1.23.20 – The Scoop

Thursday, January 23, 2020

The Novel Coronavirus and Worldwide Precautions

APFA and our labor coalition (AFA-APA-TWU) is calling on all airlines to institute immediate emergency measures, including providing crew members the latest information regarding the 2019-nCoV outbreak, identifying the signs and symptoms of illness (in oneself and others), and practical procedures to manage potentially ill persons.

To learn more about APFA’s commitment to protect our members, read today’s Special Hotline:

https://www.apfa.org/2020/01/23/1-23-20-what-we-know-now-about-the-novel-coronavirus-virus-2019-ncov-worldwide-precautions/

 

Remember to Proudly Wear Your Union Pin

Need a pin? Ask your Base President, Vice President, base mobilizer, activists or call the APFA membership desk at 817-540-0108 ext. 8153 to order one.

 

DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing

As a safety-sensitive employee you will be selected for random alcohol testing through a scientifically valid method. The Company will use a computer based random number generator to randomly select employees for testing. Random tests will be spaced throughout the year and will be unannounced. Random alcohol tests will be conducted while the employee is performing safety sensitive functions, just before the employee is to perform safety sensitive functions, or just after the employee has ceased performing safety sensitive functions per the Department of Transportation (DOT) Guidelines.

What drugs does DOT test for?

DOT drug tests are conducted only using urine specimens. The urine specimens are analyzed for the following drugs/metabolites:

• Marijuana metabolites/THC
• Cocaine metabolites
• Amphetamines (including methamphetamine, MDMA)
• Opiates (including codeine, heroin (6-AM), morphine)
• Phencyclidine (PCP)

Can I use prescribed medications & over the counter (OTC) drugs and perform safety-sensitive functions?

Prescription medicine and OTC drugs may be allowed. However, you must meet the following minimum standards:

• The medicine is prescribed to you by a licensed physician, such as your personal doctor.
• The treating/prescribing physician has made a good faith judgment that the use of the substance at the prescribed or authorized dosage level is consistent with the safe performance of your duties.
• The substance must be used at the dosage prescribed or authorized.
• If you are being treated by more than one physician, you must show that at least
one of the treating doctors has been informed of all prescribed and authorized medications and has determined that the use of the medications is consistent with the safe performance of your duties.

** Please contact the APFA EAP Department or APFA Health if you have any questions.  817-540-0108 **

What if I have a medical marijuana card from my doctor?Even if you live in a state where marijuana is legal and you’ve been prescribed the drug for medical reasons, you are still prohibited under federal law to use the drug while employed as a Flight Attendant per the DOT Guidelines.

For additional information or questions regarding DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing, please leave a message on our confidential APFA EAP Department number, at (817) 540-0108 ext 8701 or email us at [email protected]

 

APFA Endorses Former APFA Member for US Senate

“The Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) is proud to endorse Iowan Kimberly Graham for the United States Senate. For 12 years, Kimberly flew for American Airlines and is a former APFA member and union activist. She is a hard-working single mother who has seen the devastating impact of anti-labor policies on workers in Iowa and across the country. Kimberly is running to fight for working people and is taking a strong stand by refusing to accept corporate PAC money. She is the Senator we need to back strong labor policies and we can count on her to support the family farm. She has firsthand experience in the tough job of being a Union Flight Attendant and I know that she will bring that strong and well-rounded experience to Washington,” stated APFA National President Lori Bassani. APFA is proud to have its members and former members actively involved in the political process.

In a statement, Graham, who is currently an attorney for children in the Iowa juvenile courts, said, “I’m a former APFA member and volunteer organizer. I’m honored and proud to have the endorsement of the APFA. I was a flight attendant for 12 years while working my way through college and law school. My dad was a union bridge-builder, mom was a clerk at the phone company and also a union member, both for their entire careers. My son’s father is an IBEW electrician. I know the critical importance of unions first-hand.

I believe in the right to form, join, organize and negotiate as a union without fear of reprisal from employers, and we must strengthen and protect those rights. We also protect workers by banning so-called “Right To Work” laws at the federal level and appointing members to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and related labor boards who will enforce the laws. Simply put, we need more unions and we need stronger unions.

We also need to appoint people who respect labor to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Rest periods and other workplace safety measures for flight attendants need to be a priority for the FAA and must not be undermined.”

Govt Affairs Rep Allie Malis & US Senate candidate Kimberly Graham

 

Submitting a Short-Term Disability Claim for Aflac?

To find these forms on APFA.org >Health Dept.> AFLAC Supplemental Information:

Aflac Supplemental Insurance Information

Need to File A Claim?

Follow the steps on the Short-Term Disability; for Part B, only fill out highlighted areas.

• Attach a screen shot of your HI10.
• Send completed forms and HI10 to the fax or email on the form.

Union Benefit Planners 

If you purchased policies from Union Benefit Planners through APFA in the past you will be receiving a letter/invoice from each vendor for you to self-pay for your policies.  Please don’t be alarmed, your group policy is being cancelled, but you will retain your individual policy at the same rate as you are currently paying.  If you moved and did not update your mailing address with your carrier you should contact them to make sure that you receive your invoice.

Short Term Disability – UNUM
Life Insurance – Transamerica
Critical Illness – Lincoln
Accident – Lincoln

 

Compliment? Criticism? Write It Up!

January Upcoming Reviews:

GSO (Piedmont Triad International Airport – Greensboro)
BWI (Baltimore Washington International Airport)
AMS (Amsterdam Airport Schiphol)
KRK (John Paul II Krakow-Balice International Airport – Krakow)

 

Light Duty/Restricted Duty?

While on an IOD, if your doctor removes you from work with restrictions or light duty, it simply means that you are unable to work and you will need to call in sick.  Sedgwick and AA are aware that light duty/restricted duty is not an option for Flight Attendants, so you will remain off work until your doctor releases you to full duty without restrictions.

 

Changes to TSA KCM^®

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has recently approved a change to the TSA KCM^® Rules for Use.  This change will allow non-uniformed crew members to begin using TSA Pre✓^® lanes. NOTE: Non-uniformed crew members are not allowed front-of-the-line privileges at either TSA Pre✓^® lanes or standard passenger screening lanes.

There could be some operational issues with the contractors managing the TSA Pre✓^® queues.  These contractors have been trained to look for passengers with TSA Pre✓^® indicators on their boarding documents or a crew member in uniform.  With this change, a non-uniformed crew member looks like a passenger but may not have a boarding document with an approved TSA Pre✓^®  indicator.  Therefore, we encourage you to communicate this message to crew members asking them to have patience during this transition period.

This information will be available on the www.knowncrewmember.org website for future reference.

 

National Officer Election Ballots Due Jan. 29th

National Officer Election ballots must be received by 1000 CT, January 29, 2020.

If no candidate receives a majority (50% plus one) of the valid ballots received for a national office, the National Ballot Committee will mail a run-off ballot to all members no later than February 7, 2020. Ballots for the run-off election must be received by 1000 CT, March 9, 2020.

 

The Negotiations Survey #3 is open via the APFA website and will remain available until Tuesday, February 18^th at 1500 CST. This survey includes questions related to several sections of the current Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) and is open to all members in good standing, both Lineholders and Reserves. The survey should take 5-10 minutes to complete.

To date, we have received 4,351 responses or 21% of eligible Flight Attendants.

Thank you for taking the time to participate!

You may access this survey by using this direct link or by clicking on the image above.

 

---

As of today, there have been 5,141 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.