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Dear
Council AFA-CWA Members,
Senator Jim Webb Support Flight Attendant
FMLA Legislation
Following countless phone calls, letters and emails, Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA)
agreed to co-sponsor AFA-CWA's FMLA legislation. This was a result of direct
grassroots mobilization of the AFA membership. You made the phone calls and
signed letters in numbers not seen before. When that happens it is very
difficult for an elected politician to ignore. I would like to thank all who
took the time take action. We must continue to push forward. Locally we still
need one more Senator as a co-sponsor. Sen. John Warner (R-VA) has yet to take
action. Please continue with the calls to Sen. Warner's office. Remember they
work for you. Encourage Sen. Warner to co-sponsor S. 2059, the Technical
Correction to the Family and Medical Leave Act by calling 202.224.2023. I have
heard from a few flight attendants that they at first were not comfortable
contacting the office for fear of the unknown. After making that first call they
realized that it was very easy and empowering. Please make the call today and
everyday until we reach our goal.
CWA Convention News
Council 41 was represented by Local Officers Steve Schembs and I at the 70th
Annual CWA Convention held this week in Las Vegas. The convention centered on
Building a Political Movement- Labor 2008 for the upcoming election.
Focusing on several key "kitchen table" issues which include the Employee Free
Choice Act, Affordable Health Care for All, Jobs/Fair Trade that will keep jobs
in the U.S. and Retirement Security; CWA and AFA has turned these difficult
years into an opportunity to build one of the largest progressive political
movements in history. A broad network of local leaders, members, retirees and
their families across the country will be working together to take back our
country for the middle class.
Delegates at the convention passed a resolution endorsing Sen. Barrack Obama for
President of the United States of America. CWA and other labor groups will work
as never before to get our members to the polls on November 4, 2008 to cast
their votes to transform our country's political landscape and restore the
rights, dignity, and financial security of America's workers and working
families. Taking nothing for granted, those opposed to the labor movement and
the advancement of the middle class will use the three G's (Guns, God and Gays)
to take the focus off our message. While this may have worked in the past, it
will not work today. With a shrinking middle class and organized labor under
attack for the last 7 years, the tide is turning on those who do not share the
economic values of the labor and the middle class. As aviation employees, we can
not afford another 4 years of the policies of George W. Bush. It will be a busy
130 plus days until Election Day but it is one that we can not afford to sit
ideally by and wait to see what happens.
Senator Obama addressed the Convention thanking CWA delegates for their support
and pledged to be Labor's President.
As Senator Obama recently told a gathering of CWA activist:
It's time we had a president who didn't choke saying the word "union". A
president who knows it's the Department of Labor and not the Department of
Management. And a President who strengthens our union by letting them do what
they do best-organize workers. If a majority of workers want a union, they
should get a union. It's that simple. Let's stand up to the business lobby
that's been getting their friends in Washington to block card check. I've fought
to pass the Employee Free Choice Act in the Senate. And I will make it the law
of the land when I'm President of the United States of America.
AFA-CWA leaders and Government Affairs Committee members were out in force,
working the convention crowd of 3,000 and educating Delegates, both on the floor
of the convention and in district meetings, on our fight for FMLA fairness.
Dressed in CHAOS green t-shirts provided by Council 66 with the slogan, "Got
FMLA? - Flight Attendants Don't! - Call Your Senators Today," AFA-CWA Activists
had Delegates phone their Senators from the halls of the Convention and sign
over 5,000 postcards that will be delivered to Senate offices in Washington
urging Senators to co-sponsor S. 2059 the FMLA Technical Correction for Flight
Crewmembers Act.
I want to thank the leadership of US Airways/America West Council 66 in PHX for
taking the time to create the t-shirts and being committed to AFA-CWA's
legislative agenda. They put their time and money where it counts and have
worked tirelessly on not just the behalf of their members but all the members of
AFA-CWA. Gary Richardson, Mary Cost and Nicki Kirkeby have really set a great
example for all AFA leaders on what it means to fully embrace the goals of our
legislative agenda and how to mobilize their members.
Local Newsletter Receives Award
Council 41's newsletter, The National News, received an award at this year's
convention for General Excellence for Locals under 500 members. Thank you to all
who assist in the production of our newsletter. It is no small task to put a
newsletter together but we continue to believe it is a very effective tool for
the membership.
In Solidarity,
Alin Boswell –
Council 41 President
Alin@afausairways.org
Stephen Schembs –
Council 41 Secretary
SSchembs@afausairways.org
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