1.28.11 – (LAA) Negotiations Update, Base Representative Elections, 4Q EC Meeting, WTS, Last 5 Days of the Month

Weekly Hotline for the week ending Friday, January 28, 2011

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE
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As we await an answer from the National Mediation Board on our request for release, we want to remind everyone that American could put an end to this at any moment by agreeing to a contract that recognizes our sacrifices. Having said that, how much faith can we have in a company that puts the majority of its blame on not making a profit on their “$600 million labor cost disadvantage”?

Adding more fuel to the fire, two airlines, United/Continental and US Airways, announced record profits for 4th quarter and full 2010-year earnings. A closer look at those profits actually dispels the myth that labor costs are the source of AA’s lagging performance. Even if you take AA at face value and grant its claim of a ‘$600 million labor cost disadvantage’, which APFA has widely disputed, the numbers show American is still more than $1 billion behind the other carriers.

The real question for AMR is why are the other major legacy carriers reporting record profits while Americanís earnings continue to sputter? Blaming labor costs has been a convenient excuse for AA management, but itís obvious something else appears to be keeping American bringing up the rear.

What could it be? Maybe the executives should take a look in the mirror.

Two APFA white papers providing a detailed analysis refuting American’s claim of a labor cost disadvantage can be found on APFA.org and via the links below.
What’s Wrong With American Airlines?
What’s Wrong With American Airlines? Part Two

MORE SMOKE AND MIRRORS

Theyíre at it again. American wants you to believe they put real money on the table during negotiations in Nashville. In actuality their proposal merely shifted items around and in the end was regressive from previous proposals. And to top it off, they appeared offended when APFA did not respond. Who do you think should be offended?

APFA has prepared a response that clears some of the smoke the company blew your way with their latest communication.The document can be read and downloaded here. Please print and share with your coworkers.

BASE REPRESENTATIVE ELECTIONS
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Voter packets for the Base Representative Elections were mailed on January 26, 2011 to the members of the following bases: BOS, IOR, LGA and MIA. Included in the packet along with voting instructions are the Candidate Information Sheets for your base. Candidate information may also be viewed and printed via the Elections and Balloting page of APFA.org.

Should you have questions or do not receive your ballot in a timely manner, please contact the National Ballot Committee at [email protected].

Polls for the Base Representative Elections will close at 10:00 a.m. CT on Friday, February 25, 2011.

As a reminder, you must be dues current by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22, 2011 in order to vote in this election. If you have any questions concerning your eligibility, please contact the dues department at 817-540-0108 ext. 8151, or email [email protected].

WTS

The Willingness To Serve Notification for Ad Hoc Members of the Executive Committee Places #1 and #2 is posted on the Elections and Balloting page of APFA.org.

If you are interested in further serving your union, the forms must be received in the designated P.O. Box by 10:00 a.m. Central Standard Time on Thursday, February 17, 2011.

4Q EC MEETING

The 2010 Fourth Quarter APFA Executive Committee meeting will be held on February 15-16, 2011 at APFA Headquarters. The meeting will begin at 09:30 a.m. on Tuesday, February 15, 2011.

All members in good standing are welcome and encouraged to attend.

APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Blvd.
Euless, TX 76040

FROM THE SCHEDULING DEPARTMENT
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LAST 5 DAYS OF THE MONTH…MIC…BE AWARE

There seems to be confusion regarding Ground Interruption [Article 9.P.6.f. and I.9.P.6.f]. Instances have been reported of Flight Attendants boarding the aircraft, leaving the gate, sitting for hours, then returning to the gate, and the flight subsequently cancels. This qualifies as a Ground Interruption’ and is included in the last five days pay protection.

During the last five days of the month, if you are at or below guarantee (70 hours)†after a Misconnection/Illegality/Cancellation (MIC), your guarantee will remain at 70 hours and are under NO obligation to put yourself on the Make Up list.  You may, however, put yourself on the Make Up list if the last five days pay protection would restore your hours to above guarantee (70 hours).

THE GOOD THE BAD & THE UGLY
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That’s one way to describe this week for our members.

THE GOOD – This week nearly 100 of our furloughed members attended recall training in preparation for returning to the line on Monday, January 31. They will report to LGA and MIA. This is great news for all Flight Attendants. Please join us in welcoming our recalled members as they join us on the line.

There was more good news with the announcement of an additional Reciprocal Cabin Seat Agreement with Republic. More specifically, this agreement allows for reciprocal cabin seat travel on Frontier Airlines flights that are operated by Frontier, Republic or Chautauqua. Recently APFA met with Flight Service Vice President, Denise Lynn and other members of Flight Service to review the current status of our agreements and their importance to our members. It has been over a year since a new reciprocal agreement has been reached and we are pleased that Flight Service has taken the step to secure an additional agreement. We will continue to work toward additional reciprocal agreements. All agreements can be viewed on APFA.org. Note that each agreementís procedure may differ – please read the agreement(s) carefully.

Unfortunately that is where the good ends and itís back to the bad and the ugly.

THE BAD – Earlier this month the company advised DCA-I Flight Attendants that the DCA-I base will close effective March 31, 2011. Based on the spring flying schedule there was no longer direct international flying originating from any DCA co-terminal airport. The company did look for other options but the decision was ultimately made to close the base. APFA has been in discussions with the company on how to best assist the Flight Attendants affected by the closure. DCA-I Flight Attendants will receive detailed information beginning next week regarding other base availability.

APFA President, Laura Glading commented, “We know all too well how devastating the closing of a base can be. Regardless of whether or not Flight Attendants physically live in their base city, everyone works very hard and takes extreme pride in their individual domiciles. A base closing causes both physical and emotional hardship. I am doing everything I can and am working closely with the company for a smooth transition.”

THE UGLY – An HI6 message issued by Flight Service last week clearly ended up in the ugly bucket as it appeared to outline procedures for Flight Attendants to volunteer to board flights when a crew is running late. APFA clearly has many objections from a Contractual, Safety and Security perspective and has voiced our extreme opposition to using off-duty volunteers to board flights. We will continue to argue this issue with the company.

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Please remember there are currently 796 members on furlough and awaiting recall. This number includes all recalls as of April 2, 2011.
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Correction
Last week’s hotline stated that American expected delivery of two Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft in late 2011.†The deliver is expected in late 2012.†APFA regrets the error.