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APFA weekly HotLine update for Friday, July 3.

QUICK ALERTS

-- Pins and Wings campaign is in full swing! Participate and spread the word.

-- Proffers for Overage Leaves and Modified Partnership Flying (Part Time) now open. Read below and online for details.

-- New Membership Quick Poll on Onboard Sales. Will YOU volunteer? (click here)

-- Retirement Seminars at DFW, July 17 and 20. Read below for details.

-- Unfounded rumors abound—again! See commentary below.

PINS and WINGS – PINS and WINGS – PINS and WINGS

By now everyone should be wearing only your APFA pin and wings on your uniform. It is imperative that we send a clear message to management that we are unified in our effort to obtain the contract we deserve. Remove all company and personal pins from your uniform and place them on your serving garment. Expect nothing less from your coworkers and remind them to comply if you see anything other than an APFA pin and wings on their uniform. Management believes you are content with the status quo. We need to show them differently. Should you need additional pins, please send an e-mail to: member@apfa.org .

MEMBERS EXPRESS INTEREST IN NEW OFFERINGS

With the opening last week of the latest Overage Leave, Modified Partnership and Travel Separation proffers to mitigate a planned manning overage at the end of the summer, members have called and emailed showing special interest in some of the announced enhancements. Those interested in taking some time off have four new auxiliary Overage Leave blocks they may proffer. They are: a two-month block for the months of October and November 2009, the single months of October or November 2009, and a two-month block next spring, April and May 2010.

Of particular note for the fall blocks: those holding either the two-month block or one of the single months of October and/or November and whose reserve rotation falls on one of the months held, will fulfill their reserve requirement with the Overage Leave, just as they would with full-month bid leaves. This means that those who previously would have waited for a bid leave for just this reason can now serve the same purpose with one of these fall auxiliary blocks.

The modifications in the Partnership Flying for this round have also drawn positive attention. Those who want to reduce their flying in the months October through December but who would not have been interested in Partnership Flying due to the requirement to locate a suitable partner with whom to share a line can now proffer Modified Partnership Flying for the three-month period under the same system as our former Part-Time flying. This means “no partner needed.” You proffer to fly an A or B portion for October and November, plus a B portion only for December. The sequences outside of your awarded portion go to fill relief lines or into open time.

Details on these measures for expanded Overage Leave options, Modified Partnership Flying, along with the reoffering of the Travel Separation Programs—all aimed at reducing as much as possible the eventual number of members facing furlough on October 1—are found on the Reduction in Force page of APFA.org.

The proffers for Overage Leaves of Absence and for Modified Partnership Flying will close at 10am (1000) central on July 31. The proffer forms are available through the Flight Service website.

The election of a Travel Separation Program, available to eligible Flight Attendants, both active and on the recall list, will close at 11pm (2300) central on July 30.

THOSE SUBJECT TO FURLOUGH MAY PROFFER

Those among the 1,200 subject to furlough may proffer an Overage Leave and/or Modified Partnership Flying. As in the past, the number of proffers to be awarded to these Flight Attendants will be based on the number of Leaves, Modified Partnership Flying and Travel Separation Packages to those not originally subject to the furlough.

NEGOTIATE IT!

Returning the ‘NEGOTIATE IT! HI6 Message’ has begun to pay off. The company has decided not to unilaterally implement the SkyMall program. They have not backed down completely as they are now asking for volunteers. APFA DOES NOT EXPECT YOU TO PARTICIPATE. Go to the newest of our Membership Quick Polls and tell us, will YOU play along?

The company has distributed a SkyMall Briefing in every Flight Attendant’s mailbox. Continuing the momentum of our message, we are asking you to write ‘NEGOTIATE IT!’ across the briefing and return it to your Flight Service Manager and/or your Regional and Base Managers.

MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH MEETINGS CONCLUDE

APFA President Laura Glading and members of the APFA Negotiating Team wrapped up the final two of ten Membership Outreach meetings with visits on Tuesday in STL and Wednesday in JFK. Members turned out in impressive numbers to hear news on negotiations and upcoming membership actions, to voice their concerns and have their questions addressed. Meetings in several cities were recorded and will be compiled into a video viewable to members on the APFA site. Watch this HotLine for notice of when it is available.

QUICK REMINDER FROM THE SCHEDULING DESK

Here is a quick reminder from the Scheduling Coordinator and Reps-on-Duty. If you should encounter a MIC (Misconnect, Illegality or Cancellation) at sequence origination ALL Flight Attendants must make contact with Crew Schedule as soon as possible and before leaving the airport for assignment or release.

WEBSITE REDESIGN COMING

Next Thursday morning, July 9, there is a planned brief shut down of the APFA website while we implement a newly designed home page and menu structure. Once the new site is up and running, members will see a few changes, one of the most noticeable being that the login screen will be relocated to the right hand side of the page. Also, though most menu items will remain unchanged, several will now appear under new graphic links and many will be regrouped under newly named topics. As we move forward with the new design, items may shift around as we find the most convenient spot for the news and information our members seek out most.

DALLAS/FT WORTH RETIREMENT SEMINARS

On July 17 and July 20, Flight Attendant Retirement Seminars will be held at DFW. The July 17 sessions are at 1pm and 3pm; the July 20 sessions are at 10am and 2pm. All sessions are held in the Yandry Center across from gate C2, DFW terminal C. Flight Attendants from all bases are welcome to attend. No reservations are required. Representatives from both APFA (Patrick Hancock and Jackie Phillips) and AA will be present. Discussions include pension selections and retirement benefits, including insurance and travel. To get the most out of these helpful seminars, print out and bring your personal pension estimate and plan calculation formulas from Jetnet.

STOP ME IF YOU’VE HEARD THIS ONE … RUMOR REARS ITS HEAD AGAIN

Your Union Officers, local and headquarters reps have this request for some due consideration toward your fellow members facing some real concerns …

Just when we should be concentrating on getting the word out to Flight Attendants who may be desirous of, and able to opt for, an Overage Leave, Modified Partnership Flying or a Travel Separation and thereby save a job, the focus seems to have turned again to unfounded rumors and rampant speculation about future manning issues, even beyond the 1,200 potential furloughs our members are currently grappling with.

It has been repeated enough times in the past but bears repeating once again: Flight Attendant manning depends on the company’s management of AA’s resources. Reducing flights can result in reduced manning, as it is presently. AA is in control—be that good or bad—of this scenario. In all circumstances, your Union leadership will always work to maximize the options available to protect our members’ jobs and the status and security of our careers.

Concern over job security in this industry is on everyone’s mind, especially in an uncertain national economy, but groundless rumor serves no purpose except to cause unwarranted worry. What we all need from each other now is support, not this needless game of passing along baseless gossip for no other reason than to sound informed. The end result is only to spread anxiety and fear.

Despite rumors floating about, usually purported to be from someone who swears to know the inside story, who heard it from a reliable source, who even purports the Union ‘knows it but just isn’t talking,’ the fact is that beyond the 1,200 potential job cuts we are facing October 1, APFA has not been advised of any future plans by AA. Anyone who says otherwise—or claims some insider’s knowledge—is simply not telling the truth.

HOLIDAY OFFICE CLOSURE

The APFA Headquarters office will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of the Independence Day (4th of July) holiday. Regular office hours will resume at 9:00 AM on Monday, July 6.

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Remember that there are now 1,258 members on furlough and awaiting recall.

The Wings Foundation—run by AA Flight Attendants, for AA Flight Attendants—has representatives at each base to coordinate donations and applications for assistance.  Visit their website for details on local activities and contact information.

QUICK ALERTS

-- Proffers for Overage Leaves and Modified Partnership Flying (Part Time) opens June 25. Many new Overage Leave options and improvements to Partnership implemented. Read below and online for details.

-- Pins and Wings campaign is in full swing! Participate and spread the word..

-- STL Membership Outreach Meeting place changed. Read below for new location.

-- Take the member poll on APFA.org to voice your opinion on voluntary Onboard Retail sales.

-- Retirement Seminars at DFW, July 17 and 20. Read below for details.

OVERAGE LEAVE AND MODIFIED PARTNERSHIP PROFFERS OPEN

The proffers for Overage Leaves of Absence and for Modified Partnership Flying open on June 25 and will close July 31 at 10am central time (1000). The proffer forms are available through the Flight Service website. Details are posted there and reprinted on the APFA website Reduction in Force page. APFA worked hard with the company to reach agreement on several new options for the Overage Leaves and modifications to Partnership Flying to both increase the number of participants in each to the extent possible and reduce the overall manning overage and the number of potential furloughs.

OVERAGE LEAVES: ADDITIONAL AUXILIARY BLOCKS FOR THE FALL AND SPRING

In addition to the Overage Leaves offered in accordance with Article 16, the company will offer auxiliary blocks for either the two-month period October AND November 2009, or the individual one-month leaves of October OR November 2009. Most importantly, Flight Attendants awarded one of these additional auxiliary blocks, and whose reserve rotation falls during the block, will receive reserve credit similar to a Flight Attendant awarded a Bid Leave during a reserve month. For those looking for some time off in the fall, please consider this as an option.

An additional two-month auxiliary block will be offered for April and May 2010. The reserve credit exception does not apply for this spring block.

MODIFIED PARTNERSHIP FLYING: NOW WITHOUT THE PARTNER!

Some significant modifications have been agreed to with respect Partnership Flying under Appendix F in order to expand the practicality of the program and increase its availability to a greater number of Flight Attendants. Modified Partnership Flying will be proffered for the three-month period October to December 2009 but will not require a partner. Instead, it will operate similar to our former part-time flying provisions.

Flight Attendants desiring Modified Partnership Flying will proffer to fly either an A portion or B portion for the months of October and November. For the month of December, only a B portion will be awarded. As with the previous part-time provisions, sequences falling outside the obligation of the A or B portion will be used for building relief lines or placed in open time. This is excellent news for those who wish to fly partial months but for whom finding a suitable partner to share a line is inconvenient, impossible or impractical. Please note that the "line sharing" aspect of Partnership Flying will be replaced for this proffer by the agreed to modifications.

The Modifications to Partnership Flying and the Letter of Understanding concerning these modifications and the additional Overage Leave auxiliary blocks can be found on the Reduction in Force page of APFA.org.

THOSE SUBJECT TO FURLOUGH MAY PROFFER

Those among the 1200 subject to furlough may proffer an Overage Leave and/or Modified Partnership Flying. As in the past, the number of proffers to be awarded to these Flight Attendants will be based on the number of Leaves, Modified Partnership Flying and Travel Separation Packages to those not originally subject to the furlough.

WHAT’S ON YOUR UNIFORM JACKET?

Are you displaying your unity to management? Every member should now be sporting only an APFA pin and wings (along with any required nametag) on your uniform jacket. Go to your closet now and check your compliance! Then spread the word to your fellow Flight Attendants to move those length-of-service, memorial pins, flags, etc. to their serving garment and show the company that you stand behind your Union. These small measures do have an impact. We are reentering mediated talks very soon with the company. As your APFA Team faces management across the bargaining table, let the company know that our members back APFA as their single voice in our fight for a new and improved agreement.

VOLUNTEER WORK INSTEAD OF REAL RAISES?

After discussions with Flight Service in which they agreed to implement their Onboard Sales initiative on a strictly voluntary, test basis, APFA has delayed filing a Presidential Grievance over the program. Nevertheless, the company has proceeded with placing Special Briefings in every mailbox and with HI6 messages encouraging your participation. We are actively bargaining for long-awaited and hard-earned raises and improvements to our benefits and work rules. In no way does commission-based income in a voluntary sales program come even close to achieving real gains that our members can bank on. Send a message to American that you deserve real structural, guaranteed pay increases, not empty promises.

Return both your SkyMall Special Briefing and your Onboard Sales HI6 marked “NEGOTIATE IT” to your Flight Service Manager. Show the company that we don’t need volunteer opportunities; we need real raises now. Tell them to stop wasting paper on offering us the chance to shill in the skies for a catalog company. The paper we want to see is a new, negotiated and improved working agreement.

READ BEFORE YOU EMAIL / CALL

Our APFA Headquarters Reps-on-Duty are ready to assist you explaining your options should you be interested in an Overage Leave, Modified Partnership Flying or a Travel Separation Package. Prior to calling or emailing the Contract/Scheduling Departments we request that you thoroughly review information posted on APFA.org, the AA Flight Service and Jetnet websites to see if your question is answered in any available Q and A and other posted materials. If after reviewing the material you still have questions, then please contact the Contract/Scheduling Departments. This will help ensure that we can respond to all Flight Attendants in a timely manner.

Web forms for contacting the Reps-on-Duty are available through a link on the Contact page of APFA.org (or click here. Members without a web login may use the generic Contact APFA form and your email will be routed to the correct department.

MEMBERSHIP OUTREACH MEETINGS HEAD INTO THE FINAL WEEK

APFA President Laura Glading and members of the APFA Negotiating Team bring their Membership Outreach Meetings to the final two base cities this coming week. On Tuesday, June 30, St. Louis will be the site at a revised location, chosen to accommodate more members. The meeting will be held from 2pm to 5pm at the Renaissance St. Louis Hotel Airport. (Address and phone number available at APFA.org.) The day after, Wednesday, July 1, New York will host the final meeting at the Mark DuPont Conference Room, JFK Airport - Terminal 8, from 2pm to 5pm.

Please plan to attend. It is imperative that all members become informed, engaged and involved. Laura and the Team have very important information to share with members regarding negotiations and upcoming activities that require your active participation.

DALLAS/FT WORTH RETIREMENT SEMINARS

On July 17 and July 20, Flight Attendant Retirement Seminars will be held at DFW. The July 17 sessions are at 1pm and 3pm; the July 20 sessions are at 10am and 2pm. All sessions are held in the Yandry Center across from gate C2, DFW terminal C. Flight Attendants from all bases are welcome to attend. No reservations are required. Representatives from both APFA (Patrick Hancock and Jackie Phillips) and AA will be present. Discussions include pension selections and retirement benefits, including insurance and travel. To get the most out of these helpful seminars, print out and bring your personal pension estimate and plan calculation formulas from Jetnet.

“LAST FIVE DAYS” BEGINS JUNE 27

Saturday, June 27, begins the last five days of the contractual month of June. Flight Attendants who experience an Illegality or Cancellation during this period should review page 23 of the On Duty Contract Guide to determine if the Last Five Days of the Month Cancellation/Illegality Protection applies in their case and, if so, the precise steps to follow. The text from the guide is also reprinted below.

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Remember that there are 1,258 members now on furlough and awaiting recall.

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from the On Duty Contract Guide

LAST FIVE (5) DAYS OF THE MONTH
CANCELLATION/ILLEGALITY PROTECTION:

1. Pay protection and obligation limited to contractual month in which
the sequence was scheduled to originate.

2. Applies only at origination of Flight Attendant’s last trip of the
month, including Make-Up, Option II and Optional Exchange.

3. Last trip of the month must originate in last five days of the month.

4. If Flight Attendant is at or above guarantee and wants to protect
her/his hours, s/he must:

a. Place her/his name on the make-up list for all days originally
scheduled to fly, including the eight (8) hour period after the
scheduled termination of the trip sequence lost or until midnight
of the last day of the contractual month.

b. Accept any trip offered that that originates up to eight (8) hours
after the scheduled termination of the trip sequence lost. Flight
Attendant must be legal and available for assignment.

1) If not offered such a trip on make-up, s/he is pay protected
for lost time.

2) If offered and actually flies a trip worth less than trip lost,
s/he is pay protected for the greater time.

5. If Flight Attendant is at or below guarantee:

a. No further obligation.

b. Only guarantee is protected.