5.09.12 – (LAA) – AA’s Big-Delay Announcement, Petition of No Confidence

May 9, 2012 – Bidding Delay – *No Confidence* Petition – Picketing Details

This is Leslie Mayo with an APFA Hotline Update for Wednesday, May 9, 2012.

AA’s Big Bid-Delay Announcement

Yesterday, management announced the delay in June bids by up to 7 days. In their HI6 message, management attributed this delay to high sick numbers for both pilots and flight attendants (ps: the numbers have been high for several months), as well as the lingering effects from last year’s pilot retirements. Really? This is May. Of the following year. Talk about mismanagement.

In reality, the Big Bid Delay was due to a last minute decision by AA senior management to reduce the summer schedule starting in June. Once again, the front line workers – the flight attendants and pilots – will bear the brunt of another management failure. The contractual provision to delay the bidding timeframe can be found in Article 9.F.1.b. The paragraph states, in part, that bids can be delayed due to extraordinary circumstances. Management incompetence and poor planning are not considered extraordinary circumstances. Actually, they seem to be the norm. Bids weren’t even delayed for October 2001 following 9/11. Now THAT was an extraordinary circumstance. APFA will be filing a grievance on this action and will seek all remedies and relief for our members. As soon as APFA receives the revised bidding dates, we will include that information on the Hotline.

UPDATE: Petition of† *No Confidence* in American Airlines Management’s Business Plan

The number of FA signatures on the Petition of *No Confidence* continues to grow. Thank you to all of those who have made the effort to see that your name in included in this historical document. There is still time to add your name to the petition and tell management how you feel about the direction they have taken and continue to take our company. We need each and every flight attendant to go to APFA’s Web site over the next 24 hours and sign this petition to show your vote of *No Confidence*. Online petition closes at 5:00 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, May 10th.

If you are unable to sign into the web site to sign the petition, please do both of the following:
1) Send an email to [email protected] with your name, employee number, address, phone and base. If you are not in dues arrears, a password will be emailed to you, and;
2) Send an email to [email protected] with your name, employee number and base. Your name will be added to the petition.
Please DO NOT re-send your request if you’ve already sent a message to either or both of the email addresses above. This only increases the workload and slows down the process.

The online Petition will close at 5:00 p.m. Central Time. You can, however, ensure your name is included on the petition by emailing [email protected] before 7:00 a.m. Central Time, Friday morning. It will then be printed, placed in an envelope and carried to the picketing event.

Picketing and March Info – AMR Headquarters – May 11, 2012

If you plan to be in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area Friday, May 11th, please join us as we march alongside the pilots and other non-management employees to deliver our “Petition of No Confidence” to AMR HDQ. We will meet at APFA beginning at 8:15 a.m. APFA has chartered a bus to transport our members back and forth to APA HQ as parking is limited at APA and along Trinity Blvd.

APA wants all participants in place no later than 9:30, so the last bus will leave APFA HQ for APA at 9:15 a.m. APFA HDQ is located at 1004 W. Euless Blvd. The rally is scheduled to conclude by 11:15. Uniforms requested.

Picketing Info – New York City Courthouse – May 11, 2012

APA has organized a picketing event at the Bankruptcy Courthouse in Downtown Manhattan located at One Bowling Green. Participants are asked to meet at the courthouse at 9:30 a.m. The nearest subway stop is the Bowling Green Station. Please wear your uniform. All non-management employees are invited to attend. The event is scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Thank you for calling the APFA Hotline