8.14.24 – Reduction in Staffing Presidential Arbitration Update

Reduction in Staffing
Presidential Arbitration Update

Wednesday, August 14, 2024

We wanted to update you on the Reduction in Staffing Presidential Arbitration held in April.

APFA and Company will submit closing briefs to the Arbitrator on August 16, 2024. Once the Arbitrator receives the closing briefs, they will review the case in its entirety and render their decision. We understand the wait is incredibly frustrating. Unfortunately, there is no set timeline for the Arbitrator to submit their response. With a case this complex, historically, we’ve seen arbitrators take several months to review the case and submit their ruling.

As stated in previous hotlines, APFA compiled an incredible amount of data and thoroughly analyzed Flight Attendant duties and tasks. We focused on the impact of the staffing reductions on the affected aircraft when flown on International Premium Destination (IPD), American Flagship Service (AFS), and Hawaii Flagship Service (HFS) routes.

APFA presented a compelling case based on the facts and the testimony of many exceptional Flight Attendants. Each Flight Attendant who testified had decades of experience and worked exclusively on the aircraft included in this grievance.

These Flight Attendants testified to the complexities of providing superior service to our customers and doing so with fewer Flight Attendants. Hearing directly from our Flight Attendants about their struggles following the staffing reductions profoundly affected the arbitration hearing.

APFA also called on our aviation expert Diane Damos (with whom we worked on the last staffing arbitration) to question and provide a rebuttal to the conclusions made by the company’s consultants. Ms. Damos questioned the scientific preparation, methodologies, and analysis provided in the company’s case.

We look forward to a ruling that reinstates staffing to previous levels on the affected aircraft and provides understaffing backpay to thousands of Flight Attendants forced to work these understaffed flights.

In Solidarity,