05.19.06

Hello, this is Denise Pointer with an InfoRep Hotline message for Friday, May 19, 2006. APFA’s 2006 Executive Committee meeting began Tuesday morning May 16, 2006, and continued through Thursday, May 18, 2006.

Little progress was made last week in resolving the pension reform bill that remains in conference to merge the House and Senate bills. The pension conferees have been distracted by two tax bills that are moving in their committees at present. The first of the tax bills passed the House last Thursday.

The House majority leadership is suggesting that the pension bill may be attached to the second of these tax bills, called the "trailer bill." This remains speculation since the trailer bill contains some difficult issues that could slow its progress. House Majority Leader John Boehner still hopes that the final pension conference report (final merged bill) can be passed before Congress leaves for Memorial Day recess. Others think a more realistic target is the July 4 recess. Stay tuned and stay informed! Please continue to encourage your co-workers to submit their letters to their lawmakers via www.www.apfa.org.

We would like to remind our members that there has been NO change to Flight Attendant cleaning procedures. The contractual language in Article 2.N., page 10, specifies which flights we are not responsible to clean. Our colleagues at TWU have requested that we respect the scope of their jobs and NOT assist them on the ground in cleaning flights that are either terminating or are through flights over 1100 miles. Based on recent schedule changes some stations have had a reduction in force for Fleet and/or Cabin Service.

Based on input from our members, APFA recently reached an understanding with the Company to increase flexibility for International Mutual Transfers that require either an A300 or 767 qualification. Qualification on these aircraft cannot be triggered at all international bases. Flight Attendants desiring to mutual lateral into JFK or MIA who need the A300 qualification or out of DCA-I who need the 767 qualification will obtain this qualification once they are at the new base. Details are posted on the Contract Administration page of the APFA website. The increased flexibility is available for International Mutual Transfers that are effective with the contractual month of July.

APFA’s Retirement Specialist Jill Frank Smoak, will be retiring from American Airlines at the end of June. Long time union activist and former APFA National Scheduling and Contract Coordinator Jena Hopkins has been named to replace Jill. APFA would like to thank Jill for her years of dedicated service to the Flight Attendants of American Airlines.

Due to the overwhelming response, we have scheduled a second retirement seminar for BOS/BOS-I. The first seminar will start at 11:30 on May 23rd in the Flight Service Conference Room. The second seminar will begin at 2pm on the same day and is limited to 20 attendees. Reservations for these additional seminars are also required so please contact the BOS Flight Service MOD at 617-634-5351 to hold your spot.

From the Safety Department: The current three-day Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Crew Member Self Defense Training (CMSDT) course has been attended by a very small percentage of crewmembers. The Federal Air Marshals (FAMS) recently assumed the responsibility for this self-defense course due to the restructuring of the TSA. Flight Attendant and pilot labor unions and Air Carriers have met to discuss the program with the FAMS. They have solicited our input on how to improve the program and increase attendance. Starting in June 2006 the program will be shortened from three days to one day with home study packets and DVD’s sent to all participants prior to training. The one-day of classroom training at the Junior College sites will consist of actual "hands-on" defense techniques. Crewmembers will also have the option to attend the class as often as they like to maintain a level of proficiency. CMSDT course listings will still be available on the APFA Web site under the Safety/Security Department page.

From the Hotel department, we will be moving to the Hampton Inn in DAY effective June 1st. Also beginning in June we will be moving to our new layover properties in MCO.

Some of you have asked why we have multiple hotels in some cities, i.e. SAN, LAS, LAX, etc. The answer to that question is it is becoming increasingly difficult to find hotels that can accommodate or who are willing to accommodate large numbers of crewmembers with the hotel occupancy rates across the country skyrocketing.

We want to squelch the rumor that we are leaving the Marriott Courtyard in Marina Del Rey. We are not. But, there is truth to the rumor that the hotel has decreased the number of rooms they will be providing to AA. Effective July 1, our room cap will be decreased by about one-third.

Regarding the Paris layover hotel, as we previously reported in this hotline and in the general APFA hotline the Sofitel is changing to a Marriott. We have no plans to change hotels in Paris. The contract is not up until 2007.

And finally, a decision has been made to remain at the Milford Plaza in Manhattan. This has been a difficult struggle for all involved. We are working through the complaints on this hotel and have balanced those with the strong desire of our crews to remain in Manhattan and not be placed out in Long Island.

Thank you to all the new InfoReps we signed up this past month! It’s easy to do – click on the link to sign up on the home page. That’s it for now. Thanks for all you do for the InfoRep program.