ABR/NPA Vote

Details on Bargaining and Representation Agreements:

  • MEC President Introduction Letter
  • Summary of Agreements on Bargaining and Representation
  • Full Language of Agreements
  • APFA Links
  • ABR/NPA Videos from AFA & APFA
  • ABR Ratification Meetings and Voting Dates

January 29, 2014

Dear US Airways Flight Attendants:

Enclosed you will find voting instructions for the Agreement on Bargaining and Representation/Negotiations Protocol Agreement. We encourage you to read the information in this booklet and go to ouramerican.org for more information as well.

Since the merger was announced over a year ago, AFA has been pushing for a bargaining process which includes full participation by US Airways Flight Attendants. The ABR accomplishes that objective with the following:

  • US Airways Flight Attendants will be fully represented in the negotiations for a Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement.
  • Both the AFA and APFA collective bargaining agreements will be utilized in negotiations and at arbitration.
  • The total economic value must be greater for pre-merger US Airways Flight Attendants as compared to our existing agreement.

The Agreement on Bargaining and Representation also provides that APFA will become the representative of Flight Attendants at the new American Airlines. We made this difficult decision because we believe this agreement protects our contract and provides a path for moving forward which is in the best interest of Flight Attendants at the New American Airlines. We will walk forward together in unity and work to build a contract that sets a new standard for the industry.

We like to think of this as not just a move to the New American, but as a move to the New APFA as well. In a sense of unity, we will bring with us our rich history and experience as we join 16,000 flying partners to build our careers at the New American.

One of the commitments we made during the process was to ensure that US Airways Flight Attendants had a voice and a vote. This is your chance to weigh in on both the issue of representation and on the bargaining process for reaching a single agreement.

The AFA US Airways Master Executive Council voted to recommend a vote FOR this Tentative Agreement. As always, the final decision rests in the hands of the members. Please get all of the information and, above all take the time to vote before polls close on February 28, 2014 at Noon Eastern Time.

Sincerely,

Roger Holmin
MEC President US Airways
Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO


Summary of Agreement:

 

Bargaining Process

US Airways Flight Attendant Participation in the Bargaining Process:

  • Joint AFA/APFA survey to determine Flight Attendant priorities.
  • Equal AFA and APFA participation on bargaining team.
  • Use of advisors from both unions and jointly retained financial analysts.

 

Revised Bargaining Process

  • One hundred and fifty (150) calendar days of negotiations with an average of ten (10) days per month of actual negotiations.
  • Methods to expedite negotiations including adopting entire sections and the use of mediator.
  • If a tentative agreement is reached, it will be submitted to all members for ratification. If rejected the parties will utilize mediation to resolve the dispute, and finally to arbitration based on the standard listed below for overall economic improvement.
  • The arbitration panel includes one AFA designated member and one APFA designated member to ensure the Flight Attendant perspective is included in the arbitration decision.
  • Company support for the negotiations process in terms of travel, lost time, and expenses.

 

Standards for Bargaining and Arbitration

  • Both the AFA and APFA agreements included in negotiations and any arbitration decision.
  • The value of the Joint Collective Bargaining Agreement (JCBA) must produce increases in total economic value for pre-merger USA Flight Attendants as compared to current AFA/USA Agreement, as well as for AA Flight Attendants considered separately.
  • The standard for arbitration will be market-based in the aggregate compared with other network carriers – UA/CO and DL and must result in overall economic improvements to the current USA and AA agreements. Includes negotiations and a second arbitration if necessary for an adjustment when UA/CO reach an agreement.

 

Representation

  • APFA be certified as the representative of the class and craft of Flight Attendants at New American sometime in summer or early fall 2014.
  • At the transition point, the AFA Local Council Presidents would fill interim positions within the APFA structure.
  • AFA representation structure will be maintained until APFA becomes the certified representative.
  • AFA will administer the US Airways contract (and continued implementation) and any related grievances until the effective date of the new JCBA and for a period after, including the resolution of all outstanding grievances.

 

MOU Discussions

  • The parties agree to meet within ten (10) days of ratification of this agreement to negotiate a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) over transition issues.

 

Full Language of Agreements

Please Ask and View Tentative Agreement Questions and Answers regularly HERE>>

APFA Links

 

ABR/NPA Videos:

AFA US Airways Video:
roger-holmin-screen1x-sm

APFA Unity Video:
apfavideoscreenshot


ABR Ratification Meetings:

We will be voting on the Agreements on Bargaining and Representation February 6- 28. Voting instructions will be mailed to your home. We will be conducting meetings to review the Agreement on Bargaining and Representation/Negotiations Protocol Agreement.

PHX
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
10 am – 1 pm
Phoenix Marriott Tempe at The Buttes Amphitheater
2000 Westcourt Way, Tempe, Arizona

CLT
Thursday, February 13, 2014
10 am – 1 pm
Doubletree Hotel Airport
2600 Yorkmont Road, Charlotte