FRH – 12.18.14
FACT Rep Update – December 18, 2014
Flight Attendant Communications Team
FACT:
At the request of APFA National President Laura Glading and the Joint Negotiating Committee, American Airlines management met with APFA leadership in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area today to discuss the possibility of improving the arbitrated contract. Present at the meeting were members of the APFA Board of Directors and Executive Committee, American CEO Doug Parker, President Scott Kirby, and Executive VP Stephen Johnson. APFA raised the issue of bringing the value of the arbitrated contract up to that of the Tentative Agreement that was rejected in November – a difference of approximately $81 million annually. After extensive discussion, APFA is pleased to announce that our request has been granted and, effective January 1, 2015, the improved wage table from the Tentative Agreement will go into effect, which includes a top hourly rate increase from $50.17 to $53.52.
In addition, APFA and AA confirmed the parties’ previous understanding of language that already exists in the JCBA with regard to a possible wage adjustment once the UAL/CAL Flight Attendants achieve a contract. The parties confirmed that a joint United/Continental contract can only have a positive impact on our Agreement. The APFA Executive Committee unanimously adopted the following resolution: https://www.www.apfa.org/…/arbitrati…/EC_Resolution_12_18_14.pdf.
FACT: On December 13th the seven member arbitration panel issued its decision on the terms of the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement. The JCBA consists of the pay, work rules, and benefits outlined in the APFA arbitration proposal. The decision does not include any “me-too” for health plans or profit sharing.
Items implemented on December 13, 2014 Date of Signing (DOS) include:
- Red-Flag Pay for LUS (Section 10.H)
- 30% four (4) day paring limitation for LAA (Section 11.K.6)
- Voluntary duty-day waiver for LAA (Section 11.O.1 and Section 14.D.1)
- Location Delay incentive for LAA (Section 14.M.7)
Items to be implemented January 1, 2015 include:
- T/A pay rates (Section 3)
- Increased per diem rates for LAA (Section 4)
- Holiday pay of $75 for working listed holidays including New Year’s day (Section 3)
- Commuter policy (Section 37.I)
- PVDs limited to 6 days per calendar year for LAA and paid at the daily rate of 3:30 hours (Section 8)
- Eliminate the 420 benefit threshold for LAA (Section 26)
For the full implementation schedule click here.
FACT: APFA has converted a base grievance filed by the APFA LAX-I Base President into a Presidential Grievance regarding preferential deadheading treatment for pilots on international flights.
To review, the company and APA agreed last year during MOU discussions to preferential treatment for pilots. The APFA believes this a direct violation of our CBA Article 21.A. – Non Discrimination, which reads: “The Company will not discriminate between transportation and hotel accommodations provided for Flight Attendants and cockpit members.”
We have asked the company to immediately adhere to our non-discrimination contractual language and cease the practice. We’ve also asked that the company grant each Flight Attendant who has been discriminated against one (1) VO day for each occurrence their boarding priority was violated and they were seated in a lower cabin class as a result.
Please note: If a deadheading Flight Attendant is taken out of FCFS order in order for the agent to accommodate a cockpit crewmember, please email [email protected] with details including your employee number, HI3, all relevant details and a copy of the standby list.
FACT: In order to expand the use of the Known Crewmember (KCM) program and to expedite the screening process, effective January 13, 2015, TSA will no longer require airline crewmembers to be in uniform when using the KCM checkpoint. By expediting the screening for crewmembers, additional resources are made available to screen unknown and higher risk travelers.”
Crew Members processing through the KCM portals will not be restricted to the 3-1-1 LAG requirement, even if they are traveling out of uniform.
All Crew Members traveling out of uniform and using the TSA Pre-Check lane or the regular airport security screening checkpoints will still be required to adhere to the TSA 3-1-1 LAG restrictions.
FACT or fiction?
Q: Under the JCBA, will LAA Flight Attendants have trip-removal pay for vacation days?
A: Yes, full trip-removal pay will continue until implementation of PBS which will not be implemented prior to January 2017. However, PVDs will be paid at the daily rate of 3:30 and capped at 6 per year beginning January 1, 2015.
AmericanAirlines + US Airways
“On Our Way”
Kelli Harrington, LAX-I
FACT Rep Coordinator