3.25.11

InfoRep Hotline March 25, 2011

Hello InfoReps! This is InfoRep Steering Committee member Dane Townsend-Pepper with the InfoRep Hotline for Friday, March 25, 2011.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall which base has the most participation of them all?

As weíve mentioned over the last few weeks, APFA currently has a survey up asking members to sound off on how they feel AA management is performing. Currently SFO-I is leading the pack as the base with the highest percentage of its members having taken the survey.

Letís make this a friendly competition amongst bases and at the same time send a resounding message to AAís management! If you havenít already, please take a moment to take the survey found at www.apfa.org and encourage your fellow crewmembers to take the survey as well.

Each week we will let you know the base rankings via this hotline and the general hotline. Stay tuned as the competition heats up.

The current base standings are as follows:

1st SFO-I	10th IOR
2nd SLT	11th MIA
3rd BOS	12th IDF
4th LAX-I	13th DFW
5th ORD	14th LAX
6th BOS-I	15th JFK
7th IMA	16th LGA
8th SFO	17th DCA-I
9th DCA	18th RDU-I

Thereís a light at the end of the tunnelÖright?

This week APFA President Laura Glading released a special hotline message addressing the stalled negotiations with AA and how the NMB, economy and White House play into things as well as the assault on organized labor.

Although, the news may be grim President Glading states ìThis has been a long and difficult fight, and labor and collective bargaining are now under attack across America. †We remain committed to not only getting a contract that Flight Attendants need and deserve but will continue to fight for the rights for labor and against the erosion of the middle class.î

You can read the entire hotline here. Please print a copy and carry with you to assist in keeping our fellow crewmembers informed.

WE ARE ONE

APFA’s struggle is shared with every union, public and private, in our country.†The recent events in Wisconsin, Ohio, and Indiana are indicative of a much larger effort on the part of some politicians who are anti worker’s rights. In Wisconsin, Gov. Walker’s assault on public employees†was an effort to†dismantle all unions that began with stripping them of their collective bargaining rights.

While our individual interests, contract negotiations, wage and benefits are important issues we must now†also come together as one voice.

During the week of April 4, and surrounding dates, the AFL-CIO and We Are One are conducting a nation-wide rally.†It is important that APFA be part of this effort and have a presence in as many locations as possible.

Please visit their calendar link to find a rally near you.†Wear your uniform and your red lanyards and disks!

On Saturday April 2, 2011, the Tarrant County Central Labor Council will co-sponsor a rally at Burnett Park in Fort Worth, TX.†If you are in the DFW area please stop by from 11:00-13:00 CST.†Click here for more details.

The Democratic Staff Committee on Education and the Workforce has prepared an informational packet on the Nationwide Assault on Workersí Rights.†Print it, read it, share it with others.†

It CAN be done and AirTran is proof!

On Tuesday AirTran flight attendants announced that they have reached a tentative agreement (TA) with that airlines management during mediated talks. The two-year agreement provides for pay increases and enhanced work rules. Ballots will be counted on April 18, 2011 and if ratified the new agreement will take effect on May 1st.†

The agreement includes a 4% pay increase on the date of ratification and another 4% increase at 12 months from ratification.† Per diem at $2.00 an hour with an increase of $.05 each year with a me-too with their pilots.† A summary of the TA can be read here.

This TA comes on the heels of Continental flight attendants reaching an 18-month agreement with their airline. Itís time for AA management to sit up, take notice and offer an agreement that meets our memberships needs. A TA can be reached if management is willing; unfortunately AA management is more interested in lining their pockets with unearned bonuses than bargaining in good faith with the people who truly keep this airline running.

When is democracy not really democracy?

Union certification, and a return to the old way of counting ballots, was recently inserted at the end of the House version of the FAA bill.†

GOP leaders believe that the National Mediation Board acted outside of their authority when they changed the 75-year-old rule on the way votes are counted. In an interesting twist of logic, a spokesman for Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica said the new ruling made the elections ìless inclusiveî and has little to do with obstructing union membership.† In other words, if an airline had 4000 employees and only 1000 voted, 501 would determine the outcome of an election and vote to unionize.

Although challenged in the courts, where the NMBís rule change was upheld, the GOP led House believes any changes to the Railway Labor Act are under their jurisdiction.

Unions have long held that new union elections should be like any other national, state, or local election, count the votes of those who have voted to determine the outcome.

YouTube? You Bet!

A new video short has been uploaded to our YouTube channel.†The video is the first in a series of 30-second spots that will highlight the changes our career has made over the years.†

The videos will focus on the many aspects of our profession with an emphasis on safety.†Take a minute to view the video and share with your friends on Facebook and Twitter.

Want to know more about the Secretaryís Department?

APFA Secretary Denise Pointer has written an article for Skywordonline.†In the article, Denise shares the ins and outs and functions of the position of APFAís Secretary including being charged with keeping the official record of APFAís accomplishments and achievements.†

Denise writes, ìOur meeting records and efficient recordkeeping trace the path of our long and proud history ñ an essential and living history of democratic, union principles.î† The article can be read here.

Tru-Mour

Rumor: I recently heard that all 777ís would have 3 speakers.

Truth: Staffing for dual aisle aircraft is determined by Article 11.C.1.b (Domestic) or Article I.11.C.4.b (International) which states (emphasis in bold is mine):
††††††††††† b. On dual aisle aircraft the maximum number of required foreign language†qualified Flight Attendants will be one (1) per each cabin according to service (e.g., first class, business class, coach class), but in no event shall exceed the total of three (3) language qualified Flight Attendants, except that in the event the Company operates 747 or other widebody equipment bid with fourteen (14) or more Flight Attendants, the maximum number of required foreign language Flight Attendants will be four (4).

This means that with 45 days notice to APFA the company may staff any dual aisle aircraft staffed with fewer than 14 flight attendants with up to 3 ìspeakersî.

Rumor: Galley gossip is running rampant with news that LAX-I will begin service to South America and New Zealand. Is this true?

Truth: The Company has made no secret of the fact that they plan on growing the LAX market. However, at this time the company has not publicly released a list of new markets nor has there been any announcement of governmental petitioning for new routes out of LA.

Rumor: Iíve heard that the company will be conducting Observation Rides. Is this true?

Truth: Yes, according to an article placed on the Flight Service website on March 9, 2011 announced rides have begun. You can read the full article on the Flight Service website by clicking on ìPrevious Articlesî under FS News tab in the center of the screen. Once you get into the ìPrevious Articlesî section look for the article titled ìFlight Observation Programî.

Please send any future rumors you may hear to [email protected].