7.01.11 – (LAA) – Welcome Returning Furloughs, State of the Union Base Visits, PVD Survey, Departure Dependability Update, SMF Satellite, United-Continental-AFA, Headquarters Closed for Independence Day

APFA Weekly Hotline Update

for the week ending Friday July 1, 2011

WELCOME!

We extend a warm welcome to the returning furloughs reporting to base July 1 to DFW, MIA and LGA.

STATE OF THE UNION – Base Visits

Next week APFA President Laura Glading, Negotiating Team Members and other National Representatives will begin the State of the Union Base Visits.

Please join us, along with your Local Base Leadership, and come with your questions and concerns for a candid discussion and exchange of ideas on our Union’s past, present and future.

• ORD/IOR – July 6, 2011
  K19 Operations – 0900-1300
• RDU-I – July 7, 2011
  Courtyard by Marriott – 1100-1400
  2001 Hospitality Court
  Morrisville, NC 27560
  919-467-9444
• JFK/LGA – July 13, 2011
  International JFK Airport Hotel – 1100-1400
  144-02 135th Avenue
  Jamaica, NY 11436
  718-659-0200
• BOS/BOS-I – July 14, 2011
  Hyatt Harborside Hotel ñ 1100-1400
  101 Harborside Drive
  Boston, MA 02128
  617-568-1234
• DFW/IDF – July 20, 2011
  Yandry Center DFW ñ 1500-1900
  Across from Gate C2
• MIA/IMA – July 28, 2011
  Hotel MIA ñ 1100-1400
  Terminal E, 2nd Level (Departures)
  305-871-4100
• LGA/JFK – August 4, 2011
  LaGuardia Marriott Hotel ñ 1100-1400
  102-05 Ditmars Blvd.
  East Elmhurst, NY 11369
  718-565-8900
• LAX/LAX-I – August 10, 2011
  Ayres Hotel ñ 1000-1300
  14400 Hindry Avenue
  Hawthorne, CA 90250
  310-536-0400
• SFO/SFO-I – August 11, 2011
  Embassy Suites South SFO ñ 1030-1330
  250 Gateway Blvd.
  South San Francisco, CA 94080
  650-589-3400
• DCA – August 17, 2011
  Ramp Conference Room ñ 1000-1300
• STL – August 18, 2011
  Renaissance Hotel ñ 1100-1400
  9801 Natural Bridge Road
  St. Louis, MO 63134
  314-429-1100

STEADFAST AND DETERMINED

“We are persevering in facing challenges and we are unrelenting in demanding that our sacrifices and efforts be recognized,” writes APFA President Laura Glading in her latest Skyword Online article. In the article, Laura outlines some of our Union’s accomplishments and highlights the State of Our Union.

The article is posted on the Skyword online page – or click here for the direct link to her article.

PVD SURVEY

The APFA Vice Presidentís Department is interested in hearing your thoughts on Personal Vacation Days (PVDs) and the way American awards PVDs, so that we may have a better understanding of how PVDs work, or do not work, for you. A short survey has been posted on APFA.org.

Please take a few moments to log-on to www.APFA.org and complete the survey.† Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

DEPARTURE DEPENDABILITY UPDATE

APFA President Laura Glading met with the company this week to address concerns over the enhanced boarding and the ongoing pressure Flight Attendants are under to board early.

Laura Glading was firm, and the company recognized, APFA’s position that the current boarding times of 30 minutes for narrow body and 40 minutes for wide body are adequate.

The company has committed to communicate this to our Agent colleagues and to bring a group of Agents and Flight Attendants together so that both workgroups have a better understanding of the others challenges.

“Flight Attendants are not paid during boarding, and it is the most stressful part of their, and most likely the Agents’, day, “Laura Glading stated. “Considering that we board multiple flights a day, one can understand the importance we place on a streamlined process.”

“It is also a stressful time for our passengers who also want and appreciate an efficient boarding,” Glading continued. “We look forward to meeting with the Agents.”

As has always been the case, there may be times to begin pre-boarding earlier than usual depending on the amount of ëpre-boardsí. Please continue to coordinate with the Agents working your flight and report any unnecessary requests for early boarding to [email protected].

SMF SATELLITE

Recently the Company and APFA agreed to take another look at the feasibility of a satellite base. Taking into consideration the current flying at SFO as well as the upcoming closure of SFO-I, Sacramento (SMF) will be the next satellite base.

Based on that analysis it has been agreed that a satellite base at SMF attached to the SFO domestic base will open effective with the contractual month of September. †This is great news for our Flight Attendants based in SFO.

APFA will continue to discuss with the company the possibility of additional satellite bases.

UNITED-CONTINENTAL – AFA

Earlier this week the Flight Attendants of the merged United and Continental Airlines chose the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA) as their union over the International Association of Machinists (IAM).

A total of 21,687 voted in the election casting 11,942 votes for AFA and 9,745 for IAM.

Additional information can be read on the AFA Website.

OFFICE CLOSURE

APFA Headquarters will be closed on Monday July 4, 2011 in observance of Independence Day. The office will reopen on Tuesday July 5, 2011 at 0900 CT.

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Please remember there are currently 321 members on furlough and awaiting recall.
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