12.04.24 – 2024 Dues Restructure- Ballot Measure #1 FAQs

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

2024 Dues Restructure Frequently Asked Questions
Ballot Measure #1

In this hotline:

• Frequently Asked Questions: Ballot Measure #1
• Where can I find more information on the 2024 Dues Restructure?
• 2024 Dues Restructure Town Hall recording
• Questions? 2024 Dues Restructure Call Center
• 2024 Dues Restructure Voting Information

Your elected Base Presidents recently passed a resolution proposing a dues restructure, with our last increase occurring over twenty years ago, in 2001. To help you make an informed decision when voting opens, we’ve compiled some frequently asked questions coming into our call center.

FAQ’s

Q1: Why are we calling this a dues restructure instead of a dues increase?

Ballot Measure One proposes a restructuring of how dues are calculated within APFA. This measure will align dues with the wage scale established in the current and future wage charts.

Dues for all Flight Attendants would be tied directly to the year-six pay rate from the wage chart. This ensures that as wages increase (or decrease) in future contracts, dues will adjust automatically. This approach safeguards our ability to provide all Member services without facing potential budget shortfalls caused by rising representation costs.

A dues increase would not effectively address the long-term issue of keeping dues aligned with the wage scale. For example, while top-out pay currently stands at $82.24 per hour in our new CBA, it is set to increase to $92.79 per hour by October 2028. By restructuring dues now, we avoid the need for increases in the future, ensuring our Union’s financial stability.

Q2: Were any financial reform measures initiated to address past overspending and misuse of Union funds before this dues restructuring was considered?

Yes. Financial reform took a significant step forward at the 2021 Annual Convention, where seven key resolutions were passed by your elected Base Presidents. The financial reform initiative continued at the 2024 Fall Board of Directors meeting, introducing four new resolutions. For a complete overview on the financial reform resolutions and transparency initiatives, click here.

Q3: How are APFA Representatives paid?

Per Section 5.C of the APFA Policy Manual, APFA Representatives are paid their contractual hourly rate (including premiums) for the value of any sequences from which they are removed to conduct Union business. Recent APFA financial reform has capped the amount an APFA Representative may earn per month. As a significant cost savings measure, Representatives are often removed at five (5) hours per day (excluding premiums) with a “PA” removal code.

Q3: Why are we attaching this to the 6-year pay instead of doing a percentage of wages or tying it to the Flight Attendant’s hourly wage?

Year six pay allows APFA the necessary finances to best represent and serve our Members. Attaching our dues payment to the wage chart also ensures that if wages decrease, dues will decrease. All Flight Attendants will pay dues at year-six pay on the CBA wage chart, regardless of your pay step. 

Q4: Why didn’t you wait until we receive boarding pay and the contract is fully implemented before implementing a dues restructure?

Our wage increases in the 2024 CBA took effect on October 1, 2024. On that date, the cost of representation increased.

Q5: Can each separate ballot measure pass or fail, or is it “all or nothing” with the three ballot measures?

Each ballot measure is a separate vote, and the votes will be tallied separately.

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Where can I find more information on the 2024 Dues Restructure?

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Dues Restructure Town Hall

click the image or the specific chapter below to view the Dues Restructure Town Hall

00:00 – Welcome
01:30 – How We Got Here
08:00 – Website Overview
09:37 – APFA Financial Reform
11:08 – Dues Arrears Recovery
15:14 – Modernizing & Improving APFA
21:16 – Where the Dues Go
36:20 – Ballot Measure 1: Dues Restructure
51:47 – Ballot Measure 2: NNRF Restructure
01:00:15 – Ballot Measure 3: Dues Payment Incentive
01:01:43 – Voting Timeline & Conclusion

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Questions? Dues Restructure Call Center

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2024 Dues Restructure Voting Information