2.04.11 – (LAA) – Negotiationless Update, FAA Reath Revisit, Joining the TWU On the Picket Line, Base Rep Elections, 4Q EC Meeting, Weather Coniditions

Weekly Hotline for the week ending Friday, February 4, 2011

NEGOTIATIONless UPDATE
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American Airlines $1 million Super Bowl sponsorship is just another example of their ability to find money to spend on anything and everything except their most valuable asset.

Time to advance the ball with your employees, American.

Last week we reported there was a $1 billion gap between United/Continental and US Airways’ record profits, and American’s results for 2010; and that assumed that its claim of a $600 million labor cost disadvantage was somehow valid. Now all the airlines have posted their earnings. The good news is that the industry as a whole made a lot of money – around $4 billion. The bad news is that our company deflated that number by posting a $471 million loss, the only airline to lose money last year. When American announced its results during a conference call with Wall Street analysts, its presentation was not well received. Last summer one analyst asked, ìIs that all you got?î This time an industry observer called for AA’s executives to “stop the bull$#^&.”

At this point AA has been in over 800 bargaining sessions with its three unions and have succeeded in attaining just one ratified agreement covering less than 100 of the more than 50,000 represented employees. Well, if as they say, the past is prologue, AMR’s executives will view all this as a recipe for success and will once again reward themselves with massive bonuses in April.

Our collective frustration with this management team has reached the boiling point; yet the executives remain oblivious and most likely will be sitting in an executive suite for this Sunday’s Super Bowl, maintaining their distorted view that all is right in the world. We intend to correct their vision by ensuring they see what a mess they’ve made of our airline.

APFA hears daily the frustration of our members with this company. It’s time American hears it directly from you. In the coming weeks a survey will be posted on APFA.org – a survey of the membership’s level of confidence in management. A postcard announcing the start of the survey will be mailed to all members soon. We are asking every member to participate. It will be difficult, even for these executives, to ignore the opinions of 18,000 Flight Attendants.

FAA REAUTH REVISIT

It’s a new Congress and a new FAA Reauthorization Bill. Incredibly, for some, the aircraft is not considered a workplace! The 112th Congress has reintroduced this important legislation, but Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and others would like to strip OSHA protections out of the Bill. Without proper standards that address sanitation, clean air, and cabin temperatures standards, there is a health risk to anyone who travels on an airplane. The FAA Reauthorization Bill with OSHA language will finally provide these protections.

We need your help! Call or write your Senator today! Tell them we need a safe workplace that will provide basic health and safety protections for our passengers and Flight Attendants.

APFA President Laura Glading said, “I find it incredible, to say the least, that some of our elected officials do not seem to have a concern about the health and safety of the traveling public and crew members on airplanes every day for work, for pleasure and to see loved ones.”

Glading continued, “Thousands of our members e-mailed and called their Senators when the FAA Bill was presented this past September. Itís time to take action again. We need every member – including those that were activists in September – to send a message.”

Please visit our Capwiz page or you may also Take Action via our Facebook page.

JOINING TWU ON THE PICKET LINE

The Transport Workers Union (TWU) has set up a series of events over Super Bowl weekend at DFW which will culminate in informational picketing on Monday, February 7 as football fans depart Texas.

TWU has asked for APFA’s support and has invited Flight Attendants to join their picket line on Monday. Picketing will take place from 0800 to 1900 Central Time at DFW terminals A, C and D. Please join them before or after your trip or for a couple of hours of your own time. Let’s give a show of solidarity with our union brothers and sisters.

Laura Glading stated, “APFA fully supports the TWU in their efforts to obtain a contract. We know all too well the battle they’re up against with this company. We’re proud to stand with TWU to raise the profile of our struggle.”

Additional events will take place on Friday and Saturday before the Super Bowl on the Baggage Claim levels of Terminals A, C and D. TWU welcomes participation during any and all of their events this weekend, but have specifically requested our assistance on Monday.

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

ICE ICE BABY

Snow and ice continued to wreak havoc across the system this week. APFA Headquarters did not go unaffected. The office was closed Tuesday-Friday of this week due to the inclement weather. Although the Headquarters building was closed, the majority of voice and e-mails are being monitored during normal business hours.

Here is a list of the most commonly used e-mails and (817) 540-0108 voicemail extensions.

Communications – [email protected]– ext. 8308
Contract Representatives – [email protected]– ext. 8161
Health Representative – [email protected]– ext. 8301
Hotel Representative – [email protected]– ext. 8306
IOD Representative – [email protected]– ext. 8303
Safety and Security – [email protected]– ext 8302
Scheduling Representatives – [email protected]– ext.8161

A complete list including your local Base Representatives is available on APFA.org.

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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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