12.01.17 – (LAA/LUS) – Elevate Trng/Early Boarding/JSIC Base Visits/EC Mins/Jan VLOAs/Cabin JS Processing/2018 Benefits/Uniform Rpts

Elevate the Experience Training – LAA/LUS

Despite attempts by the Company to rectify technical issues with the current Elevate Web-based training, APFA continues to receive reports from Flight Attendants who have experienced or are experiencing a multitude of problems associated with the training. Please continue to report any issues you are having to your Base President.

Even prior to a resolution to the present issues, the Company announced last week that it is planning to launch more Elevate training (“One Committed Team“) in 2018. Given the continued IT issues with the current 2017 training, as well as the plethora of hardships we face as a direct result of the Company’s inability to effectively implement the JCBA, APFA objects to additional, cumbersome, time consuming training while we are still dealing with:

• Reports of unhealthy uniform reactions that grow by the day.
• Daily, weekly & monthly IT issues too numerous to mention.
• Rampant hotel & transportation failures resulting in contract violations.
• Monthly PBS bidding irregularities leading to no confidence in the Company’s ability to roll it out for 26,000 Flight Attendants.
• Two Presidential Grievances challenging the Company’s plan to violate JCBA contract language surrounding FOI & PBS, causing a needless divide between legacy workgroups.
• Broken promises of a timely integration and implementation of a contract they can’t fully administer.
• Ever increasing reserve lists at all bases.
• Intolerable trips constructed by an ‘optimizer’ that squeezes every bit of productivity from flight crews with no regard for the human element.
• Over-crowded cabins and minimally staffed flights that lead to an increase in stress and frustration for both passengers and crew.

Day in and day out, our members do an excellent job of serving our passengers given the constraints created by circumstances that are beyond our control.

Elevating the experience must begin with an investment in the tools necessary to do our jobs. One Committed Team will not come about as a result of a training class or a feel-good effort to win the hearts and minds of those asked daily to make a square peg fit in a round hole. Teamwork is a byproduct of trust—trust in a management team that recognizes that a cohesive workforce is built from the top down.

Until the New American invests the necessary resources to deal with its current IT challenges and provide Flight Attendants with relief from the growing list of grievances resulting from management’s inability to bring us all under a common contract, no amount of team building training will result in an elevated experience for anyone.
Early Boarding – LAA/LUS

As a reminder, Sections 11.M and 14.F of the JCBA specifically state when Flight Attendants will be required to be onboard the aircraft ready to receive passengers. Flight Attendants are not required to board prior to the times listed below:

Agents have been made aware of these contractual provisions and have been advised to refrain from asking Flight Attendants to board earlier than the times posted above. Boarding times should be clarified during the Departure Dependability Briefings.

JSIC Base Visits – LAA/LUS

The Joint Scheduling Implementation Committee (JSIC) will be conducting base visits at DCA and ORD next week to discuss the following systems the Company says it plans to roll out in May of next year for LAA Flight Attendants as well as changes in store for LUS at FOI:
Trip Trade System (TTS)
Electronic Trade Board (ETB)
Unsuccessful Bidders List (UBL) and
Reserve Open Time Assignment (ROTA)

LAA and LUS Flight Attendants are welcome to attend.

3Q17 EC Meeting Minutes – LAA/LUS

The APFA Executive Committee (EC) held its 3Q17 meeting at APFA Headquarters on November 9, 2017. In accordance with the APFA Policy Manual, the Official Minutes of the meeting are now available on the APFA website.

Roll Call – 11.09.17
Tentative Agenda
Final Agenda
Resolution 1 – Approve the Agenda
Resolution 1a – Amend the Agenda
Resolution 2 – Independent Balloting Firm
Resolution 3 – Dues Forgiveness
Resolution 4 – Dues Forgiveness
Resolution 5 – National Health Department Chair
Resolution 6 – National Scheduling Department Chair
Resolution 7 – National Contract Department Chair
Resolution 8 – Adjourn the Meeting
Minutes
VLOAs Now Available for January – LUS

Earlier this month it was reported that no VLOAs would be offered for LUS bases in January, 2018. After further review, Crew Planning is now offering VLOAs at all four LUS bases for the January bid month effective January 1, 2018. 

All VLOA requests for January 2018 must be submitted electronically via Wings on the Forms page (Wings>Flight Service>Forms>Leaves of Absence) prior to the deadline of 12 noon (EST)/1000 (MST), Friday, December 8, 2017. Awards will be posted no later than Monday, December 11, 2017.

Please note the following items regarding the terms of the VLOA award:

• The VLOA will be without pay
• To be awarded the VLOA, you must be in an available status as of October 1 on the date of the award
• Any scheduled vacation will be paid
• Required training scheduled for the month must be attended and will be compensated accordingly
• Benefits will remain active for the duration of the leave
• Benefit premiums will continue at the active flight attendant rate. While on VLOA, Aon Hewitt will send a bill for your upcoming benefit premiums. If benefit premiums were deducted from your paycheck for any portion of the VLOA period, contact Aon Hewitt at 888-860-6178 to ask that these amounts be credited to your account. Any remaining balance due must be paid to Aon Hewitt to maintain coverage
• Failure to make payments past 60 days while on VLOA may result in the termination of coverage (please call the Benefits Center at 888-860-6178 with questions)
• HR Benefits will do an audit of your benefit premiums upon your return to work. If any premiums are outstanding or have been overpaid, they will be processed within two pay periods
• Accruals for both sick and vacation will continue during the period of the leave
• You must coordinate directly with the vendor or Credit Union if any loan payments are being deducted from your paycheck
• This is a voluntary leave and you will remain on active status. Therefore, the company will contest unemployment claims
• As a lineholder, if you have a lead-in trip into the VLOA month and are unable to adjust your schedule via ISAP or ETB, you are responsible for flying that entire trip
• Reserves awarded the VLOA will not receive a reserve line for the month
• Working special assignments (COM) while on VLOA is not permissible
• Picking up trips via ETB is not permissible while on the VLOA

Cabin Jump Seat Clarification – LAA/LUS

We are still receiving reports of issues involving incorrect processing of the cabin jump seats.

Section 37.G of the JCBA clearly outlines the boarding process for the Flight Attendant cabin jump seats. A ‘CJ’ indicator on the priority list indicates a mainline American Airlines Flight Attendant. A ‘CJ EAG’ indicator next to a name on the priority list indicates an American Airlines wholly-owned carrier Flight Attendant.

A mainline American Airlines Flight Attendant will be assigned the cabin jump seat before an American Airlines wholly-owned carrier Flight Attendant, regardless of D1 or D2 status, or her/his placement on the priority list.

Additionally, a Flight Attendant on the priority list should never be ‘forced’ onto a jumpseat if a seat is available when she/he is processed.

As a reminder, a commuting Flight Attendant either in our out of uniform occupying the jumpseat may have her/his crew luggage valet checked in the event the overhead bins are full.  Valet Bag Service LOA >>

We have asked the Company to send reminders to Airport Customer Service staff to ensure proper processing of cabin jumpseats on the priority list.

Review Your 2018 Benefits Elections – LAA/LUS

As we approach the new year, please visit my.aa.comto review your benefits and confirm that your 2018 elections were captured correctly. Go to Benefits Service Center>>Annual Enrollment Closed View Future Coverage. If you added any new dependents, don’t forget to submit the required Proof of Eligibility. Also, be sure to verify that your beneficiaries for life and accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage are correct.

Contact the Benefits Service Center with any questions at 1-888-860-6178 M-F 0900 – 1800 CT.
Uniform Reaction Report Count – LAA/LUS

To date, there have been 4,263 Flight Attendants who have filed uniform reaction reports. Please continue to utilize the Uniform Reaction Report Form on the APFA website if you experience a suspected reaction to your uniform.