9.25.19 – Weekly Scoop

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

 

Negotiating Committee Reserve Round Table Event

The APFA Negotiating Committee will host a Reserve Round Table event tomorrow, September 26th at APFA headquarters.

Twenty participants were randomly selected of the more than 100 ballots received.  This Reserve Round Table discussion will build upon our past base visits, roadshows, and survey.

Thank you to the members who volunteered to participate in this important event!

 

Become a Member Activist!

Help distribute information and materials for important issues and events during this round of bargaining and beyond.

As a Member Activist you’ll be one of the firsts to receive accurate and factual information to share on the line.

Click here to sign up!

Yesterday, Lori Bassani, APFA National President  pinned the Member Activist pin on Brian O’Connell at the Boston Negotiations Road Show.

 

Experienced a Critical or Traumatic Workplace Event?

The Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) program was developed as a collaborative effort between American Airlines (AA) and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants Employee Assistance Program (APFA EAP). The program assists Flight Attendants after experiencing a critical or traumatic workplace event. The goal of the program is to move the affected Flight Attendant(s) from a distressed state to emotional stability after the event.
The program utilizes key aspects of the Mitchell model under the International Critical Incident Stress Foundation (ICISF) and is a solution-focused approach in resolving the possible aftereffects an event may impose. The program is:

• Designed to help Flight Attendants cope with the adverse physiological and psychological stress that often occurs in the aftermath of a traumatic event.
• Comprised of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) members trained in the Mitchell model and are available 24/7.

Designed to foster resilience and growth by offering crisis intervention to the affected Flight Attendant(s).  If left unresolved, these effects can have harmful health and career implications. The specially trained CIRT members offer peer-to-peer crisis intervention based on an understanding of:

• Stress Response
• Stages of Grief
• Individual Resilience
• Psychological First Aid
• Aviation and the Flight Attendant Population

Organizational Team
The program takes a team approach and utilizes the resources of multiple departments. Each department plays an equally important, yet unique, role in assisting the Flight Attendants affected by a traumatic event. The team is comprised of:
– Flight Service
– Daily Ops
– Optum EAP
– APFA EAP
– APFA Team Base Coordinators (TBCs)
– APFA Peer Support Volunteers (PSVs)
– APFA Base President and Vice President
– APFA Health and Safety Departments

Overcoming adversity helps you grow in meaningful ways and gives you a greater sense of personal strength and confidence as a Flight Attendant. We cannot control when a traumatic event happens, but we can use the event as an opportunity to become a more confident and self-assured person and Flight Attendant.

The CISM program is comprised of six components:

• – 24-7 phone outreach via the 800 #
• – Demobilization
• – Defusing
• – Debriefs
• – Deployment
• – Access to Community Resources When Needed

APFA CIRT & TEAM BASE COORDINATOR CONTACTS

Clinical Coordinator:      Patty French (847) 438-2954
CIRT Lead Coordinator:  Susie Wallace (203) 592-7014

BASE, TEAM BASE COORDINATORS, CIRT CELL #

• TBC-BOS/DCA/RDU: Litra Simms-Knight – (443) 818-4993
• TBC-CLT: Lisa Moon – (704) 779-8753
• TBC-DFW: Mark Arceneneaux – (469) 623-2656
• TBC-LGA: Sonia Rodriguez – (516) 661-6182
• TBC-LAX/SFO: Patty Abruzzo (424) 352-6191
• TBC-MIA: Joe Stanko – (786) 202-2671
• TBC-ORD/STL: Melinda Canaday- (312) 618-1378
• TBC-PHL: Bill Ibarra – (917) 392-7756
• TBC-PHX: Laura Lyman – (480) 849-5026

FOR 24/7 CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANCE CALL (800) 998-8194

 

Fair and Open Skies (HR 3632)

Last week, APFA and 21 other unions sent a joint union letter in support HR 3632 which prevents prospective flag-of-convenience carriers from flying routes into the US. “This bipartisan bill ensures fair competition and seeks to prevent a race to the bottom in international civil aviation,” said Chairman Peter DeFazio (OR-4). “This legislation is critical to maintaining the highest labor standards in aviation, all over the world.” APFA is pleased that the bill passed out of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on Thursday.

Aircraft Maintenance Outsourcing Disclosure Act (HR 4374)

APFA stands with TWU and other unions in endorsing HR 4374 which would require public disclosure when an aircraft undergoes heavy maintenance outside of the US. Mechanics at foreign stations are not required to undergo FAA certification or abide by other safety standards. And due to this outsourcing trend, the US has lost thousands of good-paying aviation jobs.

FAA Reauthorization Act Implementation Hearing – Sept. 26^th, 2019

Since the passage of bipartisan FAA Reauthorization Bill in October 2018, APFA has been exceptionally vocal about the slow pace that the DOT and FAA have taken to implement many of the provisions into law. These provisions include a minimum of 10 hours of rest for Flight Attendants, improved standards for addressing cabin air quality, studies on seat size and evacuation standards, regulations on emotional support animals, and stricter rules to prevent sexual harassment inflight, to name a few. Pressure and frustration to implement these new rules has been mounting, and this week the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing to raise serious questions about the delays in implementation. APFA will continue to press lawmakers and government officials until these provisions are put into law.

 

Aflac Open Enrollment Ends Today! 

Open enrollment for products as a guarantee issue without medical questions for benefits payout for Short Term Disability (up to $3,000) and for Group Whole Life Employee (up to $30,000) and Spouse ($15,000) ends today, September 25^th.

Already enrolled? Unless you want to make changes, nothing needs to be done. Call
1-877-453-2385 to speak to a live enrollment specialist.

Problems with Split Direct Deposit Payments?

Payroll has been assisting us with identifying the issues that might be causing bank rejections. It appears that Flight Attendant entry errors might be likely for non-payment. Please check your entries. There are also self-pay options.

Click here for the credit card authorization.

Need help?  Aflac@apfa.org

 

Hotel or Transportation Issues?

Complete the Hotel Debrief Form located on the APFA website, or click the image above.

Upcoming hotel site reviews: EWR Short Layover