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VOTE!
Dear Council 41 Members:
I am writing to give you my opinion regarding the tentative agreement (TA) you are being asked to vote on.
Personally I have voted for the agreement and encourage you to vote FOR. I believe our negotiating committee did the absolute best in the absolute worst of times. They worked until the last minute before the end of the 1113(c) hearing. The judge's decision has been postponed until after the vote count. VOTING CLOSES 1-5-05 1600 EST
So what is our choice? Vote for this agreement or have an agreement imposed. AFA does not have the ability to go in and "change" any of this agreement. Things could be much worse, that is why I am encouraging you to vote and to vote FOR. You may disagree with me but please do so based on the facts. I would be more that happy to discuss these issues with you.
Do I believe that we needed to give up all of what is in front of you? Hell NO. Flight attendants were never the high cost of the airline. We just are just lumped in as "labor" and threatened to concede or we would all fail. We were and are, up against the proverbial brick wall.
The AFA leaders have heard from many flight attendants with complaints about particular sections of the TA. The bottom line is: we were in negotiations and in negotiations there is give and take PLUS we were negotiating with a company in bankruptcy. Nothing in this agreement was a gift. Every item was paid for by something else in our agreement.
Please take the time to review the agreement (many times actually) and try to get to one of the roadshows. I know there are not many roadshows however our time is limited.
Alin, Katie and I will be in the crew room between now and the count date to discuss these issues with you.
In Solidarity,
Bob Kenia
RETIREMENT
We wish we could advise you on what road to take. That is a very personal issue. Here are some clarifications:
- YOU CAN take the VFLR ($10,000 taxable) and then retire. However you will be excluded from any and all retiree medical.
To be eligible for the Early Retirement Incentive
(ERI) $300.00 per month (taxable) beginning 1-06 you need to be:
- Active on 12-1-04 which means flying or off sick but claiming sick time.
- 20 years of service
- You must notify the Company by March 1, 2005 of your intention to retire and retire by 12-31-05.
SCHEDULING
The options will not go away until the Electronic Trade Board (ETB) is up and running or it is fully staffed manually. The Company wants the options to go away so therefore look for this happening as soon as possible.
The provision about trip improving on the weekend will take effect very soon after the contract is ratified.
VFLR
Voluntary Leave Limited Recall was designed so that a flight attendant can leave the Company and possibly collect unemployment. The Company has made a determination that there should be about 500 needed furloughs once the scheduling provisions are in full force. If there is not enough people to take the VFLR then there will be involuntary furloughs. IF there are more than number needed the Company will extend the VFLR to a later date. Only those active on 12-1-04 can apply.
EAP NEWS by Annette Hill
Some of you have indicated that you would like information on resources that may help with your financial burden during these pay cuts. Below you will find what I hope will be useful information. It will also be posted on the DCA EAP Bulletin Board in the next week.. Also, I will have additional copies of the resume writing handouts in my box by next week.
Debt Counseling and Repayment Programs:
- The National Foundation for Credit Counseling sponsors a nationwide network of local non-profit organizations that provides consumer credit education, confidential budget and debt counseling, and debt repayment programs to families and individuals debt free. Find a local consumer credit counselor at
http://www.debtadvice.org or call 1-800-388-2227.
Union Community Fund: Many local union communities have created charitable funds to assist members when times get tough. Find out if your area has one by linking to
http://www.unioncommunityfund.org/contacts.asp
Catholic Charities: A national organization with local chapters offering emergency cash assistance, legal, and counseling services. Refer to your local phone book or go to
http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org/states/
Hospitals/Health Clinics: Low Cost/No Cost
- Hill Burton Facilities: Free or reduced health care may be available at your local hospital or nearby health clinic if they are a " Hill Burton" facility. Contact the admission or finance department to identify if it is a designated Hill Burton facility and to obtain their eligibility requirements. A directory of all current Hill Burton health care facilities by states and cities is available at
http://www.mccapny.org/guide/chap10d.htm#hillburton
Health Insurance for Children: No Cost and Low Cost
- SCHIP is available in almost every state for America's children through the State Children's Health Insurance Program
(SCHIP). The program is designed to ensure that children are not denied health care because their parents do not have health insurance coverage. The program is federally funded but implemented by each state. You can learn about how to qualify for the SCHIP program and find information about its availability in your state at the Insure Kids Now web site
(www.insurekidsnow.gov) or at 1-877-543-7669.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE: Free or Reduced Cost
- Union Privilege offers AFA members access to a network of attorneys for a free telephonic or in-person 30 minute consultation and reduced fee if the attorney's services are retained. Call 1-800-452-9425 or go to
www.unionprivilege.org.
- Legal Services Corporation promotes equal access to the courts by providing funds for civil legal assistance to those who would otherwise be unable to afford legal counsel. Local programs can be identified at
www.lsc.gov/fundprog.htm or by calling 202-336-8800
Prescriptions: Low Cost/No Cost
- Prescription drug assistance programs provide needy patients with medications they might not otherwise be able to afford. Pharmaceutical companies provide select medications free of charge to physicians for qualified patients. To make it easier for physicians to identify the growing number of programs available, member companies of the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America
(PhRMA) created the Directory of Prescription Drug Patient Assistance Programs. Information about covered medications, eligibility and how to apply is provided. The directory is available at
www.phrma.org/patients.
- Rx Assist: Volunteers in health care developed RxAssist to help physicians identify programs offering free medications for their eligible patients. The on-line program is designed to save physicians time and frustration by making it easier to identify appropriate programs for their patients, and submit application which conforms to the company's requirements. Talk to your doctor about contacting RxAssist at 877-844-8442 or
www.volunteersinhealthcare.org/rxsoft.htm
Utility Bills Assistance:
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) offers assistance with paying for your home's heating and/or cooling costs. In addition, there may be other programs operated by your local utility company or local United Way organization to help pay for utility bills. Contact your local utility company or your local AFL-CIO community service liaison for more information. You can locate your local community service liaison at
http://www.aflcio.org/communitypartners/peoplehelp/
Contact your Community Services Agency for information on some of the above services as well as any additional services : 202-289-723
For information on Food Stamps, go to: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/ or call 703-305-2026
Other possible avenues :
Red Cross : http://www.redcross.org 703-549-8300
Salvation Army : http://www.uss.salvationarmy.org/uss/www_uss.nsf/vw-dynamic-index/8EBAE052853CC00080256D1C0064F481?openDocument 703-642-9270
You may also want to contact any local churches that you are affiliated with or that are in your neighborhood for help
Please keep the printed TA until you receive a new contract!!
VOTE! The DCA flight attendants have always been ahead of the other bases in voting. Please do not let others make the decision for you, take the time and VOTE!
This newsletter was sent via e-mail and placed in all flight attendant mailboxes.
Sign up HERE
or www.afausairways.org
and Click on the Washington page.
COUNCIL 41
Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO
Committee List
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