8.01.22 – APFA ORD Base Brief – Monday, August 1, 2022

Monday, August 1, 2022

Happy August Chicago! This has been a busy summer filled with a lot of hot topics. We know there are constant updates from both APFA and the Company regarding various topics. We wanted to highlight one issue that affects all of us: Attendance.

Mandatory Meeting Representation
In Chicago, and all across the system, we have seen a severe uptick in the number of meetings Flight Attendants are being asked to attend. As a reminder, JCBA Section 35.R. defines your contractual right to have Union Representation present for all meetings with the company. Please reach out if you are asked to attend a meeting, you are not alone and always allowed representation.

Attendance Policy Background
On October 1, 2018, American Airlines unveiled a new Attendance Policy. This policy is divided into two parts: Attendance and Performance.

In 2018, APFA filed a Presidential Grievance over the Attendance Policy.

On February 27, 2020 the Arbitrator’s award was handed down. This award had a variety of positive changes from the original policy. Read the February 2020 hotline by clicking here.

Shortly after, in March 2020 COVID-19 was impacting the health and wellbeing of all of us. Everyone was encouraged to stay home if you were sick or exposed. At this time the Company essentially paused the progression of Flight Attendants under the Attendance Policy. They eventually erased sick calls that spanned from March 2020 through August 2021.

Over the years people have become accustomed to sick calls not being held against you. Let us be very clear: that is no longer the case. With COVID amnesty no longer being around, this means that this policy is in full effect. The Attendance Policy is being strictly enforced consistently across all bases; we have seen a vast increase in terminations related to attendance.

We want to take the opportunity to encourage everyone to review their MyView. If you see anything that gives you cause for concern, be sure to reach out to your AFSM as soon as possible. Each person has their own set of circumstances, and we will support you and defend your rights as you move through the Attendance Policy process. Please know that the Company is laser focused on enforcing this policy consistently across the board. Protect yourself and please ensure you are keeping an eye on your attendance.

We encourage everyone to review their MyView as well as the Flight Attendant Attendance & Performance Program.

If you find irregularities on your MyView and wish to challenge any attendance point(s) reach out to your Attendance Flight Service Manager (AFSM) and request mitigation. If your AFSM is unwilling to mitigate and you feel the point(s) are not warranted, you have 10 days to file a Notice of Dispute (NOD) contesting the points.

Illinois KinCare and FMLA
There are a variety of ways you can protect yourself should you find yourself needing to be away from work. Please take a moment to review your options should you find yourself needing time off to care for yourself or a loved one:

Illinois Sick Reminder – This allows you to call out sick for a family member and have it recoded to be non-chargeable.

• The first 27 paid sick hours you choose to have recoded to KinCare can be recoded. These hours are not additional sick time.

It is suggested you keep a tab for yourself on how many hours you have chosen to recode to KinCare. There is no separate list advising you if you have more time available.

Even if you have 1 minute of KinCare left, and have sick time available, you can have that sick call recoded to be non-chargeable KinCare.

• This enables you to call out sick to care for: Child, stepchild, spouse, domestic partner, sibling, parent, mother/father-in-law, grandchild, grandparent or stepparent.

The only thing you need to do to have this recoded is to send your AFSM an email within 48 hours of the absence. The message to your AFSM simply needs to advise them your sick call was related to your family member asking them to recode to Illinois KinCare.

The specifics are explained in this recent APFA ORD Base Brief. If you have questions, please reach out to either your AFSM or one of us.

FMLA: The Family Medical Leave Act allows for absences to be recoded to a non-chargeable status to care for yourself or a loved one. The Company has created a new avenue for applying/reviewing FMLA cases. Review the recent APFA Hotline regarding Absence Tracker.

As always, please reach out if you have questions. We are here to help.

In Solidarity, 

Susan Wroble
APFA ORD Base President
(630) 802-2268
[email protected]

Dray Howard
APFA ORD Base Vice President
(630) 215-8410
[email protected]

Justin Patterson
APFA ORD Base Council Representative
(509) 720-0067
[email protected]