fax to 817-967-1104

From the Hotel Department: We are constantly updating the hotel tips link on our Web site. Check this section of www.apfa.org often for discounts and activities around your layover hotel.

From the Scheduling Department: Last week we issued a reminder about minimum layover rest for Domestic and International. To clarify, Domestic FAs are entitled to a minimum layover rest of 8:20 (eight hours + twenty minutes), which is calculated from the end of your duty period (including your 15-minute debrief) to your next duty’s sign-in time. For all IFS and AIFS trips, the minimum FA rest is 10:00 (ten hours) from the end of your duty period (including your 30-minute debrief) to sign-in. The ten hours is meant to result in "8 behind the door." For non-IFS/AIFS flying, the layover rest may not be reduced below eight hours from the end of your duty period (including your 30 minutes of debrief) to sign in, plus travel time to and from the layover hotel (as posted in HIDIR). Review the 737 Staffing Settlement by visiting APFA.org – Presidential Grievances – Grievances Settled for full details.

Rumor Control: Q: Since the DFW-LHR trip was announced beginning next year, there have been rumors flying around that IDF crews will be staying at the airport while the other bases with long layovers will be staying at the downtown long layover hotel. Is this true?

A: No. IDF crews will not be subject to different treatment than any other base in the event of a long layover at LHR. All long layovers are scheduled to stay at the downtown hotel.

The 9/11 Flight Crew Memorial Foundation is hosting a candlelight vigil honoring Flight Crews, Police and Firefighters on September 11 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This event will take place at 1209 South Main Street at the Grapevine Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. For more information go to www.911flightcrewmemorial.org or email [email protected].

The office will be closed on Monday to observe the Labor Day holiday in accordance with our UAW Office Staff Contract. Headquarters will open for business Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. If you need emergency assistance, please call 817.540.0108 and follow the prompts for the After-Hours Rep On Duty. With Labor Day in mind, the APFA leadership extends our best wishes to all of our members during the Holiday Weekend.

Please don't forget that we still have 1,609 furloughed American Airlines Flight Attendants waiting to be recalled!

That’s it for this week. Thank you for calling the APFA Hotline.