Recall Rights Extended for FA's

[kirkpatrick]

Here's what a well-known AA FA has to say about the effort:

I find it utterly amazing that one flight attendant can have such an impact
This 2 month extension, though limited, is the result of one hard-working,
tenacious, unrelenting furloughed TWA flight attendant by the name of Roger
Graham. I¹ve been following this effort for some time and am truly impressed
by Mr. Graham¹s efforts. Mr. Graham has pointed out that American Airlines
took money from the 9/11 Aviation Bailout and then dumped the employees onto
the American taxpayer. Donald Carty himself stated in a conversation with
Larry King that ALL furloughed employees would be brought back to service,
and Mr. Graham is doing his best to hold this company to its words. Why APFA
leadership never took this approach remains a question unanswered. My hat
goes off to Roger...

Rock Salomon
BOS

This whole thing didn't just spring into being by itself. A lot of work has been going on in the background for many months now. Getting the bill written up and garnering support took a lot of effort by a lot of people. The support of the APFA was without doubt instrumental in the short extension, but it took a lot of work to bring them on board. I think Dixie and Tim were instrumental in that effort.

A two month extension might not seem like much, but it shows a willingness to talk and a possibility of more direct action. Let's keep the ball rolling.

MK

 

[eolesen]

I'm glad to see the temporary extension, but if this was really "under the threat of Congressional action" then it wouldn't be a temporary extension -- it would be permanent. It's already pretty obvious that after four months, the bill isn't going anywhere fast, and there isn't a companion bill in the House yet.

If anything, the shuttle diplomacy is what brought this back where it should have been handled in the first place -- at the negotiations table. It's easier to blame the company, but APFA dug in their heels just as much as AMR did, so try to be fair when you look at why there was a stalemate.

While American has recalled 660 flight attendants this year, some say it's been reluctant to extend recall rights because it would rather hire younger, less-expensive attendants after the last furloughees drop off the list in July. But it is entering negotiations with the APFA on a new contract, and may be able to cut a deal on something else.

Now there's some responsible journalism... Reporting conjecture and conspiracy theory. Makes me want to rush out and buy a subscription to the Compost-Dispatch...

 

[jimntx]

I'm glad to see the temporary extension, but if this was really "under the threat of Congressional action" then it wouldn't be a temporary extension -- it would be permanent.

Oh yeah, a company that waits until something has been written up the magic 3 times and can no longer be deferred before they fix the problem would NEVER implement a temporary solution to anything, now would they? They are simply hoping that a temporary fix will make Sen. McCaskill go away without them having to do much that would be ethically and morally right. Might reduce the next bonus, you know.

Oh, and don't think for a second that I don't blame the APFA equally. There is a reason why my pet name for them is the Blessed Order of the Perpetually Trip-Removed (Mother House on Useless Blvd).

Cynical, party of one, you're table's ready.

 

[L1011Ret]

If you keep arguing that the current flight attendants need to give more to extend recall rights, then, for sure, it will be a negative development, with or without my input. I don't believe any current AA flight attendants here would be in favor of giving more just to extend recall rights.

Deleted by moderator unnecessary comments

APFA is already giving in terms of time and money. A lot bmore than one dime. Hooray for some humanitarians!

 

[Maark767]

APFA is already giving in terms of time and money. A lot bmore than one dime. Hooray for some humanitarians!

I welcome them back... more F/A's under me !!! Why not ??

 

[nbmcg01]

I welcome them back... more F/A's under me !!! Why not ??

That is why ALL AA f/as should be joining in the effort for immediate relief in the staffing crisis. F/as are worn out and tired of having each trip become a reserve "where am I being sent next" experience. Those returning want to be there. So many games.

 

[FurloughedByAPFA]

This Week's Hotline
Today is Friday, November 2, 2007. This is Tommie Hutto-Blake APFA President with the APFA weekly hotline update.

Yesterday, a temporary two month status quo recall extension was signed off impacting the 410 furloughed APFA members who were scheduled to lose their recalls rights on November 1st. This letter, dated November 1, 2007, is posted on www.apfa.org.

By now, all APFA members are familiar with Senator Claire McCaskill from Missouri who has been urging the parties to extend the five-year recall rights for our furloughed members. Senator McCaskill has gone so far as to introduce a stand-alone bill in the U.S. Senate (S.1992), which, if passed, would require AA to extend all of our furloughed members‚ recall rights to ten years from the date they were furloughed following the events of 9/11. Yesterday's agreement extends recall rights of those 410 furloughed AA FAs through December 31, 2007.

During this two-month agreed to extension, the parties - APFA and AA - will continue to have mediated discussions with the help of the Senator. APFA applauds the work of Senator McCaskill and other leaders in the Senate and House who have recently urged the parties to seek a resolution to this very serious matter. These APFA members through no fault of their own lost their careers within a two-year period during a near collapse of the AMR Corporation following the loss of three aircraft in 2001.

As a point in fact, APFA furloughed members have been returning in record numbers once they receive a recall notice from their employer - American Airlines. This shows that even after waiting over four years these furloughed career professionals have every interest in returning to their job as an American Airlines Flight Attendant.

As a reminder we have over 400 of these fine career FAs and APFA members returning to the line both this month and in December, following their re-qualification training. Please do your very best to welcome these members back to the line! We will need them to stand with us in the months ahead.

Thank you for calling the APFA

 

[Maark767]

That is why ALL AA f/as should be joining in the effort for immediate relief in the staffing crisis. F/as are worn out and tired of having each trip become a reserve "where am I being sent next" experience. Those returning want to be there. So many games.

I have to disagree with you on the staffing crisis.... I dont believe one exists... I never get reassigned. Yes I see it happen when weather hits but thats par for the course. Saying each trip becomes a rsv trip is simply not true....

 

[nbmcg01]

I have to disagree with you on the staffing crisis.... I dont believe one exists... I never get reassigned. Yes I see it happen when weather hits but thats par for the course. Saying each trip becomes a rsv trip is simply not true....

You may be lucky..This is not what we hear from others. It may be an isolated base issue. Part of the problem is that you all are not qualified on all aircraft.
There has been some interesting discussion of the reprieve on other boards. I suggest that you all take a good look at the seniority list, minus those furloughed, and count up 6000. How many of you or your friends would be facing the end of your career within the next few months. Puts this issue in a whole different light.

 

[L1011Ret]

I welcome them back... more F/A's under me !!! Why not ??

Yes, especially if you are at LGA!!! Better bidding conditions for you...

 

[Itestwell]

That's all well and good, but I'm not willing to give back another dime to extend recall rights.

idiot.

 

[kirkpatrick]

That's all well and good, but I'm not willing to give back another dime to extend recall rights.

These are your own fellow union members, members of APFA in good standing. They've been on the street for five years. Our union leadership is finally beginning to fight for them.

How could anyone oppose this?

MK

 

[kirkpatrick]

Well, one elderly poster thinks we should give back more to bring them back.

Which "elderly poster" would that be? And why do you feel the need to use the word "elderly" as a pejorative?

When I see the word "elderly" I think "wise, mature, balanced, experienced." Positive qualities which take decades to attain.

MK

 

[L1011Ret]

Which "elderly poster" would that be? And why do you feel the need to use the word "elderly" as a pejorative?

When I see the word "elderly" I think "wise, mature, balanced, experienced." Positive qualities which take decades to attain.

I think he means me Mark. But that is his habit, attacking others with slanderous or pejorative labels,

MK

 

[NewHampshire Black Bears]

That's all well and good, but I'm not willing to give back another dime to extend recall rights.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Straaight",

HOW Ironic would it be(for you) if the former T-way F/A's made the difference in rejecting a "flea-bitten" contract that AA was about to "Ram down your throat" ?

Something to (REALLY) think about, I would suspect.