12.31.09 – (LAA) – Last Few Days to Return Your Constitutional Referendum Ballot, AA 331 MIA-KIN Investigation Wrapping Up, APFA Supports UA FAs in their Day of Action, WTS for BOSI and DCA, Ad Hoc WTS Reminder

APFA weekly HotLine update for Thursday, December 31, 2009

QUICK ALERTS

• Last few days to return your Constitutional Referendum ballot
• AA 331 MIA-KIN, investigation wrapping up
• APFA supports United Airlines Flight Attendants in their Day of Action
• WTS for BOSI and DCA due
• Notice of Administrative and Committee positions; Ad Hoc WTS reminder
• Holiday office closure, January 1

DEADLINES APPROACHING IN THE NEW YEAR

With the dawn of the new year comes a fast approaching deadline for members to ensure their Constitutional Referendum ballots are returned on time. All ballots must be received in the designated Post Office Box no later than 9:00 AM (0900) Central Time, Thursday, January 7, 2010 to be counted.

In automated calls made Monday afternoon, December 28, Base Chairs reminded members of the deadline for receipt of the ballot: “containing five proposed changes to the APFA Constitution. They address important concerns [Base Chairs have] heard from members across the system. Your Board of Directors overwhelmingly voted to support these changes. When passed, they will make APFA a more effective and financially secure organization. They are essential for sustaining APFA’s strength and moving us forward.” The message continued: “Please carefully review the proposed Amendments before you vote. A document answering frequent questions from members has been posted on the APFA website. Please call or email [your Base Chair] if you have additional questions.”

All five of the proposed constitutional changes are strongly backed by the APFA leadership, which recommends that members vote YES to approve each of the measures. In addition to the Question and Answer document at APFA.org, full details of the proposed amendments are available in a national mailing and base briefs. Proposed language changes are also included in the ballot packet.

INVESTIGATION CONTINUES INTO FLIGHT 331 MIA-KIN

APFA National Safety and Security Coordinator Kelly Skyles, along with APFA GO Team members Lonny Glover and Tim Lessa, have been assisting investigators at the scene into the causes and aftermath of Flight 331, which last Tuesday night, following a turbulent flight from Miami, skidded off the end of the runway upon landing during strong rains in Kingston, Jamaica. All 148 passengers, the two Pilots and the four Flight Attendants escaped the damaged 737 with few serious injuries. Though understandably, public comments from crewmembers during an accident investigation are rare, Captain Brian Cole, who commanded the flight, was forthcoming in commending his First Officer and the IMA based Flight Attendants in a candid statement to the press. Said Captain Cole: “I have the highest praise for my First Officer and eternal gratitude for the way the Flight Attendants reacted in their professionalism to get all the passengers home to their families”  – We extend our own thanks and gratitude to Captain Cole and the entire crew on Flight 331 for their performance, and to the national and local APFA and AA Flight Service representatives who responded quickly to lend assistance to crew and passengers alike.

ìLOCKDOWNî BARGAINING SCHEDULED FOR MID-JANUARY

January 11 through 21 are the scheduled dates for the mediated, ìlockdownî bargaining with AA management. To be held outside of the immediate DFW metroplex, and away from office distractions, the talks come after lengthy preparation by your Team, legal counsel and economic experts, and logistical planning by the leaders of both APFA and AAís negotiators and our NMB mediator.

With the start of the new year, we enter month number 21 since our agreement became amendable, while the over $1 million per day in sacrificed pay, work rules and benefits compounds ever higher since the start of the restructuring agreement. As stated by APFA President Laura Glading: “While we hope to reach an agreement through successful negotiations early [in 2010], we must be prepared to do whatever is necessary to secure a fair and just contract.” (APFA press release – 12.22.09)

While we enter this crucial stage, your APFA Negotiating Team requires the visible and active support of every member. They need to face American management with clear and unambiguous backing of every APFA Flight Attendant. Each member must use all available resources to stay informed, involved and engaged. These include: our official APFA YouTube channel, Team updates on twitter and Facebook, and our round-the-clock APFA Virtual Picket Line. These methods are simple and they do show we are behind our Union and our Team.

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. Management is noticing! 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 of APFA.org (website login required).

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 most current info.

UNITED AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANTS PLAN A DAY OF ACTION

During OUR TURN Around event on our strike anniversary date of November 18, members were joined in many picketing locations by United Airlines Flight Attendants, represented by AFA, in an unprecedented show of support. Our sisters and brothers at United have been involved in their own negotiations with management-now under mediation-since April, and have planned a Day of Action at base and other major airport locations world wide. The date is January 7, which coincides with the amendable date of their agreement. United’s Flight Attendants have pledged to do “whatever it takes” against a management whose “stance is concessions and only tactic at the table seems to be delay, delay, delay ”  This is something we at APFA can surely relate to and we fully support the United Airlines Flight Attendants in their fight for the contract they deserve.

A list of Day of Action times and places is on the UA AFA website ñ click here to view. Members who wish to show their support for our colleagues at United should recall thatóas we experienced on November 18ópicketing and permitting requirements vary widely by location and require extensive advance planning. There may be strict limits on the number of participants and the nature of activities. Please be cognizant of any guidelines at the AFA demonstration locations as determined and expressed by their own leadership.

WILLINGNESS-TO-SERVE NOTICES DUE FOR BOSI AND DCA VICE CHAIR

January 7 is the deadline for receipt of Willingness-to-Serve notifications (WTS) for the vacant positions of Vice Chairperson at both BOSI and DCA. For those members interested in serving as Vice Chairperson for the remainder of the current two-year term ending March 31, 2011, a WTS 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. An election notice and WTS was mailed to members at each base. As a convenience, a downloadable copy is available through the BOSI and DCA base pages and through the Elections and Balloting page of APFA.org. Please contact the National Balloting Committee with any questions at 817.540.0108 ext. 8311 or by email to: [email protected].

RESUMES NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND COMMITTEE POSITIONS

In accordance with Article IX, Section 2.A.(1) of the APFA Constitution and Section 12.B.16 of the APFA Policy Manual, Treasurer Juan Barrera has issued a notice advising the membership of the administrative and committee positions proposed for the upcoming fiscal year. These include the Division Representatives, National Coordinators, National Balloting Committee and Budget Committee members. Resumes for these positions may be returned to the APFA Secretary any time prior to the Annual Convention to be held March 7 through 10 in the DFW area. Complete information is available through a document link on the Treasurerís page of APFA.org (website login required).

As a reminder, two Ad Hoc positions will also be elected by delegates at the Annual Convention. The Willingness-to-Serve notification for Ad Hoc places 3 and 4 is available on the Elections and Balloting page of APFA.org and will be retrieved from the designated Post Office Box at 10:00 AM (1000) Central Time, Wednesday, January 20, 2010. Additionally, an Ad Hoc Willingness-to-Serve Notification may be returned to the APFA Secretary at any time prior to the Convention.

HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURE

The APFA Headquarters office will be closed on Friday, January 1, in observance of New Year’s Day. Regular office hours will resume on Monday, January 4. All APFA Representatives, national and local, wish everyone a happy and safe New Year.

DUPLICATE BALLOTS AND DUES STANDING FOR CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM

If you have not received, or have misplaced, your Constitutional Referendum ballot, a duplicate may be requested by:

• calling the National Balloting 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.

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].
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Remember that there are currently 1,410 members on furlough and awaiting recall.
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Be sure to frequently visit the websites of our APFA supported charitable organizations. Make it your New Year’s resolutions to get more involved with:

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