2.13.19 – PHX Base Brief

Wednesday, February 13, 2019

 

Phoenix Base members,

By now I am sure you have seen the communication sent by the company regarding the downsizing of the PHX and STL bases.

Late yesterday, Robin and I were asked if we could be available to have a conversation with Tim McMahan and Barb Trella at 9:00 a.m. this morning.  The meeting began shortly after 9:08 and in the course of this meeting we were advised of the actions the company was taking to “right-size” our base.   At the same time our meeting was occurring, our APFA National Officers and the STL base leadership were also being briefed of the impending changes in staffing.  We were also advised that the Company would be sending out a communication, within minutes, explaining the changes to our membership.  To say that we were devastated and taken aback at this news would be an understatement. We gathered our thoughts and immediately began questioning the reasoning behind this decision; how they were going to achieve this and when this would happen.   HOW?  WHY?

Tim advised us this would be done in a phased approach but that they were looking at reaching the lower headcount in PHX by transfers and attrition.  That when there were vacancy transfers awarded, no backfilling would occur to cover those who had left PHX, but that mutual transfers would still occur.  We asked how soon this would happen and were told they didn’t have a definitive answer to that but most likely over the course of the next couple years.  We asked if this meant there would be displacements and were advised they were hopeful that would not be necessary.

Immediately after this news there was a call scheduled for all of the BOD to discuss what had just happened.   On that call we asked that National headquarters put out a hotline with a Q&A to address the concerns of our membership.   I know that this is very distressing news and I thank you for your patience as we try to get all the facts and not just put out “what if’s and maybes.”

In Solidarity,
Mischel Babi
Robin Agee