12.10.10 – (LAA) – Negotiations Update, Recall Update, WTS, FAA in LAX and MIA, Safety Department, LTCI, ORD Retirement Briefings, No Union Representation for Delta Gate and Ticket Agents

Weekly Hotline
For the week ending Friday, December 10, 2010

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE
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Last week’s Hotline reported that the National Mediation Board (NMB) had informed APFA not to expect bargaining during our meeting in January. APFA President Laura Glading received an e-mail late Wednesday afternoon from NMBís Director of Mediation Services, Larry Gibbons, noticing the parties to now prepare to bargain in January.

We welcome any chance to move the process forward”, said Laura Glading. “I’m confident the letters to the NMB from the membership played an important role in their decision to alter the agenda for January’s meeting. Although I’ve expressed the hardships of our membership to the Board since the beginning of negotiations, hearing it directly from the Flight Attendants must have been extremely compelling. I want to personally thank each Flight Attendant that took the time to tell their story.

Glading continued,

This will give the company one last chance to present a contract that recognizes the Flight Attendants’ sacrifices. Not a zero-sum proposal, or as they have presented in the past, a proposal that would leave the Flight Attendants making less in the end than they do today. It is time for real money to be put on the table or for the NMB to release the parties.

The APFA Negotiating Team will meet in Dallas next week in preparation for Januaryís meeting in Nashville.

RECALL UPDATE

During this past week the first group of recalls – over 200 of our members – completed training in order to return to the line on December 17. This is great news for all APFA members.

Recall Acceptance forms for those Flight Attendants being recalled effective April 1, 2011, must be returned to a FedEx location in the prepaid FedEx envelope by today, December 10, 2010 so they are received by the company no later than December 14, 2010. If you are in the group of Flight Attendants to be recalled effective April 1, 2011 and have not yet received your recall packet, please immediately send an email to [email protected] and [email protected].

WTS

Willingness to Serve (WTS) Notifications for Base Chairperson, Base Vice Chairperson and Base Operational Council Representatives for all bases were mailed to all members last week. Anyone interested in further serving your union should complete and return the form to APFA. The forms are due back in the designated P.O. Box by 10:00 a.m. CST on January 6, 2011. Ballots will be mailed on January 26, 2011 and electronic voting must be completed by 10:00 a.m. CST on February 25, 2011.

As a reminder you must be a member in good standing to both run for office and to cast your ballot.

FAA in LAX and MIA

The FAA will be in LAX and MIA on December 16 and 17, 2010.  Base manual audits may be conducted in MIA on Thursday, December 16 and Friday, December 17, 2010. Flight Attendants flying in and out of MIA 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.

While in LAX the FAA will focus on carry-on baggage and exit row screening audits.†The inspectors will be present in the LAX terminal and gate areas ensuring that carry-on bag limits are adhered to as well as exit row screening. Flight Attendants flying in and out of LAX should also be prepared for random manual checks. Crewmembers should also review the exit row briefing policy language and carry-on baggage policy language in the In Flight Manual, Boarding section 2.4-2.7.

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

FROM THE SAFETY DEPARTMENT
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AA has temporarily suspended flights to PAP as a result of civil unrest that has occurred in response to the controversial Presidential election results. AA will continue to monitor conditions and will adjust operations accordingly. More information can be read on the Safety and Security page of APFA.org.

If you should lose a trip as a result of these cancellations please follow MIC procedures as detailed in Article I-9P of our Contract, or page 20 of the On-Duty Contract Guide.

FROM THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT
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MetLife recently announced that it would discontinue the sale of new Long Term Care Insurance (LTCI).†MetLife will continue to accept new applications for policies up until 12/30/10.

MetLife’s decision to stop writing new LTCI business will have no impact on existing insured’s coverage.†As long as premiums are paid on time, coverage cannot be cancelled.

All Flight Attendants currently insured can continue to make coverage changes per the terms of their policy or certificate, including inflation protection offers and requests to increase or decrease coverage.

Members interested in applying for LTCI coverage prior to 12/30/10 can link to the MetLife website from the Benefits page on JetNet or contact MetLife at 1-866-838-1072.

ORD RETIREMENT BRIEFINGS

The next APFA Retirement Briefing will be presented at ORD on Tuesday, December 14, 2010 with two sessions:

14:00-16:00 in the Flight Service Conference Room, lower level at K19, across from the FYI center
18:00-20:00 in the West Mezzanine above the international ticket counter (spouses welcome to this session)

APFA Retirement Specialist, Patrick Hancock (IDF) will conduct this lively and informative briefing. The seminars are open and useful to all Flight Attendants from all bases, but particularly important to Flight Attendants planning to retire in the next 10 years.

To make the most of these briefings, print and bring your personal pension estimate and plan calculation formulas from JetNet.

ANOTHER “NO” FROM DELTA

Delta Passenger Service Agents, including Gate and Ticket Agents were the latest group to vote “NO” for union representation.†The votes were counted this past Tuesday. Of the 15,436 eligibly voters, 12,518 cast ballots – 8,746 “no”and 3,772 “yes”.

Last month, Delta Stock and Stores workers, Baggage and Cargo Handlers, and the Flight Attendants voted against representation.

The International Association of Machinist and Aerospace Workers, the union initiating† the election for all workgroups except the Flight Attendants have alleged illegal interference from Delta in the elections and will soon file a formal complaints.†The Association of Flight Attendants filed a formal complaint with the NMB on November 23 concerning their election with the Flight Attendants.

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Please remember there are currently 1,111 members on furlough and awaiting recall.
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