8.29.08 – (LAA) – Mobilize to Maximize, Scheduling and Reserve Survey, FA’s Depart who Elected the Voluntary Bridge to Retirement, Benefits Enrollment Opens, OL Begins Aug 31

You have reached the APFA weekly HotLine update for August 29, 2008. This is Frank Bastien, National Communications Coordinator.

As explained in the Mobilize to Maximize meetings in July, the APFA Negotiating Team will be undertaking a number of surveys of the membership. Earlier this week an invitation to take the APFA Negotiating Team’s Scheduling and Reserve Survey was sent to all Flight Attendants having an email address recorded in the APFA database. The email includes a link to click on in order to take the survey online.

Online through the secure email link is the only way to take this survey. Please note that though the invitation comes from the address [email protected], it is not sent by the APFA server. You may need to check your spam or junk email folder in case it was filtered out. Make sure you have your email set to receive all mail from [email protected] for this and future surveys. If you did not receive an emailed invitation, please click on the ìsurveyî tab on the APFA website main page and follow the instructions to have a link sent to you. This action will also update our database to match your current email.

Encourage your fellow Flight Attendants to watch their email and, if necessary, go online and request a survey link. The more members we have taking the survey, the more accurate the results will be. The survey will remain open through September 29. Remember that your comments and suggestions to the APFA Negotiating Team are not limited to this or any other survey. You may always email the Team directly at: [email protected].

In just a few days we will see the departure of the over 350 Flight Attendants who elected the Voluntary Bridge to Retirement and the nearly 600 awarded an overage leave of absence starting August 31. To those retiring from American, we wish you all a successful transition into your life of retirement from flying. Those taking a leave or the VBR should checkout the online and email versions of this HotLine for important advice from the APFA Contract Department and the Treasurer’s Office.

In just over one month, the annual benefits enrollment period will open. The APFA Health Department advises all Flight Attendants to carefully review the information sent in the mail and available through the benefits page of Jetnet for changes in enrollment procedures this year. If you should have any questions regarding your benefits selections, please contact the Health Department at headquarters extension 8301 or by email to: [email protected].

There is more news to be found in the online and emailed versions of this HotLine. You may sign up to receive the HotLine via email through the APFA website or emailing the Membership Department at: [email protected]. Remember that AA does not share your address change information with APFA. Email the Membership Department to update your contact information with the Union or click on the Member Services link on the APFA website.

As the fall season approaches, more news comes in from U.S. carriers on flight reductions and job cuts. Southwest has announced that this winterís schedule will offer nearly 200 fewer flights than the previous yearís schedule. While at United Airlines, Flight Attendants were advised this week that United management plans to furlough 1,550 Flight Attendants at the end of October. Several procedural steps at United are available to reduce the likelihood of involuntary job losses. We wish our sisters and brothers at United as much success in mitigating their overages as we had mitigating ours at AA.

Remember that we still have 1,188 members on furlough and awaiting recall. Also keep in mind that the Wings Foundation, run by AA Flight Attendants for AA Flight Attendants conducts various fundraising activities at our bases. Contact your local base Wings representatives for details.

Thank you for calling the APFA HotLine.

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If you have an Overage Leave (OL) beginning on August 31, remember that you cannot be on SK/US/IOD/MLOA or FMLOA on August 31 and retain your Overage Leave. If you are on SK/US/IOD/MLOA or FMLOA you must clear that status no later than August 30 otherwise you will forfeit your leave. Please refer to the Pay, Policies and Benefits packet for Flight Attendants on Overage Leave posted on the Furlough/Recall > Reduction in Force page of the APFA website or on Jetnet for more information.

The Allied Pilots Association is sponsoring an event in Southlake, TX during the September 11-13 weekend. Gary Sinise (of CSI:NY) and his 14 piece ìLt. Dan Bandî are playing a benefit concert at Southlake Carroll Stadium (Dragon Stadium) to honor and support our servicemen and women who have been wounded while engaged in the global war on terror. Details may be found at the site: www.southlakeindependenceweekend.com . If you are based at DFW/IDF, live in or are laying over in the DFW area, check out this event and join our pilots for what promises to be a very special weekend.

American has introduced inflight wireless Internet service on certain transcon flights flown on 767-200 aircraft. Press articles have made much of the potential for passengers to access cyber-content that other passengers and crew would possibly consider inappropriate. Your APFA leadership is in contact with American management to discuss the ramifications of Americanís decision to restrict a passengerís ability to place Internet phone calls while affirming no intent to filter what might be obscene content. We will keep you advised of the outcome of our discussions.

The Labor Day holiday weekend sees another hurricane, Gustav, forming in the Gulf of Mexico, possibly headed for the U.S. Gulf Coast. It reminds us that this weekend marks the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the havoc wrought on New Orleans and Gulf Coast cities. (The following is reprinted from AAís Jetnews): ìDenver Crew Chief William Dise, working with the New Orleans non-profit St. Bernard Parish Project, wants to bring 400 American and American Eagle employees, active and retired, to New Orleans the week of Sept. 21 to help rebuild the Crescent City. The 28-year AA veteran, and former NCAA basketball player, is no stranger to humanitarian missions. Read Dise’s story on Jetnet. Employees, family and friends who want to help can sign up via the American Volunteers site. Enter “Parish” as the keyword, and sign up for a two-day shift.î

Flight Attendants living and based in California should check their mail closely for information regarding a change in the Workerís Comp Certified Medical Provider Network, effective September 8. If you have a pre-designated physician, or wish to pre-designate your personal treating physician to treat you for any work injuries, pay especially close attention. This must be done in writing before you are injured and you are required to complete the pre-designation form included in the mailing. Please contact the APFA IOD Representative at headquarters extension 8303, or email: [email protected] , if you have any questions.

If you are based in Boston, the Boston Domestic and International base representatives will be holding a one-day Contract and Scheduling Training class on both September 8 and 9 from 9am to 5pm. Space is limited so please reserve your spot by September 1 by sending an email to: [email protected] or [email protected] . Include the day you would like to attend and type the word ìtrainingî as the subject.

The Contract Department wants to remind Flight Attendants who are leaving the Company at the end of August via the Voluntary Bridge that you must exercise any unexercised stock options within 90 days of your separation date or they will be forfeited. This is true even if you plan to immediately retire following the VBR.

If you are considering other options to leave the company, keep the following in mind: if you simply resign from the Company, your unexercised options will be forfeited effective with the date of your resignation. If you plan to take Article 30 or normal Article 36 retirement (without the VBR) you have until 2013 to exercise any unexercised stock options.

Note that there is more than one way to exercise your options. In addition to the Cashless for Cash option there are other exercise options available such as purchasing the shares. Please refer to the Broad Based Stock Plan information under the Pay section of Jetnet to review all your options. You may want to review these options and any tax implications with a financial planner so you can make the best decision based on your individual circumstances.

For those Flight Attendants who will be going on an Overage Leave, please remember that you cannot order uniform items while you are on the Overage Leave. This is particularly important for those who will be taking the 8-month and 12 month leaves as your last opportunity to use 2008 points is prior to August 31, 2008. Since you will not be active for the remainder of the calendar year, any remaining points will expire. If you have any current uniform needs, be sure to place an order as soon as possible but no later than August 30.

APFAís Treasurer advises those retiring to be sure you settle any dues balance owed prior to thirty (30) days after retirement to prevent your account being turned over to a collections agency.

If you are going on an Overage Leave, remember that you remain dues obligated during the leave. Once you return from your leave, if you have not prepaid your dues or paid monthly throughout your leave, you will have sixty (60) days to set up a payment plan for the dues accrued and owed. This payment plan must result in payment of your dues accrued during the leave in a time period no longer than twice the length of your leave. It is easier to prepay your dues upfront, or to leave a credit card on file for monthly billing. You will still receive a monthly statement.