4.23.19 – American Airlines agrees to stop management performance of Flight Attendant duties while in talks

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

RECOGNITION & SCOPE ARBITRATION RESET WHILE PARTIES ENTER AN EXPEDITED RESOLUTION PROCESS
American Airlines agrees to stop management performance of Flight Attendant duties while in talks.

As APFA was entering arbitration this week to challenge the Company’s use of members of management performing onboard Flight Attendant duties in violation of our Scope and Recognition language, there was an agreement to take one last opportunity to try to reach a fair resolution. The arbitrator supported this approach.

APFA and the Company agreed that management would not perform the disputed work while the settlement talks were held. Therefore, effective Wednesday, April 24^th, 2019, members of management will not assist with or perform any onboard Flight Attendant duties, except in narrow cases of critical operational coverage that do not alter our collective bargaining agreement. This allows the parties to make one last effort to reach a fair resolution.

The Union and the Company will use the first day scheduled for arbitration, this Wednesday, April 24^th, to begin settlement discussions.  While this approach might lead to a settlement, we felt it necessary to secure dates for the arbitration in the event talks fall apart.  If APFA can reach a settlement that protects our Flight Attendants and our contract, we will do so. If not, we have already secured a hearing date in the week of August 12, 2019 before the same arbitrator.

AA’s agreement to cease managements’ performance of Flight Attendant duties  will remain in place until October 4^th, 2019, unless of course a settlement is reached. Whether through settlement or through arbitration, we will continue to fight to protect our Scope and Recognition language and our Flight Attendant jobs.

In Unity,

APFA National Vice President
[email protected]