7.12.16 – (LAA/LUS) – SBA Update – Jump Seat Weight & Balance Arbitration

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Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Jump Seat Weight and Balance Arbitration – LAA/LUS

As many of you know the Weight and Balance protections on the LUS flight attendant jump seat were lost in the JCBA negotiations concurrent with the pilot’s agreement. This was coveted language for the LUS flight attendants for more than four decades. The implementation of this was originally tied to the pilot implementation. Due to certain factors including the poorly executed roll out of the new Company travel policy of first come first serve, the Company agreed to push the implementation of weight restriction of the jump seat until Flight Attendant Operational Integration (FOI). This announcement was made at the Washington DC roadshow on October 31, 2014 by Laura Glading.

In late August of 2015, the Company advised APFA that they would be implementing the weight and balance provision of the JCBA to be concurrent with the Passenger Service System (PSS) cutover on October 17, 2015, hence violating the agreement that was made between APFA and the Company.

Obviously, this was incredibly disrespectful to the membership and APFA immediately addressed the situation by sending a cease and desist letter. The SBA department had numerous discussions with the Company over this decision, and a second cease and desist letter was sent along with a letter from the LUS Base Presidents expressing their alarm for the sudden decision to ignore the promise and the agreement that was made with our flight attendants. When the Company refused to honor their commitment, APFA had no choice but to file a Presidential Grievance pursuing this issue in arbitration.

Yesterday at APFA Headquarters, those leaders directly involved with the jump seat arbitration along with Vice President Nena Martin and APFA Attorney Mark Richard met to strategize and prepare for the upcoming arbitration scheduled for August 11^th and 12^th. This issue is very near and dear to our membership and it is a top priority of APFA to hold the Company accountable.

We will continue to keep the membership updated and informed.

In Unity,