8.22.14b – Negotiations Process, Action Alert, Hotel Update, 3-1-1, Illegal / Cancelled?, FML, Proffers / Transfers, Seniority List, Retiree Travel

APFA Hotline – Negotiations Process, Action Alert, Hotel Update, 3-1-1, Illegal / Cancelled?, FML, Proffers / Transfers, Seniority List, Retiree Travel – August 22, 2014

 

NEGOTIATIONS – [email protected]
On Monday and Tuesday of this week, Representatives from every base were available in operations sharing information about the negotiations process. If you didn’t get a chance to speak with one of your reps, the information is available for download online. There you will find bullets of the T/A Highlights reached to date, a flowchart outlining the path to our Contract, as well as the Merger Transition Agreement, the Agreement on Bargaining and Representation and the Negotiations Protocol Agreement  It is important to understand the process and how it will play out moving forward. Please take a few moments to review this very important information. 

ACTION ALERT: Norwegian Air International Application is Bad For Labor – [email protected]
The U.S./European Union (EU) Open Skies Agreement was an historic bi-lateral agreement that not only expanded opportunities for consumers and businesses but protected our high labor standards. Norwegian Air International (NAI) currently has an application for a foreign air carrier certification before DOT Department of Transportation (DOT). But, NAI will be a Norwegian company in name only as it will register its aircraft in Ireland, evade the laws of Norway and hire crews based in Thailand under individual contracts governed by the laws of Singapore.

NAI’s operating plan, as detailed in its application to the DOT, would violate the terms and clear intent of the labor provisions (Article 17 bis) embodied in the Open Skies Agreement that embrace “high labor standards.” We need to protect our American aviation jobs from outsourcing!  The transatlantic market is the busiest in the world and one that is extremely important for US-based airlines and the hundreds of thousands of American workers they employ. Visit APFA’s Capwiz page to contact DOT Secretary Foxx and ask him to reject NAI’s application.

Hotel Update – [email protected]
BNA – We now have three short layover hotels in this market. Please refer to the APFA Hotel Page for hotel-specific information including amenities, and the allocation section for layover assignments. 
 
CLT – Our numbers have increased in this market for the long layovers so we are in the process of negotiating with a hotel to take on the additional rooms. 
 
PIT and MIA (long layover hotels) – Upcoming site inspections
 
Temporary Relocations – MCI (short), SAT (long) and CUR. 
 
Crewmember 3-1-1 restrictions and exemptions – [email protected]
As a reminder, the United States is the only country that exempts uniformed crewmembers from the 3-1-1 liquid restriction for carry-on baggage. Crew members departing foreign countries, whether in or out of uniform, should be prepared to comply with the 3-1-1 liquid restriction. 
 
Although a country may not enforce the restriction for uniformed crewmembers, it is at the discretion of the airport authorities. You may have the option to check a bag rather than discard the items. 
 
Questions regarding the 3-1-1 liquid restrictions should be sent directly to the Safety & Security department at [email protected].
 
Illegal? Cancelled? – [email protected]
When an illegality or a cancellation occurs at sequence origination and Crew Schedule has not rescheduled you, you can be held for DOSTF. Please note that if this happens at or after 1200 noon Home Base Time (HBT), you must call Crew Schedule between 2000-2400 that same night for the next day coverage. For subsequent days you must participate in the HISEND MU round. 

Refer to page 17 of the ODCG, and/or the scheduling page of www.apfa.org.

Family Leave (FML) Reminders – [email protected]
Regular block FML is for a one-time continuous leave for a single health condition. Flight Attendants have 84 days available in a rolling 12-month period.

Intermittent FML is taken in multiple blocks of time for a single health condition. Flight Attendants have 60 days available in a rolling 12-month period.

• You must notify the company of intent to file for FML no later than two days following the date you return to work.
• You must provide certification to AA Medical within 15 calendar days of notifying the company of your need for FML.
• If the treating health care provider submits incomplete information, the completed information must be submitted to AA Medical within 15 calendar days from the date of the letter that is sent, to notify the employee of the need for additional information.

If you are a Mac user please note: while you will be able to access your general FML status in Jetnet, you will be unable to click the “view” tab via the MAC Operating System. This tab allows you to view the progress of your FML. It is important to track your FML status so that you are not missing important deadlines in the event you must submit additional information.

Your FSM will be able to access information regarding the status and requested information only. Please note that no medical information is disclosed on this page.

If your FML is denied you have ten days from the date of denial to submit an appeal, which is done directly through your APFA Regional Representative. 

Proffers / Transfers Purged – Integrated Seniority List – [email protected]
As a reminder, standing International Proffer and Domestic Transfer requests were purged on August 5th. If you are interested in a proffer or transfer, check your 3* record in DECS to be sure it is updated.
 
 To enter a proffer, enter 3C/P/base-I – example: 3C/P/IMA-I.
 To enter a transfer, enter 3C/T/base-D – example: 3C/T/DFW-D
 
Integrated Seniority List Reminder – [email protected]
The Integrated Seniority List is available for viewing on the Seniority Integration page of the APFA website. You are encouraged to check the list to review your adjusted seniority date and placement on the list. In addition you will find a Q&A and other documents to help with frequently asked questions regarding seniority integration. As a reminder, the relative seniority of LAA or LUS Flight Attendants has not changed.
 
If you have a question about your position on the new integrated seniority list or believe there is a clerical error, please send an email to [email protected]. 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.
 
Our current Occupational Seniority dates will continue to be reflected in our HI8 for the foreseeable future. The adjusted Occupational Seniority date from the integrated list will be incorporated into our HI8 at a later date.
 
Depression – [email protected]
Fire breaks out on board and passengers scatter but you run towards the fire to put it out. Someone has a heart attack and passenger call lights go off as they beckon you to help save a life. You are a Flight Attendant and you face the potential of these types of emergencies each day you go to work. You are in charge of keeping the passengers and your fellow crewmembers safe. Flight Attendants deal with the fight or flight response more often than most people realize.  We as a work group are in the rare position of potentially being an accident victim as well as a first responder. The psychological toll this type of stress can take comes in many forms including depression.
 
Depression manifests itself in different ways and can affect one’s ability to work, sleep and enjoy once pleasurable activities.
 
Resources for help with your depression concerns are available at your APFA EAP Department. We offer confidential, compassionate and non-judgmental support for a variety of concerns including trauma, addiction, depression, suicide prevention, stress and anxiety, critical incidents, relationship issues and divorce.  We can be reached at 817-540-0108, ext. 8701 or email us at [email protected].
 
Retiree Travel Changes – [email protected]
This week the company announced the implementation of the new retiree boarding priority for Legacy AA retirees effective mid-September. Retirees will travel at a boarding priority of D2R, in first-come-first-serve order. The D2R group comes after the D2 group and before the D2P and D3 groups.
 
Also effective mid-September, LUS retirees will be sorted on the standby list in order of check in time. LUS retirees have already been traveling at a lower boarding priority (SD2R), which will now be reflected as D2R.
 
The company also announced that effective January 1, 2014, retirees and their eligible travelers will each receive 6 D1 (SD1V) one-way passes a year.  This puts the quantity of D1 passes for retirees back on the same level as the quantity of D1 passes for active employees.
 
Also starting soon, the company will be announcing updated procedures for retirees traveling on the other Legacy airline flights.  (LAA retirees on LUS and LUS retirees on LAA flights.)
 
For additional information on these changes, see the travel section on JetNet.
 __________________________________________________
 
REMINDERS!

Register For Your Absentee Ballot Today! – [email protected]
APFA encourages all members to vote. Together we have made incredible improvements to our profession by electing representatives who support our issues: OSHA protections, FMLA, No Knives on our airplanes, to name a few.
 
The cornerstone of our democracy is a government “of the people, by the people and for the people.”
 
Follow this link for non-partisan information about registering to vote or to find out about absentee and early voting in your state. Your vote is your voice  www.vote411.org
 
DFW Retirement Briefing – [email protected]
The next APFA Retirement Briefing will be held on September 3, 2014, from 1300-1600 at DFW. The briefing will be held in the Yandry Center – Terminal C across from Gate C2 on the secured side.
 
The early afternoon time slot makes it an easy turn around for those who do not live in the DFW area. If you are planning on retiring in the next 10 to 15 years, these briefings teach you about all of the benefits you may have coming, and what steps you can take to maximize your retirement.
 
Bring a copy of your most recent pension estimate to use as all of the options on the estimate are explained. For more information, contact [email protected].
 
Passenger Service Agents Representation Election at AA
Voting will soon be underway for gate agent representation under the Communication Workers of America (CWA) at the new American. Please encourage our colleagues to vote in this very important election! Each organized work group adds to our collective strength at American, in the industry, and in the worldwide labor movement.
 
Vacation Trade Bulletin Board at APFA.org
If you would like to trade your 2014-2015 vacation, APFA offers an electronic bulletin board at www.apfa.org to post your trade requests. Click here and follow instructions to post your requested VC trades.
 
APFA “Flyer” iPhone App
APFA’s Flyer App, Version 5 is available for download from APFA’s website. To download the app, click here.
 
APFA Website Update
If you’re an APFA member / LAA Flight Attendant, and don’t yet have access to APFA’s website, go to www.www.apfa.org and click on “Create An Account” under the log-inn form from the main page. Once you fill out the form, a verification email will be sent to you. Click on the specified link within the email, and you will gain immediate access to the members-only portion of APFA.org. Get to know it!
 
Staffing
Do you have a report concerning staffing-related issue and would like to submit data to APFA? Please email all details to [email protected]. This email is a no-response email. It is strictly used to collect data. If you have a scheduling or staffing question or issue, please email [email protected].
 
Share Your Photos
We continue to receive some great pictures from our members both on and off the plane. Please remember that in order for the photos to be useable, they must include the names and employee numbers of all Flight Attendants, as well as contact information (if available). Otherwise, the photos are unusable.
 
Photos may be incorporated in future APFA web and print projects, including upcoming issues of Skyword, press releases, our APFA New Hire guide and a welcome booklet for our future members from LUS. Please email your hi-res photos to: [email protected].
 
If you are emailing several high-resolution photos, please limit your photos to 3 per email as our server will block files over a certain size.
 
If you prefer to mail a hard copy, send to:
APFA Communications
1004 W. Euless Blvd.
Euless, TX, 76040
 
Photos must:

• Be the sole property of the sender. By sending in photos, you are giving APFA permission to use them in APFA communications.
• Contain the name(s), employee number(s) (if you can obtain your coworker’s employee number easily), email and phone number of each person in the photo in order to obtain permission to publish.
• Be tasteful in content.

 

AmericanAirlines + US Airways 
“On Our Way”

Leslie Mayo
APFA National Communications Chair