7.19.21 – APFA CLT Base Brief – July 19, 2021

Monday, July 19, 2021

Good Day CLT Flight Attendants,

We thought we’d take some time and talk about safety. We have recently seen a drastic spike in assaults on Flight Attendants, which we cannot tolerate in our work environment. This summer has been challenging enough with a brutal trip construction model, scheduling and staffing issues, and the continued contract violations. The continued verbal and physical abuse needs to be addressed now. Our National Leadership Team is collaborating with other labor Unions, management, and government agencies to find solutions to protect us when we come to work. What can you do? The most important thing you can do is remain vigilant and be alert for the warning signs. While boarding, report aggressive behavior, look for signs of intoxication and report any suspicious behavior while you are still on the ground. Fill out the CERs reports, provide as much relevant detail as possible. Remember your training and use de-escalation techniques when possible. With the 20th anniversary of 9/11 just around the corner, it is important that if you see something, say something.

You should always be prepared for the worst and use your training to defend yourself. This may be the only recourse you have to prevent serious bodily harm. We will continue working on this from our end, but you need to be aware that physical assaults are now a reality for our crews. The TSA is now offering Crew Member Self Defense training here in Charlotte. This no-cost training provides four hours of training to prepare active crew members of all domestic carriers for potential physical altercations both on and off the aircraft. The dates for Charlotte are July 29th, August 18th, and September 15th  – 8 am to 12 pm. You can call 703-487-3309 for more information or click the link below to fill out an online registration form. Crewmembers who have attended this training have reported that this is a fantastic, intense training that opens your eyes to the threats we face and how to react to them.

TSA Crew Member Self Defense Training

From Your Charlotte Safety Reports

• Fume/Odor Events- 2   Flight Attendants taken to hospital – 4
• Passengers ill on aircraft- 86   Possible Covid- 0
• Passenger Misconduct- 269
  • Refused to wear masks-125
  • Intoxicated – 17
  • Miscellaneous Misconduct -77
  • Smoking Violations- 12
  • Passenger Fights on aircraft-3
  • Passengers Removed from Aircraft- 33
  • Passengers Videoing the Crew- 2
  • Vape Pen put Into Trash- 1
  • Passengers Videoing the Crew- 2
  • Vape Pen put Into Trash- 1

• Turbulence Events- 3   Flight Attendants injured- 2
• Passenger Live Animals being removed- 8
• Flight Attendant Injuries- 3
• Passenger Injuries- 9
• Possible Human Trafficking- 2
• Assaults on crew members- Way too many!

The other issues we saw were mechanicals, hotel security, compliance issues, medical issues, police issues, documentation issues with LEOs and jumpseat riders, jetway issues, hot liquids, and extended tarmac delays.

This summer has shown a dramatic increase in the number of reports filed. Reporting incidents is the only way to become aware of the problems and find solutions to resolve our issues. Use the CERs and the ASAP reporting systems. These are some of the best resources we have to make our workplace safer.

Cancellation of the EVLOAs
The company announced this week they would recall all Flight Attendants currently on an EVLOA. They will be returning in November and December, and balloting is now open. Those on a leave will have the option to return in November and December or resign/retire. Returns will be based on seniority. If you do not ballot, returns will be completed in inverse seniority order beginning in November.

Three hundred three (303) Flight Attendants are slated to return to Charlotte. This number is preliminary; we do not know how many will elect to return or retire or how many will be returning each month. When you return from a leave, your reserve rotation will be the first month you return – IF YOUR SENIORITY IS SLATED FOR RESERVE. Some people will elect to retire. This will create vacancies that will be open for transfers and should be good news for our displaced Flight Attendants who have been patiently waiting to get back into Charlotte through the priority of return list.

The company anticipates adding time to the system, and they will need a full complement of Flight Attendants to staff the operation through the holidays and into next year. They have announced they will be hiring new Flight Attendants starting next year. Any numbers at this point would be a guess as we do not know how many of the EVLOAs will return and exactly how much flying will come back.

If you are slated to return, please click here to link to the APFA hotline that will explain how the returns will work and the required training you will need.

Returns by seniority are as follows: