5.28.10 – (LAA) – Scare Tactics by Management, Negotiations, Phone Watch, Treasurer Electioin, MIA Vice Chairperson Election, CE Rewards, Federal Aviation Advisory Committee, Sterile Cockpit Procedures, DFW Reps in Operations

APFA weekly HotLine update for Friday, May 28, 2010.

QUICK ALERTS

• Scare tactic to replace Flight Attendants
• Where do we go from here?
• Phone watch volunteers needed
• National Treasurer Election
• MIA Vice Chair Willingness to Serve
• CE Rewards/AIP checks out. We have something for you!
• Federal Aviation Advisory Committee – future health and safety of airline industry
• Safety and Security: Sterile cockpit procedures reminder
• DFW Representatives in Operations

SCARE TACTIC BY MANAGEMENT

Following the vote to authorize a strike by an overwhelming 96.8 percent of our eligible members, AA management can’t help but face the reality as we hold firm to our promise to do whatever it takes to obtain the contract we deserve. AA fearfully responded with an attempt to recruit management volunteers in order to staff flights in the event of a job action.

Will the flying public think that less than two and a half weeks of training is a substitute for the almost eight weeks of initial training Flight Attendants underwent?

NEGOTIATIONS – WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

Despite some progress in contract talks last week, the company continued to put forth proposals containing unacceptable concessions. In fact with their most recent proposal, most Flight Attendants by 2015 would still be behind where they were in 2003.

Federal Mediator Pat Sims will be meeting with the NMB to present her findings following the last round of mediated negotiations, and give recommendations as to how to proceed. Sometime after this meeting, the NMB will release a decision of either calling both parties back to the table or declaring an impasse and moving forward. If an impasse is declared, both parties will be offered binding arbitration. If binding arbitration is offered and turned down by either side, then the parties will be released into the 30-day cooling off period. It is important to bear in mind that the binding arbitration is not an acceptable option for the APFA.

Upon release into a 30-day cooling off period, the parties can continue to negotiate during the 30-day period of time. If a tentative agreement is reached, it will be sent out to the membership for ratification. If no agreement is reached by the end of the 30 days, either party may engage in self-help.

Please go to the APFA website for the latest updates on negotiations.

PHONE WATCH VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

As we get closer to a possible release and job action, we are gearing up to begin the Phone Watch program. Phone Watch will start once we are released into a 30-day cooling off period and continue to run until we reach a tentative agreement or through the duration of a strike. The Phone Watch team will be available to answer questions from Flight Attendants and help those that are unclear about job action events that might happen in the future. DFW based Flight Attendant Michael Truan has taken on the task of setting up Phone Watch and staffing the phones. He is looking for volunteers from around the system who are, or will be, in the Dallas/Ft. Worth and are willing to give their time to a great cause. Thank you to those who have already volunteered. Please get the word out that we are in need of many more volunteers. Anyone who will be in the Dallas area and willing to volunteer some time to this great cause should send their name, phone number and email address to Michael at [email protected].

APFA NATIONAL TREASURER ELECTION

The Voter Packet for the APFA Treasurer election was mailed to all members on May 25th. The election is being conducted by electronic ballot using the telephone and Internet, through the Ballot Point Election Services system. APFA Treasurer Candidate Information is included in the voter packet and also posted on the APFA website. Click here to access.

You may use the same VIN and PIN identification numbers you used while voting in the strike authorization election. If you do not have those identification numbers, there is an activation code included in the Treasurer Voter packet which can be used.

Polls for this election close at 1000 AM CT on Thursday, June 24, 2010.

If you have any questions, please contact the APFA National Ballot Committee at 817-540-0108 ext.
8311 or by email to: [email protected].

ATTENTION MIA FLIGHT ATTENDANTS – VICE CHAIRPERSON ELECTION

On Tuesday, May 11, the National Ballot Committee mailed to all members based at Miami Domestic (MIA) an Election Notice and Willingness-to-Serve (WTS) to fill the vacant position of Vice Chairperson at the base. 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, June 10, 2010. Should an election be necessary, ballots will be mailed on June 29, 2010. As a convenience, a downloadable copy of the Election Notice and Willingness-to-Serve is available through the MIA base page, 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].

DID YOU PICK UP YOUR CHECK?

Have you made that special trip to the airport to collect your Customer Experience Rewards/AIP quarterly payout check and receive a personal “thank you” for all your hard work? As you stand in line to receive your check and handshake we have something a little something you can give your FSM in return. Download, print and deliver the check from our “Seeing Red Bank” to your favorite manager when you have a chance and remind them that our “Thank You” should come in the form of a contract. Click here to download. What we need and demand from the company is real reward for what we do, day in and day out, under the onerous RPA.

NEW FEDERAL AVIATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE

In November 2009, APFA President Laura Glading participated in the Future of U.S. Aviation Forum at the Department of Transportation in Washington, DC. At the meeting held at the urging of unions President Glading joined other invited attendees including industry labor leaders; airline, airport and aircraft manufacturer representatives; business and general aviation trade consultants; Wall Street analysts; and top government officials, including the host of the event U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.

At that forum, Secretary LaHood announced the establishment of a Federal Advisory Committee to recommend actions to restore health to the ailing airline industry. The first Future of Aviation Advisory Committee meeting was held May 25, 2010. As stated by APFA President Laura Glading, “This review is long overdue It’s time solutions are put in place to improve the health and safety of the airline industry and the employees who serve the traveling public, and this is a strong first step.”

Click here to link to the FAAC page on the Department of Transportation website.

One panelist at the forum was Jim Lardner, co-author of the Demos Group white paper: “Flying Blind, Airline Deregulation Reconsidered” part of a series of Demos Reports on Effective Regulation for the 21st Century. Co-commissioned by APFA and AFA-CWA, the report examines the effects of airline deregulation 30 years since its inception, raises questions over its current value and very perceptively states among its conclusions: “The White House and the Department of Transportation should take the lead in creating a task force to examine the industry’s problems and propose solutions.”

The Demos Report remains highly recommended reading for all APFA members and is available for download through a link to the Demos website. Click here to see the related APFA press release.

FROM THE SAFETY AND SECURITY DEPARTMENT

With the ongoing emphasis on sterile cockpit procedures by the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board, the Safety and Security Department would like to remind all Flight Attendants of the following guidelines provided in the federal aviation regulations:

Sterile Cockpit Period (FAR 121.542): “Critical phases of flight include all ground operations involving taxi (aircraft in motion) takeoff and landing and all other flight operations conducted below 10,000 feet altitude. No crewmember may perform or engage in duties or activities during critical phases of flight that are not required for the safe operations of the aircraft.”

Captains have been instructed to add sterile cockpit procedures in their crew briefings before each flight. Please refer to our In-flight Manual for policy and procedure guidance.

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Remember that there are currently 1,363 members on furlough and awaiting recall.
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