-
AFA -CWA AIR
SAFETY, HEALTH AND SECURITY SURVEY
-
UPDATE - COBRA
SUBSIDY FOR VF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
-
AIR QUALITY
LETTER TO CEO DOUG PARKER
-
DOT - RULING ON
RETURN TO DUTY/FOLLOW UP DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTING
-
C 69 BOS LOCAL
MEETING INFORMATION/AGENDA
-
AFA MEC MEETING
INFORMATION
-
Council 69/BOS
LEC Representatives - Contact Information
Dear Members,
ALERT - ACTION NEEDED
Please review the below information sent from the International
Air Safety, Health and Security Department. Please copy the web
address to your browser and take the time to fill out the
requested survey.
Thank you in advance.
********************************************************************************
The International Office Air Safety, Health and Security
Department is collaborating with the AFL-CIO and other U.S.
unions to help improve the accuracy of reporting occupational
injuries and illnesses. To support this effort, AFA-CWA is
encouraging all of our union members and activists to complete
an online survey.
Our survey will be closing the first week of September, just in
time to support Labor's research and legislative goals. With
this deadline fast approaching, we are making a final push to
drive AFA-CWA participation as high as possible.
The web address to the survey is below:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB2296JQD9QUM
**Survey Seeks to Improve Illness, Injury Reporting**
The AFA-CWA Air Safety, Health and Security Department is
working to improve the accuracy of reporting on-the-job injuries
and illnesses to the U.S. government. Annual statistics
consistently show that occupational injuries and illnesses are
declining, indicating that workplaces are becoming safer.
However, studies show that government data seriously
underestimate the true numbers of workers injured and made sick
each year. This is drawing heightened scrutiny by Congress,
researchers, and labor unions. In collaboration with the AFL-CIO
and many of its member unions, AFA-CWA is collecting information
from union members and leaders regarding the reporting of
injuries and illnesses by employers to the U.S. Government.
One explanation for the underestimation is that employer
policies and programs may discourage workers from reporting
injuries or illnesses, such as financial rewards for workers who
don't have injuries; discipline for workers who report an injury
or illness; and drug and alcohol testing for workers who
experience an injury. Such practices not only discourage
reporting, but also hide the true numbers of affected workers
and ultimately hinder efforts to identify and correct workplace
hazards.
To help assess the extent and impact of programs and policies
that discourage workers from reporting injuries and illnesses,
we have created an anonymous (your privacy is assured!) online
survey. If you have already completed this survey, Thank You! If
you have not already done so, please complete the 10-15 minute
survey by clicking here.
Armed with these survey results from a large cross-section of
union members, we will work with government agencies and policy
makers to improve the accuracy of on-the-job injury and illness
reporting.
Thank you in advance for your support and dedication to the
safety and health of all flight attendants!
Dinkar Mokadam, OSHA Specialist
Air Safety, Health and Security Department
*************************************************************************************
UPDATE - COBRA SUBSIDY FOR VF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
The below is a brief follow up to an earlier BOS E-line related
to information on the COBRA subsidy/ARRA and the Voluntary
Furloughed f/as:
The company has advised that they received an 'e-mail' from the
Department of Labor advising that Voluntary Furlough flight
attendants do not qualify for the 65% COBRA Subsidy detailed in
the ARRA ( American Recovery and Reinvestment Act).
Qualifications for the program are further detailed in the IRS
2009-27 document . AFA and OTHER representatives from the DOL
believe the U S Airways VF f/as do qualify.
AFA requested a copy of this e-mail and was advised that the
company 'Legal department requested permission to forward this
information to the AFA for their reference. The DOL response was
that they would prefer that all inquiries are referred back to
the DOL.' AFA then requested the name of the individual or
department that generated this email as apparently the
information provided to the company is contradicting. Ms. Autumn
Love is the name of the individual from the DOL who sent this
email to the company.
The AFA MEC Health and Benefits Chairperson, Paul Frishkorn has
discussed this information with an advisor at the Department of
Labor and it is still agreed that the voluntary furloughed
flight attendants do qualify for this subsidy. Ms. Love's name
will be provided to AFA's contact at the DOL and further
investigation will absolutely continue. The AFA MEC Health and
Benefits Chairperson will report back to the MEC as soon as
information is made available. If the company continues to deny
this benefit to the voluntary furloughed flight attendants, all
those denied will be provided information to file an appeal with
the United States Department of Labor.
Please stay tuned for further updates and contact your local
office for any questions or concerns.
**************************************************************************************
AIR QUALITY LETTER TO CEO DOUG PARKER
Through the joint effort of the AFA International Air Safety,
Health Department, Judith Muraski, AFA MEC Safety Chairperson
Barrington Johnson, AFA Council 82 LECP Rob Wessinger and Bill
Freiberger, US Airways MEC Safety, Health, Security General
Chairman, IAM, AFL-CIO a letter was developed, signed off by the
US Airways AFA/IAM and submitted to U S Airways CEO Doug Parker
requesting a response on what actions U S Airways will take to
further prevent exposure to toxic oil fumes on U S Airways
flights. The recent letter written by Hector Alder, Vice
President of In-flight offered some acknowledgement but
questions remained.
The letter to Mr. Parker will be published via an AFA MEC Safety
E-line message for all to view. Please remember to submit a SER
( Safety Event Report) should you encounter any Air Quality
incident, keep a copy for your records and contact your local
office. C 69 BOS local AFA Safety Chairperson. - Jill Atwood LEC
SEC TREAS / LEC Safety. -
jatwood@afausairways.org
*****************************************************************************************
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION * RULING ON RETURN - TO- DUTY AND
FOLLOW UP DRUG AND ALCOHOL TESTS
The Department of Transportation has Reinstated the
Requirements for Direct Observation of All Return to Duty and
All Follow Up Cases Back in Effect Starting August 31, 2009.
On July 30, 2009, the U.S. Department of Transportation
published a ?Final Rule? (effectively an amendment to its rules)
that reinstates the requirement for direct observation
collections for all return-to-duty and follow-up tests,
beginning August 31, 2009. This provision was stayed by the
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Circuit effective November 1, 2008, but that stay was lifted on
July 1, 2009. This amendment, therefore, restores language to
the version that became a final rule on June 25, 2008.
Confusion and Consternation over Requirements
Not too surprisingly, there has been a significant amount of
misinformation and misunderstanding in regard to what was
required and what is required now. There are two separate
issues: how to do the direct observation, and when the direct
observation is mandatory. Both were changed in a DOT rule
published in June 2008, and both came as surprises to the
industry.
The direct observation procedure was changed to include partial
disrobing and having the donor turn around in front of the
same-sex collector. This is politely referred to as enhanced
checking for prosthetic devices. Although the issue of the
invasiveness of this enhanced procedure was challenged in court
by the railroad union and management, it was not explicitly
enjoined by the court or suspended by DOT. It was always in
effect and is still in effect today.
What was enjoined by the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
and formally suspended by DOT was making the direct observation
procedure mandatory as opposed to optional for all
return-to-duty and follow-up tests. DOT prevailed on that issue
and the injunction was vacated.
Final Word
Make no mistake; compliance is not optional in the DOT program.
August 31, 2009, is the effective date for direct observation on
all return-to-duty and follow-up tests. For most employers this
represents a small number of their total tests.
The full text of the Final Rule is available in the Federal
Register under: Department of Transportation Final Rule:
Procedures for Transportation Workplace Drug and Alcohol Testing
Programs.
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-18156.pdf
AFA did put forward objections to this ruling but ultimately the
DOT ruling prevailed.
********************************************************************************************
SEPTEMBER 16, 2009 MEETING REMINDER
IAM HALL
830 SARATOGA STREET
E BOSTON, MA 02127
10:00 TO 2:00
AGENDA
Old business - local /system wide issues 'Me Too' language *
discussion Contract language review Reserve issues/updates New
Business - local /system wide issues *Please bring copy of
contract w/ you
All members in good standing welcome
********************************************************************************************
MEC MEETING - SEPTEMBER 22,23,24 - 2009
MEC OFFICE
205 Regency Executive Park
Suite 310
Charlotte, NC 28217
All members in good standing welcome
Thank you for taking the time to read this information.
Lynne Caramello
-
LECP/BOS
LCaramello@afausairways.org
HM Office 781 289 8454
Mobile 617 470 3872
FAX 1 206 289 8457
-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-
Council
69/BOS LEC Representatives - Contact Information
Lynne Caramello - LECP -
LCaramello@afausairways.org
Sherri Baker -
LECVP -
SBaker@afausairways.org
Sherri Baker - Reserve Representative -
sbaker@afausairways.org
Jill Atwood - LEC Secretary -
JAtwood@afausairways.org
Jill Atwood - LEC Safety Representative -
JAtwood@afausairways.org
Heather Santello - LEC Uniform Representative
FYI
- Do you have the MedLink number to program in your cell phone -
1-602 239-3627 / program it in now. Should you find yourself
or another crewmember needing Medlink on a layover you can call
this number.
--
Do you have the Flightline questions number? - 1 800 659
9859
--
Check out the DELL Computer/Employee discount program at the
bottom of the page on the AFA website www.afausairways.org
DELL has some great deals on computers!
|
