12.11.09 – (LAA) – Constitutional Referendum, Focus on Constitution, Keep the Our Turn Around Momentum Going, January Bid Leaves Offered, 2009 Uniform Points, BOSI and DCA Vice Chairperson Election, LHR Crew Clearance Hints

APFA weekly HotLine update for Friday, December 11, 2009

QUICK ALERTS

• Constitutional Referendum: ballot and informational booklet mailed
• Focus on the Constitution: dues obligation in unpaid status
• Keep the OUR TURN Around momentum going over the holidays through our online actions
• January bid leaves offered
• 2009 uniform ordering deadline approaches
• BOSI and DCA Vice Chairperson election process begins
• LHR Crew Clearance hints

CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM BALLOT MAILED

On Tuesday, December 8, the ballot for the APFA Constitutional Referendum, authorized by the APFA Board of Directors at their Fall 2009 meeting, was mailed to members. Completed ballots must be received in the designated Post Office Box no later than 9:00 AM (0900) Central Time, Thursday, January 7, 2010. Read the instructions and complete your ballot carefully as there are five individual items and each are voted on separately.

A 28-page booklet entitled “APFA – Moving Forward 2010” detailing the Constitutional Referendum was mailed the week prior. It is also available for member viewing or download through a link on the APFA main page (or click here ). The booklet details the five proposed amendments to the APFA Constitution which have been crafted by the APFA Board in a direct response to issues and concerns brought forth by members.

See the end of this HotLine for information regarding requests for a duplicate ballot and dues standing required for voting eligibility.

FOCUS ON THE CONSTITUTION – DUES OBLIGATION WHILE IN UNPAID STATUS

The last four APFA weekly HotLines have reviewed four of the five proposals contained in the Constitutional Referendum, including: a proposed dues increase (11.13.09 ), electronic voting (11.20.09 ), the make-up of future negotiating committees (11.25.09 ) and membership status of those taking non-Flight Attendant positions (12.4.09 ). This week we focus on the last of the items, Resolution 8 – Monthly Dues Obligation. This proposal expands the dues obligation to all Flight Attendants in any unpaid status. As APFA continues its work on members’ behalf even for those who are not flying, dues payment remains a member responsibility in order to maintain union rights and privileges. More information on this proposal, which is Item # 5 on the ballot, is found on pages 5, 16-18, and 25-26 in the informational mailer.

Your APFA leadership recommends that you vote YES to change the dues obligations of members in an unpaid status.

All members are encouraged to carefully read the information included in your ballot packet and in the informational mailer and cast an informed vote. The APFA Board is confident that these changes will Move APFA Forward into 2010. Please contact your Base Chairperson—your voice on the Board of Directors—or your Base Vice Chairperson should you have questions about any of the proposals.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE UPDATED AS TEAM PREPARES FOR JANUARY BARGAINING

Following updates by President Laura Glading and Chief Negotiator Anne Loew to the APFA Executive Committee at their quarterly meeting on Tuesday, December 8, your APFA Negotiating Team continues preparation for the ten-day, mediated, “lockdown” bargaining session to commence January 10 outside the immediate DFW Metroplex. Talks will resume with a company now clearly cognizant—following enthusiastic member turnout for the system-wide OUR TURN Around event on November 18—of our determination to reach a ratifiable agreement which meets our needs for improvements to pay, work rules and benefits.

Over 2500 Flight Attendants participated in person at the informational picketing and demonstration of our unity. Our YouTube video highlights the DFW event and press conference while other, member-made videos are seeing wide-spread viewing as well. Along with subscribing to, or monitoring, our official APFA YouTube channel—which has garnered over 65,000 viewings of our ten available videos—members and the public can join the growing numbers who follow our Team’s updates on twitter and facebook as well as symbolically march alongside us on our Virtual Picket Line. You can even write your own virtual picket sign slogan! Numbers count in any demonstration of solidarity so be sure you make your presence and support known. Use the links below to be a part of it all:

* APFA Virtual Picket Line
* YouTube
* Facebook
* Twitter

Meantime, continue to wear only your Union pin—with the yellow GOT UNION side of the disk behind it—along with your Flight Attendant wings on your uniform. If you have your pin disk turned to red, please flip it back to yellow unless specifically advised by an APFA representative to show the red side. Request replacements by emailing: [email protected] or calling 817.540.0108 ext. 8153.

Review the Negotiations Update mailed to all members in October and carry it with you. It explains clearly where we stand. It is available online as well from the negotiations page at: index.php?&view=category&id=351 (website login required).

BID LEAVES FOR JANUARY 2010

Crew Planning has advised that bid leaves will be available at most Domestic and International bases during January. According to the HI6 notification to Flight Attendants, no bid leaves will granted for the period 01JAN to 08JAN and full-month requests will default to a 22-day leave: 09JAN thru 30JAN (Note that the contractual month of January ends on January 30.) The deadline for requesting a January bid leave in the HIPVD system is 9:00 AM (0900) Central Time, Tuesday, December 15. If you know of someone wanting time off in January who might not retrieve their messages in time to see the notice, please pass along this helpful information.

UNIFORM ORDERING

The APFA National Contract Coordinator reminds all Flight Attendants that your allotted uniform points do not carry-over from one year to the next. You should place any orders for uniform items with the vendor as soon as possible to ensure that you do not lose your unused 2009 uniform points. VF Imagewear’s Customer Service Center will be closed—or have reduced hours—on certain days during the holiday period. The Customer Service Center will close at 3:00 PM (1500) Central Time on Thursday, December 31 for 2009 orders. The last chance to order via the website is 10:00 PM (2200) Central Time on December 31. It is suggested that you not wait until the last day to place an order. The uniform vendor website address is: www.vfsolutions.com/amr

ATTENTION BOSI AND DCA FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

On Wednesday, December 8, the National Ballot Committee mailed to all members based at Boston International (BOSI) and Washington Domestic (DCA) an election notice and Willingness-to-Serve to fill the vacant positions of Vice Chairperson at the two bases. For those members interested in serving as Vice Chairperson for the remainder of the current two-year term ending March 31, 2011, Willingness-to-Serve Notifications must be received in the designated Post Office Box no later than 10:00 AM (1000) Central Time on Thursday, January 7, 2010. Should an election be necessary, ballots will be mailed on January 26, 2010. As a convenience, a downloadable copy of the Election Notice and Willingness-to-Serve is available through the BOSI and DCA base pages, and through the Elections and Balloting page , of APFA.org. Please contact the National Ballot Committee with any questions at 817.540.0108 ext. 8311 or by email to: [email protected].

LHR CREW CLEARANCE

We continue to receive complaints in reference to inconsistent enforcement of the British Airport Authority (BAA) liquids regulations when crews depart London Heathrow. As a reminder, if you are flying London please be cognizant of British regulations for carry-on liquids. Being compliant with the regulations should help ease your clearance experience.

British authorities continue to strictly enforce their entry and exit regulations with airline crews. We have also received notice from other airline crews that British Customs has once again stepped up searches of crew luggage when entering the country in an attempt to identify Duty Free items.

DUPLICATE BALLOTS AND DUES STANDING FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

After allowing sufficient time for mail delivery, a duplicate Constitutional Referendum Ballot may be requested by:

* calling the National Ballot Committee at 817.540.0108 ext. 8311, or
* emailing: [email protected] , or
* for those with an APFA website password, using the online Duplicate Ballot Request Form from the Elections and Balloting page of APFA.org. (The form will be activated the week of December 14.)

In accordance with the APFA Policy Manual, if both an original and duplicate ballot are received, only the duplicate will be counted. Duplicate ballots will be issued, upon request, up to five (5) days prior to the ballot due date.

You must be a member in good standing (dues current or on an official APFA payment plan) no later than five (5) days prior to the election in order to be deemed eligible to vote. If you have questions about your dues status, please contact the APFA Dues Department at 817.540.0108 ext. 8154, or email: [email protected] .

KEEP YOUR MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION UP-TO-DATE

To ensure you receive all membership mailings and communications, keep your contact information up-to-date. American does not share your address, phone or email changes with APFA. Email the Membership Department at: [email protected] or call 817.540.0108 ext. 8153 to make sure we have your current contact info.

DOCUMENTS FROM FALL 2009 BOARD MEETING NOW AVAILABLE

The official minutes and resolutions from the Fall 2009 Board of Directors meeting, held November 3 and 4, are now posted online and available for member viewing. Go to “Members’ Resources” in the main menu, then “Events/Meetings.” The top link on the page brings you to a menu of meeting dates and the corresponding documentation (or click here for direct link). Website login is required to view.

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Remember that there are currently 1,410 members on furlough and awaiting recall.
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Consider a donation to Wings, Airline Ambassadors and/or UNICEF/Change for Good this holiday season. Or make it your New Year’s resolutions to get more involved with one or more of these organizations. Check their links from the APFA main page or go to:

Wings // Airline Ambassadors // UNICEF/Change for Good