7.17.19 – Weekly Scoop

Wednesday, July 17, 2019

 

  

Multiple Cases of Legionnaries’ Disease Linked to Atlanta Hotel

One of our ATL-Long layovers has been shut down due to a Legionnaires Disease concern. More than 400 of the hotel’s guests have been relocated to nearby hotels. It is important to note that NO Flight Attendants are currently staying at this specific layover hotel for the month of July.

Legionnaires is transmitted by droplets of water, and not usually by person-to-person transmission. Incubation can last from 2 to 10 days. For those individuals that are healthy, there is low to no risk of contracting this disease. There is an increased risk for those that are very young, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems.

If you have stayed at this property recently and have any symptoms of cold, flu, aches and pains, it is recommended that you be seen by your Primary Care Physician or other healthcare facility for evaluation.

APFA will remain in contact with the Company and proper authorities to ensure that our Flight Attendants are being taken care of and remain safe. Again, there are no Flight Attendant hotel allocations for this specific property for the month of July.

CNN Report on Atlanta Hotel

What is Legionnaires’ Disease?

CDC – Legionella (Legionnaires’ Disease and Pontiac Fever)

– Julia Simpson, APFA National Hotel Chair, [email protected]
– Michael Tipton, APFA National Health Chair, [email protected]
– Jeffrey Ewing, APFA National Safety and Security Chair, [email protected]

Reschedule Procedures… Know your Contract! 

In a recent Flight Service Communication, the Company communicated procedures for notification of a rescheduled assignment which appeared to be confusing. We would like to clarify JCBA Section 10.V.5:

The Lead Flight Attendant will be responsible for communicating with Crew Schedule. In no event shall a Flight Attendant accept a change in in itinerary from anyone other than Crew Schedule, a Company designee, e.g., member of management, Flight Service Management or the Captain.  Notwithstanding the above, a customer service agent may inform the Flight Attendant of the need to contact Crew Schedule for possible change in itinerary.

Again, the Customer Service Agent can only advise you of the need to call Crew Schedule for a possible change…..not the details of the change.

– Liz Geiss, APFA National Vice President, [email protected]

You Asked, We Answered. SMS Text Notifications Are Here!

You may now join the SMS text notification service to get urgent and important updates from APFA. Multiple groups are available for you to opt in to, such as PBS bidding reminders and base specific messages from APFA National Leadership and your local Base Leadership. More groups can be added as the system evolves.

Example:

This is an optional service and does not replace the APFA hotlines. In addition, this new service will not replace or terminate the text reminders that are sent out from the Contract and Scheduling Departments, nor will it change how our Flight Attendants can text an APFA representative as a live chat option. This is simply another way to stay informed when it comes to time-sensitive and urgent matters.

Click Here for sign-up instructions, and more information.

– Robin Charbonneau, APFA National Communications Chair, [email protected]

Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT)

The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation’s World Congress was held May 19-24, 2019. One day was dedicated to Aviation and in attendance were our Team Base Coordinators: Mark Arcenaux (DFW), Patty Abruzzo (LAX), Melinda Canaday (ORD/STL), Sharon Dunn (LGA), Lisa Crockett-Moon (CLT), Bill Ibarra (PHL), Laura Lyman (PHX/SFO), Sonia Rodriguez (LGA), Litra Simms (BOS, RDU, DCA), Joe Stanko (MIA), Graham Thompson (PHL).

Guest speakers at the conference were: Susie Wallace, Lead CIRT Coordinator and Patty French, CIRT Clinical Director. They spoke of the history and structure of our program and our goals for the future. It was a great day for networking as the Critical Incident Teams from Boeing, JAL, Jet Blue, Southwest, APA, Air Traffic Controllers and even private/acrobat flying associations.

Sheila Dail, who recently retired, was also chosen to be on the Board of Directors for the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation.

We thank the APFA-AA CIRT, the largest Airline Critical Incident Response Team in the U.S., for wonderfully representing our peer support volunteer team in Baltimore.

-Abby Alconcher, APFA National EAP Specialist, [email protected]

Lori Bassani Testifies in Washington, D.C.

Today, APFA National President Lori Bassani testified before the House Aviation Subcommittee in Washington, D.C. The Congressional hearing was titled “State of Aviation Safety” and the panel also included leaders from TWU, ALPA, PASS, NTSB and family members of victims of Ethiopian Air Flight 302. As stakeholders of aviation safety, many concerns on various issues were brought forward. President Bassani focused her comments on seat size, evacuations, air rage, cabin air quality, emotional support animals, the 10-hour minimum rest FAR, FAA oversight and the Boeing 737 MAX.

National President Bassani with TWU International President Samuelsen

– Allie Malis, APFA National Government Affairs Representative, [email protected]

Benefits Service Center

Do you have health spending account, direct billing or benefits deduction questions, need dependent verification, need to enroll, confirm or change who’s covered? You can get answers to these questions and many others by contacting the Benefits Service Center at  888-860-6178 from 9am until 6pm CT, Monday through Friday. You can also chat or send a secure email by logging into the Benefits Service Center.

– Michael Tipton, APFA National Health Chair, [email protected]