9.04.09 – (LAA) – Furlough Mitigation Results for the Oct RIF Announced, APFA Virtual Picket Line, GOT UNION Yellow Disc

Go to Elections and Ballot page for results of STL Vice Chair Willingness-to-Serve (click here)

APFA weekly HotLine update for Friday, September 4, 2009.

QUICK ALERTS

• Furlough mitigation results for the October RIF announced. (click here to watch video)
• Have you added your name to the APFA Virtual Picket Line? Do it today! (click here)
• Show that you’ve “GOT UNION” by wearing your yellow disk behind your APFA pin.

OCTOBER 2009 REDUCTION-IN-FORCE RESULTS ANNOUNCED

On Tuesday, September 1, the long-awaited results of the October 2009 Reduction-in-Force by American were announced. Of the potential 1200 furloughs, 728 have been completely avoided due to the awarded leaves, partnerships and other mitigation efforts. Of the remaining: 244 members will be placed on involuntary leave of absence for a two-month periodóOctober and Novemberówhile the 228 most junior will be furloughed effective October 1. President Laura Glading stated in a press release: “We worked many hard hours to find as many ways possible to save the jobs of our members. You can be sure we will not rest until all furloughed American Airlines Flight Attendants are back to work.” President Glading recorded a video to members explaining the results. View it through a link available on the main page of APFA.org. Read the emailed announcement online (click here).

MEDIATED TALKS RESUME IN WASHINGTON

On Monday, August 31, contract bargaining between APFA and American resumed in Washington, DC with a full week of mediated sessions. While your Team faces management in what is now month 17 of negotiations, all members should be displaying their full support of their negotiators and their Union by wearing the yellow ìGOT UNIONî disk behind their APFA pin. Wear only your union pin and wings as we seek improved pay, benefits and work rules in an agreement that fully recognizes our sacrifices.

All members were sent a disk and instructions in a national mailing. If you have not received yours, you may have out-of-date information on file with APFA. The company does not share your address, phone or email updates with our Membership Department. Whenever you have a change in any of these, please contact the Membership Department via email to: [email protected] or by calling APFA Headquarters extension 8153 with your new information. Request a replacement APFA pin or disk through the same methods.

JOIN THE APFA VIRTUAL PICKET LINE TODAY

Along with wearing the ìGOT UNIONî disk with your APFA pin, all membersóplus their friends and familyóshould join in APFAís Virtual Picket Line to show support for our contract talks. Our sisters and brothers at Unitedórepresented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) and currently in mediated contract talks themselvesóhave offered their encouragement in a letter now posted on the Negotiations page of APFA.org. (click here ñ website login required) ìMarchî on our picket line today by going to: APFAvirtualpicket.com.

SENATORS RETURN TO WASHINGTON

As our elected officials prepare to return to Washington, make sure theyíve heard from you about the issues most affecting our workforce. The push is on to complete the long awaited corrections to the Family Leave and Medical Act to include crewmembers (S.1422) and to see an FAA Reauthorization packed with Flight Attendant-friendly provisions (S.1451). Both Senate bills are loaded into APFAís Capwiz account so members can send emails with just a few clicks online. If you havenít already done so, go to both the links below today and make your voice heard. There is no easier way. (visit: capwiz.com/apfa)

S.1422 – Family Leave for Crewmembers (click here)
S.1451 – FAA Reauthorization Legislation (click here)

IMPORTANT REMINDERS FROM APFA DEPARTMENTS

From the APFA Hotel Coordinator: We need details from all crewmembers laying over at the short LAX airport hotel who experience delays caused by transportation problems to and from the hotel. If you experience delays, please email the Hotel Department with your flight number, the date, how long you waited and note whether there was either a separate crew van or if you shared one with other hotel guests. Send the information to: [email protected]. We need hard facts to get the issues resolved.

From the Vice Presidentís Office: In conjunction with APFAís Presidential Grievance, details are required from all Flight Attendants who have experienced problems with missing liquor deposits, missing deposit notifications, OSRs, and liquor safe deposit issues. Please forward this information to the Vice Presidentís department at: [email protected]. Include all pertinent details, plus your contact information. If you have received a missing deposit notification, email your Flight Service Manager and ask for a written follow up on the status of the missing envelope. Forward copies of your correspondence, along with managementís response, to APFA Vice Presidentís department at: [email protected]. Contact your Division Representative if you have any questions.

From the APFA Safety and Security Coordinator: The Allied Pilots Association at American (APA) has created a slide presentation of procedures in currently in place at LHR Crew Screening stations. This has also been posted to the crew security site of Jetnet. The Safety and Security page at APFA.org has a link to the very informative presentation recommended for all members flying to LHR. (click here ñ website login required.) Your Jetnet login will be required when navigating to the link.

From the National Ballot Committee: Just a few days remain to submit a Notification of Willingness-to-Serve (WTS) for the position of Vice Chairperson at STL. WTS are due in the post office box indicated on the notice by 10 AM (1000) Central Time on Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Please contact the National Ballot Committee with any questions via email to: [email protected] or Headquarters extension 8311. The complete election timeline is detailed on the Elections and Balloting page of APFA.org. (click here – a downloadable WTS also available on that page)

NEW THIS WEEK ON APFA.ORG

• Skyword Online for Summer 2009 has been updated with the Secretaryís report. View this and all the Summer 2009 articles through the Skyword Online page at: index.php?&view=category&id=35.
• APFA supports the efforts by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA) to organize the Flight Attendants at the merged Delta/Northwest. See the support letter on the National Officers’ page. (click here website login required)

UPCOMING EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

The Second Quarter 2009 APFA Executive Committee meeting will be held on Monday and Tuesday, September 14 and 15, in the Unity Pays room at APFA Headquarters. (click here for map) All members in good standing are invited to attend open portions of the meeting.

FORMER APFA PRESIDENT SELECTED AS NMB SENIOR MEDIATOR

Denise Hedges-APFA’s President from 1992-2000-has been selected to serve in the capacity of Senior Mediator of the National Mediation Board (NMB). From the NMB website: “As Senior Mediator (ADR), Ms. Hedges directs the Board’s Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) training and outreach programs, develops and maintains the training curriculum, delivers training to interested parties, and conducts facilitation and grievance mediation. Denise also serves in this position as Associate Director of ADR Services, assisting Director Daniel Rainey and supervising ADR staff. She also remains active as a mediator in airline and railroad cases. Denise joined the agency in September of 2000 as a Mediator. In that capacity, she handled both airline and railroad cases, and conducted Interest Based Bargaining (IBB), Facilitative Problem Solving (FPS), Grievance Mediation and online dispute resolution Training and Facilitation.”

APFA congratulates former President Hedges on her accomplishments and her continued work in the field of labor relations.

OFFICE HOLIDAY CLOSURE

The APFA Headquarters Office will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labor Day. Regular office hours will resume on Tuesday, September 8.

9-11 MEMORIAL ACTIVITIES

Check APFA’s “In Memory of”  page for information on 9-11 anniversary activities planned this year by groups in both the San Diego and the DFW (Grapevine) areas. (link here)

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Remember that there are now 1,252 members on furlough and awaiting recall.

Visit the new and updated Wings Foundation website to learn about this organization formed by and operated for the benefit of AA Flight Attendants. Find out how to contact Wings representatives at your base for volunteering, donating or seeking confidential assistance. Wings works through the generosity of Flight Attendants around our system. Go to: wingsfoundation.com for more information.