8.07.14 – Integrated Seniority List Posted

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APFA Special Hotline – APFA/AFA Integrated Seniority List Posted – August 7, 2014

 

APFA and AFA are pleased to announce another big step on our way to combining the Flight Attendant groups of the new American Airlines. The Flight Attendant integrated seniority list, in accordance with the APFA/AFA Seniority Integration Protocol Agreement (SIPA) is finished and available for viewing on the APFA website. As a reminder, in accordance with the SIPA, the relative order of each respective carrier’s Flight Attendants is unchanged.
 
Prior to integrating the two lists, APFA and AFA agreed in the SIPA that Legacy American Airlines (LAA) Flight Attendants would have an adjustment to their Occupational (bidding) Seniority date, since that date is currently based on the first day those Flight Attendants were placed on payroll. At US Airways, on the other hand, Flight Attendants’ Seniority Integration Date (SID), aka bidding date, was based on their first day of training. Because of this difference between the construction of the two lists, LAA Flight Attendants hired before January 1, 2013, received a 40-day adjustment to their current Occupational Seniority date prior to the integration of the lists. LAA Flight Attendants hired on or after January 1, 2013, had their Occupational Seniority date adjusted to their first date of New Hire training. In cases where more than one LAA and pre-merger US Airways (LUS) Flight Attendant had the same seniority date, the relative position on that date was determined based on date of birth. In the event more than one LAA and LUS Flight Attendant had the same seniority date and birth date, the relative seniority was based on the last 4 digits of Social Security Numbers arranged lowest to highest.
 
Some Flight Attendants are not in birth order on their respective seniority dates. For example, at America West, the original relative order was based on a variety of factors including total time with the company as well as time spent as a Flight Attendant. In later years, company transfers were placed at the top of their class ahead of other classmates that might be older. With regard to these situations, the relative order of each list, based on previous integration, has been preserved.
 
The integrated seniority list reflects reinstatements and adjustments at both carriers through July 1, 2014. Attrition from LAA is through July 1 and attrition for LUS is through July 31. New hire Flight Attendants are reflected for both carriers through July 31, 2014. Attrition from the LUS Flight Attendants leaving in the fall due to the last two departure dates of their VEOP is not reflected on this integrated list. These Flight Attendants will be removed from the list following their actual last day on payroll.  
 
It will still be some time before we are actually integrated and bidding using the integrated list. Flight Attendants will first need to achieve a joint contract and American must receive a Single Operating Certificate from the FAA. In addition, we will need to be incorporated into a single crew management system (FOS).
 
We encourage our members to review the list to see your new Occupational Seniority date and your placement on the new list. Should you believe there is an administrative error with your date or placement on the list please send an email with the reasons detailing why you believe there is an error to [email protected]. The deadline to send an email is September 9, 2014.
 
QUESTION & ANSWERS:
Q1. What was the primary rule for integrating the two lists? Was there a guiding principle used in integrating the two lists?
A1. Yes. The primary rule was that the relative order on each list could not change. In other words, no one junior to you on your list now could be senior to you as a result of the integration.
 
Q2. Why was there an adjustment to the seniority date of LAA Flight Attendants?
A2. LAA Flight Attendants bid with their Occupational Seniority date, which is initially determined by the first date they are placed on payroll following training. By contrast, LUS Flight Attendants bid with their Seniority Integration Date (SID), which is based on the first date in training. In order to account for this difference, LAA Flight Attendants had an adjustment to make their seniority date earlier. The adjustment was 40 days for all American Flight Attendants hired prior to January 1, 2013. The adjustment for American Flight Attendants hired on or after January 1, 2013, reflects the first date in training. 
 
Q3. How did APFA arrive at the 40-day adjustment?  
A3. The APFA Board of Directors worked hard to find a fair method to compensate all LAA Flight Attendants for the difference in seniority start date without changing the current order of Flight Attendants on our list. APFA researched the AA class start date for each LAA Flight Attendant and the length of time each Flight Attendant attended AA new hire training prior to January 1 disadvantaging the LUS Flight Attendants, 2013. The average training time for all LAA Flight Attendants attending AA new hire training prior to January 1, 2013 was 40 days. The APFA Board decided the adjustment of 40 days for all LAA Flight Attendants hired prior to January 1, 2013, was the most equitable way to ensure that the relative order of Flight Attendants did not change.
 
Q4. Why didn’t each Flight Attendant receive an individual adjustment based on their actual AA class start date?
A4. The primary rule governing this seniority integration was that the relative order of the list could not change. Because of the many variations in the length of time between class start dates and the first day the Flight Attendants were placed on payroll. and seniority adjustments due to leaves, etc. there would be no way to make the individual adjustments and still maintain the current relative order.
 
Q5. How can I check to see that my current Occupational Seniority date has the accurate 40-day adjustment?
A5. You can use an entry in Sabre to verify the adjustment. 
T[] ([] = change key) current OCC Date – 40 enter
Example:  T[]1JUN90-40 [enter] 
The result is:  22APR90
 
You can find your current Occupational Seniority date listed in your HI8 in DECS or on the current Occupational Seniority list posted on the Seniority Integration page of the APFA website.
 
If you do not have access to DECS, you can search for an online calculator such as http://www.timeanddate.com/date/dateadd.html.

Q6.  Who do I contact if I have a question about my position on the new integrated seniority list, such as a clerical error?
A6.  Send an email to [email protected]. Please include your name, employee number, Occupational Seniority Date as reflected on the new list, your date of birth, a clear explanation of what error you believe exists and what you think your Occupational Seniority Date should be. The deadline to send an email is September 9, 2014.
 
Q7. When will we actually use the new list?
A7. The list will not be used until there is a joint contract and a Single Operating Certificate. In addition, Flight Attendants will need to be integrated into a single Crew Management system (e.g. FOS). It is currently expected that we will reach a joint contract this fall or by early 2015 at the latest. A SOC is expected to be granted in the 2^nd quarter of 2015. It will take until approximately mid-2016 before all Flight Attendants are in a single crew management system.
 
Q8. Does this change anything related to pay or other benefits (for example, Classification or Company seniority)?
A8. No. This date is used only for bidding, such as a monthly trip bidding, proffers, vacations, leaves, etc.
 

AmericanAirlines + US Airways 
“On Our Way”

Leslie Mayo
APFA National Communications Coordinator