5.07.10 – (LAA) – Seeing Red Road Shows, Power of YES Vote, Treasurer Candidates Announced, LAX Layover Hotel Relocations, MIA Manual Audits

APFA weekly HotLine update for Friday, May 7, 2010

QUICK ALERTS

— Seeing Red Road Shows wrap up final week in: MIA, DFW, NYC
— Road Show video excerpts prepared for online viewing
— Power of YES vote: members rally to show their unity and support
— Treasurer candidates announced
— LAX layover hotel relocations
— MIA manual audits

ROAD SHOWS: FOUR WEEKS OF OUTREACH MEETINGS CONCLUDE

The APFA Negotiating Team’s Seeing Red Informational Road Show concluded its tour of base cities this week, with visits to Miami on Monday, a second show in Dallas/Ft. Worth on Tuesday and the final, added show in New York on Thursday. With enthusiasm and support undiminished from that shown in the first of 12 membership rallies held nearly a month ago in Dallas/Ft. Worth, APFA members saw and heard the facts about our talks and what American wants in the way of even more concessions. For those unable to attend a meeting or who want to review all or part of the presentation, videos compiled from sessions at several bases are now in final production and will be posted for member viewing, accessible through the APFA website. A link to the video page will be posted at the top of this HotLine when the videos are available.

Interviewed by NBC’s DFW affiliate reporter Scott Friedman at the close of the DFW meeting on Tuesday, APFA President Laura Glading comments on our negotiations in a TV news story broadcast several times this past week. Click here to watch it online through the NBC DFW site.

ALL MEMBERS CALLED UPON TO EXERCISE THE POWER OF YES

A display of unwavering and undeniable membership solidarity is the goal with the Strike Authorization Ballot mailed to all members and due May 19 at 10:00 AM Central Time. Be sure you get your YES vote in whether through the Internet or over the telephone to show your full support for our Negotiating Team as they return to Washington for several days of intense, mediated talks at the National Mediation Board headquarters. The company must see that APFA Flight Attendants will not stand for more stalling and foot-dragging. After seven years of suffering under the concessions of the 2003 bailout of AMR over $2 billion now sacrificed in the rescue of AA and $1 million more per day still saved by the company at our expense APFA members are Willing, Able and Ready to see this through and reach our goal of the improvements to our pay, work rules and benefits we need and deserve.

As Team members were heading to New York for the Thursday session of our Seeing Red Road Show, word came that AA mechanics, represented by the Transport Workers Union, had reached a tentative agreement with management in their talks. Our Team will be analyzing the details of the TWU TA over the next week, as they become available, and in preparation for the resumption of talks the week of May 17.

STRIKE AUTHORIZATION BALLOT INFORMATION

The Strike Authorization Ballot packet was sent out in the mail on April 19. The Elections and Balloting page (accessible without website login) has important information from the APFA National Balloting Committee (NBC) on what steps to take if you have questions about the electronic/telephonic voting process or your ballot. This page also has a link to Frequently Asked Questions from BallotPoint, APFA’s balloting service vendor. Go to the page here or click on the VOTE link on the APFA.org home page. Email your questions to the NBC at: [email protected] or call 817.540.0108 ext. 8311.

You may change a vote you’ve already cast in our new voting system, but your final vote must be registered by 10:00 AM (1000) Central Time on Wednesday, May 19, 2010.

All members are reminded that you must be a member in good standing not later than the close of business on the fifth (5th) day prior to the time limit for casting ballots in any election or referendum in order to be deemed eligible to vote. If you have questions about your dues status, please contact the APFA Dues Department. Email: [email protected] or call 817.540.0108 ext. 8154.

NATIONAL BALLOT COMMITTEE ANNOUNCES CANDIDATES FOR TREASURER

On Wednesday, May 5, the APFA National Ballot Committee picked up the Willingness-to-Serve notifications for APFA Treasurer. Five members in good standing submitted Willingness-to-Serves. They are: Steven Baumert, Alexis Boilini, Rodney McGinn, Samuel Morales, and Michael Parker. Ballots will be mailed out to all APFA members on May 25, 2010 and must be received by 10:00 AM Central Time, June 24, 2010.

NOTICE FROM THE APFA HOTEL COORDINATOR

Flight Service has sent an HI6 for crew members laying over in Los Angeles that some layovers are being relocated. If you have LAX layovers from May 10 through June 1, check your HI6 messages, the HIHTL entry for your sequence, or click on the Temporary Layover Hotel Relocations link from the Hotel Department page of APFA.org. Go to Members’ Resources > National Departments > Hotel. (member login required)

DFW AREA MEMBERS: MORE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR APFA PHONE WATCH

More volunteers are needed in the DFW area to help be a part of APFA’s Phone Watch. Should we reach the stage of needing to ramp up this service to provide vital information to our membership, we will need many volunteers. If you can offer some of your time for a four hour shift at APFA Headquarters as a Phone Watch volunteer, please email your contact information: name, employee number and phone number to: [email protected] . APFA’s National Phone Watch Captain, DFW Flight Attendant Michael Truan, will contact you as we get ready to open Phone Watch to inform you of available shifts.

BASED IN OR FLYING THROUGH MIAMI?

The APFA Safety and Security Department alerts Flight Attendants to increased manual audits in MIA from Monday, May 10 through Wednesday, May 12. Flight Attendants scheduled to fly on those days through MIA should be aware of increased checks by the FAA and/or Flight Service. Whenever you have an audit conducted, please be sure to alert the Safety and Security Department with the details by an email afterward to: [email protected].
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Remember that there are currently 1,360 members on furlough and awaiting recall.
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The Wings Foundation is much more than can recycling, though that is an important source of the funds they distribute to members in need. Visit their website for fund raising activities, to find base representatives, forms for donation ($$$, PVDs, etc.), or applications for assistance. See how you can help at your base. Wings is formed and managed by AA Flight Attendants for AA Flight Attendants. Check out Wings and all our APFA supported organizations through these links:

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