4.14.23 – Negotiations Update #23

Friday, April 14, 2023

Negotiations Update #23

Thank you to everyone every who joined us on the picket line throughout the system on April 4th. The “We Are Ready!” luggage tags are in the mail to each Flight Attendant’s address on file with APFA. Once you receive your luggage tags, place them on your luggage before your next trip!

APFA filed for mediation on March 3rd. Eva Durham and Jack Stephan are our assigned mediators. Mediated sessions will start in June. Until that time, we are scheduled to meet with the company monthly. The Committee is now reviewing previously tabled sections to narrow our remaining differences before mediation. We started discussions with the company on Section 6-Crew Accommodation, Section 32-Union Business, Section 34-Safety, and Section 37-General, all of which are currently under company review.

APFA passed the economic proposal on March 7th, and we are still awaiting a company counterproposal.

We bargained with the company in March. During these sessions, the company and APFA exchanged updated proposals on Section 10- Scheduling and Section 12– Reserve. We are not seeing substantive changes in either section, so they will likely be tabled soon.

Section 10- Scheduling

We are close to agreement on:

• Last Minute Callout (LMCO) UBL for Lineholders and Reserve on days off.
• New language providing Reserve Flight Attendants last sequence/last series of the month pay protection.

Out-of-Base UBL Pickup

We have modified our position for out-of-base UBL pickup. Previously, we had proposed that those Flight Attendants would be awarded sequences after Aggressive Reserve processing but before Reserve assignment. The company had numerous concerns regarding the programming challenges of that proposal, so we had to adjust.

Our new language states that a Lineholder or Reserve on days off may pick up a sequence on UBL from another crew base after all in-base Lineholders and Reserves on days off have been processed. The company has not rejected this language, but they are concerned with additional programming requirements.

‘Cartel’ Activity

The company modified and we agreed to new language in Section 10.V to address cartel issues. The company proposal gave them sole discretion to choose the objective metrics used to determine if a Flight Attendant was using the scheduling systems to circumvent seniority. The agreed-upon language provides that APFA and the Company will mutually agree upon a process to address seniority abuse through an objective metric. Offenders may find themeslves restricted from TTS/UBL/ETB.

Section 12- Reserve Duty

Aggressive Hours

We have counter-proposed that the 40 hours for aggressive would only capture awarded aggressive hours. This would not include ROTA, vacation, etc.

Reserve trading days off with the company

We are very close to an agreement on a formal process for a Reserve to trade days off with the company. It will be similar to how TTS uses ballots and runs at the same time every night.

Process for Reserve Cancellation/Removal

We are very close on agreement to capturing the current process for Reserves who experience a cancellation or removal and do not have a RAP for that day or the following day.

Process for Reserves who report to the airport but do not fly (due to a short call)

Today, these Reserves are often “lost.” We are very close to an agreement that these Reserves will be placed on Standby (earning pay and credit) for the remainder of their RAP (not to exceed 6 hours) or be released.

Availability Outside of RAP

The company is holding firm on expanding the obligation of a reserve in a co-terminal to three (3) hours outside their RAP (currently, all bases are two (2) hours).

Reserve Trade/Drop in ETB

The company has consistently proposed/counter-proposed/re-proposed removing the ability for a Reserve to trade/drop a reserve sequence in ETB. Again, we are not interested!

Next Meeting/ Stay Up-to-Date

Our next meeting with the company is April 17th-18th.
Have you visited the Negotiations page of the APFA website?

click image above to view the Negotiations webpage

We are committed to transparency throughout this negotiations process. When reviewing the negotiations status updates to the individual sections, please keep in mind these are updates to ongoing negotiations. It is common to have numerous proposals passed between the parties on the same section over several months. Because of this, you may see much back and forth between the parties, and either or both parties holding firm in their respective positions.

Although the company may have rejected a proposed item from APFA, it does not mean the item is no longer in discussion, as it may be reworded or presented again with reviewed changes. When reading these highlights from ongoing negotiations, remember that Section 6 Negotiations afford both parties (APFA and company) the opportunity to seek changes to the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement.

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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.

Click here to join the Contract ACTION Team

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]