2.10.12 – (LAA) – Valentine’s Day Protest, Overage Leaves

For the week ending Friday February 10, 2012

VALENTINE’S DAY PROTEST

The AFA and the CWA are the latest to join our protest next Tuesday, February 14.  They along with the TWU and other work groups at AA will join us for a Valentineís Day protest at DFW.

This demonstration has grown from a grassroots effort organized by line Flight Attendants to a full-blown official union action. The heart of the matter being the outrageous terms proposed on February 1.

APFA President Laura Glading said in a Press Advisory, “American’s employees are the heart of this airline and have sacrificed billions in the past years to support their company. Our message is clear: We have worked hard, have played by the rules, and we all deserve better than this.”

Event Details:
Tuesday February 14, 2012
1100-1400 CT
DFW Terminal D, Upper Level

OVERAGE LEAVES
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Earlier this week Overage Leave, Modified Partnership Flying and Travel Separation Program proffers opened to help mitigate the current overage of 500 Flight Attendants.

There are three key points to remember if you are interested in taking any of the Overage Leave options.

1. You will continue to accrue full Occupational (Bidding) Seniority while on an Overage Leave
2. You retain non-rev pass travel as if you were on active status including D1, travel for self, eligible family members, as well as registered companion or domestic partner (if applicable) and D3 travel. Reduced rate travel on other airlines including ID90, ZED fares and oneworld is permitted.
3. Your eligibility for an Early Out should one become available will not be affected if you are on an Overage Leave at the time an Early Out becomes available and you meet other eligibility criteria associated with an Early Out option.

 

Overage Leaves are available for the full 12-month period†beginning April 2012 through March 2013.† There are several shorter options available if you are unable to take the full 12-month leave.

If you are interested in Modified Partnership Flying keep in mind that you do not need to find a partner to share a line.† Modified Partnership Flying is virtually identical to part-time flying we had prior to 2003. Modified Partnership Flying is available for the three-month period of April, May and June.

The deadline to proffer for the Overage Leave and Modified Partnership Flying is Wednesday, February 22 at 0830.† The deadline to elect the Travel Separation Program is Wednesday, February 22 at 0900.

Several documents have been uploaded to the Reduction in Force page of APFA.org to help answer your questions if you are interested in any of these options.

Please call the Contract/Scheduling Department at 817.540.0108 ext 8161 if you should have any questions or you can send an email to [email protected].

Unfortunately the company did send notices to the 500 most junior Flight Attendants today noticing them that they are subject to furlough.† APFA worked very hard to secure recall for our members and will continue to work hard†to mitigate this furlough.

We continue to receive questions as to whether this 500 overage is connected in any way with the 2,300 announce by American last week.† This overage is not related to the 2,300 the company stated was needed in their term sheet.† This current overage was part of the capacity reduction made to their 2012 plan.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
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This week the Senate passed the FAA Reauthorization bill by a vote of 75-20, following the House passage last week.

To recap: The last full long term FAA Reauthorization expired in 2007 and since then it has limped along on a series of extensions. While we†were all†eager to see a long-term bill, we remained steadfast that it should be a clean bill and not a vehicle to strip the†National Mediation Board (NMB) of its authority.

The White House†maintained opposition when Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica introduced an amendment to†reverse†the†NMB rule change on union voting. While Micaís amendment was ultimately dropped,†House and Senate leadership ñ in essentially a†backroom deal ñ agreed to another†anti union provision. This is the bill that has now passed both Houses of Congress.

Veto of the bill is†unlikely by the White House, because both the House and Senate believe they have enough votes to override a Presidential Veto. A petition is being circulated, however, urging the White House to veto this bill. †Click here to access this petition.

Going forward, the best option for reversing this†inequity is to ensure that labor friendly members of Congress are elected†and introduce legislation to redress this injustice. We have a great deal of support on the Hill. We just need more!

Make no mistake the assault on labor continues.† We must stay informed, stay involved – but most important we need to exercise our right to vote this November.

FROM THE SAFETY AND SECURITY DEPARTMENT
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Reminder for Flight Attendants attending CQ-Recurrent Training in February 2012 – Please complete the 2011-2012 CQ-Training online lesson(s).

For Flight Attendants with a February base month and subsequently attend CQ-Recurrent Training in their grace month of March, will need to complete the 2012-2013 CQ-Recurrent Training online lesson(s).

FROM THE BALLOT COMMITTEE
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The National Officer Run-off election ballots were mailed on January 26, 2012 and votes must be cast by 10:00 CT on February 24, 2012.

You must be dues current by 5:00 p.m. CST on February 21, 2012, and any dues promissory note/payment plan must have been active by January 26, 2012 in order to have your vote counted for the APFA National Officer Run-Off election ballot count on February 24, 2012.

To access the APFA BallotPoint Voting System by phone, call 1-800-698-3789 or 1-503-419-1145 or online at https://www.ballotpoint.com/apfa.

For questions concerning the Elections and Balloting, or to obtain a duplicate ballot, contact the Ballot Committee at 817.540.0108 x8311 or via e-mail at [email protected].

APFA PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

Last month APFA sponsored the Presidential Debate between Liz Geiss and Laura Glading. APFA members may view the debate, in its entirety, by logging on to APFA.org.

SPECIAL BOD – EC MEETING

A Special APFA Board of Directors Meeting will be held on Tuesday February 14, 2012 at the Holiday Inn DFW South beginning at 0900. The 2011 Fourth Quarter Meeting of the APFA Executive Committee will convene following the Special Board of Directors meeting at the same location. Time to be determined. Members in good standing are welcome to attend.

USAIR TA POSTED

AFA US Airways Joint Negotiating Committee posted the full text of their Tentative Agreement this week.† A PDF version of the TA is available on their website by clicking here.

Also posted is a TA Comparison to American, United and Delta. The comparison is available here.

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Please remember there are currently 217 Members on furlough and awaiting recall.
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MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 10, 2012
Contact: Jeff Pharr (954) 558-4155

AA Unions & Employees Gather at DFW For a Large Valentine’s Day Protest
At the Heart of the Matter: AA’s Outrageous Terms Released February 1 by AMR

What:	APFA, TWU and AA Employee Protest
Date:	Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Time:	11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. CST
Place:	DFW International Airport, Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
Site:	Terminal D, Upper Level
Who:	Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA), Transport Workers Union (TWU), AA/AMR Employees, Other Labor Unions and Concerned Citizens

Dallas-Ft. Worth– Employees of American Airlines, including those represented by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) and the Transport Workers Union (TWU) and concerned citizens, will hold a Valentine’s Day protest at DFW International Airport on Tuesday, February 14. Flight Attendants, Mechanics and Ground-workers, and supporters will join together to protest the company’s release of “outrageous terms” they deem necessary to fly right.

“American’s employees are the heart of this airline and have sacrificed billions in the past years to support their company. Our message is clear: We have worked hard, have played by the rules, and we all deserve better than this.” – APFA President Laura Glading