2.20.20 – The Scoop

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Ballots Must be Received by 10:00 am CT, March 9, 2020

In order to have your vote count, you must be a member in good standing (no more than 60 days in dues arrears) by 5:00 pm CT, March 4, 2020. Questions about your dues status? Contact the Dues Department at [email protected]  or at 817-540-0108,
ext. 8151.

The last day to request a duplicate ballot is 12 noon CT, March 2, 2020. All ballots must be received by 10:00 am CT, March 9, 2020.

When requesting a duplicate ballot, remember to provide your current address and the last address on file with APFA for verification purposes.

Lot’s Going On – Here’s the Short List

• The election of our new National Officers is in about two weeks. March 9th to be exact. “Get Out the Vote.”  And as I’ve said, every vote matters.  Let your voice be heard!
• 45% of eligible Flight Attendants participated in the recent Negotiations survey. Thank you!
• We’ll be wearing new uniforms beginning March 2nd.American is the first and only airline to commit to having every garment across all of their uniform collections hold the STANDARD 100 certification by OEKO-TEX, the highest garment safety certification.
• American Airlines has extended the suspension of flying to and from the mainland China and Hong Kong from our Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Los Angeles (LAX) hubs through April 24th.
• AA announced three new satellite bases: Austin (AUS), Las Vegas (LAS) and Orlando (MCO).  Flying from LAS will start with the April bid month, while AUS and MCO will start in May.
• American has extended the return to service of the 737 MAX aircraft to Aug. 18, 2020.
• We’ll begin nonstop service between Seattle and Bangalore Kempegowda International Airport (BLR) this October. Additionally, we’ll begin nonstop service from Seattle to London Heathrow (LHR) in March 2021.

As members of the world’s largest independent Flight Attendant Union, I’d like to ask for your help to strengthen APFA and all of our country’s unions by showing your unity and solidarity on the line. How can you help? Wear your APFA Union pin. Join the Member Activist program! You’ll be one of the firsts to receive accurate and factual information to share on the line. Thank you. Fly safe. — Lori Bassani, APFA National President

Sign up here.

Board of Directors Annual Convention – March 2-5, 2020

The APFA Board of Directors will meet next month for their 2020 Annual Convention.  This year’s convention will be held in Los Angeles at the Sheraton Universal Hotel – a longtime union property.  Members in good standing are welcome to attend all open portions of the meeting.

Sheraton Universal
333 Universal Hollywood Drive
Universal City, California 91608
March 2-5, 2020
0900-1700

Full minutes of the meeting will be available on the APFA website 30 days following adjournment.

APFA Celebrates Black History Month – “Did You Know?”

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.

More Seminars are in the works, stay tuned!
Everyone is welcome regardless of base or seniority – no need to RSVP.

It’s never too early to start planning for retirement.

Lands’ End Uniform Cutover – March 2nd

Members have expressed concern regarding the upcoming cut-over date as it relates to transitioning from the current uniform to the new Lands’ End Collection March 2nd, and the cleaning of our aircraft. APFA met with the Company to address these concerns.  The company informed us that the aircraft fleet would undergo an extensive clean prior to the March 2nd cut-over.

APFA remains confident in the new Lands’ End uniform garments as every piece in the collection has received the STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX certification — the highest garment certification available.
Anyone in the operation should wear the current uniform through March 1st. If flying a trip that crosses the hard cut-over date, bring your new Lands’ End uniform to begin wearing in the operation on March 2nd and beyond.

On March 2nd, only the Lands’ End uniform collection will be permitted. If you are beginning a red-eye flight the evening of March 1st (departing after 10 p.m. local time), you should wear your new Lands’ End uniform, as the majority of your time in the operation will be on March 2nd, particularly in the arrival airport on March 2nd.

If you’re on an On Duty All Night (ODAN) flight departing after 10 p.m. local time on March 1st, you should wear the new Lands’ End uniform. If your ODAN departs earlier than 10 p.m. local time, you should wear your current uniform.

If your uniform is back ordered and you have not received enough pieces of the Lands’ End uniform to wear March 2nd, contact the Uniform team immediately at [email protected].

Survey Complete

Thank you for your participation in the most recent Negotiations survey, which closed on February 18^th. The data will be collected and combined with all of the data we have received thus far. A total of 9,413 Flight Attendants, or 45% of eligible Flight Attendants, participated in the survey.

All of this data will guide us as we move into the Scheduling, Hours of Service, and Reserve sections of negotiations.

As of today, there have been 5,149 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.