COUNCIL 41

Dear Council 41 Member,

I would like to thank all the members who voted during the most recent restructuring agreement. It was not an easy decision and I applaud those who actually took the time to cast their ballot. I guess we will never know what the Company was going to do (liquidate or not) but we can now move on. For those who choose to leave and pursue a new career I certainly understand your decision and wish you the best of luck.

System wide 61% of the members voted, 55% voted for the agreement

Base by Base:
DCA   60% of the member voted, 73% voted for the agreement
BOS   57%  voted,  54% voted for
CLT    61%   voted, 70%voted for
LGA    44%  voted, 91% voted for
PHL    60%  voted, 52% voted for
PIT     63%  voted,  40% voted for

Please avoid the RUMOR MILL. If you have any questions please call me or another local officer. 
In Solidarity, 

Bob Kenia

TIMELINE 
The new restructuring agreement implementation schedule is as follows:

• LTD effective immediately for all NEW cases

• Salary Continuance effective immediately for all new cases

• Reserve changes to take affect no later than June 2004

• Sick claim changes March 2, 2003

• Preferential Bidding no later than June 2004

• Duty Rigs March 2, 2003

• Rescheduling language immediately

• Health Benefit changes after a new open enrollment period 

• Minimum aircraft number immediately 

• SAP WILL REMAIN IN PLACE UNTIL PREF. BIDDING STARTS

VACATION CHANGES
Please remember that the new vacation pay rates have taken effect as of January 1, 2003 as agreed to in the "summer" restructuring agreement. There were no changes to vacation in the "winter" restructuring agreement. 

Effective January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2004
A flight attendant taking 7 or more days of vacation will be paid as follows:

Vacation of 7 or more days    0-17 Years     18 Years and Above

55-hour option                         3:09                    3:36
75-hour option                         3:36                    4:30
85-hour option                         4:03                    4:57 
95-hour option                         4:30                    5:33
105-hour option                       4:57                    6:09

A flight attendant taking less than 7 days of vacation will be paid as follows:

Vacation of less than 7 days (All Years)

55-hour option 2:15 
75-hour option 2:42
85-hour option 3:09
95-hour option 3:36
105-hour option 4:03

COMMUTER POLICY

Effective January 1, 2003 the new commuter policy has taken effect. According to the letter written by Sherry Hendry, VP of Inflight the policy has been implemented according to the summer restructuring agreement (page 27) with a few exceptions. Please review the letter on the "Hub." Below are aspects of the Company implemented procedures that I have challenged:

If your commuting flight cancels or is delayed as described in the agreement the Company is now requiring that you provide documentation of the delay or cancellation. That means you must ask an agent (also an employee group that is understaffed) to print documentation for you. In my opinion this should be accomplished by your supervisor.
If you can not be split onto your trip or do not make up the time lost you will be given a low block letter. 
You can only designate ONE commuter city. Granted you cannot list both BOS and FLL however you could easily commute from FLL, MIA or PBI. 

I have written to the MEC President about these issues and he has addressed them with the Company. I will let you know the outcome as soon as possible. 

PERSONAL DAYS POLICY

Effective January 1, 2003 the new Personal Day Policy has started. Please review page 26 of the summer restructuring agreement.

MINIMUM REQUIRED CREW

Please keep in mind that the minimum required crew must be on board the aircraft at all times during boarding (originating and through flights) or deplaning. Remember the jetway is not an extension of the aircraft. This has been in effect for some time now and the Company has done nothing to help alleviate the problems we are faced with on a daily basis. This is especially evident on the larger aircraft (321 & 757). I have discussed this several times over the last year with management with no real solutions. * So if there is a double seat assignment ask the pilots to call or send the passenger back to the agent. * If there is excess baggage on the plane, just set it outside the door of the aircraft. *If the jetway phone rings, let it ring. 

If the Company wants to minimally staff the aircraft then we must be extremely careful not to break any Federal Aviation Regulations.

FLIGHT ATTENDANT ASSISTANCE

DCA Fight Attendants who were either furloughed or saw their salaries reduced as a result of the September 11 attacks may be eligible for a range of services from a new union-sponsored program. AFA is trying to identify and qualify Flight Attendants that may be eligible for these September 11 fund resources.

Assistance provided to Flight Attendants may include financial assistance, job training and placement, health care or counseling.

To find out more information, contact Annette Hill by phone at 703-212-0580 or email: ahill@afausairways.org Brochures with further information are also available by the EAP Bulletin Board in the DCA crewroom. Please pass this information along to all furloughed flight attendants.

RESERVE ISSUES

For those of you who are now on reserve again (current system) please review your contract Section 11. For many of you the reserve system has changed with the May 2000 agreement. 

Some of the changes are:

• 6 inviolable (INV) days off. You can only work on your inviolable days with Company consent.

• If you pick up a trip that returns on the first day of your INV days (1500-2359) you will have waived that portion of your INV day

• Reserves returning from days off will be available for trips departing after 1700

• If you are awarded or assigned a trip and subsequently reassigned a trip of a lesser value will be pay protected for the value of the original trip. However you must remain on duty for the number of days for the original trip. Example you picked up a 4-day trip worth 22 hours. Future reassigns you to a 3-day worth 16 hours, you will be protected for 22 hours however you will need to remain on duty for that last day.

These are just some of the changes from 2000. Remember the new reserve system has not started yet and there is no specific date for implementation. 

I will submit an agenda item (official motion) to the MEC that AFA take an official position that the new reserve system should not be implemented until Pref. Bidding starts. This should affect fewer flight attendants because we are currently operating with 41% reserves and under the Pref. Bid system we should operate with 25% reserves. 

INCREASING/DECREASING YOUR OPTION

Many flight attendants have inquired about increasing or decreasing their options. The contract allows you to change your option (Section 10.C.9.d Page 10-3) due to a hardship. You will need to write a letter to your supervisor stating the hardship and the request to change your flying obligation.

The Company will offer a new "global bid" (all flight attendants will choose their option) when and if a new reserve system is implemented this year. 

This newsletter was sent via e-mail and placed in all flight attendant mailboxes.
Sign up HERE Click on the Washington page.

Bob Kenia, LEC President 
703-690-6859 office 
703-690-9350 Fax 
bkenia@afasuairways.org

Alin Boswell, LEC VP
703-212-8090 office
703-212-8089 fax
alin@afausairways.org

Katie Whitney, LEC Secretary
703-719-6940 office
703-719-6935 fax
kwhitney@afausiarways.org


PAIRINGS ARE NOW ONLINE!! Visit the HUB at http://thehub.usairways.com