9.14.17 – (LAA/LUS) – A Message from APFA National President Bob Ross – Hurricane Irma

Thursday, September 14, 2017

   

The past few weeks have been extraordinarily challenging with Hurricanes Harvey and Irma wreaking havoc on the operation and impacting many of our members physically, emotionally, and financially.

We were able to secure pay protections via a Transportation Emergency (TE) Letter of Agreement (LOA) for Houston commuters affected by Harvey, and we are currently working to establish similar pay protections for those affected by Irma. 

As the operation is getting back up to speed, we have had numerous reports of errors made by Crew Schedule when proffering open trips to Flight Attendants who are willing and able to fly to assist in restoring the operation. 

Your APFA national and base leadership is well aware of the situation and based on the number of claims anticipated, Miami Flight Service has agreed to set up a command post to deal with these on an individual basis. 

If you believe you have a claim, please email all pertinent information including the date and sequence number directly to your FSM. Keep in mind that sequences coded with an LO or HV supersede seniority since those trips were assigned at the point of contact or in the obligation window to satisfy pay protection requirements and MIC procedures. 

Critical Coverage is currently open at MIA for tomorrow’s flying. Only Critical Coverage assignments will be paid at Critical Coverage rates. All other trips will be paid at normal pay rates. 

You can help your fellow crew members by making sure you are on the appropriate list for the trip you want and removing yourself from all lists if you do not wish to fly. 

We understand how frustrating this process is given the additional burden caused by the errors being made by Crew Schedule. But, please be assured that APFA is working diligently to make whole all members impacted by this unprecedented storm. 

Along with our thoughts and prayers going out to everyone impacted by Harvey and Irma, I would like to thank Miami Base President Randy Trautman and his team for working hard to represent our members while also dealing personally with the hazards associated with the storm and its aftermath. Additionally, I would like to thank everyone at APFA Headquarters who worked this past weekend including National Vice President Nena Martin who made a special trip to Miami to assess the situation and assist as needed. 

In the coming days, a TE letter covering Hurricane Irma will be forthcoming. Your patience throughout the process is greatly appreciated. 
 

In Unity,

Bob Ross

APFA National President
[email protected]