Furloughs and Recall Rights 8.07.12

We have received many calls from Flight Attendants worried about the prospect of a furlough and recall rights. APFA is hopeful that the Early Out will mitigate any furloughs. NOTE: Neither AA’s Last Best Final Offer or the Term Sheet modifies the unlimited recall rights secured for the current furloughees. For those on the recall list as of February 17, 2011, they are protected indefinitely.  If there were any furloughs prior to the recall of those currently on furlough, then any newly furloughed FA would also have unlimited recall rights per the February 17, 2011, Letter of Agreement.  Recall rights will revert to the 5-years specified in the contract only after the recall of all those currently on furlough (and potentially furloughed prior to their recall).

If the Flight Attendants do not approve the LBFO and the judge grants the 1113 petition authorizing AA to reject our contract, AA has indicated that it would implement the March 22, 2012, Term Sheet. As previously stated, the Term Sheet does not modify the five (5) year recall protection. However, there is a possibility that AA could choose to impose modifications beyond those in the Term Sheet, including the length of recall. If AA were to do so, AA would be raising a legal question that no court has answered. APFA will challenge any attempt by AA to impose concessions in addition to those in the Term Sheet but with no prior court decisions addressing this issue, it is impossible to predict the outcome.