2.20.09 – (LAA) – Negotiations Update, Negotiating Opinion Survey, Scheduling Quick Quizzes, Balloting for Base Representation, Care Management Rollout, FA Fatigue Study Moves Forward, Note to Reserves with Volunteer to Fly Assignments, APFA Awards and Re

You have reached the APFA weekly HotLine update for Friday, February 20, 2009. This is Frank Bastien, National Communications Coordinator.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

Members from the APFA Negotiating Team met last week in Washington, DC for mediated talks with the company. Tentative Agreements were reached on Article 27 – Bereavement/Personal/Emergency Leave and Article 31 – Union Security. There was also discussion on Article 30 – General.

APFA Team subcommittees met internally this week and will again next, while mediated talks with the company will resume on Tuesday, March 10, in Atlanta. The Team will travel to Atlanta following the APFA Annual Board of Directors Convention which will be held this year in Boston, March 5 – 8, at the Westin Copley Place. Members in good standing who are based in Boston, those who live or may be in the area visiting or on layover, or those who are interested in seeing first hand how decisions are made by your Union’s leaders are welcome to attend all open portions of the Board Convention. For more information on the Convention agenda, please contact your Base Chair.

NEGOTIATING OPINION SURVEY

The latest Negotiating Team Scheduling Opinion Survey is now available through a link on the main page of the APFA website. Following the instructions on the Survey page, members will need to login through the Member Services screen, which will also permit reviewing of your current address and email information on file and submission of updates if necessary.

The survey will remain open through March 5. Please remember you may always send your thoughts, comments and questions about issues that concern you directly to the Negotiating Team. Use their email address at: [email protected] or complete the online contact form ìTell Your Team What You Wantî from the Negotiations page at: www.www.apfa.org.

SCHEDULING QUICK QUIZZES

Test your knowledge of our contract by taking the latest APFA Quick Quiz. With a focus on Scheduling, the quiz is presented in two versions: Domestic and International. Many commonly asked questions are addressed, and answers are provided along with where to find the information in the On-Duty Contract Guide (ODCG). The link to the quizzes is on the APFA.org main page.

BALLOTING FOR BASE REPRESENTATION

Flight Attendants based at IDF, IOR, JFK, LGA, RDU-I and STL have only a few days remaining to return ballots for base representational elections. The ballots must be received in the designated P.O. Box by 9 a.m. central time on February 26, 2009.

The ballot count will take place immediately following at the Hilton Garden Inn (DFW Airport South) on Valley View Lane in Irving, TX. Members in good standing are invited to observe the counting process.

For answers to your specific questions on the election and balloting procedures, you may contact the APFA National Ballot Committee via email: [email protected] or headquarters (817.540.0108) extension 8311.

CARE MANAGEMENT ROLLOUT

With the advent of 2009, AAís new Care Management program, “Healthmatters,” will be available to all employees and their families. This program is compliant with governmental patient privacy regulations (HIPAA) and is completely optional. All employees will receive a phone call as a way of introducing them to the programs that are available. Some examples of the programs include: an online health risk assessment, lifestyle management programs such as weight management and smoking cessation, maternity management, assistance for employees who are dealing with chronic or complex conditions, and a nurse line for health related questions and concerns. More information about this program is available on the Benefits page of Jetnet.

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Keep in mind that there are 1,177 of our members currently on furlough and awaiting recall to the line.

Check out the Wings Foundation website for ways you can help this worthy organization provide aid to our members in need. Go to: www.wingsfoundation.com.

And thank you for calling the APFA HotLine.

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FLIGHT ATTENDANT FATIGUE STUDY MOVES FORWARD

The FAA has been directed by the U.S. Congress and President to assess the risk of fatigue during Flight Attendant operations, specifically the extent to which Flight Attendants are affected by length of duty periods, sleep loss, circadian rhythm disruption, workload, and nutrition. The FAA’s Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) is seeking 210 full-time Flight Attendants to voluntarily participate in a field study in which data associated with Flight Attendant operations will be collected.

The federally funded field study provides for a stipend of up to $400 from the government upon completion. Participation will include assessment of sleep/wake cycles, duty periods, and alertness and performance levels using both objective and subjective data collection methods over no more than one (1) month of flying. These data will be collected using a personal daily logbook on a PDA cell phone, a sleep watch, and a pedometer. Entries in the daily logbook on the PDA cell phone will take approximately one (1) hour per day.

The field study will involve US-based Flight Attendants of various levels of seniority from network, low-cost, and regional carriers embarking on domestic and extended international flights and will be the first to provide the evidence necessary to assess and address potential fatigue challenges faced by Flight Attendants. The results will be presented by the FAA to the U. S. Congress.

A document describing the study and how to participate is available through the link: “Flight Attendant Work/Rest Patterns, Alertness, and Performance Assessment” on the Safety and Security Department page of APFA.org. (Go to Departments from the index on the left of the APFA website main page, then click on Safety and Security.) The PDF document contains a web link to obtain more information about the study.

NOTE TO RESERVES WITH VOLUNTEER TO FLY (VTF) ASSIGNMENTS

For those Reserve Flight Attendants who receive a VTF assignment under the test program (whether an actual sequence or the 4-hour minimum), the additional pay will not be reflected on your HI1 as “above the guarantee.” However, as long as the the sequence flown is coded “RU,” or the 4-hour minimum VTF pay (if applicable) is indicated, the correct pay calculation should take place. (Please note that when the 4-hour minimum applies, it may take up to a week to be reflected on your HI1). As with other incentive pay, the VTF hours above Reserve guarantee will be paid in the final paycheck of the subsequent month. Please check your ePays statement carefully if you are due this payment.

We are midway through the Volunteer to Fly (VTF) trial being conducted at the bases of DFW, IDF, DCA and DCA-I. The data gathered from the 60-day test will allow your Negotiating Team to examine its potential impact on both reserve numbers and the ability to earn extra pay for Line Holders and Reserves alike. Important information on the program for Flight Attendants at the test bases is available through the APFA website. Go to the Negotiations page and view, download or print the VTF documents linked to at the very top of the page.

APFA AWARDS AND RECOGNITION BANQUET

APFA’s 16th Annual Awards and Recognition Banquet will take place the evening of March 5, beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the Westin Copley Place in Boston. Funded by donations and event ticket sales, this year’s banquet will feature the first presentation of two new awards of recognition: the Edward M. Kennedy Award for Public Service on Behalf of the Labor Movement, and the Cindy Horan Humanitarian Award (see the Fall/Winter 2008 SKYWORD). Two longtime APFA legal advocates: Vicky L. Barker and Victor Thuesen will be inducted as Honorary APFA Members. Advance reservations and payment for the banquet are required as no tickets will be sold at the door. Reservations and payment must be received by February 26. For more information, contact the APFA Secretary’s office via email: [email protected].

VACATION BIDDING IN PROGRESS

Bidding for the 2009/2010 vacations opened February 13. Here is the timeline (all times are central):

— Primary round bidding opened 1700, February 13
— Primary round bidding closes 0800, March 9
— Primary round results posted (in HI10) by 1700, March 14

— Secondary round bidding opens 1700, March 15
— Secondary round bidding closes 0800, March 23
— Secondary round results posted (in HI10) by 1700, March 30

If you have questions on vacation bidding, please contact an APFA Contract Rep-on-Duty at headquarters extension 8171.

DUES WHILE ON LEAVE

The APFA Treasurer reminds those Flight Attendants currently on or who will be going out on an Overage Leave 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. Make your arrangements via email to the Dues Department at: [email protected]. Or call headquarters extension 8154.

You must be a member in good standing (dues current or on an official APFA payment plan) no later than five (5) days prior to any election in order to be deemed eligible to vote. If you have questions about your dues status, please contact the APFA Dues Department at 817.540.0108 extension 8154, or email: [email protected].