9.18.19 – Weekly Scoop

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Aircraft Cabin Air International Conference 2019 & GCAQE (Global Cabin Air Quality Executive) Meeting

National President Lori Bassani was invited to London this week to speak at the International Aircraft Cabin Air Conference. Other speakers include Doctors, Scientists, Aerospace and Maintenance, Human Factors and experts from around the globe.

Jeffrey Ewing, National Safety & Security Chair, and Thomas Houdek, Cabin Air Quality Representative, were also delegates at the Conference, and representing APFA at the GCAQE meetings.

The Objective of this Conference

• Provide an historical overview of the contaminated air issue and its causes.
• Map out the flight safety aspects of contaminated air through case studies, discussion and air accident investigation findings.
• Disseminate the latest medical and scientific theories and findings on the health aspects of exposure to contaminated air.
• Guidance of the regulatory aspects of cabin air quality.
• Examine the latest development towards bleed air filtration, contaminated air warning sensor systems and other potential solutions.
• Provide an opportunity for networking.

“As if denying workers’ compensation and installing harmful air filters wasn’t enough, the FAA and major airlines refuse to develop a serious universal reporting system of fume events to actually assess the scope of this problem.” -Lori Bassani, APFA National President

APFA has endorsed the Cabin Air Safety Act of 2019, sponsored by Congressman John Garamendi of California and Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut.

2019 LM-2 Report

The 2019 LM-2 Report is now available on the APFA website under the National Treasurer’s Department page. Thank you for your patience as we accomplished this task.

Sign up today for SMS notifications

The SMS text message notification service will only be used to send out urgent and important reminders to APFA members. The SMS text message notifications is NOT the same as or connected to the Live Chat feature on the APFA website. Click the image for more info.

Each September, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), sponsors National Recovery Month (Recovery Month). This observance celebrates the millions of Americans who are in recovery from mental and substance use disorders, reminding us that treatment is effective, and that people can and do recover. It also serves to help reduce the stigma and misconceptions that cloud public understanding of mental and substance use disorders, potentially which discourages others from seeking help.

Now in its 30th year, Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those in recovery, just as we celebrate improvements made by those who are managing other health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease.
Recovery Month works to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible.

Each September, tens of thousands of prevention, treatment, and recovery programs and facilities around the country celebrate Recovery Month. They speak about the gains made by those in recovery and share their success stories with their neighbors, friends, and colleagues. In doing so, everyone helps to increase awareness and furthers a greater understanding about the diseases of mental and substance use disorders.

Recovery Month also highlights the achievements of individuals who have reclaimed their lives in long-term recovery and honors the treatment and recovery service providers who make recovery possible. Recovery Month also promotes the message that recovery in all of its forms is possible and encourages citizens to take action to help expand and improve the availability of effective prevention, treatment, and recovery services for those in need.

Our APFA group, FAIR (Flight Attendants In Recovery) join in celebrating Recovery Month by promoting the benefits of prevention, treatment and recovery for substance use disorders, celebrating flight attendants in recovery, applauds the contributions of treatment and service providers, and promotes the message that recovery in all its forms is possible. Treatment is effective and flight attendants can and do recover.

Contact us at [email protected]

PAC Member of the Month – Stephanie Sammartino – September

Stephanie has been based at DCA for going on 5 years. She serves as a local BCR and is involved in APFA’s Government Affairs Department, including participating in the 2018 Cabin Safety Lobby Day and the upcoming 2019 Lobby Day. Thank you, Stephanie, for your commitment to the APFA Government Affairs Department and the APFA PAC. See what Stephanie has to say about the APFA PAC. Watch the Video here.

The APFA Political Action Committee (PAC) is comprised of small voluntary donations from APFA members to support political candidates and members of Congress who impact our job. Dues money is never used. Our PAC contributes to both Democrats and Republicans who advocate for broad issues and regulations that advance air travel safety and the Flight Attendant profession.

Elections matter! Now is the time to start building our PAC for Election 2020 so please join today. A contribution of as little as $1 or $2 per paycheck will add up to have a major impact. It’s our investment in our profession. Remember, our strength is in our numbers.

Senator Markey-MA (center) and Senator John Warner-VA came to Dallas this week. They introduced Captain John Kelly  who is running for United States Senate from the great state of Arizona.

Captain Kelly is the husband of former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.

APFA Government Affairs Rep. Julie Frederick (right) and APFA Historian Jennifer Brissette (left) attended the breakfast and discussed several issues that are important to our members; contract negotiations, crewmember fatigue, and the 737 Max.

Join the PAC today!

More Information on the APFA PAC

Aflac Open enrollment closes in one week.
The deadline for new enrollees during this enrollment period is winding down. You have only 1 WEEK LEFT to enroll if you are interested and have never done so, or would like to add Dental or make other changes to your policies.  Aflac reps are available Monday – Friday 8am-8pm CST at 1-877-453-2385.

We have been made aware that flight attendants received an email from Paylogix concerning their Aflac split direct deposits and the amount.

We apologize for the inconvenience and in speaking with them we realized that there were several hundred flight attendants with errors in their premium amounts being deducted (they either rounded up, mis-typed, or kept the dashes). Unfortunately, the correspondence went to the entire portfolio list instead of segmenting to those who were errors. If your amount matches your payroll screen exactly, and/or you are getting deducted that amount, please disregard as the letter has no bearing on you. If you would like to self-pay using a CC or bank draft, email [email protected] and we will send you the form.

Hotel or Transportation Issues?

Fill out the Hotel Debrief Form located on the APFA website, or click the image here to be taken directly to it.

Upcoming hotel site reviews: EWR Short Layover

Section 27.F

If a Workers’ Compensation claim is denied, the Flight Attendant may appeal such claim through normal state channels. While the claim is in the appeal period, the Flight Attendant will be paid sick hours if she/he has sick hours in her/his bank and at the Flight Attendant’s option scheduled vacation.

If a Flight Attendant is claiming sick leave and has scheduled vacation, she/he must notify the Company if she/he wishes to cancel the scheduled vacation. If the decision is reversed and the claim is approved, the amount of sick leave and vacation time claimed, and sick leave and vacation that would have been accrued but for the original denial of the claim during the appeal period will be returned to the Flight Attendant’s sick leave and vacation banks.

The amount of sick leave and vacation time reinstated will be limited to the amount of salary continuance the Flight Attendant would have been eligible for pursuant to Paragraph D.5. Taxes will be adjusted in accordance with the law. However, if the Flight Attendant has no sick leave or vacation time and the decision is reversed and the claim approved, then salary continuance along with related benefits will be paid retroactively.

 

How are the number of Reserves needed in each RAP determined?

After allocations and sequences are built for the next month, Manpower Planning determines the percentage of Reserve Flight Attendants needed to cover departures in each RAP.  This is based on the number of days in a sequence and the scheduled departure times.  These percentages are used for the entire month.  When ROTA processes, it takes the number of available Reserve Flight Attendants and places them into RAPs based on these percentages.

Below is a generic example of the charts used to determine RAP distribution.

 

Retirement Seminars – Are You Ready?

The Retirement Department will be conducting the following seminars in September and October:

• September 24th – LAX – 1100-1400  Meeting Room at LAX Operations
• September 25th – SFO – 1100-1400 Conference Room in the tunnel between terminal 2 and the parking garage.
• October 9th – ORD – 1100-1400 K19 Conference Room
• October 10th – PHL – 1100-1400 Tour Room (inside security between Concourses C & D)
• October 22^nd– CLT – 1100-1400 Conference Room above the food court
• October 23rd – STL – 1100-1400 Location TBD

The Retirement seminars cover a wide range of topics including: Retiree Travel, 401(K), Pensions, COBRA, and Medicare.

Legacy American Airlines Flight Attendants: Download a pension estimate from the Pension Service Center page on Jetnet.

Legacy US Airways Flight Attendants: Request a copy of their pension estimate from the PBGC by calling 800-400-7242.

Members unable to attend the seminars are always welcome to watch the retirement webinar series available on the APFA Retirement Page, as well as download the Good Slide! retirement handout.
Everyone is welcome regardless of base or seniority – no need to RSVP.

Remember – it’s never too early to start planning for retirement.

 

Boston Negotiations Road Show 
September 24, 2019Hilton Boston Logan Airport11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
One Hotel Drive
Boston, MA 02128
(Direct access from sky-bridge to hotel)
Phone #: 617-568-6700