11.02.16 – Uniforms, Crew Resource Management, Jumpseat Weight and Balance, UAL Agreement, Drug and Alcohol Incidents, Election Day

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Uniforms

As we continue to work through the uniform situation, I have not yet heard about the missing lining from some of our uniform pieces or if we will be reimbursed to get full linings in all of them. I have been working with our National Health Chair, Gabby Harty, and the Company refuses to make any commitment to her about this issue. The Company has agreed to reimburse Flight Attendants who are no longer in possession of their old uniform for charcoal gray colored pants and a white shirt.

My other concern is with the TSA and FAA and whether they have approved the variances of uniforms. Again, I have received no information from the Company as to whether approval has been given to AA. The last thing we need as Flight Attendants trying to go to work is hassle from the two groups.

Approximately 1,300 Flight Attendants have contacted APFA about uniform reactions, yet only about 85 Flight Attendants have filed IODs. If you have a reaction to the uniform, please consider filing an IOD with your FSM. Also, be sure to fill out a New Uniform Reaction Report by going to the APFA website. Facebook is great for venting, but it should not be where you do your reporting. If you have not filed a report, please do so now.

I, along with another CLT Flight Attendant, have sent our uniforms to APFA Headquarters directly. APFA is currently conducting its own independent testing. Joint testing between the Union and the Company will take 6-12 weeks at a cost of approximately $1,200.00 per uniform.

If anyone is concerned about transfer protocol and prefers that his/her individual uniform be tested for personal body reactions, that would include paying for your own special chemical analysis.

Captain/FO – Crew Resource Management

Remember when LUS used to have Crew Resource Management (CRM)? Do you remember checking in and being together for the whole trip? We knew the cockpit crew names before we left home. We could contact them if we needed them. We ALL got a full briefing. We ALL worked together as a team. We were late together. We cancelled together. We can only imagine how USAir Flight 1549 under the leadership of Captain Sully and F/O Skiles could have gone differently without the coordinated efforts of our wonderful cabin crew of Shelia Dail, Doreen Welsh, and Donna Dent.

Now that we no longer appear to have CRM, no briefings, and the cockpit crew coming on the aircraft at the very last minute, I am concerned about the possibility of the “next time”. What might the outcome be? I want to know who we are flying with, and I know I’m not the only one. Many Flight Attendants have contacted me about this issue. On my last international trip, the cockpit crew addressed the issue as well. They are also concerned about losing the CRM of the old days.

I have addressed this issue with the Company, and they said that it would all be taken care of when they could get the computer systems working together. I am personally tired of everything being blamed on the computer system. This is 2016…NOT 1970!

Jumpseat Weight and Balance

Until FOI, LUS Flight Attendants flying on LUS metal who are denied a jumpseat due to weight and balance, will be allowed the following:

A commuting line holding Flight Attendant, at the Company’s discretion, shall be removed from their trip and pay protected or shall be provided deadhead into position to split onto original pairing and paid for the missed portion but not the deadhead.
Reserves, if commuting to work, shall NOT have their guarantee reduced for missing either part or all of their reserve availability period (RAP). The provision in the above shall apply to a Reserve that is scheduled to work a pairing that originates on an available day or day off.
A Flight Attendant eligible under the terms of this agreement is a Flight Attendant who would have otherwise have been accommodated on the jumpseat based upon the order of assignment and time of check-in. The affected Flight Attendant must contact Daily Ops at 682-315-7070-or toll free at 1-888-222-4737 within 30 minutes of the denial to be eligible for the protections in this settlement.

UAL Agreement

Yes, APFA is currently doing due diligence on the UAL Agreement. Union Economist, Dan Akins, was part of our agreement, and he also played a huge role in the United deal. There are thousands of letters and files to decipher. This takes time and is highly confidential. To find out more about Dan, please seehis web page.

Remember this is a contract based on the aggregate so every single cost must be determined. We have things that cost more and they have things that cost more. We must come up with the total cost of each contract.

Drug and Alcohol Incidents

Unfortunately, the Charlotte base has had an alarming increase of positive drug and alcohol tests over the last several months. A few have permanently lost their jobs as a result of a second positive drug test.

We are a new Company and a new Union, but the Department of Transportation (DOT) tests and guidelines are the same for all working crew members in the United States. Please see49 CFR 40 .

There is a question and answer section that can help in understanding the process.

Also, if you have any personal problems or you are in need of help for addiction, please contact APFA’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which provides assessment and 24 hour confidential support:

817-540-0108 ext. 8701
800-998-8194

You can also call the Flight Attendant Drug and Alcohol Program (FADAP)

855-33-FADAP | 855-333-2327
Direct Line: 202-355-6337

FADAP is a multi-union, multi-airline program that is funded by the FAA. Both programs are here to help and are strictly confidential.

Election Day – November 8, 2016

A friendly reminder that Tuesday, November 8 is Election Day. For all of you that have voted, thank you. For those that have not, or are on the fence about voting, please remember it is not only a presidential election, it also includes voting for the leaders you send to Capitol Hill for the Senate and House, as well as your state and local leaders. The leaders you send to represent our state is as important, if not more so, than who you vote for in the presidential race. Please take the time to vote.

In Solidarity and Unity,

Cathy Bossi
APFA CLT Base President
[email protected]