09.09.09

September 9, 2009

InfoRep,

GOT UNION PINS AND WINGS GOT UNION PINS AND WINGS GOT UNION PINS AND WINGS

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE:

Your Negotiating Team met with the company, along with Senior Mediator Zach Jones, in Washington, DC this past week. We are discussing the economic items of the Collective Bargaining Agreement that still remain open. We will return to the bargaining table on September 16 in Dallas.

By now everyone should have received and should be wearing the yellow ëGot Unioní disk behind their union pin. Management has shown how little they value us with their most recent proposals (link here). It is imperative everyone participate in the disk campaign – complacency is not an option. If you have not received your disk, contact the membership department – [email protected].

We are looking for InfoReps to help ensure the disks are distributed and being utilized. We need a few InfoReps around the system to have extra disks and pins on hand to distribute to Flight Attendants. If you would like to help, please reply with your Name, Base and Employee Number. We would like to have a couple of InfoReps from each base.

VIRTUAL PICKETING:

Last month, APFA launched our Virtual Picket line ñ http://APFAvirtualPicket.com. While this will not replace future airport picketing, it will provide a round-the-clock presence as we negotiate with the company. Over 4,000 have already joined the line – Flight Attendants and our supporters. Encourage everyone you know to visit this website and join in support of APFA as we fight to get the contract we deserve. With 18,000 APFA members, there is no reason we shouldnít have at least that many on the virtual line. Share the link.

RUMOR CONTROL:

Some members have inquired about the state of the ìLindsayî case (formerly ìMarcouxî and also known as the RPA lawsuit.) The dismissal handed down in the summer of 2008 was appealed, as mentioned in the Spring 2009 update article – link here. The Skyword Article lists the remaining plaintiffs. I want to list them again here in the Hotline. It is important to know that these Flight Attendants are also suing APFA and ironically themselves as APFA members ñ and are costing APFA millions of dollars to defend itself in this frivolous lawsuit ñ millions of YOUR dues dollars.

Of the original 27 plaintiffs in the case, only 13 have chosen to appeal
the Courtís dismissal. They are (with base assignments as of
March 2009 for those still active):

Jill Lindsay (LAX)
Carol Johnson (IOR)
Constance LaMattina
Daniel Santiago (JFK)
Deborah Whittington
Dottie Long (LAX)
Janet Gold
Judith Alexander (LAX)
Karen Rivoira
Laurence ëRockí E. Salomon III (BOS)
Patricia Kennedy (JFK)
Patty Gentry
Rebecca Smith (IMA)

Oral arguments were heard on July 6, 2009. To date, we have not received any further information from the court. We expect a decision in early fall.