3.11.11 – (LAA) – Japan Earthquake, Negotiations Update, Wisconsin Update, Recall Update, PLOA, UNICEF, Sprint Forward

Weekly Hotline for the week ending Friday March 11, 2011

EARTHQUAKE/TSUNAMI UPDATE

All crew-members laying over in Japan and Hawaii have been accounted for and are safe.

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE
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Let’s vent some frustration about negotiations toward the one party that could put an end to this at any moment ñ American.

A survey has been posted on APFA.org.

What’s your confidence level with our current Management Team? It’s time American hears directly from you.

We are asking every member to participate.

Log-on to APFA.org today and voice your opinion. Log-in required.

The survey will be available until March 31, 2011.

Need assistance logging in to the website?†E-mail the membership department at [email protected].

WISCONSIN UPDATE

The Wisconsin Assembly approved a bill Thursday that limits the bargaining power of public employee unions and will require government workers to pay more for benefits.

14 Democratic senators had left the state to prevent the chamber from having the quorum needed to vote on legislation containing budget issues.† In order to bypass this requirement, Republicans stripped the bill of any budget issues, so the bill could be passed with a simple majority.† The bill will now go to the desk of Governor Scott Walker for his signature.† As you know, Governor Walker is the bill’s biggest advocate.

“SHAME, SHAME, SHAME,” shouted protesters gathered in the state Capitol.

We can relate. Executive bonuses are right around the corner – shAAme, shAAme, shAAme!

Democrats and unions plan legal challenges over the voting process.

Earlier this week APFA President Laura Glading sent a letter of support to the Democratic senators of Wisconsin.† Glading wrote, ìOur members come from every state in the nation, including Wisconsin.† I have sent a letter to Senator Ellis expressing our outrage and disappointment at the behavior of the Governor to refuse to sit down and find real solutions to the economic challenges, a constructive relationship between government and unions that will most benefit the citizens of your state.† Stay the course, we support you, and we stand with you!î

This letter can be read here.† All letters can be read on the President’s page of APFA.org.

RECALL UPDATE
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American Airlines is accelerating the recall of the next 55 most senior Flight Attendants on the furlough recall list.†Notices to these Flight Attendants were sent on Monday, March 7, 2011. These Flight Attendants will now be included in the group that will return to the line on June 1, 2011. These Flight Attendants have until Friday, March 18, 2011 to return their acceptance notice to a FedEx location in the enclosed envelope in order for the company to received the notice by March 22, 2011. If you are in this group of Flight Attendants and have not received your recall notice please send an email to [email protected].

Additional information has been posted to the Recall page on APFA.org for this group of recalls. The Recall List has also been updated to reflect the addition of these 55 to the group of Flight Attendants to be recalled effective June 1, 2010. The list also now indicates the two groups of 100 each to be recalled in July and October 2011.

It is anticipated that the next recall notices for those being recalled effective July 2, 2011 will be mailed early the week of March 14. The Recall page of the website will be updated with information related to this recall next week.

PLOA
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The company posted a six-month Personal Leave of Absence (PLOA) proffer for the months of May through October 2011. The PLOA web ballot can be found on the Flight Service website and will close on Friday March 25, 2011 at 10:00CT. Keep in mind this proffer is 184 days in length and would result in a four-day adjustment to Occupational (Bidding) Seniority if you take this proffer. You will find the current Occupational Seniority list posted on the Contract Department page on APFA.org. You can view your seniority date along with those near you on the list to see what, if any, impact a four-day adjustment would have on your relative seniority. Also keep in mind that if you plan to take a Bid Leave for April that includes 30APR11 and subsequently hold the six-month PLOA, these leaves will be considered consecutive and the total time in excess of 180 days will be part of your Occupational Seniority adjustment. Your Company Seniority will accrue for the first 90 days of a Leave of Absence (or consecutive leaves).

UNICEF

Earlier this week, UNICEF hosted an event at JFK airport to commemorate the outstanding achievement of AA employee volunteer Champions for Children.† Flight Attendantsí participation in the Change for Good program along with the passengers’ donations helped raise a record-breaking $1.6 million in donations in 2010.

APFA President Laura Glading said at the event, “On behalf of the professional Flight Attendants represented by the APFA, I would like to acknowledge the commendable work of our Flight Attendant Champions for Children.

APFA enthusiastically supports our members who volunteer their services in support of the important work of the US Fund for UNICEF and today pays tribute to the thousands of our members and American Airlines customers who, through their combined efforts, have made this remarkable milestone a reality.”

SPRING FORWARD

Don’t forget to move your clocks forward one hour before you got to bed Saturday night.† Daylight Savings Time (DST) will begin at 02:00 a.m. this Sunday, March 13.

Most of Arizona, and all of Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands do not observe DST.

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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.