3.06.09 – (LAA) – Annual BOD Convention, Negotiations Update, Furlough Mitigation Options Update, Daylight Savings Time, Proffer Preference Purge Reminder, Primary Round Vacation Bidding Ends Soon, Scheduling Quick Quizzes, Care Managment Rollout, Note to

You have reached the APFA weekly HotLine update for the week ending Friday, March 6, 2009. This is Frank Bastien, National Communications Coordinator.

APFA ANNUAL BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONVENTION

The 2009 APFA Board of Directors Convention opened on Thursday, March 5 in Boston. Scheduled through March 8, the first day’s agenda included detailed updates to Board Members and other Base and National Representatives by the APFA Negotiating Team and APFA’s Washington lobbyist Joan Wages, as well as reports on the industry business environment by airline economist Dan Akins.

That evening, the 16th Annual APFA Awards and Recognition Banquet was attended by over 175 members, honorees and invited guests. The banquet began with the first ever presentation of the Senator Edward M. Kennedy Award for Public Service on Behalf of the Labor Movement. Presented to Senator Kennedy by APFA President Laura Glading, the award was accepted on the Senatorís behalf by Joseph Kennedy, who eloquently spoke about his great-uncle’s long record of service on behalf working Americans.

Honorary APFA memberships were bestowed upon longtime APFA advocates Vicky Barker and Vic Thuesen, and the first presentation of the Cindy Horan Humanitarian Award was made to DCA Flight Attendant Cindy Horan, after stirring introductions by both DCA chairperson Heidi Prayon and LGA chairperson Eric Hodgson. Eric and Cindy’s story, leading to the creation of this award, was featured in the Fall/Winter 2008 issue of SKYWORD.

Day two of the convention began Friday with the election of DFW Flight Attendant Liz Geiss to a full term as Executive Committee Ad Hoc number 5 and continued with updates to the Board on litigation and on industry trends, including a Flight Attendant Union Coalition report. Following departmental reviews by each of the National Coordinators, the convention talk turned to the budget, which took up the remainder of the day. Next week’s HotLine will contain highlights of the remaining two days of the convention. Members may also contact their base chair with questions.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

On the topic of Negotiations, last week both the APFA and companyís Scheduling Subcommittees met in Dallas to continue discussions on Article 9 – Scheduling. Data and feedback from the Volunteer to Fly (VTF) Program were also discussed. The VTF Program will run through March 15 at the bases of DCA, DCA-I, DFW and IDF. Your APFA Negotiating Team met internally this week in conjunction with the Board of Directors Convention to continue preparation for the next round of mediated talks with the company, resuming in Atlanta on March 10.

You may contact the APFA team directly with your comments and questions by emailing: [email protected] or by using the web form through the link ìTell Your Team What You Wantî on the negotiations page of APFA.org. Go to: index.php?&view=category&id=351 . Website login is required to use the web form.

FURLOUGH MITIGATION OPTIONS UPDATE

The recent re-offering to active Flight Attendants of the Travel Separation Program closed Thursday night March 5 while Overage Leaves of Absence and Partnership Flying proffers closed Friday morning March 6. Meant to offset the manning overage and potential furloughs announced by the company on February 25 of up to 410 Flight Attendants, the processing of the ballots and requests received will take a few days and the company expects results to be available by 4pm on Tuesday, March 10.

DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS

Daylight Saving Time will begin in the U.S. at 2 a.m. on Sunday morning, March 8. It is time to spring ahead, turning clocks forward one hour, in those communities where the time change is observed, including all of our base city locations. The APFA Scheduling Department advises Flight Attendants to examine their activity record (HI1) carefully, especially if you have one or more duty free days spanning the time change period. Your HI1 may show such duty free period, which might normally end at midnight (2400), as terminating at 0100 to account for the time adjustment. Do not confuse such a notation as indicating an entire additional duty free day.

– – – – –

Please keep in mind the 1,176 of our members currently on furlough and awaiting recall.

And thank-you for calling the APFA HotLine.

# # # # # Emailed and Online HotLine Extras # # # # #

PROFFER PREFERENCE PURGE REMINDER

Have you put in for an International base proffer? Remember that proffer preferences are purged twice a year from your 3* record in your personal mode. Any preferences entered prior to 1200 central on March 2 were deleted in the recent winter purge. If you are still interested in an International base proffer, be sure to update your 3* record accordingly and as necessary. Instructions are found on the Flight Service website: go to the Crew Resources link, then International Proffer under the Crew Planning Quick Links heading.

PRIMARY ROUND VACATION BIDDING ENDS SOON

Primary round bidding for the 2009/2010 vacations closes at 0800 central on Monday, March 9. Results are expected to be posted (in HI10) by 1700 central, March 14.

Secondary round bidding timeline is as follows (all times central):

— 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.

SCHEDULING QUICK QUIZZES

Test your Contract IQ by taking one of the latest APFA Quick Quizzes. With both Domestic and International versions, the quizzes focus on some very common Scheduling questions and scenarios. Have your On-Duty Contract Guide (ODCG) handy to find the answers. The link to the quizzes is on the APFA.org main page.

CARE MANAGEMENT ROLLOUT

With the advent of 2009, AAís new Care Management program, ìHealthmatters,î 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.

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 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.

Only a few weeks remain in 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.

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.

# # # # #