1.29.10 – (LAA) – Negotiations Update, Strike Captains Need Volunteers at all Bases, Virtual Picket Line, Travel Seperation Program for Furloughed FAs to Close, Uniformed Crewmember Liquid Exemption, Administrative and Committee Positions at APFA Acceptin

This is Brenda McKenzie, DFW Flight Attendant, with the APFA weekly HotLine update for Friday, January 29, 2010.

QUICK ALERTS

• Negotiations update – lockdown sessions resume next month
• Strike Captains need volunteers at all bases
• Join the Virtual Picket Line – over 5,000 names now march in solidarity
• Travel Separation Program for Furloughed Flight Attendants to close at 11:00 p.m. CT, February 19, 2010
• UNIFORMED crewmember liquid exemption – must be in uniform on Airport property while carrying liquids in secure areas
• Administrative and Committee positions at APFA – accepting resumes
• Retirement briefings in Chicago

LOCKDOWN NEGOTIATIONS RESUME NEXT MONTH IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

Your negotiating team continues to prepare for the next round of mediated sessions to be held in Washington, D.C.

Under federal law, airline unions cannot strike until the federal mediator declares an impasse in contract talks, which starts a 30-day cooling-off period. After that period, the union can go on strike.

The National Mediation Board has directed the parties to resume lockdown negotiations at the NMB offices in Washington, D.C. beginning on Saturday, February 27 and ending five days later on March 3.

Additional membership activities will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Please stay informed through the APFA HotLine, APFA Facebook, Twitter and YouTube pages. Get your information directly from these sources. When the company attempts to negotiate directly with you, be prepared to with: “My negotiators speak for me!”

FROM THE NATIONAL STRIKE ADMINISTRATORS

In our on-going preparations, Strike Captains are in place at each base. Volunteers are needed at each base to assist your strike captains. Thank you to those of you who have already volunteered. More volunteers are needed. Please send your name, employee number, base, and email address to [email protected].

APFA VIRTUAL PICKET LINE WELCOMES ALL SUPPORTERS

Supporters of workers everywhere are encouraged to sign onto the APFA Virtual Picket Line at: www.APFAVirtualPicket.com. In a national press release on January 14, APFA invited the public to show their support and to walk the line alongside us in our battle for fair and just treatment in our negotiations for the contract we deserve. Well over 5,000 names now “march” in solidarity with APFA Flight Attendants some with their own picket sign slogans. Be sure your name is added and encourage your friends, family and colleagues to add theirs. (click here for press release)

VOLUNTARY TRAVEL SEPARATION PROGRAM FOR FURLOUGHED FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

The Voluntary Travel Separation Program is open for eligible furloughed Flight Attendants who have recall rights. Eligible Flight Attendants will have the opportunity to take advantage of a Five (5) or Ten (10) Year Voluntary Travel Separation. Either of these decisions will result in a permanent separation from the Company and will waive all recall rights. The election window for this voluntary program will close at 11:00 p.m. Central Time, February 19, 2010. Information is available on the APFA website at www.www.apfa.org.

REMINDER FROM SAFETY AND SECURITY

TSA security directive SD 1544-06-01D specifies that uniformed flight crew members departing the United States and its territories are exempt from the restriction of taking liquids, gels, and aerosols into the secure area as well as onboard aircraft. To be exempt, all crewmembers – whether working, deadheading, commuting, or pass traveling – must be in uniform while on airport property. Airport property includes the secured side of the terminals, all areas accessed with your SIDA badge and/or Crew ID Badge, and includes the aircraft while parked at the gate.

Be aware that TSA may conduct random security screening at all areas of the airport property, including gate areas and operation areas. If a traveling crewmember is found to have liquids in excess of the limit and is not in uniform in any of these secured areas, then they would be in violation of the TSA security directive and could be cited and assessed a civil penalty by the TSA. To avoid this, crewmembers must remain in their uniforms while on airport property if they are in possession of liquids beyond the limit during their travels.

REMINDER – R…SUM…S 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 submitted to the APFA Secretary, Denise Pointer, via email, fax, or regular mail, any time prior to the Annual Convention which will be held March 7 through 10 in the DFW area.

Complete information is available through a document on the Treasurer’s page of APFA.org (website login required).

The fourth quarter 2009 Executive Committee meeting will be held February 9-10, 2010 at APFA.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR APFA RETIREMENT BRIEFINGS

If you are considering retirement this year and would like more information, please plan on attending one of three upcoming APFA Retirement briefings presented by IDF Flight Attendant, Patrick Hancock. These briefing are scheduled to be held in Chicago on February 25 at 1:00 p.m., March 24 at 9:00 a.m. and April 27 at 2:00 p.m. All briefings will be held in the Flight Service Conference Room ñ on the lower level at K19 ñ across from the FYI Center.

—–
Remember that there are currently 1,410 members on furlough and awaiting recall.
—–

Airline Ambassadors has updated their website with information on relief efforts in Haiti due to the recent earthquake and developing humanitarian crisis. Please visit their site for the latest information and to learn how you can help or donate.

UNICEF/Change for Good, which has a presence on many of our flights and is actively promoted by Flight Attendant ìChampions for children Volunteers,î has advised that all donations collected during January will be directed to providing assistance in Haiti.

Please visit all our APFA Supported organization through their websites:

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