7.24.19 – Weekly Scoop

Wednesday, July 24, 2019

 

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.

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APFA National Officers, the Negotiating Committee, the Joint Scheduling Implementation Committee (JSIC), and the National Department Chairs & Specialists will host a Telephone Town Hall on Thursday, August 1st at 12:30-1:30 pm CT.

Click the image above to register to join the conversation!

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

Flight Attendants have unique occupational challenges. Flight Attendants have a greater chance of sustained sobriety when they take ownership of their recovery, understand our unique workplace obstacles and have tools to cope with those obstacles.  Who knows better what the challenges are and how to acquire recovery techniques/principals than Flight Attendants already in stable recovery.

The FAIR program now has a track record of successfully supporting Flight Attendants in recovery in ORD, LAX and MIA.  Our next target base is LGA.

FAIR is part of the APFA EAP department, the sole purpose is peer support group and members adhere to strict confidentiality requirements.  We meet once a month and encourage members to attend these meetings in conjunction with their other recovery / aftercare meetings.  Each group is facilitated by the APFA EAP representative and may be co-facilitated by an Optum EAP Manager or other certified / licensed substance abuse / mental health practitioner. This group is a support group, there is no attendance, notes etc. it is strictly voluntary and confidential.

For more information check out the FAIR information on our EAP page on the APFA web site. https://www.apfa.org/departments/employee-assistance-program-eap/

If you are interested in attending a meeting at one of these bases, or starting a FAIR group at your base, please call:

APFA EAP (817) 540-0108, ext 8701

Abby Alconcher, [email protected]
Heidi Sakacs, [email protected]

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

Threat to all Unions!
President Trump Endorses National Right-to-Work Law

Recently, Senator Rand Paul sent a letter saying that he believes “this is the best opportunity EVER to pass a National Right-to-Work Act” because President Trump has personally “pledged to support passage” of the legislation.

“Right-to-work” laws are bad public policy wrapped in a clever slogan. They should really be called “right-to-exploit” laws because they make it far easier for corporations to abuse their workforces. Supporters of right-to-work laws claim that they protect workers from being forced to join a union, but the real purpose of these laws is to make it more difficult for working men and women to engage in collective bargaining, secure better wages and benefits, and protect themselves against unfair management practices.

Historically, right-to-work laws have only been supported by conservative politicians, like Senator Paul. No President, not even President Reagan, has supported a national right-to-work bill until now.

In states with statewide right-to-work laws, wages are lower and workplace accidents and deaths occur at a higher rate and, in general, worker safeguards are reduced. APFA vehemently rejects any effort to enact national or statewide right-to-work laws. The collective action of our 28,000 members has secured higher wages, critical workplace safety measures and important job securities. APFA has more work to do as we negotiate our new contract but the worst thing we could do is turn our backs on the Labor Movement.

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

California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act (HWHFA)

American complies with California’s Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act (HWHFA/California Sick). American will provide eligible employees who are regularly scheduled by the Company to work days of up to 8 hours with 24 paid sick hours per calendar year, running from January 1 through December 31, for use in accordance with this policy (“HWHFA paid sick leave”). If on January 1 of any calendar year, you have a paid sick leave bank of 24 or more hours available to you under existing paid sick policies or agreements that apply to you, 24 hours of that paid sick leave time constitutes your allotment of HWHFA paid sick leave for that calendar year.

On January 1 of each calendar year, if you are regularly scheduled by the Company to work days of up to 8 hours and have less than 24 hours of paid sick hours available to you for use in that calendar year under existing paid sick policies or agreements that apply to you, American will credit your sick bank to ensure you have 24 hours of paid sick leave in your sick bank, all of which together will be considered your allotment of HWHFA paid sick leave for that calendar year.

For more information about California Sick, visit JetNet > Team Member Services > Leaves & Returns > State and Local Leaves

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

Allocations are Subject to Change

Please visit the August Hotel Allocations on the Hotel page for the latest information.
The hotels listed in the bid packets are “Subject to Change” aka… they are often listed incorrectly!

The Allocations will be updated immediately upon receipt from AA Hotel Contract Specialists.

https://www.apfa.org/departments/hotel-department/hotel-allocations/

– Julia Simpson, APFA National Hotel Chair, [email protected]

Maintaining Your AA Benefits

Visit APFA.org under the IOD Dept. page in the IOD Packet for information regarding your benefits and optional coverage while out on an injury on duty.