US Airways will
begin flights from Charlotte to Rio
Dear
Council 89 Members,
Legislative Affairs Update
Now that the new Congress has been seated, your legislative affairs team was in
Washington DC March 17-19, 2009. Our group was from PHL (Brian Morgan, Kim
Kaswinkel), DCA (Steve Schembs, Alan Boswell, Julia Orlandi, & Audra West) & CLT
(ME). Our purpose there was to complete the Senate process of legally applying
FMLA to pertain to flight attendants so we do not have to bargain for it, it is
applied unbiased, and it can be taken a day at a time rather than in 5 day
increments. The appointments we had attended were those that co-sponsored last
year to confirm they would co-sponsor again. Yes North Carolinians, that means
Richard Burr as well.
As you can imagine, Kay Hagen has her hands full right now attempting to get
into an office (any office) and her staffer said they needed to look into it
further. Ms. Hagan during her campaign did say she would support it; Just no
official confirmation yet. For my Ohio co-workers, Senator Voinovich's office
who failed to sign on last time seemed interested this time - again we shall
see.
The other Item we had on our agenda was carry-on bag limitations. These
limitations would be enforced no matter what airline a customer is flying. While
the language is still being drafted, we had many VERY interested in the concept.
Excess size and amount would be stopped prior to TSA. Lines at security would be
shorter, TSA would be able to do a better job screening, and there would be
fewer confrontations with flight crew/ passengers at the aircraft door. Fewer
delays.
Look forward to more legislation such as crew pass (pre security/security
screening), FAA RE-Authorization (flight attendant issues are addressed), etc.
Finally, once again we need FLIGHT PAC sponsors. Flight Pac is money AFA gives
to candidates that agree with our wants and desires. It helps a bipartisan house
or senate to use funds for elections/reelections. Without your help, we cannot
give. USAir alone spent $2,088,858.00 dollars fighting OUR FLIGHT ATTENDANTS
with PAC money. USAirways flight attendants in Charlotte gave only $2,232.00
last year and that money came from only 39 flight attendants. Yes that is
correct ONLY 39 flight attendants based in Charlotte paid for Flight Pac that
benefits everyone. Ladies and Gentlemen you must step up to the plate! A 1.00
per month, 12 dollars per year can help us keep those that back our fight,
Republicans and Democrats, get the funding they need for their campaigns. Please
help us keep both parties in office that agree with flight attendants.
How much will you spend for FMLA, OSHA, Flight Attendant Fatigue, and Cabin air
and water studies?
Is it worth at a minimum of $ 12.00 per year? $1.00 per
month? Please contact me if you can contribute at a minimum of $1.00 a month. We
know who the givers are... do you want to be known as a giver? If you are
already a giver can you add a buck a month?
US Airways plans to begin flights from Charlotte to Rio
de Janeiro this fall after federal officials approved
the route today, the U.S. Department of Transportation
said in a statement.
Tentatively scheduled to start in October, the Rio
flight would be the first nonstop service from Charlotte
to Brazil. US Airways plans to use a Boeing 767 that
seats 204 passengers.
US Airways - Charlotte's dominant carrier, operating
more than 85 percent of flights here - applied for the
Rio flight in late January. Transportation officials
also approved a Houston-Rio route by Continental
Airlines.
Charlotte is US Airways largest hub, and the airline has
nonstop service to Frankfurt, London and nearly two
dozen destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America.
US Airways also plans to start nonstop flights to Paris
next month.
The international expansion comes as US Airways and
other major airlines have seen softer demand for flights
in recent months. After cutting domestic service last
fall and this year, some carriers now are looking at
reducing service to other countries.
COUNCIL 89 OFFICERS
ANN CROWLEY
GLENDA TALLEY
BETH CARPENTER
LUCY MOSBY
MARY ANN THOMAS
