5.08.09 – (LAA) – Mexico Schedule Reduction, Negotiations Update, Negotiating Team on the Road, Reconfigured 757, Phone Tree Updates, NY Retirement Seminars, WINGS Golf Tournament

APFA weekly HotLine update for Friday, May 8, 2009.

Watch our new YouTube video: “The Ins and Outs of Airline Federal Mediation”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZoL5LQAQMI

MEXICO SCHEDULE REDUCTION

Responding to reduced passenger traffic amidst concerns over the Swine (H1N1) flu, American has recently followed the lead of several other carriers and announced significant schedule reductions in flights between the U.S. and cities served in Mexico. Beginning today and running through June 10, a 25% reduction in flying will cut the number of daily round trips to and from cities in Mexico flown by AA and American Eagle combined from 42 to 31. American stated it will continue to monitor demand and make further adjustments accordingly.

Refer to the current working agreement regarding procedures to be followed in the event your schedule is affected by the service reductions. Article 9.E.3 (or Appendix I, Article 9.E.3) governs Flight Attendant obligation in the event of schedule changes of this sortówhen an entire sequence is lost – specifically: “A Flight Attendant whose pay projection falls below his/her monthly guarantee as a result of the Schedule Change shall be held AVBL only on those days originally scheduled to fly (DOSTF) ” Provided no voluntary reductions are made by the Flight Attendant, her or his guarantee is protected under these circumstances.

Such Flight Attendant may also elect to use the procedures under Article 9.K (Appendix I, Article 9.K) in regards to accessing open time and pre-plotting a trip. Additionally, these Flight Attendants – as well as those who have lost time due to trip cancellations within a sequence, but not a complete sequence cancellation – may elect to use Make-Up flying to recover lost time.

During this period, the Company has agreed to relax some of the “traffic light” rules in the Trip Trade with Open Time (TTOT) system to increase Flight Attendants’ flexibility in arranging their schedules and maximize the ability to make-up hours.

Please contact an APFA Scheduling Rep on Duty if you have any questions at 817.540.0108 ext. 8161.

The procedures and precautions highlighted in previous HotLines concerning the flu and its impact on our work and home environment remain as important as ever. Past HotLines are available through the Public Relations heading at the top of APFA.org.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

Last week in Miami, contract negotiations between the company and your APFA Team resumed under the guidance of our Federal Mediator. After lengthy discussions over several days, our goal of a contract by May Day passed without agreement. However, with further mediated talks scheduled during May – including next week in Dallas and later May dates in Washington, DC, in addition to unmediated joint talks and extensive internal APFA team sessions, the negotiations continue to show progress. Your Team remains confident of reaching a deal for a new working agreement.

As reported in her May Day email and website message to the APFA membership, President Laura Glading stated that “While we have not yet reached an agreement, we remain steadfast in our resolve. Flight Attendants are ready and willing to take all necessary steps to achieve that goal. We must beófor our careers, our families and our future.”

Our APFA website and YouTube channel features a new video regarding this stage of talks. Called “The Ins and Outs of Airline Federal Mediation,” the video explains precisely what mediation means for APFA Flight Attendants. Watch the video through the link at the top of this HotLine. View all our videos and share them with your friends, family and coworkers to help get our word out. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/aaflightattendants

APFA NEGOTIATING TEAM SAYS: SAVE THE DATE!

Your APFA Negotiating Team is coming to you! … As you know our May 1 deadline has come and gone. APFA has been directed by our mediator to continue talks through May. In June, as promised, your Team will be visiting every base to fill you in on the details. By this time we will either have a Tentative Agreement (TA) to share or, we will be escalating our campaign to get a fair contract. We need you. Plan to attend one of the base membership outreach meetings. We know you are tired and overworked, but NOW is the time to commit to being involved in the process.

If no TA is reached, we will be calling on you to help us bring pressure to bear in an effort to get a new, equitable contract. Following is a listing of our base visits. Time and locations will be announced just as soon as they’re firmed up.

DFW, Friday, June 5
ORD, Tuesday, June 9
LAX, Wednesday, June 10
SFO, Thursday, June 11
MIA, Tuesday, June 16
RDU, Wednesday, June 17
BOS, Tuesday, June 23
DCA, Wednesday, June 24
STL, Tuesday, June 30
NYC, Wednesday, July 1

Help us send a message to AA Management that we mean business!

RECONFIGURED 757 BEGINS FLYING

May 7 was the inaugural date for the first of 18 Boeing 757 aircraft reconfigured for use in select International markets. Debuting on the JFK-BRU-JFK flight, the aircraft features, among other changes, 16 B/C seats and – as the result of a Presidential Grievance and subsequent arbitrator’s decision – provisions for crew rest seats on designated flights. The arbitration over the rest facilities – APFA’s fight to uphold our working agreement – was a hard fought victory for our members and was featured in the Spring 2009 issue of SKYWORD. The arbitratorís decision is available through the Grievance Settlements and Awards page of the APFA website. Go to Members’ Resources then Presidential Grievances. Website login is required.

PHONE TREE UPDATES

Please note that APFA InfoReps are actively making phone calls to all members to update the APFA PhoneTree 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.

NEW YORK RETIREMENT SEMINARS

On May 12 and 13, retirement seminars will be held for Flight Attendants in two New York base locations: LGA on Tuesday, May 12, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM in the 3rd Floor Conference Room, and at JFK on Wednesday, May 13, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM in the DuPont Conference Center, Terminal 8, next to Flight Ops. Representatives from both AA and APFA will be present. To get the most out of these helpful seminars, print out and bring your personal pension estimate and plan calculation formulas from Jetnet.

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 at: images/PDFs/jim_wright.pdf

MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION UPDATES

Have you moved recently? Changed your phone number or email address? Please be sure you inform your Union as accurate contact information is vital, particularly as we move further along in the negotiations process. Check your information online through the Member Services link at the top of the APFA website and make any necessary corrections. If you cannot sign into the Member Services screen, email: [email protected] and make sure your information is up-to-date.

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Please remember our 1261 APFA members on furlough and awaiting recall.

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