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Dear Members,
CLOSING OF THE PITTSBURGH F/A BASE
Information surrounding the closure of the Pittsburgh base
was devastating to AFA East. Further details from the company are still very
fluid. AFA East has scheduled a MEC conference call for Thursday 10/4 late
afternoon. Early information is that the In-flight departments from each
domicile, working from the administrative list will participate in contacting
flight attendants personally. Additional information will be forth coming from
AFA when more details from the company have been provided.
MEC/BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING / INFORMATION AND
RECOMMENDED AGENDA ITEM REVIEW
The US Airways MEC meeting will be held in Phoenix on
October 13, 14, 15, followed by the Board of Directors meeting on October 16,
17, and 18. Please visit the AFA International Website at
www.afanet.org to completely review the Agenda Items that will be brought
forward at the Board of Directors meeting.
Two Agenda Items stand out and they are the following:
AFA-CWA Merger Agreement – Agenda # 1 and Dues Structure – Article XI A. 1 of
the AFA Constitution and Bylaw – Agenda #2.
The decisions made on Agenda Item #1 will determine how
Agenda Item # 2 will be handled.
The events of September 11, 2001 caused a drastic reduction
in AFA membership across the board as carriers were furloughing, offering
leaves, and filing for bankruptcy. As a result of these reductions AFA actively
began searching for a merger partner to assist in representing the flight
attendants facing this uncertain future. After a review of all of the merger
candidates, AFA chose and the AFA Board of Directors voted to merge with the
Communication Workers of America (CWA). Subsequent to the BOD approval a vote
was sent out to the membership for consideration. The majority of the AFA
membership voted to merge with CWA, inclusive of the agreement that the union
dues would remain at $39.00 for the next 4 years, and if AFA decided to remain
with CWA beyond the 4 year opt out period, dues would then be the average of the
CWA members. AFA budget shortfalls, AFA legal, communication etc. services, AFA
administrative services were all covered by CWA. At anytime during this 4 year
period CWA or AFA had the opportunity to terminate the merger between the two
unions up to December 31, 2007.
Agenda Item # 1 offers four (4) scenarios that the BOD has
to consider.
- AFA would opt out of the merger with CWA and the dues
remained at $39.00
This scenario would have dramatic results on AFA and its
members. The services provided by AFA to its members would dramatically be
reduced if not eliminated all together. This would place the union in the high
risk category. Many of the departments that provide essential services would be
dramatically cut back or could possibly be eliminated totally. Start up
administrative costs would create budget shortfalls as currently CWA handles the
administrative staffing.
- AFA opted to merge with CWA and dues would be equal to
the average of all CWA members
If the BOD votes to stay with CWA which would trigger the
‘opt out’ period to expire, our dues would reflect the CWA average which
currently is $43.00 per month. Administrative, legal, negotiations, EAP, Air
Safety Health and Security and Government Affairs services would remain
intact. Organizing drives to ensure that all flight attendants are represented
by unions would continue. Organizing drives are important because flight
attendants not represented by a union and without a collective bargaining
agreement can have a dramatic impact on those that do and especially during a
carrier’s bankruptcy/concessionary environment as evidenced by management(s)
comparing union and non union flight attendants in terms of their cost to a
company.
- AFA decides to opt out of the merger with CWA and
raise dues to $43.00
Again, many of the functions and services currently
provided by AFA are being accomplished with CWA staff. If this scenario were to
be adopted replacing this staff with additional personnel would have to take
place. There would still be a budget shortfall and this too would put the union
at risk. AFA would need to again seek out a merger partner.
- AFA decides to opt out of the merger with CWA and
maintain all the services currently provided to the members.
If the AFA Board of Directors votes to adopt this scenario
it would have to be in conjunction with a needed dues increase of approximately
$49.00
AFA DUES HISTORY
YEAR DUES RATE
1976-1978 $14.00
1979-1980 $18.00
1981 $21.00
1982 $23.00
1983 $25.00
1984-1986 $26.00
1987-1988 $33.00
1989-1993 $34.00
1994-2007 $39.00
Reminder BOS Local meeting times
10:30-1:30 Thursday October 4, 2007 – IAM Hall – E Boston
Thank you,
Lynne Caramello
LECP/BOS
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Council
69/BOS LEC Representatives - Contact Information
Lynne Caramello - LECP -
LCaramello@afausairways.org
Karen Delutis - VP/SEC Treasurer -
KDelutis@afausairways.org 508 279 4999
Jill Atwood - LEC Safety Representative -
JAtwood@afausairways.org
Heather Santello - LEC Uniform Representative
Sherri
Baker - Reserve Representative - sbaker@afausairways.org
Karen Delutis - Professional Standards - kdelutis@afausairways.org
508 279 4999
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.
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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!
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