8.20.22 – Negotiations Update #17

Saturday, August 20, 2022

Negotiations Update #17

Negotiations continued in DFW on August 10th and 11th. During these sessions, we furthered discussions on Section 10 – Scheduling. As mentioned in the last hotline, we are approaching Section 10 in phases due to its complexity. In addition to the details provided below, you may view status updates for all the opened sections on the Negotiations Status page of the APFA website.

For those who have not viewed our webpage, we are dedicated to transparency during this process. When reviewing the Negotiations Status updates to the individual sections, please keep in mind these are updates to ongoing negotiations. It is not uncommon to have numerous proposals passed between the parties on the same section over several months. You may see much back and forth between the parties, and either or both parties holding firm in their respective positions.

Section 10 – Scheduling 

TTS/UBL

We maintained our proposal for significant improvements to TTS/UBL, which we detailed in our last hotline, including trading for a more negative day(s) with or without overlap between the days. We remain dedicated to our proposal because it is the primary way to increase flexibility. As mentioned last week, the Company proposed to allow Reserves access to TTS/UBL on their days off and released days (like ETB today), but with some new restrictions because of the new 10-hour rest requirement (yet to be implemented). Our response incorporated the new FAR while aligning with the current restrictions in ETB as much as possible.

PBS Properties/ PBS Reserve Bidding

This week, we also passed our initial proposal for updating the PBS properties. First, we want to memorialize the current capabilities in contractual language. We also proposed contractual language for new properties, including prefer position order by aircraft, prefer speaker-required pairings by language, and some generic reserve bidding properties to simplify reserve bidding. For instance, instead of bidding specific days on the calendar like we do today, Reserves could use a layer to designate the number of consecutive days off they would prefer or use a layer to preference their reserve work block size.

Staffing

We also passed our initial proposal to the Company to address our staffing deficiencies. Our proposal included a staffing chart that would return our staffing to pre-COVID levels. We worked through the pandemic, staffing reductions, and FAA record-setting passenger altercations on and off the aircraft. We are being pushed to the limit with oversold planes, missing supplies and amenities, and have revenue standby lists pages deep. We are working harder “post-COVID” with fewer Flight Attendants and are exhausted. A staffing chart in the contract is the first step in protecting the Membership from further degradation.

Satellite Bases

Finally, we passed our initial proposal for satellite bases. The proposal includes an important improvement to the current language. Currently, the Company has sole discretion to open a satellite base, and either party may only terminate the entire program. Our proposal was for mutual agreement in opening and closing a satellite base(s). Within the satellite itself, we have proposed that open time should be modernized into our current systems to give those interested in satellite flying equal access. For example, we proposed a new “tab” to ETB to separate satellite postings from the rest of the posts to make it more straightforward.

We also proposed that the Company incorporate satellite sequence postings into the ONE notification system so that all Flight Attendants signed up to receive the notification will be alerted simultaneously. Most importantly, we proposed that the Company provide parking at both the crew base/co-terminal and satellite (if requested) if the two stations are within 250 miles of each other, as this is a concern we have consistently heard from over half of our bases. If the Company cannot secure parking from the airport, they will arrange for equivalent parking at the satellite base at no cost to the Flight Attendant.

Next Meeting/ Stay Up-to-Date

Our next sessions with the Company will be September 7th and 8th. Please keep up-to-date with the status of our Negotiations by visiting the Negotiations Status page on the APFA website. This page will be updated after each session with management.

Click here to update your information with APFA.

Click here to subscribe to the APFA Hotlines.

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• Keep up-to-date on negotiations.
• Discuss info with your flying partners.
• Encourage your flying partners to support actions to pressure the Company to agree to our demands.

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In Solidarity,

Your APFA Negotiating Committee

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

[email protected]