Dues Restructure
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Open Mon-Fri 9:00a-5:00p CT
Ballot Measure Voting Opens Dec 17, 2024
Vote OPENS: Dec 17, 2024 at 12:00pm CT
Vote CLOSES: Jan 16, 2025 at 12:00pm CT
VOTE OPENS IN:
Ballot Measures
Why Now?
Operating expenses have continuously increased since our last dues increase in 2001. With the 2024 contract ratification, operating costs have substantially increased, impacting the services APFA provides our Members.
Why these Ballot Measures?
- Strengthen our bargaining power
- Invest in Worker protection
- Build long-term sustainability
- Lay the groundwork for current and future generations to continue the class-struggle fight
Reform Measures taken by APFA to ensure dues are spent effectively:
- Capped the hours a Union Representative can be paid
- National Officer relocation fee adjustment
- Meal reimbursement limitations
- Discontinued mileage and public transportation reimbursement
- Increased dues and non-dues money recovery
- Implemented additional limitations on National Officer apartments
- Increased required workday obligation for all APFA Representatives
- Added additional policy language to protect against future resigning or recalled National Officer exit agreements
- Reduced per diem of APFA Representatives
- When applicable, requires the use of APFA-provided transportation vs. other paid-for transportation options
Dear Members of APFA, As we continue to navigate an ever-changing economic landscape, it’s essential that our Union remains strong, resilient, and capable of advocating for the rights and well-being of all our Members. To continue providing and expanding the level of service, support, and resources our workforce deserves, we must ensure our Union has the financial foundation necessary to meet these challenges head-on. While the 2024 CBA was a monumental achievement for APFA, the airline industry, and the Labor Movement, it has presented its own set of unique challenges with how our Union operates.
After careful consideration, APFA is proposing a dues restructuring, with our last increase occurring over 20 years ago, in 2001. This adjustment is vital to maintaining services and developing new programs that directly benefit the Membership. The proposed dues restructure also ensures the strength of our collective bargaining power in securing better contracts, benefits, and working conditions for the future.
We understand that any restructuring of dues requires thoughtful reflection, and we are committed to ensuring that every dollar collected is used in ways that directly improve our collective strength and our future. To further this initiative, we have instituted several reform measures within APFA, which will be discussed later in this booklet.
Together, we can continue to build an effective Union that thrives in advocating for the best interests of Workers everywhere.
In Solidarity,
Why This Is Important
Within other Unions, changes to the Constitution are often done without Membership voting. At APFA, Members must vote on changes to the Constitution. This means that the Membership decides on items such as dues. This ensures that the power is in our hands to determine the financial strength and health of our Union.
The Ballot Measures featured in this booklet, along with significant reform previously implemented by the Board of Directors, are necessary to restore and maintain APFA as we know it today and ensure our vision of APFA in the future. APFA must remain financially sound, flexible, and able to respond to current and future challenges and opportunities.
Restructuring of Union dues is a necessary step. It is one that cannot be made without thoughtful and careful consideration. This informational booklet provides you with the facts necessary to make an informed decision. Restructuring of Union dues is necessary, and this singular change will impact the future of our Union for years to come.
We must preserve our contract gains. We must protect our Members’ rights. We must prepare for future fights! The power of APFA lies in the strength and solidarity of its Members.
Winning our contract was a key victory, but ongoing funding is crucial for our Union to protect gains, advocate for Workers, and prepare for future challenges.
Protecting and advancing Workers’ rights is an ongoing fight that requires our support to keep APFA at the forefront; a dues restructure will better equip us to defend Members and provide essential legal and grievance assistance.
Repurposing how we allocate APFA’s funds is crucial to continue evolving with Members’ needs.
Additional funds are essential to sustain critical services like grievance support and legal assistance, uphold contract implementation, and strengthen organizing efforts to protect our rights long-term.
Our recent contract fight proved the power of our Union’s collective strength; a dues restructure ensures that every Member contributes to sustaining this unity, strengthening Worker solidarity, and ultimately protecting and enhancing the livelihoods of all American Airlines Flight Attendants.
Where the Dues Go
Dues Dollar Breakdown
Negotiations & Negotiations Related Fund (NNRF)
- Negotiating Committee
- Professional attorney and Economist fees
- Training
- Picket and strike activity
- Swag (e.g., pins, t-shirts, bag tags, banners, and picket signs)
- Booklets (e.g., Strike Authorization Vote, Strike Handbook, TA Book)
- Call Center
- Social Media, videography, testimonials
- Technology (transparent negotiations online, online voting, website calculators, and other web resources)
- Contract Action Team (CAT) support in terminals
- Virtual town halls
- In-person base visits
- Professional Membership surveys
- Lodging, transportation, and meeting space
APFA Bases (BOS, CLT, DCA, DFW, LAX, LGA, MIA, ORD, PHL, PHX)
- Representation for meetings with management
- Attendance
- Performance
- Investigations: Human Resources, Ethics Point, Drug/Alcohol, Reasonable Suspicion, Social Media, Corporate Security, Travel Allegations
- Available to assist Members by phone/email/text
- Base communications: base briefs, townhalls
- New member base orientation and off probation meeting
- File Notices of Dispute (grievances)
- Staffing/Bid Sheets Analysis
APFA Nationals
National Departments
- Contract & Scheduling: Representatives via phone and live messaging, new Member program, contract training, contract enforcement.
- Communications: Representatives, Hotline/Base Brief Distribution, press releases, social media, town halls, news and media correspondence.
- Hotel: Representatives, hotel site visits, enforcing hotel and transportation CBA language, advocate for hotel and transportation accommodation issues.
- Safety & Security: Representatives, APFA Safety & Security hotline, Go-team, cabin LOSA, cabin air quality, cabin ASAP, monitor the APFA Notification System to provide support during critical incidents, training support, and company initiative creation and implementation.
- EAP/Professional Standards: Representatives, peer support, drug and alcohol support, training, CIRT.
- Health: Representatives, assistance with medical leaves, FMLA, maternity, company benefits, APFA supplemental benefits.
- Injury On Duty (IOD): Representatives, tracking of fume events, Worker’s compensation denial guidance, IOD compensation (salary continuance) assistance.
- Retirement: Representatives, retirement planning, Medicare, pensions, retiree benefits.
- Government Affairs: Representatives, lobbying, legislative affairs, PAC
- Archives: Historian, maintain and administer the history of APFA.
National Committees
- Negotiating Committee: Made up of 6 Flight Attendant Negotiators. 2-membership elected, 2-Board appointed, 2-President appointed. Responsible for negotiating the CBA.
- Ballot Committee: Conducts and manages balloting for base and national elections, tentative agreements, strike votes, and constitutional referenda.
- Budget Committee: In collaboration with the National Treasurer, sets the annual budget for bases and national departments and provides financial guidance to the Board of Directors.
- Executive Committee: Made up of 5 Ad-hoc Members and the 4 National Officers, this committee is authorized to act on behalf of and for the BOD. It can also interpret the Constitution subject to the approval of the BOD.
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee (DE&I): Instill and ensure compliance with internal DE&I measures, hold management accountable to DE&I standards, and support Member-led causes and initiatives.
Headquarters Maintenance
- Fixed Cost: Building maintenance and repairs, utilities, taxes, office supplies, printing, postage.
- APFA Technology: IT, data, hardware, software, and website development.
National Officers
- President: Oversees Negotiations, letters of agreement, national departments, CAT Team, all BOD and EC Meetings, town halls, and legislative and political initiatives.
- Vice President: Oversees SBA (grievance) department and 7 Regional Representatives, presidential grievances, termination grievances, CBA enforcement, and arbitrations.
- Secretary: Oversees Ballot Committee and voting and elections, meetings and events, education and training, Article VII administration, town halls, Member organizing, project management, and website development.
- Treasurer: Oversees financials, assets, office operations, accounting, dues, Membership, IT, data, and Budget Committee.
Special Funds
Special Funds are savings funds set aside for certain Union activities that can be rolled over year-to-year. This allows APFA to use funds from prior years for unexpected costs.
- Arbitration Fund: costs related to the preparation, research, and other expenses for arbitrations, including legal and professional fees.
- Education & Training Fund: costs related to Member and Representative trainings.
- Litigation Fund: costs related to litigation activity for known lawsuits.
- Meetings & Events Fund: costs related to Board of Directors meetings, Executive Committee meetings, and other special events.
- Voting & Elections Fund: all costs related to the administration of elections and any Membership votes.
APFA Staff
- Legal Department: Two staff attorneys and a legal assistant. Manages outside counsel, litigation, SBA grievances, and staff Union disputes. APFA Legal Council is there to represent our Union and defend our collective rights.
- Professionals: IT, Data, Web and Mobile Content.
- Clerical Support Staff: Accounting, Administrative, Dues, Membership and Headquarters Operations.
Modernizing & Improving APFA
To best serve Members, APFA must continue to evolve to meet the challenges and opportunities of today and tomorrow. Modernization is more than just updating our tools and processes; it’s about adapting our approach to remain strong, relevant, effective, and responsive. These modernization efforts ensure our Union is fit for the future without losing sight of the values of solidarity and equality that have always defined us.
APFA Modernization Initiatives
- Transparent negotiations
- Contract Action Team (CAT) mobilization
- EAP program and team expansion
- IT modernization
- APFA headquarters building modernization
- Upgraded phone system
- Virtual town halls
- Enhanced interactive New Member Program
- Labor Notes participation
- New APFA pins, T-shirts, and other swag
- Instituted in-house counsel
- Data department expansion
- Created a payment arrangement program
- Member access to Member records online (My Account)
Glossary of Terms
The governing document set forth and changed by the APFA membership. It outlines the Union’s rules, including APFA’s mission, Membership, government of APFA, finances, elections, committees, and ratification and strike procedures. The APFA Constitution grants the Board of Directors the authority to interpret and change the Policy Manual.
A comprehensive document that outlines the organization’s policies, procedures, and guidelines for various activities and operations.
An unpaid dues amount owed to APFA that is more than 60 days past due.
An individual item on the ballot to be voted on by the Membership. Ballot measures are voted on to change items in the APFA Constitution. Over 50% of the submitted ballots must vote yes for an individual ballot measure to pass. Each ballot measure is voted on separately.
A workplace where Membership in a Union is a condition for being hired, and the employees must always remain dues current to remain employed.
An agreement/contract ratified between the company and the Union.
An amount of money collected from all American Airlines Flight Attendants to operate the Union. Every Flight Attendant covered under the CBA must pay Union Dues per the Railway Labor Act (RLA).
A separate fund used for negotiations and negotiations-related items.
A formal dispute filed at the base level to challenge a violation of contractual language or company policy. This is often referred to as a grievance.
A contractual agreement between the company and the Union created during the negotiations period. Members must ratify a TA to become a CBA.
APFA Structure
APFA National Representatives
All APFA representatives, apart from the headquarters staff employees, are line-qualified Flight Attendants. While the voting Board of Directors, comprised of the Base Presidents, is the primary decision-making body, all Representatives work together to ensure Members’ needs are met.
APFA Headquarters is in Euless, Texas, and houses the offices of the National Officers, the National Departments, National Committees, and support staff. APFA National is responsible for assisting our members with issues that directly affect you.
APFA Local Base Representatives
Locally, APFA maintains representation in all ten bases. This includes your Base President, Vice President, and Base Council Representatives (BCRs). They are available to assist you with day-to-day operations.
APFA Representatives: Who They Are
9 National Departments
4 National Officers
4 National Committees
10 Base Presidents
10 Base Vice Presidents
7 Regional Representatives
5 Ad-Hoc Members to the Executive Committee
11 Headquarter Departments
200+ Representatives/Stewards
16 Non-Flight Attendant Staff Employees
Countless Volunteers
Hotlines
11.26.24 – Reminder: 2024 Dues Restructuring Virtual Town Hall Today at 4pm CT
Join us for a Dues Restructuring Town Hall for information on the Ballot Measures that will be included in our Union restructuring. The town hall will be recorded and posted to our APFA Town Hall page a few days following the presentation.
Continue Reading11.24.24 – 11/20/24 Special BOD Meeting Recap/ Dues Restructuring Virtual Town Hall
November 20, 2024 Special Board of Directors Meeting Recap, Where can I find more information on our Dues Restructuring?, 2024 Dues Restructuring Virtual Town Hall: Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Continue ReadingJoin us for a Dues Restructuring Town Hall for information on the Ballot Measures that will be included in our Union restructuring. The town hall will be recorded and posted to our APFA Town Hall page a few days following the presentation.
Continue ReadingNovember 20, 2024 Special Board of Directors Meeting Recap, Where can I find more information on our Dues Restructuring?, 2024 Dues Restructuring Virtual Town Hall: Tuesday, November 26, 2024
Continue Reading
APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Currently, no scheduled events...
APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Currently, no scheduled events...
APFA Headquarters
1004 West Euless Boulevard
Euless, Texas 76040
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
Contract & Scheduling Desk
M-F: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Phone: (817) 540-0108
After-Hours Live Chat
Weekends / Holidays: 9:00AM - 5:00PM (CT)
Currently, no scheduled events...