7.01.22 – Management Files Grievance Against APFA

Friday, July 1, 2022

Management Files Grievance Against APFA

Over the last year, we have been aggressively working to address the dysfunctional grievance and arbitration systems at American Airlines. This includes pushing for an overall process in negotiations but also aggressively pushing forward issues using the process in the Quarterly System Board (QSB), which provides for prompter resolution of disputes. The contract is crystal clear- APFA has the right to determine whether to process a dispute as a Presidential grievance or through the QSBs.

For years, management has relied on this flawed process to delay settling disputes under our contract. At American Airlines, over the last decade we have seen a fraction of arbitrations that we find at other unionized carriers. That only benefits management. We are aggressively pushing to change the process, but management is resisting.

On Friday, June 10, 2022, American Airlines took another step in its assault on Flight Attendants and the union by filing a “Management Grievance” to further obstruct the grievance process that protects our Flight Attendants and upholds our contractual language. In violation of clear contractual language, management is improperly attempting to dictate and control how APFA processes grievances.

What is our process for hearing a Flight Attendant Grievance?

The AA/APFA grievance procedure is contained in Sections 30 and 31 of the JCBA. If grievances cannot be resolved at lower steps of the process, the final step is binding arbitration in front of the System Board of Adjustment (SBA), which is comprised of a neutral arbitrator and members from management and the union. Individual, group, and base grievances are heard by the Quarterly System Board (QSB) panel four times per year, and Presidential Grievances are scheduled on a case-by-case basis.

What is the Issue?

APFA brought forward numerous individual, group, and base grievances, which were scheduled to be heard at the June 15th QSB arbitration. As part of a continuing effort to delay the resolution of contractual violations, management claimed that several of these grievances should not be heard at QSB and filed a grievance against APFA. This violates JCBA Sections 30 and 31 and denies Flight Attendants the ability to have their grievances heard and resolved. Management has made it clear they want to violate our contract with zero accountability.

What is APFA doing to thwart these delay tactics by management?

Yesterday, APFA filed its response denying management’s grievance in its entirety. Management’s claim that APFA has violated the grievance procedure is unsupported by the JCBA language and frankly is absurd. It is management that has blatantly violated our contractual grievance procedure and must be held accountable.

APFA is also negotiating changes to Sections 30 and 31 because it is clear that management has zero respect for our current process. As stated in the recent negotiations hotline, the grievance process at American needs a major overhaul. Some of APFA’s proposed changes include:

• Eliminating the idea of a “neutral” arbitrator that works for American Airlines.
• Eliminate joint training with American management.
• Union controls the scheduling of arbitrations.
• A set number of prescheduled arbitration dates per year (we are proposing 80) that we can slot cases in to speed up the process for Flight Attendants.
• Better access to documents necessary for the proceedings.

Management’s refusal to process grievances is a shameful denial of Flight Attendants’ right to due process under the JCBA. We must fight for Flight Attendants’ grievances to be heard and resolved.

In Solidarity,

Larry Salas
APFA National Vice President