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Dear Council 41 Member:
BOB WHAT'S HAPPENING?
To be perfectly honest nothing has happened since the last time I wrote to you. AFA was seeking additional information from the Company in order to make a decision on moving forward. However...
On Wednesday July 14, 2004 the MEC (each LEC President) met with Bruce Lakefield, CEO and Bruce Ashby, Senior VP (in charge of all negotiations). I did not learn anything new but the meeting did reaffirm the position of management and the precarious position the company faces. I truly wish I
could divulge all the information I have received from our analyst and senior management but I cannot, we are all bound by confidentiality agreements. The Company's main concern is not violating the ATSB and GE loan covenants. If they should fall below certain levels in earnings and cash on hand the ATSB and GE could take their money, at that point the walls would start to tumble. Is this our fault, absolutely not.
Everything you can ask and have asked was mentioned during the meeting. Just to name a few: Why the bonuses? What happened to the money we already gave? What happened to the last "plan"? The bottom line is the company is in a dangerous position and we are again the scapegoats. Remember the Company has asked labor for $800 million in concessions. We have been asked to give $116 million of that figure.
During our meeting the MEC agreed to enter into negotiations to explore cost saving measures within our agreement. That is we will not consider the America West contract or the JetBlue work rules. We will try to find ways to save money but I am not agreeing to negotiate $116 million, there is no way that can be accomplished. We advised the Company that there are 2 items that need to be addressed immediately: reserve and sick time.
HOW DID I VOTE?
I voted in accordance with survey that was taken a few weeks ago. The vote on this motion was taken as a roll call. That means each LEC President cast their votes based on the number of flight attendants in their base. I voted 400 in favor of talking and 8 opposed. I voted this way based on our analysts findings, our meetings with management and with your long-term interest in mind not because I had "faith" in Bruce Lakefield as was reported in the press. I do not believe that labor is the company's problem however we are faced with a do or die situation. As always YOU the flight attendants will have the final say in accepting additional concessions or not.
Please keep up to date via the MEC e-line. Things will happen fast. The MEC has voted to send out updates on negotiations at least once a week, more if necessary.
The following is the press release sent out on July 15, 2004:
"WASHINGTON, DC - The US Airways Master Executive Council of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, reached a decision yesterday and agreed to discuss cost-saving changes within the context of their current flight attendant agreement. The MEC has advised the company that it is not interested in discussing JetBlue work rules or America West pay rates as suggested by the company.
The decision to engage in discussions with the company is conditioned upon the company's willingness to make positive changes to both the sick and reserve systems currently in place, as well as provide a fair and equitable profit-sharing plan as an integral part of any agreement that would be presented to the flight attendants at US Airways for ratification.
The MEC met with CEO Bruce Lakefield and Senior Vice President Bruce Ashby in a closed session in Coraopolis, PA, on July 14. The two executives committed to working to correct problems that have arisen since the company's recent restructuring."
Please continue to be the professionals you are, do the best you can everyday.
In Solidarity,
Bob Kenia
WHEN TO SWAP TRIPS
Reminder: Page 53 of the SAP MANUAL indicated that swapping trips had not changed from the old practice prior to SAP; however, ALL SWAPS MUST NOW OCCUR AFTER SAP. Swaps may not be done prior to SAP.
This same information was in numerous CBS memos, as well as, page 2 of the SAP Strategy Booklet distributed by the US Airways MEC and Scheduling Committee.
RESERVES BEEPERS/CELL PHONES
A clarification on the question of beeper and cell phone has been answered, that is if you have a cell phone that serves as your primary contact number and your beeper. If a scheduler is unsuccessful in contacting a flight attendant at the primary contact, the scheduler will "beep" the flight attendant by contacting the flight attendant at his/her listed beeper number (assuming such number has beeper capability) even though such beeper number may be the exact same number as the primary contact number. After they activate your beeper you will have 15 minutes to contact crew scheduling.
MEC E-LINE
Due to the new spam blockers on many internet providers many flight attendants have been dropped from the MEC E-line. If you have not been receiving the E-Line, please sign up again at www.afausairways.org. Also you will need to change your spam blocker to receive the e-line.
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.
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
COUNCIL 41
Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO
Committee List
GRIEVANCE
Bob Kenia - Alin Boswell
EAP (PRIVATE, CONFIDENTIAL NUMBERS)
Annette Hill & Kathy Vieweg
703-212-0580 540-687-3737
ahill@afausairways.org
kvieweg@afausairways.org
SAFETY
Christine Stout Denise Beaudoin
703-262-0905
dbeaudoin@afausairways.org
PLEASE LEAVE ALL SAFETY WRITE-UPS IN CHRISTINE'S MAILBOX
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
Alin Boswell Lori Vitto
202-297-3610
lvitto@afausairways.org
CREW ACCOMMODATIONS
Rick Poloway Please place all Hotel write-up in Rick's
rpoloway@afausairways.org
202-364-9943
UNIFORM
Scott Haskell
shaskell@afausairways.org
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