04.06.06

Hello, this is Denise Pointer with the InfoRep Hotline for Thursday, April 6, 2006

On April 3, 2006, Arbitrator Robert Harris released his Order in the grievance filed by all three labor unions on AA’s property. The text of the seven-page Appointment and Order is available for download on the APFA Web site.

To recap, last week Arbitrator Harris issued a brief statement deferring his decision until after the scheduled meeting of the AMR Corporation Board of Directors, which was held on March 29th. The AMR Board of Directors modified the airline’s management compensation program during that meeting and notified the Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, March 31st.

Arbitrator Harris’s Order states that due to the “actions taken by the AMR Board of Directors to eliminate the possible violation of the AIP on Friday, March 31st, with the amendments of the PUP, the grievances have now been rendered moot.”

Quoting directly from APFA President Tommie Hutto-Blake’s hotline update this past Tuesday: “The three unions will not know how many millions of dollars this joint grievance prevented from being withdrawn from the AA general fund until April 19th – the day of payout. We do know that the payouts will be via AMR stock awards, with limits of cash to conform with the 2003 AIP. Without a doubt, the three AA unions influenced the AMR Board of Director’s recent action to alter and amend the executive compensation plans by filing this consolidated grievance. This means AA’s cash balance will be stronger on April 19th than it otherwise would have been. We have helped to preserve AA’s critical cash reserve by protecting the liquidity of our company in a time of financial distress.”

The pension reform bill remains in conference. The House and Senate bills were expected to be reconciled by the end of this week but unfortunately, there has been no movement. Several difficult issues are outstanding — one of which is the airline provision that was included in the Senate version of the bill. APFA was on Capitol Hill last week talking to House staff explaining that this provision should be accepted as written because it is a delicate balance struck to address the needs of several of the major carriers, including American. Congress will be in recess for the next two weeks and resumes its session the week of April 24th. We are hopeful that this bill will be completed mid-May. Please continue to urge all flight attendants to contact their Senators and Representatives regarding the aviation-specific language during Congress’ two week recess.

Spring is in the air and the rumor mill has blossomed. I have received quite a few emails regarding changes to the cleaning provision of our Contract on board the aircraft. There are absolutely NO changes to Flight Attendant cleaning procedures in any market, or under any circumstances whatsoever. Please review Article 2.N., pg. 10 of the Contract for complete language on cabin cleaning.

And finally, there is no truth to any rumors that APFA is considering specific topics for negotiations openers in 2007-2008.

On another note, Jill Frank is continuing her retirement seminars with the next seminar being held on April 18, 2006. Jill and a representative from the company will be in SFO from 12 – 2 PM. It will be held downstairs in the Flight Service Training room. On April 20 they will be in DFW for two sessions, both in The Yandry Suite in Terminal C across from gate C2. These sessions are scheduled to start at 10 AM and 2 PM.

On May 16 -17, 2006 the APFA Executive Committee Meeting will be held at the Embassy Suites DFW South. All sessions are open to members in good standing.

In response to a question I received regarding international flight attendants being assigned to domestic trips recently – your schedules will show the base or the operation from which the trip is assigned, i.e. MIA or DFW as opposed to JFK or IDF. You will be paid, however, at your international rate of pay per the Contract – not at domestic rates.

I have several updates from the Hotel Department so let me get started…

This week our crews began flying FCO again. The new layover hotel in Rome is the Hotel Ripa and is located in a beautiful neighborhood near the Vatican. Due to scheduling issues and the turn around time of rooms, a complimentary buffet breakfast upon arrival was negotiated to help make the brief wait for rooms a little more tolerable.

APFA is very aware that no one wants to wait for a hotel room after working an international flight. Our number one priority was placing AA crews in a downtown Rome location – not at the FCO airport. A decision was made that a free breakfast and a brief wait would be an acceptable trade off instead of an immediate room at an airport hotel.

No one likes compromises but this was one we felt we had to make on behalf of the International crews in order to ensure they were kept in downtown Rome. We have heard from some of you who have expressed your frustration about the wait. We sincerely hope you understand that the only other option was the airport.

The Hotel Ripa has told APFA that no one will have to wait more than 45 minutes for your rooms. We are hopeful that you will be able to use that time to relax, enjoy a free breakfast and have a cappuccino.

For those of you wanting the buffet breakfast on the day of departure, the hotel will offer it to you for five euros. A two-year contract has been signed with the Hotel Ripa so we should not have to endure this search again next season. Also, the cockpit crews have decided to leave their layover hotel and will also be using the downtown location.

The hotel department is aware of everyone’s feelings about the Resort Quest hotel in HNL. We have tried to take a very proactive position based on the comments we’ve received from our members. Here is what the Hotel’s General Manager says will transpire:

*Crews will be put on the same floors to cut down on the noise

*Crew floors will be 23, 24, and 25 behind the building on the Diamond Head side

*A thorough deep cleaning of these crew floors will be done

*New locks will be installed on all patio doors and connecting room doors

*On May 5th renovations will begin and should be completed within six weeks. Floors 23,24 and 25 will be the first to be done. Once renovations begin on May 5th, the hotel will become 100% non-smoking.

Here is what will be installed/replaced in all AA crew rooms:

*New carpet/wall coverings

*New beds with a new bedding package – duvet, sheets, pillows and drapes

*New closet doors

*Replacement of water lines and new a/c

*New bathroom vanity mirrors, lighting and hair dryers

*Some furniture will be replaced

*New 32” flat screen TV

No news yet on the status of getting coffee pots in the rooms. Please know that APFA is working hard to address all of your issues in HNL.

The DFW – ZRH flight will change its arrival time beginning this month. Because of this schedule change, the ZRH Marriott has advised AA it can no longer accommodate our crews without “double booking” which would mean an additional half million-dollar increase to the annual hotel cost in ZRH. Due to this increase, all crews have been moved to the Swiss Hotel where JFK crews are presently housed.

Effective April 3, 2006, we have a new long and short FLL layover. All crews will be laying over at the Sheraton Yankee Clipper. This hotel is located approximately 10 minutes from the airport and is directly on the beach. A full hotel review will be posted on the hotel department’s web page this week.

Remember to keep the hotel department updated with your comments by utilizing the debrief form online at www.www.apfa.org. Click on department, then hotel, then debrief. Your phone calls are always informative but we can’t forward a phone call. A written debrief in any format – email, hand written, the pink debrief form or via www.www.apfa.org is the only way to communicate a complaint – or compliment for that matter!

The web site at www.www.apfa.org as well as our email database allows APFA to instantly communicate with every Flight Attendant when important news breaks. Please encourage everyone to be a part of that communication circle Keep your email current with APFA by emailing [email protected].

Be on the look out for the latest edition of Skyword as it should be in your mailboxes this week.

Remember to print out these Hotline messages and carry them with you on your flights to share with your colleagues. Forward your questions and any rumors to [email protected]. I will do my best to get you the answers in a timely manner.

That’s it for this week. Thanks for all you do for the InfoRep program.

Denise Pointer, DFW InfoRep
InfoRep Program
1004 W. Euless Boulevard
Euless, TX 76040
817-540-0108 Ext. 8743
[email protected]