3.31.17 – (LAA/LUS) – Wage Adjustment Arbitration/EAP/Newly Elected Base Reps/New RR Appointment/Stella PVD’s

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Friday, March 31, 2017

Wage Adjustment Arbitration Update – LAA/LUS
Tragic Loss of First Officer Mike Grubbs – LAA/LUS
Newly Elected Base Representatives – LAA/LUS
New Regional Rep Appointed for DFW – LAA/LUS
Option to use PVDs Extended for FAs Impacted by Stella – LAA

Wage Adjustment Arbitration Update – LAA/LUS

As stated in a previous hotline following the Wage Adjustment Arbitration hearing in January, the arbitration panel advised both parties that despite the NPA provision that calls for a decision within 30 days, a ruling could take longer (approximately 90 days) due to the complexities of the case and the compelling testimonies entered by both sides.

Based on that timeline, we expect a ruling in April and will immediately advise the membership when a decision is rendered. Any award will be retroactive to September 1st, 2016 when the United JCBA went into effect.

Tragic Loss of First Officer Mike Grubbs – LAA/LUS

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the sudden death of First Officer Mike Grubbs who passed away on Wednesday evening after a medical episode while operating Flight 1353 from DFW to ABQ. APFA offers our prayers and condolences to First Officer Grubbs’ loved ones and our fellow AA colleagues.

APFA recognizes that the death of a co-worker can have a significant impact on those in the workplace. There is an element of “family” when a crew-member passes away. Your well being is our first concern and grief is a natural response to loss. The single most important factor in healing from loss is having the support of other people. Sharing your loss makes the burden of grief easier to carry.

For CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE, contact CIRT at (800) 998-8194. Also, you may call the EAP Department at (817) 540-0108 ext. 8701 or email at [email protected].

If you need immediate assistance, you can also reach National EAP Specialist Abby Alconcher at (415) 786-8576. All voice mail messages will be returned as promptly as possible and will remain confidential.

Abby Alconcher
APFA National EAP Specialist
[email protected]

Newly Elected Base Representatives – LAA/LUS

APFA welcomes all newly elected Base Presidents, Base Vice Presidents, and Base Council Reps who will be taking office on April 1st. The following Base Presidents and Vice Presidents will serve through March 31, 2019. (Newly elected representatives are indicated by an asterisk (*).)

** The DCA-US Base Vice President will be appointed by the DCA-US Base President and the SFO Base Vice President will be appointed by the SFO Base President.

New Regional Rep Appointed for DFW – LAA/LUS

APFA welcomes Neil Fernandez to the Systems Board of Adjustment team. This week, the Executive Committee approved his appointment to Regional Representative for Region 2. Neil will be replacing Maureen Walsh-Martin as the Regional Rep for DFW after her election as DFW Base President effective April 1st.

Option to use PVDs Extended for FAs Impacted by Stella – LAA

LAA Flight Attendants based at BOS, DCA, and LGA who were impacted by winter storm Stella March 13-15, 2017, can have missed trips and late reports excused. The following information explains Interim Pay Protection (IPP) as well as a special PVD option in cases where pay protection doesn’t apply:

If you have not already contacted your FSM, the option to use PVDs has been extended to April 5, 2017.
If you experienced a misconnection, illegality, or cancellation (MIC) as a result of the storm, you will receive sequence protection if you followed IPP procedures.
Those who incurred a MIC as a result of the storm and did not follow IPP procedures, you have the option to use PVD’s to partially recover lost time.
Those Flight Attendants who took POs/PUs as a result of the storm will have the option of converting those days to PVDs. Please contact your FSM no later than April 5, 2017 to exercise this option. Such PVDs will be paid at the daily rate and are subject to the annual limitation of six (6) days.

Note: AVBL Flight Attendants who had a TM, PO, or used a PVD, will have an incremental reduction to their PPROJ.