11.05.10 – (LAA) – Negotiations Update, Delta Rejects Union Representation, CWA Wins Representation at Piedmont, Allegint Wants Union, Two Forms of ID, Calling in SK, DFW Reps in Ops, APFA Says No to AIT, WINGS

Hello, this is APFA National Communications Coordinator, Jeff Pharr, with the weekly Hotline Update for Friday, November 5, 2010.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

After APFA President Laura Glading announced a Call to Action last week, asking each Flight Attendant to tell their story directly to the National Mediation Board, the letters and e-mails are pouring in.

Laura Glading stated,

I am continually humbled and honored to represent this membership; the way you so eloquently write your stories and the manner in which you professionally conduct yourselves in every situation presented to you. And the utmost credit and respect should be given to each and every one of you that show up to work every day in your tattered, mismatched uniforms and continue to do an incredible job in spite of what may be going on in your personal lives.

We all need to learn from this. You may be working alongside someone who is dealing with family issues, a devastating illness, financial burdens or any number of hardships that you are not aware of. Please be kind to your coworkers. We have got to stick together and watch out for one another.

Together we can and will win this fight.

If you have not sent your letter to the NMB, please do so now. The contact information is listed below. And although a written letter is the most effective form of communication with the NMB, there is an e-mail option through Capwiz, or by clicking the “Take Action” tab on our Facebook page.

Harry Hoglander, Chairman
Elizabeth Dougherty, Member
Linda Puchala, Member
National Mediation Board
1301 K Street NW, Suite 250 East
Washington, DC 20005-7001

We will post some letters on APFA.org identified with only first name and base. Please send a copy of your letter to us here at APFA Headquarters:

APFA
Attn: Communications Department
1004 West Euless Blvd
Euless, TX 76040

RECALL UPDATE

The following is an update on the dates associated with Phase Two of the recall originally announced in October. This Phase will now consist of two groups. The first group will be the next 100 most senior Flight Attendants on the furlough recall list. These Flight Attendants will be offered recall with an effective date of January 31, 2011. The remaining Flight Attendants will be recalled with an effective date of April 1, 2011.

Here are the preliminary details:

Recall effective January 31, 2011 – Recall letters to the next 100 most senior Flight Attendants on the furlough recall list will be sent via two-day FedEx on November 16, 2010. Flight Attendants will have until November 29, 2010 to return their acceptance notice to FedEx via a pre-paid two-day FedEx envelope. Acceptance notices must be received by the Company no later than December 1, 2010. It is anticipated that training will take place in January. Flight Attendants will return to the line with an effective date of January 31, 2011

Recall effective April 1, 2011 – Recall letters to the remaining Flight Attendants from the recall initially announced in October will be sent on November 30, 2010. Flight Attendants must return their acceptance notice to FedEx via the pre-paid two-day FedEx envelope by December 10, 2011. Acceptance notices must be received by the Company no later than December 14, 2010. It is anticipated that training will take place in March. Flight Attendants will return to the line with an effective date of April 1, 2011.

We will continue to update the Recall page on the APFA.org website as additional information becomes available.

DELTA REJECTS UNION REPRESENTATION

Delta Air Lines Flight Attendants narrowly voted against union representation by AFA in a vote that ended this week. A total of 94 percent voted with a final count of 9,544 against unionizing and 9,216 voted for a union. A defeat by a mere 325 votes. AFA received 8,776 of the yes votes along with 438 write-in votes for various other unions which are also considered a ëyesí for union representation.

For a breakdown of the write-in votes, check Dallas Morning News Aviation Reporter, Terry Maxon’s blog.

Delta used a very aggressive anti-union campaign. Delta made many promises and touted their ‘Delta Family’ during their anti-union campaign. Search ‘Delta Union’ on YouTube to see what lengths management went to in their campaign – it is truly nauseating. Here are links to just two videos: Video 1 – Video 2

In a statement, AFA announced it would submit ìinterference charges against Delta management for their illegal and unfair methods to sway the vote.î The full statement can be read here.

AFA represented Northwest Flight Attendants for over 60 years.

Delta would never participate in unfair practices you say. Really?

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported this week that the government plans to fine Delta Air Lines as much as $100,000.00 for unfair and deceptive practices in its compensation to passengers for delayed baggage. The article can be read here.

Three other work groups are still conducting representation elections at Delta: Baggage and Cargo Handlers voting ends November 18, Stock and Stores Workers ends November 22, and Passenger Service, including Gate and Ticket Agents ends December 7. All three workgroups are voting to be represented by the International Association of Machinists.

CWA WINS REPRESENTATION AT PIEDMONT

This week, Communication Workers of America (CWA) won an election to represent 3,000 Piedmont Airlines fleet service and passenger service agents at Piedmont, a regional airline owned by US Airways.

ALLEGINT WANTS UNION

Flight Attendants at Allegiant filed a petition with the NMB last week to choose representation by the Transport Workers Union of America. The NMB should set an election date within 45 days.

FAA in SFO

The FAA will be in SFO on November 9 and 10. Base manual audits will be conducted at SFO on Tuesday, November 9 and Wednesday, November 10, 2010. Flight Attendants flying in and out of SFO should expect to have their manuals audited by both the FAA and local Flight Service.

As always, please make sure your manuals are up to date. The latest manual revision and bulletins can be found on the Flight Service website via the “Manuals & Guides” link.

Anytime you encounter an FAA inspector, please send an e-mail including the date and flight number to [email protected].

FROM THE SAFETY AND SECURITY DEPARTMENT

Two Forms of ID Please

The Safety and Security Department would like to remind everyone that the TSA could ask for two forms of identification as crew members pass through security. Although not the norm, this procedure has been in place since the formation of the TSA. Should a member of the TSA ask you for two forms of ID as you pass through security, please show them your Crew ID along with your passport as Flight Attendants are required to carry their passports on all sequences.

FROM THE SCHEDULING DEPARTMENT

There seems to be some confusion about calling in sick (SK) and the number of days included in the SK instance. Should a regularly scheduled Flight Attendant call in SK on a DO or DFP prior to the start of a sequence, those DOs and DFPs will not count toward the SK instance. The count begins on the first day of the sequence missed due to SK.

If you are a Reserve Flight Attendant and call in SK on a day of reserve duty, you will be charged SK for that day and your SK instance will also begin with that day. As a Reserve, keep in mind when clearing the SK list you will need to specify that you are clearing SK for today or tomorrow. If you are clearing for today, you’ll need to be ready for assignment that same day.

DFW REPRESENTATIVE IN OPERATIONS

Please join APFA DFW Chairperson Chris O’Kelley, Vice-Chairperson Margaret (Stewart) Barnes, Executive Committee member Liz Geiss and Operation Council Representative Mark Arceneaux in Terminal C operations on Wednesday November 10, 2010 from 1100-1500. APFA Representatives will have union pins, red discs and lanyards available.

APA SAYS ‘NO’ TO AIT

In a message to its Pilots, APA President David Bates suggested they, “Politely decline AIT [radiation] exposure and request alternative screening.” Mr. Bates is referring to the Backscatter AIT machine and it’s reported low levels of radiation.

APFA reported on the Advanced Image Technology (AIT) scanners in last week’s hotline and provided a link to TSAís website which provides detailed information about both the Backscatter AIT and the Millimeter Wave AIT. Please take a thorough look at the information provided on their website and then decide whether or not you want to pass through the AIT Scanner.

If a decision is made not to go through the AIT scanner, then a thorough physical pat down will be required with hands run around the collar, inside the belt area and up into the thigh/groin area. The search can take up to 20 minutes and will be conducted in private with a witness.

Opting for the physical search could result in late arrival to your gate and possibly a delay.

FALL BACK

Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed this Saturday night. We revert to Standard Time at 02:00 local time on Sunday morning, November 7, 2010.

For those interested, I found a great website that lays out the complete history – the who, what, where, when and why of Standard and Daylight Saving Time. They even have a cool iPhone/Pad/Pod app. Click here to have a look at the site.

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Please remember there are currently 1,340 members on furlough.
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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. If you are an active American Airlines Flight Attendant and you primary home has been destroyed, please contact WINGS Disaster Relief. 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 was created by and is managed exclusively by AA Flight Attendants. Wings provide services only to AA Flight Attendants.

Check out Wings and all our APFA supported organizations through these links:

Wings // Airline Ambassadors // UNICEF/Champions for Children