3.15.16 – Retirement Seminar/APFA Board of Directors Annual Convention

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

 

• Retirement Seminar 
• APFA Board of Directors Annual Convention

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Retirement Seminar

APFA Retirement Specialist, Patrick Hancock, is back on the road with his Retirement Seminar. He will be here in PHL on Wednesday, March 30th, from 11:30am to 2:30pm, in the Tour Room. The Tour Room is located inside security, between concourses C & D. You may email Patrick with any questions at [email protected].

APFA Board of Directors Annual Convention

The APFA Board of Directors Annual Convention was held last week in Phoenix, AZ. The meeting began with a beautiful tribute to our National Treasurer Greg Gunter, who lost his courageous battle with cancer on March 8th. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Greg and his family; especially his brother Craig, who is a PHL-Based Flight Attendant.

I had the opportunity to meet and talk with our newly elected National Officers, and I am excited for the vision they have moving forward. I look forward to working with them to achieve those goals.

The National Safety Chair provided an extensive report on Air Quality and Fume Events, also known as Cabin Odors. The Board was asked to consider a contribution to the Biotechnology Research of Dr. Clement Furlong at the University of Washington, for TCP biomarker research. A resolution brought forward by PHX President Joe Seeyle requested APFA make a contribution of $10,000 to Dr. Furlong for his research. I am pleased to say the APFA Board of Directors passed this resolution unanimously, and is committed to making Air Quality a priority for our membership.

Many issues were on the agenda for discussion. Hotel problems were a very hot topic. The amount of last minute changes to hotels with very little or no notification is happening at LUS and LAA. The inability for scheduling to secure crews a room during irregular operations has been a major problem. The new administration has a clear directive that this must continue to be addressed with the Company.

Also up for discussion was the amount of Flight Attendant Administrative issues we are dealing with. Issues such as payroll problems, claims not being processed in a timely manner, the ARC and the sick verification letters, just to name a few. I can assure you our brothers and sisters on the LAA side are also suffering the incompetence of these departments.   

The Board also held robust discussions on scheduling and rescheduling contract violations, the elimination of the 40-hour scheduling limitation, fiscal year vacation bidding, and department desks at APFA Headquarters. 

I brought forward a resolution to support the hiring of a full time Staff Attorney. This resolution was not a mandate to hire a staff attorney, and the APFA Constitution clearly states the National President has the authority to hire, retain or employ general counsel and/or legal counsel for APFA, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. This resolution was crafted to define the role of a Staff Attorney, and the Board would support the hiring of a full time Staff Attorney, should the National President choose to do so. Unfortunately, the resolution failed. I am hopeful we will be able to revisit this issue in the near future.

Appointments were also made to the Budget Committee and the Balloting Committee. Executive Committee elections were held as well.  

All and all, the meeting was quite productive as we prepare for the transition to a new administration. The minutes and resolutions will be posted on the APFA.org website within 30 days.

In Unity and Solidarity, 

Kim Kaswinkel
APFA PHL Base President
[email protected]