5.22.09 – (LAA) – Southwest Airlines FAs Vote in Favor of Contract, Membership Outreach Meetings, Negotiations Update, Annual AMR Shareholders Meeting, Mexico Service Reductions Update, International Crew Clearance, WINGS Golf Tournament

APFA WEEKLY HOTLINE UPDATE FOR FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2009

INDUSTRY NEWS

Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants voted 89% in favor of the contract which provides annual pay raises of up to 3 percent, an increase in 401 (k) contributions, and improved work rules and benefits. Congratulations to our brothers and sisters at TWU Local 556!

It’s interesting to note that Southwest Airlines was able to reach a tentative agreement with their Flight Attendants in just nine (9) months while APFA has been negotiating for over a year nowÖfurther reinforcing what WE already know; investing in your employees is the most successful way to run a business.

SAVE THE DATE

By now you should have received a call from President Laura Glading announcing scheduled Membership Outreach meetings to take place at each base beginning June 5. During these base visits, Laura and members of the negotiating team will either bring you a tentative agreement, or announce strategies to step up membership involvement in putting pressure on American Airlines in our effort to secure the equitable agreement that we deserve. The base visit dates are:

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

If you did not receive your call, details of times and locations are listed on the APFA website or on Base bulletin boards.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

Mediated sessions took place the week of May 11 – May 15 in the DFW area. The company presented APFA with counter proposals on Article 9 -Scheduling and Article 10-Reserve. Work also began on a new Article 22, which will now be titled Training and Meetings. Mediated sessions are set to resume in Washington, D.C. on May 27 following a full Team meeting on the 26th.

GET INFORMED AND STAY ENGAGED

It is vital that every member stay informed and engaged as we work towards a new agreement. We showed the company and the public what we can accomplish as a unified force over 15 years ago. Every member must be prepared to do her and his part in actions planned by your Union. Your voice is needed in this battle with the company for improved compensation and work rules.

You can start by ensuring you have the most up-to-date information on file with APFA. If you have moved or changed your phone number or email address, please update your information with APFA. InfoReps have finished their calls to members to verify contact numbers and emails. If you did not receive a call, or anytime your information changes, please contact the Membership Department, use the Member Services link on our website, or email: [email protected].

ANNUAL AMR SHAREHOLDER’S MEETING

The annual AMR Shareholder’s meeting was held on May 20th. APFA was on the agenda. Stepping up to the podium was a young man by the name of Ian Merriman who spoke on behalf of the APFA. Ian’s parents are both Flight Attendants and have a combined seniority of 65 years. Ian gave tribute to his hard working parents and called for equity and justice for APFA members. “Great leaders lead by example,” Merriman said. “Great Leaders share in successes and share in their failures.” Go to www.www.apfa.org to view the YouTube video or to read the text version of Ian’s speech.

HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURE

The APFA Headquarters office will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Regular office hours will resume at 9:00 AM on Tuesday, May 26.

AMERICAN FLIGHT 191 REMEMBRANCES

This Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, marks the 30th anniversary of the loss of American Airlines flight 191, a DC-10 bound from Chicago O’Hare to Los Angeles. There were 271 persons onboard, including 258 passengers, 3 pilots and 10 San Diego-based Flight Attendants. They, along with two people on the ground, perished 30 seconds after takeoff on a sunny Friday afternoon when one of the three engines of the jumbo jet broke away from its mounting, disabling the aircraft and leading to the crash less than a mile from the end of the runway. APFAís newsletter from the summer of 1979 included a photo tribute to the ten APFA crew members working the flight and it is reprinted on our website. Go to “About APFA”, then “In Memory Of.” Click on the link for Flight 191. Over 2,400 APFA members who were active on that date – May 25, 1979 – are still flying today.

MEXICO SERVICE REDUCTIONS UPDATE

Members are reporting positive results to the company’s pledge to relax the “traffic light” rules in the Trip Trade with Open Time (TTOT) system in order to increase flexibility and maximize the ability to make-up hours in the face of schedule reductions made in our Mexico flying.

Remember to refer to the current working agreement regarding procedures to be followed in the event your schedule is affected by the Mexico service reductions, currently running through June 10. The Articles to reference are 9.E.3 for your obligation and 9.K for your rights to access open time and pre-plot a trip.

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

See Letter of Agreement dated May 15 with additional Flight Attendant options for partial sequence cancellations.

INTERNATIONAL CREW CLEARANCE

All crew members flying through foreign stations need to remember that security screening procedures upon departure may differ substantially from those faced in U.S. cities. They reflect the laws of that nation, which may be more stringent in areas concerning, for example: what may be carried aboard, blood alcohol limits, and personal rights if challenged.

Crew members passing through crew security at LHR – our largest foreign station – should be fully aware of the laws and the procedures in the event of a suspected violation.

The actual legal reference for the UK is the Railways and Transportation Safety Act of 2003, Part 5, viewable through this link:

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2003/ukpga_20030020_en_7#pt5

Should you feel that yourself, or another crew member, may be suspected of any violation, you should coordinate your action and response with the Purser and the Captain before reaching the security clearance area.

Contact your Base Representatives or APFAís EAP Department (email: [email protected]) with details of any incident you encounter. Your APFA Reps are excellent resources for those flying to unfamiliar destinations and facing unfamiliar procedures. Ask before you go and be aware of your responsibilities and your rights.

HEADS UP!

The APFA has become aware of a concerted effort by flight service and the company’s security department to monitor Flight Attendants who have been notified of missing liquor deposits. We have confirmed the security department is monitoring liquor safe locations and observing targeted Flight Attendants making liquor deposits.

In addition, AA security is doing onboard rides monitoring targeted Flight Attendants. Some tactics have included the use of marked money, observation of individual FA sales and discreetly observing the Flight Attendant making scheduled deposits. At the completion of the trip, crews are being held and interviewed. Should you be involved in an investigation contact APFA immediately.

Should you have questions or concerns on liquor procedures, information is available in your inflight manual. You may also contact your APFA representative with specific questions.

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

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

Please remember our 1,261 APFA members on furlough and awaiting recall.

Thank you for calling the APFA HotLine.