10.18.13 – (LAA) – Brand New APFA.org, Anniversary Skyword, Bankruptcy Update, Pay Protection, Profit Sharing, AM/PM, Adjacent Base, Roadshows, APFA Endorses Wendy Davis for Governor of Texas

APFA.org
APFA’s web site got a new look this week. We are still working out some minor tweaks but all in all it has been a smooth transition. This could not have been accomplished without the assistance of IOR-based Flight Attendant Alex Rodriguez and APFA’s Webmaster Annie Haste. If you are having a problem logging on or come across a bad link, etc., please email [email protected] and include specifics. Enjoy the new site!
 
State of the Union Skyword – The Strike – 20th Anniversary Edition
In honor of our Strike 20 years ago next month, a special edition of Skyword will be on its way to your mailboxes next week. It will also be available online. If you haven’t received your edition of Skyword by mid-November, please contact [email protected] and include your name, emp. no., base, address and phone. We will send another one to you right away.
 
AA Bankruptcy / AA-US Antitrust Lawsuit Update
American and US Airways along with the DOJ made a joint submission yesterday to the Court outlining proposed procedures for the antitrust trial. The parties are mostly in agreement, including on the following dates. The parties agreed to file pre-trial briefs, limited to 50 pages, on November 15. The trial is scheduled to be held on November 25-27, December 2-6, 9-10, 13, and, if necessary, 16-20.  The parties agreed to file proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law five days after the last day of the trial.  Closing arguments are planned for January 6, 2014.  
 
The parties also agreed to various procedures regarding the exchange of information before the trial, the marking of confidential information, and how witness testimony will be taken. The parties could not agree on two issues.  The airlines requested a limit of 400 exhibits while the government requested a limit of 800.  The airlines also requested a limit of 30 hours for each side to examine witnesses while the government opposed any limit.  The Court should be expected to enter an order shortly resolving those two issues and approving the agreed upon procedures and schedule.   

Notice of Lodging of Joint Proposed Trial Procedures Order – 10.17.13
Proposed Trial Procedures Order
 
Below are some of the news articles published this week and posted on the Merger page at www.apfa.org.
•    American Airlines posts third quarter profit (USA Today) – 10.17.13
•    American, US Airways won’t challenge ruling in merger lawsuit (Associated Press) – 10.15.13
•    American, US Airways won’t appeal ruling on documents, names (Dallas Business Journal) – 10.15.13
•    American, US Airways decides not to appeal ruling on DOJ documents (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) – 10.14.13
•    Government Shutdown Slows Wheels of Justice (NBC Philadelphia)  – 10.14.13
 
Pay Protection in November
Over the past few weeks, members of your APFA Negotiating Team had several productive meetings on bid-line guarantee protection with the Company. An agreement was reached and will be implemented beginning next month. The team made a short presentation to the APFA leadership at the Board of Directors meeting on October 17^th.
This protection language will be thoroughly explained on the Scheduling page of the APFA’s website prior to the implementation date of November 1, 2013. Simply log on to www.www.apfa.org and click on Scheduling for more information. We will inform you when the language has been uploaded to the website. 
Bid-Line Guarantee Protection will also be explained in detail at the upcoming APFA Roadshows.

Profit Sharing Info
Not surprisingly, American’s third quarter earnings report has caused a bit of a stir among Flight Attendants. Many are perplexed that management would be talking about profit sharing in October when American’s annual results will determine if there are any profits to distribute to the employees. Why would AA mention that American was setting aside $65 million for “expected” profit sharing when the final assessment won’t be made for another three months? Also, profits derived in large part from employee concessions are no cause for celebration. What we look forward to is the day when we work for an airline that is as effective a competitor as it can be. That won’t happen until American and US Airways have merged; then the combined carrier will generate its profits from route networks as extensive and synergies as dynamic as those enjoyed by United, Delta and Southwest, carriers that are the product of government-approved mergers.
 
Now that profit sharing has been raised you may recall that, under the LBFO, the Flight Attendants will share with other eligible employees 5% of American’s pre-tax income.(See Attachment D of the LBFO.) If the merger is not completed by the end of the year, the profit sharing plan will cover 2013 and a distribution would be made no later than March 15, 2014. The anti-trust lawsuit could have the following effects on the timing of the merger:  the case could be settled with sufficient time to complete the merger before the end of 2013; or assuming the case is litigated, the merger would not take place in 2013 since the court has indicated a decision would not be issued before the end of the year.
 
Expansion of AM/PM for Reserves and Adjacent Base Flying at all remaining/eligible bases
AM/PM will expand to all remaining eligible bases on Monday, October 21 for Reserve preferences beginning Tuesday, October 22.  A base must have at least 16 FAs on reserve to be eligible for AM/PM. The next and final bases to be added for AM/PM eligibility are:  DFW, LAX, MIA, SLT and IMA.
 
Adjacent Base Flying will also expand to all remaining cities with both domestic and international bases on Monday, October 21st for flying on Tuesday, October 22nd.  The bases to be added for Adjacent Base Flying are: DFW/IDF, LGA/JFK, BOS/BOSI, ORD/IOR.
 
Detailed information on AM/PM and Adjacent Base Flying can be found on the APFA Scheduling Department’s page of the APFA web site.
 
Health Benefits Enrollment
Information regarding AA’s 2014 Benefits Plan options is now available online at www.my.aa.com  Benefits enrollment for 2014 will open on November 1, 2013 and close at midnight central time on November 15, 2013.
 
This year AA will not be mailing a benefits overview to each employee’s home, so please take the time to review all of the options carefully in order to make the best decisions for yourself and your family. When reviewing your options, please take the time to ensure that your HR contact and beneficiary information is up to date. The deadline for enrollment is midnight central time on Friday, November 15, 2013.
 
APFA Roadshows
Roadshows with APFA national and local leadership, the negotiating team and APFA advisors begin next week in Dallas and continue system wide through November. For location and parking information, click here. All roadshows start at 11:00 a.m. and end around 2:00 p.m. All questions will be answered!
 
October 22 – DFW
October 28 – RDU
October 30 – STL
October 31 – DCA
November 5 – LAX
November 6 – SFO
November 12 – JFK
November 13 – MIA
November 19 – ORD
November 20 – BOS
 
APFA Endorses Wendy Davis for Governor of Texas
This week, the APFA Board of Directors unanimously endorsed Wendy Davis, currently a member of the TX State Senate, for governor of Texas in the 2014 election. The APFA Board cited, among other things, her strong voice, support of labor and a solid middle class, as well as her leadership in recognizing the benefits that the AA/US Airways merger carries for her constituents in North Texas. Wendy took a strong stand for the AA/US merger and urged President Obama to withdraw his administration’s opposition to it, pointing out that the merger would help transition American Airlines out of bankruptcy and allow us to compete. The resolution will be available on the APFA web site shortly.
 
Department of Homeland Security Gets a New Chief
The Obama Administration is expected to announce the nomination today of Jeh Johnson to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Johnson served as chief counsel at the Department of Defense and is highly regarded as a national security leader with extensive experience in counter terrorism. Once confirmed by the Senate, Johnson will replace Janet Napolitano who stepped down in August.