9.03.10 – (LAA) – Negotiations Update, EC Meeting, YouTube Video – FAs Still Struggling Under RPA, FAA Reauthorization Bill, Facebook, 9/11, APFA Supports Delta, FAA Departing DFW, United Healthcare Lawsuit

Hello, this is APFA National Communications Coordinator, Jeff Pharr, with the Weekly Hotline Update for Friday, September 3, 2010

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

No new updates this week. Your Team continues to prepare for the meeting with our Federal Mediator, Pat Sims. The meeting is scheduled for the week of September 20, 2010.

APFA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

The second quarter APFA Executive Committee meeting will be held September 14-15, 2010 at APFA Headquarters. The meeting will begin at 09:30 on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. All members in good standing are welcome and encouraged to attend.

APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Blvd
Euless, Texas 76040

NEW YouTube – Flight Attendants Still Struggling Under RPA

A new video has been released on our YouTube channel – http://youtube.com/aaflightattendants. In this video, APFA President Laura Glading addresses the membership, and Flight Attendants from around the system speak about the hardships we continue to face while still working under the 2003 Restructuring Agreement.

PASS THE FAA BILL NOW!

APFA Government Affairs Representative, Julie Fredrick has written an article for Skyword Online outlining the FAA Reauthorization Bill and how it can improve our work lives as Flight Attendants. The article can be read at skyword

Also this week, the Coalition of Flight Attendant Unions issued a press release imploring Congress to pass key Flight Attendant provisions in the FAA Bill. The press release can be read here.

The bill will quite possibly be delayed once again – for the fifteenth time. We need that bill to pass – sooner rather than later.

Next week, we will launch our “Pass The FAA Bill Now!” campaign as Congress returns from August recess.

FACEBOOK ACTION – COMING SOON

Many of you are familiar with Capwiz and how easy it makes the process of notifying your Representatives of your view(s) on active legislation.

Well, Capwiz is making its debut on Facebook. If you visit APFAís Facebook page now, you will see a “Take Action” tab at the top. Although currently under construction, once implemented that tab will allow you to take action in APFA’s lobbying campaigns from within the Facebook environment. We hope to have everything set to go when we launch the FAA Bill campaign next week.

For those that have yet to succumb to social media, not to worry. The original Capwiz site will remain available. And believe it or not, a phone call still works too.

9/11 EVENTS

Please continue to submit information regarding events in your area commemorating September 11. We have received several notices and have posted the information on the ëIn Memory Ofí section of the APFA.org website. Events are posted alphabetically by city and updated regularly. Direct link here.

APFA SUPPORTS DELTA-AFA

The Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) has filed suit against Delta Airlines for allegedly violating the collective bargaining agreement of the former Northwest Flight Attendants as it relates to scheduling and other issues. Delta denies the claims.

Northwest Flight Attendants are represented by AFA, while the Delta Flight Attendants are currently nonunion. Later this year, an election will be held by both groups that, if passed, will authorize the representation by AFA of the entire workforce.

APFA President Laura Glading sent a letter to Delta Flight Attendants this week in support of their organizing efforts. “Without a voice protected in a legally binding contract, your wages, benefits, work rules, retirement plans, and jobs could be at risk,” Glading writes. “Never has it been more important for us all to stick together, to gain the security of a legally binding contract with industry-leading pay and benefits, and to have a strong voice in Washington to achieve the recognition, support, and respect our profession is long overdue.”

The letter can be read in its entirety here.

FAA Departing DFW

The FAA Conference in DFW concluded yesterday. Many of the over 700 FAA Inspectors in attendance will be conducting inspections while traveling from the conference today and through the weekend. Among the areas they are likely to be monitoring are compliance with our carry-on baggage policy and exit seat procedures. And as always, please ensure your manuals are up to date.

Should you encounter an FAA Inspector onboard, whether or not they check your manual, please complete an AMR Online Event Report. This will also generate a report to the APFA Safety and Security Department where a log is kept.

UNITED HEALTHCARE LAWSUIT

We continue to receive calls regarding the United Healthcare Lawsuit. While APFA is not party to the lawsuit, if you were covered by United Healthcare anytime from March 15, 1994 through November 18, 2009 and did not receive a Summary Notice in the mail, or have questions pertaining to the lawsuit, please contact the Claims Administrator, Berdon Claims:

Website – www.berdonclaims.com
E-mail – [email protected]
Phone – 800-443-1073

OFFICE CLOSURE

APFA Headquarters will be closed on Monday, September 6, 2010 in observance of Labor Day. Normal office hours will resume on Tuesday, September 7, 2010

APFA.org HIGHLIGHT

Member Services. Keeping your contact information updated with APFA is extremely important – especially while we are in negotiations. Please visit APFA.org to verify the information we have on file. Remember there are 1342 members on furlough and awaiting recall.
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