4.24.09 – (LAA) – Airlines Quarterly Earnings, Negotiations Update, Domestic Mutual Transfer Reminder, Safety Manual Alert from the Safety and Security Department, APFA Membes Speak Out on YouTube

APFA weekly HotLine update for Friday, April 24, 2009.

Please note that APFA InfoReps are actively making phone calls to all members to update the APFA Phone Tree data and ask a few questions about Union communications and participation. If you receive such a call please take a few minutes of your time to provide the information requested.

Check out our latest YouTube video about Executive Bonuses. View all six APFA YouTube videos on our channel or on the APFA website main page. Go to: AA Flight Attendants YouTube channel

AIRLINE QUARTERLY EARNINGS

Following the quarterly earnings reports last week by American and Southwest – losses of $375 million and $91 million respectively – this week several more carriers, both legacy and low-cost, have made their earnings announcements for what is historically the poorest performing quarter for airlines.

Delta, now the world’s largest airline after its merger with Northwest, also has reported the largest loss so far among those reporting: $794 million for the period January through March 2009. United’s loss for the quarter was pegged at $382 million. Continental showed a $136 million loss while the negative numbers for US Airways reached $103 million. AlaskaAir’s posted loss came to $19 million.

Among the low-cost carriers, AirTran and JetBlue also reported quarterly earnings this week and both showed not only improvements over last year but profits – $29 million for AirTran and $12 million for JetBlue.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

Last week, after long joint meetings under the guidance of Federal Mediator Ernie DuBester, followed by an internal all-team meeting extending late into Friday, your APFA Negotiating Team reported that it made counter proposals to the Company on both: Article 7 – Hours of Service and Article 8 – Minimum Pay and Credit.

The company presented initial proposals on: Article 1 – Recognition and Merger/Acquisition Protection and Article 16 – Reduction in Force while APFA presented the company with its proposals on: Article 26 – Sick Leave and Article 27 – Injury-On-Duty.

The Scheduling Subcommittees met as well and some progress was reported on Article 10 – Reserve. Additionally, the subcommittees continued discussions on Article 9 – Scheduling.

This past week, on Monday the 20th, APFA Team members conducted their second day of visits to all Base Ops areas, plus visits to the LHR downtown hotel crew room the following two days, to confer with members on negotiations progress. The Team continued working internally the rest of the week to prepare proposals on the remaining articles. These proposals will be presented during mediated talks resuming on April 28 in Miami.

The latest Negotiations news updates will be posted on the Negotiations page of the APFA website, following Team member reports to the APFA Board of Directors and subsequent distribution to the APFA InfoReps. To get full access to the website and all the news provided, be sure you have a website login and an updated email address on file with APFA. Contact the APFA Membership department at: [email protected] to update your information or use the Member Services link at the top of the APFA website. Members needing an initial website login password should start with the ìFirst Visitî link on the website login form.

Continue to send your comments and concerns to the APFA Team members directly through their email address: [email protected] or the web link, “Tell Your Team What Your Want” on the Negotiations page of the website.

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SPECULATION AND RUMOR

Our Headquarters Reps-on-Duty periodically receive calls requesting confirmation or denial of rumors of future schedule changes and possible headcount adjustments. These calls typically increase during the weeks surrounding quarterly airline earnings reports as news outlets carry more frequent stories and opinions on the state of the industry and of individual airlines. Additionally, whenever we are in an overage leave situation, the prospect of Flight Attendants returning from expiring leaves can cause speculation over manning issues.

As a matter of course, your APFA leadership frequently asks the company about future plans for schedule changes, increases or decreases in flying or markets and Flight Attendant manning forecasts. Whenever we hear of any changes which may affect our memberís jobs, we provide whatever information is available to you and work to minimize the impact any staffing changes may have. Concern over job security in this industry is on everyoneís mind, especially in an uncertain national economy, but groundless rumor serves no purpose except to cause unwarranted worry.

The company has made clear that their plans for the summer 2009 are set and manning has been adjusted as necessary to reflect the needs of Americanís schedule. Future plans beyond the summer will depend on advance bookings, the pace of attrition, and the state of the economy. As always, whenever the company is in a position of excess manning, we have resources to minimize the impact on our members, such as the contractual requirement to proffer Overage Leaves and Partnership Flying prior to any furlough. We will continue to press the company for available information and will relay it to you whenever available, as well as what measures are being taken.

DOMESTIC MUTUAL TRANSFER REMINDER

From the APFA Contract Department: The preliminary pairing for the next round of domestic mutual transfers will be made from those who have transfer requests on file as of 0830 central on Monday, May 4. It is imperative that all domestic Flight Attendants review their transfer request prior to this date to ensure their current request reflects only transfers they are willing to accept. We still find that some pairings are not successful as one or more Flight Attendants do not accept the mutual transfer offer. Please remove any transfer request that you are not interested in accepting prior to May 4, so that your fellow Flight Attendants have the greatest chance of getting to the base they desire during this period of limited transfer opportunities.

SAFETY MANUAL ALERT FROM THE SAFETY & SECURITY DEPARTMENT

The FAA is expected to be in MIA next week (Tuesday through Thursday). Please make sure if you are flying in/out of MIA that your Flight Attendant Safety Manual is up-to-date.

APFA MEMBERS SPEAK OUT!

Union members speak out in APFA’s latest YouTube video. Available through the APFA main page or directly through the YouTube link, the video is receiving positive comments and the number of web hits exceeds 5,000. We encourage you to view it and share it with your coworkers, friends and family.

Click here for video.

In addition to the YouTube video, APFA members with a website login are invited to share their comments on executive pay and bonuses through a members-only link on the APFA main page. Tell us how you feel about American’s execs and management rewarding themselves first – and repeatedly – while slashing service, cutting jobs and ignoring the promises made to its front line employees to exact the concessions which saved this company from bankruptcy.

VIDEO REPORT ON FLIGHT ATTENDANT UNION COALITION

The International Association of Machinists (IAM), members of the Flight Attendant Union Coalition, have made a short video report regarding the coalitionóits aims and achievements–available through YouTube. Featuring footage and interviews with attendees at the last meeting in Baltimore earlier this month (see APFA HotLine from April 9). Click here for video . It is also accessible through a link from the APFA website main page.

GOLF TOURNAMENT BENEFITING THE WINGS FOUNDATION

The Tarrant County Central Labor Council is sponsoring the 2nd Annual Honorable Jim Wright Invitational Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 28 at the Golf Club at Fossil Creek in Fort Worth, Texas (www.thegolfclubatfossilcreek.com ). This yearís proceeds will benefit the Wings Foundation and the working families of Tarrant County. A flyer with schedules, process and sign-up forms is available from APFA.org at by click on: Jim Wright Invitational Golf Tournament

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There are currently 1261 APFA members on furlough and awaiting recall. The complete list effective April 1 is posted on the furlough page of APFA.org.

Remember that the Wings Foundation does more than just can recycling. They have a website with information on base contact numbers, donation forms and assistance requests. Go to: www.wingsfoundation.com .

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APFA weekly HotLine update for Friday, April 17, 2009.

AIRLINE QUARTERLY EARNINGS

On Wednesday, April 15, American Airlines’ parent company AMR, reported first quarter 2009 earnings – a loss of $375 million for the three months January to March. This was $25 – $50 million lower than the loss predicted by Wall Street. Despite the red ink for quarter, American and industry analysts reported several positive signs for the remainder of the year. That, along with the better-than-predicted results, were reflected in the increase of AMR’s share price that day – a rise of 79 cents.

Thursday, April 16, cross-town rival Southwest also turned in a loss for the quarter – $91 million for the three months, worse than most analyst predictions. Just like American, Southwest attributed the poor earnings largely to the sharp decline in passenger traffic. Though both airlines had made cuts in capacity year-over-year, the decrease in seats sold outpaced the reduction in seats available. Nevertheless, most analysts now foresee a industry turnaround throughout the remainder of the year as the high travel season progresses, capacity cuts come closer to matching passenger demand and the economy overall begins to show its long-hoped-for improvement.

EXECUTIVE BONUSES – MONEY GRAB 2009!

As in years past, AMRís top managers have a more self-serving interest than most in the company’s performance. Following a pattern of corporate excess, top executives at AMR rewarded themselves bonuses in accordance with sweetheart deals laid out months before in the 2009 version of the AMR spring money grab. In an April 15 press release regarding the bonuses, APFA President Laura Glading detailed the Unionís perspective on the awards, taking them as a signal that the company is now ready to make good on its long repeated refrain of shared sacrifice bringing shared reward. Said Ms. Glading: “[Management’s] constant crying poor is now shown to be a sham as their actions speak louder than their words. Employees deserve to be rewarded for their hard work and sacrifices. None have worked as hard or have sacrificed more than Flight Attendants.”
AMR Executives Accept Million Dollar Bonuses Again

APFA MEMBERS SPEAK OUT!

Union members speak out in APFA’s latest YouTube video, already drawing hundreds of web hits. Available through the APFA main page or directly through the YouTube link at the top of this HotLine, the video is receiving positive comments. We encourage you to share it with your coworkers, friends and family by forwarding this HotLine.

APFA members with a website login are invited to share their comments on executive pay and bonuses through a members-only link on the APFA main page. Tell us how you feel about Americanís execs and management rewarding themselves first – and repeatedly – while slashing service, cutting jobs and ignoring the promises made to its front line employees to exact the concessions which saved this company from bankruptcy.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

Your APFA Negotiating Team faced the Company in mediated bargaining sessions this past week as they continue to work toward making May Day, Pay Day. Seeking significant improvements to an agreement which became amendable almost one year ago, your Team met long hours both with the Company and internally as they progress through the bargaining calendar.

On Monday, April 20, members of your APFA Team will fan out to all bases for the second of the planned Base Ops visits to meet members, answer their questions, provide updates and dispel rumors. See the list of places and times in the flyer available through a link on the APFA home page. Following the success of a similar visit last month, negotiators Ray Baylis (IOR) and Steven Ellis (JFK) will meet with Flight Attendants arriving, departing and laying over at the downtown London hotel on Tuesday evening, April 21, from 5pm to 8pm and Wednesday morning, April 22, from 6am to 11am. Check the hotel’s crew room bulletin board for any changes.

Continue to send your comments and concerns to the APFA Team members directly through their email address: [email protected] or the web link, ìTell Your Team What Your Wantî on the Negotiations page of the website.

NEW CHAIR/VICE CHAIR TRAINING

APFA Headquarters was the site of training for the new Chairpersons and/or Vice Chairpersons from: IOR, IDF, JFK, LGA, STL and RDU-I who took office April 1. The three-day training included reviews of the APFA Constitution and Policy Manual, Headquarters internal functioning as well as Base procedures, budget issues and financial policies and presentations/training by APFA Representatives and National Coordinators.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CONFIRMATION

On Thursday, April 16, the APFA Executive Committee met in a special session in the DFW area. During the meeting, IMA Flight Attendant Kelly Skyles was confirmed as APFA Safety and Security Coordinator effective April 16 and for the remainder of the current term, ending March 31, 2010.

ORD RETIREMENT SEMINAR

A retirement seminar is scheduled at Chicago OíHare on Thursday, April 23. The place is the Chicago West Conference Room, outside security on the mezzanine level, above the International check-in counter. The time is 10:30 AM to 12:00 noon for all work groups and 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM for Flight Attendants only. To get the most out of these helpful seminars, print out and bring your personal pension estimate and plan calculation formulas from Jetnet. For more information, call 773.686.6689.

GOLF TOURNAMENT BENEFITING THE WINGS FOUNDATION

The Tarrant County Central Labor Council is sponsoring the 2nd Annual Honorable Jim Wright Invitational Golf Tournament on Thursday, May 28 at the Golf Club at Fossil Creek in Fort Worth, Texas (www.thegolfclubatfossilcreek.com). This year’s proceeds will benefit the Wings Foundation and the working families of Tarrant County. A flyer with schedules, process and sign-up forms is available from APFA.org. Jim Wright Invitational Golf Tournament

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The number of APFA members now furloughed and awaiting recall stands at 1261. The complete list effective April 1 is now posted on the furlough page of APFA.org.

Remember that the Wings Foundation has a website with information on base contact numbers, donation forms and assistance requests. Go to: www.wingsfoundation.com.