10.23.20 – APFA CLT Base Brief – Friday, October 23, 2020

Friday, October 23, 2020

Good Day CLT Flight Attendants,

The times in which we live have become the most challenging for the airline industry in aviation history. This pandemic continues to impact all of us both in our professional careers and our personal lives. Many of our brothers and sisters have been furloughed, chosen to take early retirements, or have taken leaves of absences. Trip construction has changed, and many of the usual destinations we were accustomed to flying to are gone. The passengers have changed to leisure travelers unfamiliar with our policies or regulations. Trying to maintain our own personal protections from the virus continues to be a challenge with longer duty days, multiple legs, and shorter overnights. Social distancing, wearing masks, and constant disinfecting or hand washing in our work environment remains a challenge.

Our Flight Attendants have remained resilient and adapted to all the changes with incredible professionalism and grace through these challenges. Your union reps are grateful and humbled by your commitment to excellence during these trying times.

We have not given up on our congressional leaders passing an extension of the payroll support program. Unfortunately, this important legislation is being used as a political issue as we get closer to the November election, but we must not lose our momentum. Continue to call and email your congressional leaders and press them to pass this legislation; we are real people who need real healthcare and jobs to support our families.

We encourage anyone who is feeling the stress of the new reality to reach out to our EAP if you need some help during these turbulent times. EAP reps are available by calling 817-540-0108 Extension 8701.

We are also asking that you utilize the professional standards program for settling complaints and disputes rather than writing each other up to the company. The company continues to overreact and issue major discipline for minor issues; keep in mind we are all going through the same stresses, but it may manifest differently from person to person. You can contact professional standards through the local union line at 704-665-7474.

PBS Misaward Process

The company has eliminated the FABRC, which has created a vacuum in assisting our FAs during the PBS misaward process. This is a contractual item, and the company has added new procedures starting with the November bid cycle. On the Flight Attendant Portal, a new support tab has been added to the links option. On the header, click on LINKS, and you will see a new support tab. You will be able to submit forms for the following systems:

PBS: Award Challenges, dashboard information issues, system feedback.
LRD: Reserve rotation questions, LH/RSV status questions.
Vacation: All vacation inquiries.
All other systems: For technical feedback issues.

You can find information about the new misaward challenge process by clicking here.

Reserve Information

With the holiday approaching and our reduced headcount, the reality that more of us will have to rotate to reserve is real. APFA Charlotte has provided an online reserve class, and due to its popularity, we will be scheduling another one as we get closer to December. You can take some time to familiarize yourself with the reserve system by going to Crew Change on the flight service website. The complete ROTA guide is listed here as well as training videos to walk you through how to use it. We will keep you updated on any changes and let you know when our next training class will be offered.

FAA Check Rides

The FAA will be increasing the number of compliance checks in the next few weeks. They will be looking specifically at several things, including the tablets and minimum crew violations. Please adhere to the minimum crew guidelines and the scan off process. Ensure your tablet is up-to-date and fully charged for each duty day. If you encounter issues with your tablet, visit the crew service center and have the problems addressed and documented with the Flight Service Department.

Contact Information

If you changed your address or have been furloughed, please update your contact information with the company and APFA. You can log into the APFA website and click on the ‘members’ tab to update your info. For those on furlough, your company email is no longer viewable, so you will need to provide a personal email to receive updates and information. For more information on how to update your personal information with APFA and the company, please reference the recent Contract Department hotline by clicking here.

Social Media

The company continues to crackdown on social media posts they deem inappropriate. You may post something to a private page, and the post is shared on other sites where anyone can view it. We have seen a recent trend in furloughed Flight Attendants posting pictures of their company ID. This is a violation of the safety policy, and the FAA has taken notice.

Unemployment Resources

APFA has an Unemployment Resources page to assist you in completing applications and filing your weekly certifications. You may also visit the CLT/RDU Flight Attendant Unemployment Support Facebook page for help with the North Carolina forms specifically. To date, our national reps have assisted in getting over 1.8 million dollars to our members who may have been denied or encountered problems with the application process. You may reach an Unemployment Specialist at [email protected].

CLT Support and Referral Services

APFA Charlotte has created a Facebook page where you can offer and peruse services for our furloughed Flight Attendants or any member going through a transition in their life. The site is set up like a marketplace site, and you may find you have something to offer or find the help you need during this transition period. We are hoping to expand this site and create a long-lasting resource of Flight Attendants helping Flight Attendants.

Virtual Base Briefs

We are continuing our Virtual Base Briefs through the ZOOM format, where we provide updates and allow our members to ask questions in an online format. In the past few weeks, we have been using the format to offer training on reserve, unemployment, and furloughs. The weekly updates will resume next Friday. If you would like to receive an invitation to join us, send a personal email address to [email protected], and we will add you to our list. We have these briefs a few times a month, and you will receive an invitation each time. Join us when you can; we love seeing our fellow Flight Attendants without masks on.

Pandemic Leave Policy

The company has made some changes to the pandemic leave policy. If you are notified of exposure while at work, they will ask if you had more than a 15-minute exposure to the passenger identified. If you answer yes, you will be entitled to a 14-day pandemic leave to quarantine. You will need to contact your FSM and apply for the Pandemic Leave by filling out a form on Jetnet. You may get a free test at the Clinic. If you test positive, remember to fill out an Injury on Duty (IOD) claim.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions concerning the Pandemic Leave Policy:

I have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19. Am I eligible for two weeks of paid pandemic leave?

Yes. The pandemic leave application should indicate the day of exposure as the start date or the day you were told to quarantine by a health care professional.

I am awaiting test results of COVID -19 testing. Am I eligible for pandemic pay until the test results and get paid, whether positive or not?

Yes and no. The leave start date would be based on the date tested. If the results are negative, you may not qualify for the entire two weeks.

I have tested positive. Am I eligible for the two weeks of pandemic pay?

Yes. It does not matter if contracted it at work or through personal contacts. Any positive test qualifies you for the leave.

Who qualifies for the pandemic leave?

Pandemic leave applies to any US-Based team member who is active and not on any other consecutive leave.

You will qualify if you quarantine for any of the following reasons:

-Awaiting test results
-Exposure to a confirmed case of the virus or disease
-Confirmed diagnosis of the virus or disease

If you test positive or are notified of exposure the company is not aware of, you will need to contact your FSM and apply for the leave. While this process is happening, you may have to call crew scheduling and call in sick. When the leave is approved, your sick call will be covered under the pandemic leave policy.

Your National Leadership and Base Presidents will be meeting next week in DFW for our Fall BOD meeting. As you can imagine, there are several items we need to address as we move forward. While we will be in DFW, The APFA Charlotte Team is always here to assist you in any way possible. We can be reached at 704-665-7474.

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

In Solidarity,

Scott Hazlewood
APFA CLT Base President
[email protected]