Originally Posted by Route66

APA INFORMATION HOTLINE

This is APA Communications Director Gregg Overman with the APA Information Hotline for Tuesday, May 5.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS SPRING MEETING UPDATE: The APA board of directors reconvened at 9 a.m. at APA headquarters for this week’s regularly scheduled spring meeting.

Today’s session began with a briefing by Government Affairs Committee Chairman CA Bob Coffman, who identified many of the same external issues that APA President CA Keith Wilson cited yesterday as institutional priorities. CA Coffman also noted that the issue of cockpit cameras has gained traction in the wake of the Germanwings event and that funding for the Federal Flight Deck Officer program may prove contentious. In addition, he updated the board on the technical correction legislation needed to enable American Airlines pilots and other employees to defer taxes on most of their equity, noting that technical corrections typically occur quicker than creation of the original legislation. CA Coffman and committee member FO Shawn Gray both emphasized the need for more of our pilots to contribute to the APA Political Action Committee. Compared to many other aviation labor PACs, the APA membership’s current participation rate is low.

Negotiating Committee Chairman CA Norm Miller and Contract Compliance Committee Chairman CA John Karam jointly briefed the board on the primary issues occupying their time. CA Miller provided an update on discussions regarding the Tulsa base, noting that we’re still in “early stages” on that topic. Supplement U, domestic/international, PBS, sick, LAA pay issues and B787 distance learning were also among the items CA Miller touched on. CA Karam outlined how his committee plans to operate to ensure compliance and educate our membership. Each base will have local contract compliance representatives who also function as grievance coordinators. The committee is now participating in biweekly enforcement meetings with management to gauge implementation progress. CA Karam summed up his committee’s view of ongoing pilot pay issues by stating that management must give internal processes the same level of priority as the customer experience.

Training Committee Chairman CA Rob Fogel detailed his interest in expanding his committee to accommodate the increased demands posed by a substantially larger pilot group.

Benefits Review and Appeals Board Chairman FO Steve Conlon and APA Director of Benefits Mike Knoerr provided an APA benefits plan overview, touching on various ways the board may wish to consider further enhancing the plans for our pilots. FO Conlon noted that APA’s plans, in their current form, are already superior to those available on the open market in terms of cost and benefit provided. He also provided an overview of the current company benefit plans and noted that retirement planning seminars are scheduled for CLT on June 11, LAX on Aug. 31 and ORD on Nov. 17.

The board approved a motion adopting the consent calendar to simultaneously approve the following benefits-related resolutions:

R2015-20, Rev. 1, “Life Insurance Dividend—Grandfathered,” which stipulates that a dividend of 90 percent of the 2014 premium be paid to eligible participants under the Grandfathered Coverage of the APA Group Term Life & Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance Plan.
R2015-21, “Life Insurance Dividend—Enhanced,” which stipulates that a dividend of 30 percent of the 2014 premium be paid to eligible participants under the Enhanced Coverage of the APA Group Term Life & Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance Plan.
R2015-22, “Custodial Care Benefit Plan Contribution Holiday,” which extends the contribution holiday for the Custodial Care Benefit coverage for an additional 12-month period effective Oct. 1, 2015.
Strategic Planning Committee Chairman FO Mike Cummings reported on his committee’s vision of short-, mid- and long-term planning. Key tenets of the planning process FO Cummings outlined include solidifying contractual gains, unifying our pilots and intensifying our efforts as necessary.

Professional Standards Committee Chairman CA Doug Wood expressed the view that seniority integration will likely result in an increase in professional standards-related issues. He outlined plans for creating a regional network, with committee members assigned to serve specific geographical areas.

Uniform Committee Chairman CA Ivan Rivera updated the board on the male and female wear test results. The initial wear test resulted in some changes by management, including a switch to a 100 percent cotton shirt and 100 percent silk tie. CA Rivera noted that his committee continues to have significant concerns about the thermal qualities of the jacket and slacks, with another wear test slated to begin soon.

In other activity, the board moved to waive the requirements of Policy Manual 4.01.J. regarding maintenance of aircraft currency for the Negotiating Committee, with the waiver to expire at the 2015 fall board of directors meeting.

The board recessed its meeting at 5 p.m. and will reconvene tomorrow at 9 a.m. This week’s meeting is scheduled through Friday.

That’s it for now. Thank you for checking this hotline.