7.31.20 – APFA CLT Base Brief – Friday, July 31, 2020

Friday, July 31, 2020

Good Day CLT Flight Attendants,

This past week, the sign-ups for the Extended Leaves of Absence and the Voluntary Early Out Program (VEOP) have ramped up the calls. This is a big decision and there are many questions. The Company has decided to extend the deadline for the sign up to August 12th and have added a shorter option of 6 months and 8 months. The new Short-Term Leave of Absence (STLOA), is similar to the ones we already have, but there are some major differences. To view the complete terms and conditions of the new STLOA, click here.

For some who have flying in their blood, the decision to take a long break or separate deserves full consideration to make this decision. APFA has a dedicated team taking calls to answer your questions so you can have all the information to make the best decision for you. You can contact APFA National Reps at 817-540-0108, prompt 9 for VEOP, EVLOA and STLOA questions, or use the live chat app available on APFA.org and peruse the frequently asked questions. Your local reps can also walk you through the process at 704-665-7474. APFA has set up several virtual town halls and CLT has held 3 Virtual Base Briefs on Zoom to answer questions also. If you would like to sign up for our local Virtual Briefs, send a request, along with an email address you would like the invitation to be sent, to [email protected] or [email protected]. We provide local updates every week and allow for questions in this interactive format.

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Charlotte Retirement Town Hall Audio/Video

Click Here: APFA CLT Virtual Retirement Town Hall

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Cares Act Extension

While others have said they think the extension of the CAREs act will pass congress, the bill has not been signed yet. We are encouraging everyone to contact your congressman to support this important bill. An extension of the cares act can save airline jobs, wages and help to ensure our long-term survivability.

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Transfers

Transfers are usually processed 3 months prior and October transfers would have been out this week. APFA and the company have delayed the October transfers due to the amount of people who will be taking the EVLOAs, VEOPs and STLOAs. With so many people being removed from the flying list, the need to open several bases for vacancy transfers is anticipated. Transfer bids effective in October will now be open on August 7th and close on August 15th. Vacancy transfers will be open to all active, inactive, EVLOA and STLOA flight attendants. To qualify for this vacancy transfer, you will need to complete the required equipment qualifications for your new base by November 1st. Vacancy transfers will be processed first, and then mutual transfers. Mutual transfers must have their qualifications completed PRIOR to the August 15th award date. Those wishing to bid a transfer for November will now have a bidding date opening August 23rd. A complete breakdown concerning the new timelines and requirements can be found on APFA.org.

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Delayed Timelines for September Bidding

There will be a delay in the opening and closing of the LRD and PBS in August for the September bid month. With so many people taking the early outs and leaves, it was necessary to adjust the timelines to mirror the actual staffing needed for September. The new opening and closing dates will be as follows:

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Face Masks/Face Shields

On July 29th, American is strengthening their face mask policy for both passengers and employees. Wearing a face mask is now required. For those of you who had an exemption through the ADA process, these will no longer be accepted. The company will contact those Flight Attendants who qualified for an ADA exemption and present them options. Wearing a mask is now mandatory and the company has said they will proceed with discipline for those who fail to comply. If you have passengers who fail to comply, report this to the Captain and fill out a CERs report. American has said passengers who are not able to wear a face mask will not be allowed to fly. No shirt, No shoes, No mask- No service.

Face shields have now been approved for use by our Flight Attendants. We have worked with the company and the FAA to get this extra protection allowed while inflight. The shields are an addition to the masks, they do not replace them, you may were a mask and a face shield, but not just the face shield alone.

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Safety Updates

Safety and security remain our chief concern. Each month we review the safety reports submitted through the CERs reports. The largest volume of safety violations involves passengers NOT wearing face masks. With the implementation of the Company’s new face mask policy, we hope to see more compliance with this issue. Here is a rundown of the safety issues that have been reported;

For the first time we can remember, there were NO FUME EVENTS reported in the month of June.

Passenger illness ——- 22  (includes possible COVID-19-related reports)
Passenger misconduct ——-54
Passenger intoxication ——-9 (this is decreasing)
Passenger injuries ———1
Aircraft with mechanical issues —-1
Passenger lost or stolen property — 1
Security concerns ——– 2
Slide deployments (Attributed to CLT FAs) —- 0

We did have a few turbulence incidents recently that did result in FA injuries. Summer weather means thunderstorms, thunderstorms mean turbulence. Remain vigilant, communicate with the flight deck and adhere to the safety procedures when encountering bumpy rides.

If you have been notified of a possible COVID-19 exposure, or have a positive test for the virus, remember to fill out the COVID-19 report posted on APFA.org. We are tracking the exposures and trying to keep real numbers on how the virus is impacting our ranks.

Click here to fill out the Covid19 Exposure Report: COVID-19 Exposure Report Form

As you can see, the normal volume and frequency of safety related events is down drastically. This is due to the reduced schedule, a smaller overall load factor and the fact that our maintenance department has more time to spend working on the airplanes. We are pleased to see these numbers but are reminding everyone to remain vigilant, a perfectly routine flight can turn quickly into a major safety event.

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The Charlotte team wants to thank everyone for your continued commitment to excellence during this difficult time. Things are still changing weekly and we are committed to providing you with the most up to date information so you can make informed decisions. If you need someone to talk to during these trying times, we have EAP services available or you can just give us a call on the local phone line.

Take care of each other and yourselves. ~ The Charlotte APFA Team

In Solidarity,

Scott Hazlewood
APFA CLT Base President
[email protected]