12.30.18 – From the Office of the President

Dear AA Flight Attendants,

As we near the end of a tumultuous year wrought with unwelcome changes, failed systems, multiple glitches and indiscriminate abuse, it appears the company is once again in major holiday meltdown mode. APFA is aware of the continued abuses and contract violations by the company. While we expect irregular operations during major weather events, we also expect a modicum of organized handling of our crews. This latest meltdown is a travesty, and we know many of you are catching the brunt of it.

Your Base Presidents and Vice Presidents have been working nonstop and around the clock on behalf of our members. They have relayed details of the many issues and occurrences you are experiencing. We are also hearing firsthand accounts from our Flight Attendants, both reserve and line-holders. Our National Officers, Department Chairs and APFA Reps have been working tirelessly to identify and send the issues to the company demanding resolution, accountability and restitution for those harmed. New issues and violations pop up daily, and we are addressing all of them.

All of this adds to our concern whether the “New American” is ready to handle a work force of our size as they prepare for the next phase of PBS. We have voiced our concerns to upper management. We believe the world’s largest airline should have the resources to provide properly trained crew schedulers, effective systems, payment for their employees correctly and on time, hotels when necessary, sufficient support to respond to and fix issues and a plan for weather events. We know you are at a breaking point and from all reports, our passengers are right there with us.

Your National and Base Reps are working very hard on behalf of our members during this current operational meltdown. Our main concern is your welfare, holding the company accountable for their failures, preventing mistreatment of our crews and adherence to the contract.

Fly safe and let’s all hope for a much smoother year ahead in 2019.