3.12.18 – (LAA/LUS) – Message from APFA National President Nena Martin

In an unprecedented move by American Airlines, a Management Grievance has been filed against APFA alleging violation of Sections 10.D.2 and 10.D.2.a. of the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA).

As previously reported, in November 2017, APFA filed a Presidential Grievance challenging the Company’s announced plan to unilaterally change the number of hours between the close of bidding and the official publication of the PBS awards from 48 hours to as many as 120 hours when JCBA PBS is fully implemented, and to prevent Flight Attendants from picking up, dropping, or trading any trips that touch the last 6 days of the bid period during this extended period. This announced change violates the JCBA and would cause significant hardship and erosion of quality of work life for Flight Attendants.

The Company filed its own grievance against APFA, claiming that the JCBA language specifically requiring PBS Processing to be complete in 48 hours does not mean what it says and is, instead, merely a “placeholder.”  In addition, the Company claims that any dispute over this issue can only be resolved by the Joint Scheduling Implementation Committee (JSIC) and that APFA interfered with the JSIC’s contractual authority.

The Company’s claim is contrary to the plain language of the JCBA and is totally inconsistent with the bargaining history that resulted in that agreement.

The Company’s approach is in blatant disregard of the plain language of the JCBA and is indicative of its desperation to implement negotiated items its systems cannot support. We will continue to prosecute our Presidential Grievance and seek full compliance with the letter and spirit of the JCBA.

Arbitration of this Grievance has been scheduled to begin on April 18, 2018, and we are moving forward with absolutely no intent of submitting to the demands of the Company’s Grievance.

Nena Martin
APFA National President
[email protected]