1.28.19 – AA VP of Flight Service Violates Contract by Riding Jumpseat

Monday, January 28, 2019

JILL SURDEK, VP FLIGHT SERVICE, VIOLATES OUR CONTRACT BY RIDING OUR JUMPSEAT

In a blatant violation of our of Recognition & Scope language, Jill Surdek, VP of Flight Service, just added an additional violation to the grievance.

This grievance involves Flight Service whose names do not appear on the current Flight Attendant System Seniority List performing or assisting with our Flight Attendant duties on board the aircraft.  Ms. Surdek occupied the jumpseat and performed duties as a working crew member today on her way to PHL for a Base Visit.  We are sure our fellow Flight Attendants at the PHL visit will let her know these tactics won’t fly!

This action shows complete disrespect for our Flight Attendants, and disregard for the union and our Collective Bargaining Agreement (Sections 1.B, and 2.R.).

AA ASKS ARBITRATOR TO POSTPONE ATTENDANCE CASE — SHOWS NO RESPECT FOR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS

American Airlines requested a postponement of the arbitration hearing in the attendance case. Our Presidential arbitration challenges the new attendance program as containing certain terms that are oppressive, unreasonable, and legal violations.

The case was set for hearing on February 27^th and 28^th in Dallas. The Company alleged that their upcoming annual high-level management meetings caused several key management witnesses to be unable to testify at the hearing, including Jill Surdek, VP of Flight Service

We believe this to be a Company stall tactic and a possible attempt to change arbitrators. This was a disrespectful request — especially after AA had already agreed to these dates!

We are not agreeing to change arbitrators.  We also demanded that the case go as scheduled.

However, the arbitrator, in an attempt to be fair, granted the continuance—but offered new dates in April and June. We are now awaiting the final date of the rescheduled hearing.

We believe AA should have changed their meetings and addressed this critical case. It is clear — their meetings are more important than our 27,000 Flight Attendants.

We will soon have a new hearing date in front of that same arbitrator.