Good News...More Flight Attendant recalls

[jersey777]

AA announces 200 more recalls and 30 NEW HIRES!!!!





The new deal brings back 100 Flight Attendants currently on furlough by July 15, 2011. A second group of 100 will be back by October 15, 2011. In addition, the 228 furloughed Flight Attendants remaining on the recall list will get unlimited recall rights. Many in this group were expected to fall off the furlough list on November 1, 2011. The agreement will allow American to hire up to 30 new Flight Attendants who speak Chinese Mandarin (CM), with some restrictions. These flight attendants, to be based in the LAX-I, will staff routes to Shanghai China (PVG).

The APFA Board of Directors convened in DFW this week and overwhelmingly approved a resolution that states in part, "WHEREAS, obtaining the guaranteed recall of 200 additional Flight Attendants and unlimited recall rights in exchange for agreeing that the Company can hire up to 30 speakers as described above is in the overall best interest of APFA and our membership;

BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors, on a non-precedential basis, agrees to allow the Company to hire up to 30 Mandarin speakers for LAX-I, with the restrictions described to the Board, in exchange for the recall of an additional 200 furloughed Flight Attendants and the granting of unlimited recall rights to those who will still be in furlough status."

The full resolution can be read here.

The restrictions of the new-hire CM speakers will include:
Occupational seniority will be junior to any Flight Attendant currently employed or currently on furlough status

Will not cause a long-term Reduction in Force (RIF) or involuntary monthly Fall-off from LAX-I

Will not be permitted to transfer out of LAX-I until all Flight Attendants currently on the furlough list have been recalled

If the LAX-PVG route is discontinued while there are any furloughed Flight Attendants remaining on the recall list, the new-hire CM speakers will be furloughed

The full agreement can be read here. The Recall Extension agreement can be read here.

“This is tremendous news," said APFA President Laura Glading. “This is what we do as a union – protect jobs. I am extremely happy that even more people will be back to work. People who’ve been struggling for a long time will be given a chance to better support their families. I look forward to welcoming everyone on the recall list back to work, and this agreement will permit that to happen.

“This is a good step for us,” Glading continued. “It clearly addresses stagnation and seniority movement among our members. Hopefully this can be a springboard to finally complete a new collective bargaining agreement.”

The APFA thanks Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-MO) for the support he provided both parties in reaching this agreement.



APFA Communications





Our mailing address is:
APFA

 

[FWAAA]

That is some good news.

Sounds like the speaker premium should be increased to entice more of the existing FAs to learn foreign languages. But it's good to see AA and the APFA agree on this short-term solution to a shortage of Chinese speakers. I would think that constitutes the type of "working together" that most can support.

 

[jersey777]

That is some good news.

Sounds like the speaker premium should be increased to entice more of the existing FAs to learn foreign languages. But it's good to see AA and the APFA agree on this short-term solution to a shortage of Chinese speakers. I would think that constitutes the type of "working together" that most can support.

Once upon a time AA would reimburse flight attendants to attend a language school. I believe it was up to $1500. Those days are long long gone!

 

[mwa]

Unlimited recall - does that apply to the current group or does it extend the those that have expired?

 

[AAStew]

Unfortunately, it only applies to those still on the furlough list. This was the perfect time to undo what was done to those furloughees and APFA struck out again. I bet there were even some Mandarin speakers on there! And even though I am happy that jobs were protected, Glading is wrong. The function of a union is to improve working conditions and wages, not necessarily protect jobs. That is a secondary function that was not an original cause for unions to be formed. Yet, here she had the perfect opportinity to at least offer hope and reparations to those who fell off the list and she sold out again!

 

[jimntx]

It applies only to those "remaining on the furlough list." However, as has been said before here, I don't expect there to be any "remaining on the furlough list" by the end of this year--possibly earlier. If the early numbers are any indication, the retirement rate is picking up again.

The total attrition so far this year is only 50, but of that number, 26 are retirements. Some of the senior f/as are beginning to realize that if they stay beyond this year, there will be only 1 "pre-RPA" year that can be included in their pension calculation (best 7 out of last 10).

 

[jersey777]

Unfortunately, it only applies to those still on the furlough list. This was the perfect time to undo what was done to those furloughees and APFA struck out again. I bet there were even some Mandarin speakers on there! And even though I am happy that jobs were protected, Glading is wrong. The function of a union is to improve working conditions and wages, not necessarily protect jobs. That is a secondary function that was not an original cause for unions to be formed. Yet, here she had the perfect opportinity to at least offer hope and reparations to those who fell off the list and she sold out again!

It's called COMPROMISE! Besides....this measure does improve working conditions because it might get some people off reserve.

 

[AAStew]

It's called COMPROMISE! Besides....this measure does improve working conditions because it might get some people off reserve.

It was a no cost item for the company. In fact it would have saved them money not having to start the interview and background checks from scratch. We (the APFA) sold these furloughees out! We had the perfect chance to do right by them and we blew it. I am sorry the only ones who compromised here was the APFA. We are the only airline that did not offer furloughees unlimited recall. In fact I don't know of many companiews who don't offer unlimited recall to those who have been layed off in the non-travel sector. It was not right. It is time we stopped being selfish and put ourselves in their shoes!

 

[jersey777]

It was a no cost item for the company. In fact it would have saved them money not having to start the interview and background checks from scratch. We (the APFA) sold these furloughees out! We had the perfect chance to do right by them and we blew it. I am sorry the only ones who compromised here was the APFA. We are the only airline that did not offer furloughees unlimited recall. In fact I don't know of many companiews who don't offer unlimited recall to those who have been layed off in the non-travel sector. It was not right. It is time we stopped being selfish and put ourselves in their shoes!

If your original contention is that the union's main job is to improve working conditions and wages and not protect jobs...don't you think that giving unlimited recall rights to all furloughees would substantially increase AA's costs by adding topped out employees? Wouldn't these added costs hinder current employees attempts to get a larger increase in pay rates?

 

[FWAAA]

Once upon a time AA would reimburse flight attendants to attend a language school. I believe it was up to $1500. Those days are long long gone!

That might be a better solution, now that I think about it. It could be that the speaker premium is sufficient to entice those who already speak the language to bid for speaker positions and the problem could be that fear of route cancellation might be a disincentive to spend time and money learning it on your own dime. I would have hated to have spent time and money learing Russian, for example, only to see AA give up on the route (rendering my investment basically worthless).

 

[AAStew]

If your original contention is that the union's main job is to improve working conditions and wages and not protect jobs...don't you think that giving unlimited recall rights to all furloughees would substantially increase AA's costs by adding topped out employees? Wouldn't these added costs hinder current employees attempts to get a larger increase in pay rates?

I don't think there were many topped out. Most of the TWA'ers were able to be included in the bill passed in congress. I am pretty sure the majority of those on furlough were AA natives who were at only a couple of years pay scale. Nancy or Kirkpatrick if you read this, can you correct me if I am wrong?
And no I don't think that would hinder pay raises, the number is miniscule in the big picture. No sense arguing about it though, what is done is done.

 

[FWAAA]

Dunno about those who fell off the list but of the currently furloughed, all but one or two are former TWA FAs and probably topped out (or nearly topped out).

 

[jimntx]

I don't think there were many topped out. Most of the TWA'ers were able to be included in the bill passed in congress. I am pretty sure the majority of those on furlough were AA natives who were at only a couple of years pay scale.

No, there is only 1 "nAAtive" still on the recall list and he/she is at the very bottom of the list. Had something to do with military service or something like, and technically when the person was ready to return, they had already lost recall rights. I don't know the whole story. Maybe someone else does.

Otherwise, everyone on the recall list is a former TW f/a, and AFAIK they all had at least 15 years service. Since they were given company seniority, they are at top of scale in pay. The former TW f/as who had less than 15 years dropped off the recall list some time ago. Remember some of them went on furlough in 2002.

 

[AAStew]

So if Jim is correct, the majority that fell off were not topped off at pay. Who would it have hurt to offer them their jobs back before hiring off the street? No one. I really don't get it.

 

[TWskyliner]

So if Jim is correct, the majority that fell off were not topped off at pay. Who would it have hurt to offer them their jobs back before hiring off the street? No one. I really don't get it.

AAStew, A heartfelt thank you for your compassion and empathy towards the furloughees, it is unexpected but very welcome.