I hope your summer was enjoyable for you and your families even with the situation we were facing. 

It has been over 1 year since the horrific events of September 11, 2001. We continue on in our personal and work lives as best as possible. On the 1-year anniversary the AFA EAP committee spent the entire day in our crew room to support the flight attendants as they set off for work. On behalf of the LEC Officers I would like to thank Annette Hill, Kathy Vieweg and Stephanie Spencer for their dedication to the DCA flight attendants. If you continue to experience problems related to the attacks please contact one of these committee members. 

Many of us are constantly reminded of those events and how our profession changed forever, namely security or lack of security. In my opinion, the biggest problem in DCA is the fact that most ground employees do not pass through security to go to work! These are the same individuals who perform the “security checks” on the RON aircraft! Continue to write-up any security issues and pass them on to the Safety Committee.

I am also very concerned about the Company’s apparent lack of concern for the flight attendants in their reinstating the closing of the fist class curtain. It is another move to appease the customer and show an apparent lack of respect for the flight attendant’s safety. The MEC Safety chair is working on this issue and I will let you know what the outcome as soon as possible. Maybe it is time to take it to the media.

As I reported in the last newsletter Karen Lascoli and Joanne Trihey resigned their positions as MEC President and Vice President under threat of being recalled by the Presidents from CLT, PIT and PHL.  

On September 3rd the MEC elected 2 new officers to complete the term expiring December 31, 2004. Elected, as President was PHL flight attendant Perry Hayes and Vice President PIT flight attendant Pam Hook.

I supported Perry in this election because of all the candidates Perry posses the most experience and in my opinion was the most intelligent. Perry was the LEC President in CLT and also the MEC President from 1996-1999. 

I have worked with Perry in the past and can safely say that I believe he was the best candidate of the 10 that applied for the position. I look forward to working with him again. If you have any questions regarding the election feel free to contact me.

In Solidarity,

OVERFLY
In accordance with the Section 9.I.3.c of the contract US Airways provides each LEC President with a list of members who overfly their options each month.

The situation of members over-flying their option has been brought to my attention many times over the past several months and has been a chronic problem for many years. I am keenly aware that we have ALL taken pay cuts in order to help this company but over-flying your option is tantamount to stealing.  The members effected by this are primarily the more junior flight attendants however it effects all members. For example, if the number 1 person in the base over-flies, that effects number 2 and everybody below them. Remember we ALL took pay cuts.

Section 10.C.9.d (page 10-3) allows members who experience a hardship to either reduce or increase their flying option simply by writing a letter to their supervisor explaining their hardship. I recommend that those members who feel obligated to fly more change their current option.

Let me give you an example of over-flying in DCA.
 

non-option flight attendant non-option flight attendant non-option flight attendant 75 hour option flight attendant

111:14 105:19 99:08 88:11

We are looking at furloughs in the next few months. The amount of over-flying done by this base alone would save someone’s job.

It has been discussed by some people that the names of those who overfly be published for the membership. I am not in favor of that at this time. I hope that the problem can be corrected by the proper channels.

VSIP: VOLUNTARY SEPARATION INCENTIVE PROGRAM 
In accordance with the restructuring agreement (page 18) the Company is offering this program in order to reduce the number of involuntary furloughs (not to be confused by the early retirement program, read below). The Company’s first offer was only for a lifetime term pass for 10 years seniority and above at an S5 boarding priority (active and retirees board with an S4 status and buddy passes board with an S7 status). 

During the recent MEC meeting Dave Siegel was invited to address the MEC. The MEC asked Dave if he could make the incentive more appealing by adding among other things as money and more benefits. All in all our committee (LECP’s McCarthy and Xidas and the MEC Secretary Miller) was able to persuade the company to sweeten the pot so to speak. Is this ideal? Probably not but considering the circumstances I believe it is the best we could do. Please refer to the previous VSIP sideletter in the current agreement (Sideletter11).

Please read the proposal very carefully and be cognizant that the 7-day timeframe to withdraw your application starts from the date you put on the application. 

VOLUNTARY FURLOUGH
The details of the Voluntary furlough have not been completed at this time however in preliminary talks with the Company their proposed Voluntary Furlough II will only provide medical benefits for 3 months and not 2 years as did the Voluntary leave in 2001. AFA has proposed increasing the medical benefits for 2 years however the bankruptcy roadblock is in the way. We will let you know the details of the program as soon as possible. We will do our best to improve the voluntary furlough package.

EARLY RETIREMENT PROGRAM
During the recent MEC Meeting a motion was passed to begin discussions about the early retirement program outlined on page 18 of the restructuring agreement. The agenda item passed by a majority of the MEC was to appoint Carol Austin (PHW flight attendant, former MEC President) and the current MEC President Perry Hayes to begin negotiations with the Company. I was in complete favor of this motion and believe that both Perry and Carol can develop a program that would benefit many flight attendants.

UNION BENEFITS
As a member of the Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO you are entitled to many benefits. For example: Union Plus Benefits offers a credit card program, legal services, mortgage services, life insurance, health care savings, car rental, auto insurance, hotel discounts, and more. To find out more about these services visit the Union Plus Website at www.unionplus.org or call 800-472-2005.
 
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS AND ADDRESSES
Virginia Workers Compensation Commission
For occupational injury claims.

1000 DMV Drive  520 King Street 
Richmond, VA 23220  Alexandria, VA 22314
804-367-8600   703-518-8037

Virginia Employment Commission
Unemployment

701 E. Franklin Street  13135 Lee Jackson Highway #340
Richmond, VA 23219  Fairfax, VA 22033
804-786-1485   703-803-0000

AFA INTERNATIONAL 
From October 10-17 I will be attending the Annual AFA Board of Directors and US Airways MEC meeting in San Francisco. This year we will elect International Officers for a 4-year term beginning January 1, 2003. 

Currently there are 2 members running for each office however people can be nominated “from the floor” just prior to the elections. As of today running for President are incumbent Pat Friend and LEC President Council 8 (UAL) Diana Rushing.  Running for Vice President is the incumbent George Donahue (US Airways Flight Attendant) and John Cornelius, LEC President Council 39 (Alaska Airlines). Running for Secretary Treasurer is the incumbent Paul Mac Kinnon (former Tower Airlines flight attendant) and Nickie Kirkeby (America West Airlines).

Just to let you know I am in total support of Pat Friend’s re-election as the International President. In my opinion Pat has done a tremendous advancing our profession both before and after the events of September 11, 2001.

During our restructuring negotiations Pat was there every moment with the Committee and the MEC and actually worked with the Committee to ensure the protections we currently have in our agreement. Personally I was very thankful that Pat was there with us during those tough times. 

The challenges Pat is ready to face are numerous and to name a few: mandating flight attendant certification, improving flight attendant security training, and shaping global aviation policy that will define our profession and ensure its professional status. I believe Pat is the person to lead us at this time. I welcome your comments.

ELIGIBILITY
AFA has always stood by the principle, “a union for flight attendants by flight attendants.” Let me know what you think about this subject. Should a person who is not a flight attendant be one of the top leaders of our union?

FLIGHT ATTENDANTS LOBBY U.S. SENATE IN SUPPORT OF DEFENSE TRAINING
September 5th, flight attendants from as far as Alaska and Europe lobbied U.S. Senators in support of defense training for cabin crewmembers. Starting with a press conference on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, flight attendants took their message to the media and followed up with visits to key Senators demanding advance defense training. Senator’s Boxer (D-CA) and Smith (R-NH) were co-sponsors of the bill offered late in the afternoon. Given the new threats to flight attendants in a post 9/11 world, all flight attendants should receive the same training regardless of what carrier serves as their employer. While the House of Representatives passed a similar bill earlier, it gives no specifics about what the training should be or how much training should be received. Backed by thousands of letters from flight attendants across the country, AFA members provided their own stories to give a face with the letters. For many of the flight attendants who participated, it was their first time acting as lobbyist. Following the press conference, flight attendants walked the halls of the Senate office buildings, meeting with staff in support of this much needed legislation. As the afternoon progressed, the Senate began debate on the Bill. Many of the flight attendants went to the Senate Gallery to watch as our strongest supporters in the Senate fought for this issue. By the end of the day, the Senate approved the Bill 87-6. Since the House and Senate Bills differ, a conference will be held to iron out the differences between the two pieces of legislation. While the victory in the Senate was important, it is equally important to “keep the heat on” so our issues do not get pushed to the side.

On behalf of your LEC officers, we would like to say “thank you” to the local flight attendants that took the time out of their busy schedules to spend the day with dozens of other flight attendants from around the country. It is the hope of this LEC that more local flight attendants will participate in the future given our easy access to Congress. If you would like to participate in future events please call Alin Boswell at 703.212.8090.

This Newsletter was also sent via email.
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Bob Kenia, LEC President 703-690-6859 Office 703-690-9350 Fax	Alin Boswell, LEC VP 703-212-8090 office 703-212-8089 fax	Katie Whitney, LEC Secretary 703-719-6940 office 703-719-6935 fax
bkenia@afausairways.org	alin@afausairways.org	kwhitney@afausairways.org