9.09.12 – (LAA) – Signing Bonus, American Eagle 1113, VEOP, Recalls, Language Drop Proffer, Equity Claim, Bankruptcy Trustee File Objection

 

APFA Hotline for Sunday, September 9, 2012
 
On September 12, the court is scheduled to approve our ratified contract as well as the three recently-ratified TWU Contracts. The pilots are currently without a contract but expect to hear from management about concessions next week. The company also stated they will continue to try to reach a deal with APA. AA management says they will advise employees next week about changes to our contract. A tentative implementation schedule has been uploaded to www.apfa.org. Click here for more information.

SIGNING BONUS

The company has announced they will be paying out the $1,500 signing bonus on September 21, 2012. It will either be deposited into your 401(k) account or be direct deposited into your payroll account.

AMERICAN EAGLE 1113

Friday, American Eagle Flight Attendants ratified their concessionary agreement with an 87% yes vote. Meanwhile, Eagle management asked the court to allow it to abrogate the TWU-represented mechanics, dispatchers and ground school instructors’ contracts after the three groups rejected their CBA.

VEOP
There is tremendous interest in the Voluntary Early Out Program. The VEOP briefings have been standing room only and the call volume at APFA Headquarters is also very high. As of Friday, September 7, 2012, 901 Flight Attendants submitted an election for the VEOP. We have uploaded a chart by Occupational (Bidding) Seniority that reflects the number of those FAs who have put in for the VEOP to date. This chart lists bidding seniority year and number of total FAs so far. Remember, these numbers can and will change between now and the deadline for the VEOP ballot.

Once the VEOP ballot closes on the 20th of September, the company will open the 5 & 10 year Travel Separation Program (TSP) on September 22. Ballots for the TSP will close on Friday, September 28, 2012, at 2300 Central Time. TSP provides D2 passes for either 5 or 10 years depending on your Company Seniority. Keep in mind the Voluntary Early Out Program cannot be combined with the Travel Separation Program.
 
Once the company knows the total number of FAs who have elected the VEOP and the TSP, it will then open the proffer for exit dates. It is anticipated that this proffer will take place during the first part of October. Exit dates will be awarded using Occupational (bidding) Seniority on a system-wide basis.
 
There has been a renewed interest in Article 30. Article 30 will remain part of our contract. The “only” changes made to Article 30 as a result of the LBFO are the elimination of the retiree medical benefits and life insurance that had previously been part of Article 30. In order to be eligible for Article 30 you must have at least 20 years of Company Seniority and be between the ages of 45 and 55. Article 30 provides for a $25,000 lump sum payment and 20 one-way D2 passes per year. Currently the company is not waiving the 6 month notice requirement for Article 30. If you want to exercise Article 30, contact your Flight Service Manager to complete the Article 30 notice form. Article 30 cannot be combined with VEOP.                 

APFA has added four more VEOP/TSP Retiree Briefings to the current schedule – see below. According to IDF-based FA Patrick Hancock, our retirement expert who conducts the VEOP briefings along with IDF-based Jackie Phillips, the most frequently asked questions are as follows:

Q: When I bid for my exit month, will the company use my Company seniority or Occupational (bidding) seniority?
A: Occupational (Bidding) Seniority

Q: After you retire can you change your registered travelers?
A: Yes

Q: I have a 401(k) loan. If I retire, what happens to it?
A: Due to changes this year, it may be possible for you to continue to pay off your loan rather than have the loan be converted as a disbursement upon exit. Obviously, you will be required to make arrangements with JP Morgan.

Q: Can I collect unemployment once I separate from the company under the VEOP?
A: The company will likely fight unemployment claims.

Q: If I take the VEOP or the Travel Separation, will I lose my rights to the 3% Equity Claim.
A: If you are eligible for the Equity Claim today, you will be eligible for the Equity Claim when you exit.

Q: Can I change my mind about the VEOP on September 21, 2012?
A: No. Once the ballot closes (9.20.12 at 2300 Central Time), your decision is considered final.

Q: When bidding for an exit month, can I limit which months the company can award me?
A: No.   

APFA VEOP BRIEFINGS

*New Briefings Added

JFK Airport
September 10
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
JFK International Airport, Terminal 8
Mark Dupont Room across from AA Pilot Operations

Los Angeles
September 12
9 a.m. to noon
Ayres Hotel Manhattan Beach/Hawthorne/LAX
14400 Hindry Avenue, Hawthorne, CA 90250
Telephone #: 310-536-0400

MIA Airport
September 13
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Concourse D Auditorium located in North Terminal Level 4
1. Follow signs to Ticketing/Check In, departure level, Dolphin Parking Garage on the left hand side
 (North Terminal, in front of Concourse D)
2. Take a ticket and proceed to the Dolphin Parking Garage (North) entrance
3. Park on or above the third floor toward the east side of the lot
4. On the third floor of the parking garage walk to the easternmost end of the lot and take that walkway to the building/terminal
5. Go to the American Airlines Credit Union and turn right to the escalator – The elevators are to the right, behind the escalator
6. Exit the fourth floor and the Auditorium will be on the right as you get off the escalator

St. Louis*
Hilton St. Louis Airport
Monday, September 17
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
10330 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63134
800-314-2117
 
Washington, D.C.*
Tuesday, September 18
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
DoubleTree by Hilton Washington DC-Crystal City
300 Army Navy Drive,
Arlington, VA 22202
 
Boston*
Wednesday, September 19
Location TBA
 
San Francisco*
Thursday, September 20
Location TBA
 
RECALLS

If you are one of the 211 FAs currently on the furlough recall list and have not received your recall notice and you want to accept the recall offer, please immediately send an email to [email protected]. FAs must respond to this recall notice by placing their acceptance in the FedEx envelope provided by Monday, September 10 in order for the company to receive the notice no later than Tuesday, September 11. If you decline the recall or fail to respond by the deadline you will forfeit your recall rights. More information regarding the recall as well as a Q & A have been posted to the recall page of the APFA website. Keep in mind if you plan to elect either the VEOP or TSP you must accept recall and follow the steps to return to work and stay until your awarded exit date to take advantage of either of these offers. Instructions for electing either of these options are included in your recall packet. The deadline to elect these options are the same as those for active FAs.                                                   
 
LANGUAGE DROP PROFFER

The annual Language Drop Proffer is currently open. The deadline to submit a proffer is Monday, October 1, 2012 at 0900 Central Time. The ballot is located on the Crew Resources page of the Flight Service website.

EQUITY CLAIM DETAILS

Some FAs have requested more details about the 3% equity claim included in the LBFO. If AMR exits as a stand alone airline, APFA negotiated a 3% equity claim to be distributed among our members. Please click here  for more information.

BK TRUSTEE FILES OBJECTION

Earlier this week, the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee filed an objection to pay the professional fees AMR has agreed to reimburse to both APFA and TWU. These reimbursements are customary in a bankruptcy and the unions do not expect the objection to be granted.

Please send an email to [email protected] with any 9/11 events organized in your area. We will post them on the 9/11 page for other flight attendants in your area to be able to participate.

That’s it for this week. Thank you for calling the APFA Hotline.
 
AmericanAirlines + US Airways 
“Our Future Depends On It”

Leslie Mayo
APFA National Communications Coordinator