11.07.21 – Negotiations Update #6: Sunday, November 7, 2021

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Negotiations Update #6

Negotiations continued in DFW from October 25th through the 28th. During these sessions, we continued work on the remaining open sections from the September session. We continued to move forward on these sections.

Section 22 – Filling of Vacancies

This section is almost finalized. The remaining open issue is how to get more mutuals in multiway swaps while protecting seniority. This will be discussed at our November session.

Section 23 – Reduction in Force

We reached a Tentative Agreement on this section. One issue in which we were able to improve was improving the look back period for determining severance pay. This changes the look back to the most recent 12 active full months in the preceding 24-month period.

Section 27 – Injury on Duty

We tabled this section, meaning we will deal with the remaining open issues later in bargaining.  The remaining open issues include the length of the pay protection where the Union is proposing a full 180 days versus the company’s proposal to utilize a method which at times does not provide a full six months of pay protection. Your bargaining team is also seeking longer periods of paid insurance and longevity. We believe Flight Attendants injured in the course of duty deserve strong protection. We are also attempting to secure language protecting a Flight Attendant who seeks medical attention in fume events from receiving attendance points.

Section 29 – Training

Your APFA bargaining team passed a proposal on training. One of the significant issues here will be the pay for training. Since that is an economic matter, it will be discussed later in negotiations, but we put the company on notice that the current $75 is not enough. Another issue discussed was the inequity of DFW-based Flight Attendants not receiving hotels and positive space to attend training. Commuting is a way of life in this industry, and DFW-based commuters deserve the same protections as Flight Attendants in other bases.

Section 34 – Safety

This section has a couple of open issues, including a fatigue risk management program and APFA proposed language on infectious diseases.

Section 38 – Crew Rest

The Crew Rest section of the agreement is a very detailed section that delineates when and in what seats/bunks crew rest is provided. We spent a lot of time this week going over this important section. The company has dropped certain proposals which would have worsened crew rest by eliminating crew rest for flights between seven (7) and eight (8) hours. However, we remain apart on several issues. Your bargaining team seeks to secure dedicated crew rest seats on overnight flights with over 12-hour duty days and long-range domestic flights.

We will meet again with the Company on November 8th-11th.

In Solidarity,

Your APFA Negotiating Committee

Sara Corrigan
Kelly J. Hagan
Julie Hedrick
Timothy Legeros
Brian Morgan
Wendy Oswald
Susan Wroble
Joe Burns, Lead Negotiating Attorney

[email protected]