4.17.19 – The Weekly Scoop

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

 

What Am I Flying Next Month?

PBS awards can be viewed tomorrow, the 18^th at 1200 DFW time in PBS. Your schedule will be available on April 20^th, 1200 DFW time to begin bidding in TTS.

– Alin Boswell, Julie Hedrick, Linda Haertling, Vicki Balistreri, APFA Joint Scheduling Implementation Committee, [email protected]

APFA Helps Save “Charm Farm” Staircase

The iconic staircase at the Training and Conference Center (Charm Farm) is not just a place to stand for photos at graduation, it also symbolizes the progress made by women in the aviation industry.

Lori Bassani, APFA National President’s first reaction to the staircase going away was to call an immediate picket.
“I said,’Oh my God, no, the staircase.  They’re thinking of demolishing it?'”

“Tens of thousands of Flight Attendants would likely have volunteered to protest the demolition if it came down to it” said APFA Historian, Jennifer Brissette.

Click on the link below to read the Dallas News entire article and see the graduation staircase pictures thru the years.

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/american-airlines/2019/04/12/american-airlines-flight-attendants-take-steps-preservegraduation-staircase-used-since-1957

-Jennifer Brissette, APFA National Historian, [email protected]

Farewell, Jamma Kang

APFA bids a sad farewell to Jamma Kang who worked at APFA Headquarters in the IOD and Health Departments. Jamma passed away Sunday, April 13, 2019.

Jamma took great pride in her work at APFA where she helped many Flight Attendants that were injured on the job and many who were out on a personal illness. Jamma’s passing is a great loss for her family, APFA and the membership.

Am I Pay Protected?

Q. I had a 15-hour, 3-day sequence that was delayed and I returned a day later at 1000. I now have a direct conflict with my next trip that reported at 0800 that morning and was worth 12 hours. How is my pay protection calculated?

A. You would receive the combined value of the originally scheduled trips because it is a direct conflict. In this example, any time made on the first trip would be absorbed into the pay protection of the 2^nd sequence.

Q. I’m DFW based. On my last day of a 3-day trip I worked one leg to DFW, followed by a round trip to MSY. When I landed in DFW I see my round trip to MSY has cancelled. Do I need to call Crew Tracking, or will they contact me?

A.  Since your round trip cancelled mid-sequence Crew Tracking has 3 hours to reschedule you only to prevent a delay or cancellation. This time starts at the time the disruption is known, not the originally scheduled departure time.  If stand by reserves are available, they would need to be used first. You can call Crew Tracking prior to that time to ask to be released.

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Problems with your Paycheck? 

The last few months of systems glitches, programming issues, and Crew Scheduling errors have resulted in numerous pay issues. Our Flight Attendants continue to report issues such as:

• Pay calculations on pay stub are incorrect
• Resolutions reached for contractual violations that the company agrees to pay are not being paid promptly
• Premiums are sometimes not being paid
• Pay No Credit is not being properly added above guarantee
• Direct Conflict Pay is not reflecting on the paycheck
• Crew Schedule errors are not being paid
• Other issues that have been researched, and not paid

Remember to check your pay stub. If you believe you have not been paid the correct amount that you are owed, contact your Flight Service Manager and copy your Base President and Vice President on your email.

Additionally, if your issue has been resolved, and the company is delayed in paying your claim, you may want to contact the Department of Labor (DOL)’s Wage and Hour Division. The link to report a claim may be found at:

https://www.dol.gov/whd/howtofilecomplaint.htm;

Keep in mind that the DOL cannot investigate certain issues such as vacation pay or sick pay.

For more information, click the link below to read the hotline from APFA National President, Lori Bassani, January 26, 2019.

https://www.apfa.org/2019/01/26/1-26-19-problems-with-your-paycheck-should-you-file-a-claim-of-wage-theft/

-Paul Hartshorn, Jr., APFA Contract/Scheduling Representative

Safety is Not For Sale

In the wake of the Boeing 737 MAX tragedies, Senator Ed Markey of Massachusetts has introduced legislation that would prohibit aircraft manufacturers from charging additional fees for safety features. The two 737 MAX aircraft involved in the Lion Air crash and the Ethiopian Airlines crash lacked two safety features that could have helped the pilots and aviation mechanics recognize false readings from the sensors connected to the aircraft’s new flight control system. APFA applauds the Safety is Not for Sale Act.

“The main reason why the US has the safest aviation system in the world is because safety advances should not have to meet a cost-benefit justification.”– Lori Bassani, APFA National President

Ask your Senators to support the Safety is Not For Sale Act
Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Senator Markey, a longtime friend of Flight Attendants, was a leader in the No Knives on Planes efforts and we thank him for continuing to stand up for aviation safety. APFA gave Senator Markey the Edward M. Kennedy Award for Public Service on Behalf of the Labor Movement in 2014. We believe that there should be one level of safety and that level should be the highest. APFA stands with Senator Markey in steadfast commitment to safety, no ifs ands or buts.

American Airlines and Southwest Airlines have grounded the 737 MAX into August.

– Allie Malis, APFA National Government Affairs Representative,[email protected]

Here’s to Your Health

Health and Wellness Roadshows began yesterday, April 16, 2019. Dates, times, and cities visited are posted on my.aa.com, Health and Wellness Roadshow. This is your opportunity to become familiar with many of our benefits.

Vendors and AA Benefits will be present to answer questions, perform biometric screenings (Wellness Rewards qualifier) and to familiarize you with our benefits to not only stay well but save money at the same time!

For more information, visit: https://my.aa.com/health-and-wealth-roadshow/ 

– Michael Tipton, APFA National Health Chair, [email protected]

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As of today, there have been 4,997 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.