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Dear Members,

Thirty-Sixth Annual AFA Board of Directors Meeting
MARCH 31 - APRIL 2, 2009
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

The Annual AFA Board Of Directors meeting opened this year with the absence of AFA International President Pat Friend. Her sister Celeste, who had been ill, passed away and Pat was at home with her family. The MEC of US Airways speak for all of our members in sending our thoughts and condolences to Pat and her family during this time.

AFA International Vice President Veda Shook presided over the opening of the Board whose theme this year is “Poised for Progress”.  Ms. Shook spoke to the delegates of the Board, of our progress forward as a union, and reminding us of our responsibilities as AFA leaders, “While our global economy is in the tank and CEOs are trying to cut costs at every turn whether through concessions or layoffs, now more than ever, is the time to be in a union.”

Ms. Shook went on to say, "As union leaders we are all charged with not only representing our members well, we are charged with educating all flight attendants on the importance of having the protections of a union and a legally binding contract.  While the contract is the bedrock of being in a union, we also need to help those who wish for the same protections we sometimes take for granted.  We also need to work with lawmakers and policy makers to make sure we have a safe and secure working environment.”

The next order of business was the presentation of The Association of Flight Attendants’ C.B. Lansing Memorial Award for Heroism in recognition of their efforts beyond the call of duty to the crew of US Airways flight 1549.  This extremely rare award is presented in the memory of Aloha Airlines flight attendant C.B. Lansing, who was a safety professional and sacrificed her life on the job in a 1988 plane crash.

Sheila Dail, Doreen Walsh and Donna Dent put their combined 92 years of experience as US Airways safety professionals to the test for the remarkable outcome of the January 15, 2009 crash into the Hudson River.

The landing was initially dubbed the “Miracle on the Hudson,” by the media, but was appropriately renamed “Professionalism on the Hudson” by AFA and was memorialized in a video presentation at the Board outlining the events of that day.

US Airways First Officer Jeffry Skiles who lives in Milwaukee spoke on behalf of Captain Sullenberger with words of gratitude for his fellow crewmates saying, “ I am honored to have been a part of the crew and honored to have flown with them.”

The crew was also presented an award from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association’s (NATCA) members who praised the crew’s efforts, quick evacuation and their ability to meet the challenges of  the situation and their profession.  

After the award ceremony, Ms.Shook reminded us of the AFA victories this year including the reclassification of Flight Attendants as essential crewmembers along with pilots and air traffic controllers and the appointment of former AFA President Linda Pucala to the National Mediation Board.

Ms.Shook went on to recognize the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead for AFA including the opportunity to win representation for Delta flight attendants, changing OSHA and FMLA legislation for all flight attendants, and the possibility of securing top-notch negotiated contracts.

AFA Board of Directors passed a resolution to honor AFA attorney Mark B. Bigelow for his 26 years of service to so many AFA carriers in arbitrations and grievances. Mark, who is facing terminal cancer, worked closely with US Airways MEC to win an arbitration decision in 1995 against the company when they tried to interpret our me too clause with the pilots as a no strike provision during our sympathy strike for the IAM. To Mark, his wife Gail and his family, on behalf of the members of AFA at Us Airways we thank you.

Also introduce were resolutions from the US Airways Master Executive Council for AFA member Candi Covelli and for the Flight 1549 crew.

ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS-CWA
THIRTY-SIXTH BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
MARCH 31 - APRIL 2, 2009
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

A RESOLUTION OF THE US AIRWAYS MASTER EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

 CANDACE L. COVELLI

WHEREAS, Candace L. (Candi) Covelli began her remarkable flight attendant career with Allegheny Airlines on July 2, 1974, and

WHEREAS, Candi Covelli served with distinction as AFA Local Executive Council 40 Secretary-Treasurer in Pittsburgh, and

WHEREAS, Candi Covelli served as a Council 40 Air Safety, Heath and Security Committee member with distinguished service particularly during the tragic events of USAir flight 427, and

WHEREAS, Candi Covelli, following the US Airways – America West merger, served as MEC Uniform Committee Co-chair with oversight on the design of a new US Airways flight attendant uniform, and

WHEREAS, Candi Covelli served as Grievance Department Assistant till her sudden passing in March, 2009, continuing her passion for enforcing the AFA-CWA US Airways collective bargaining agreement and protecting the rights of AFA-CWA US Airways members, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that delegates to the 2007 Board of Directors meeting resolved that US Airways Council 40 in Pittsburgh shall be official preserved in retirement and reserved in perpetuity should US Airways re-establish a domicile in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, so

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that delegates to the Thirty-Sixth Board of Directors of the Association of Flight Attendants – CWA, meeting in Milwaukee Wisconsin March 31 – April 2, 2009, hereby honor the 35 years of service of Candi Covelli and bestow upon her a member-in-perpetuity of US Airways Council 40.

BY UNANIMOUS ACCLAMATION, APRIL 1, 2009

ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS-CWA
THIRTY-SIXTH BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING
MARCH 31 - APRIL 2, 2009
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN

 A RESOLUTION

WHEREAS,  On January 15, 2009 US Airways Flight 1549 shortly after takeoff encountered bird strikes requiring an unplanned emergency in the Hudson River which resulted in a successful ditching effort and

WHEREAS, the crew of Flight 1549 displayed their professionalism and courage in successfully evacuating 150 passengers and the Flight Crew complement of 5 and

WHEREAS, when these unfortunate incidents occur in our industry it is astounding to witness the overwhelming support from our sisters and brothers of AFA-CWA and

WHEREAS, the First Responders of the city of NY were present to assist our Flight Crew and passengers and bring them to their safety and

WHEREAS, the US Airways East Air Safety and Health Chairperson and the EAP Committees of US Airways East and West, Air Wisconsin, American Eagle and United Airlines, notably a Voluntary Furlough Flight Attendant and EAP Co-Chairperson Council 5 United who spent endless hours over the course of 3 days in the hospital providing comfort to Doreen Welsh, as well as the outpouring of phone calls from Northwest Council 91 and many other sisters and brothers who came together across the nation committing their support of our Flight Crew of 1549 and providing assistance to all flight attendants across the system in dealing with this traumatic event.

WHEREAS, the Safety and EAP Committees of AFA/CWA are compromised of individuals who are dedicated to securing a safe and healthy work environment for our membership and never looking for recognition simply because “ THAT IS WHAT THEY DO”

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the support effort of all of our brothers and sisters of AFA/CWA coming together in a time of crisis is a clear indication of the Solidarity within this Union which we are so proud to be a member and

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that all of the individuals responsible for the support effort of Flight 1549 be deemed the “SILENT HEROES OF AFA/CWA”

THEREFORE, BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that the AFA/CWA Board of Directors, representing 50,000 members at our 20 carriers recognize our Safety and EAP Committees as well as our nations finest First Responders for their dedication to our Crew and all of our members.

AFA-CWA Board of Directors
Agenda Items
April 2, 2009

The work of the AFA Annual Board of Directors has been completed for another year.

Additionally, it was announced that new AFA membership cards would be mailed out to members in an envelope, with the next edition of AFA's Flightlog newsletter next month.

Determined in their work, delegates  (LEC Presidents) acted upon the recommendations of each committee tasked with providing guidance and discussion on each agenda item brought forward. Following are the results of the past two days voting on agenda items:

The AFA-CWA Budget was drafted, the motion brought to the floor and the budget approved for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.

The following are the Floor actions on the agenda Items:

Agenda Items 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D – reduction of LEC budgets, MEC budgets, carry-over funds, and the Mobilization Fund – all motions fail

Agenda Item 2 – Full Time Pay for Council Representatives – motion fails

Agenda Item 3 – increasing the LEC Budget formula from 19.5% to 35% - motion fails.

Agenda item 4 – changing the process for election of International Officers by direct membership election as opposed to the election by the members of the Board of Directors, costs associated with the item, diminish the power of the smaller councils to run for international office – motion fails.

Agenda Item 5 – decreasing the requirement that members pay the first 90 days of dues while on sick/medical/OJI or Family Medical leave, down to the first 60 days (substitute resolution) – the motion fails

Agenda Item 6 – changing the title from Local Executive Council to Local Elected Council – motion fails.

Agenda Item 7 – changing the title from Master Executive Council to Master Executive Council – motion fails.

Agenda Item 8 –changing the effective date of adopted agenda items to June 1 of each year, immediately following the BOD – motion is adopted.

Agenda Item 9 – Constitution and Bylaws be amended to provide relief from dues obligation when on full month leaves of absence for sick/medical/maternity/ OJI and military – the motion fails

Agenda item 10 – electing the International Officers directly by the membership and not the delegates at the Board of Directors – the motion fails

Agenda Item 11 – electing the MEC officers directly by the membership and not the LEC officers – the motion fails

Agenda Item 12 – changing language to increase the service charge monies of the local council from 19.5% to 40% - the motion fails

Agenda Item 13 – Monthly dues payment change to provide a dues payment based upon the hourly rate of pay of the flight attendant.  This agenda item would violate the terms of the AFA-CWA merger agreement. As this agenda item is unconstitutional, it is ruled out of order.

Agenda Item 14 – requires additional notification of members in bad standing before a special council meeting – the motion fails

Agenda Item 15 – providing that the process of requesting duplicate ballots is processed through the international office and stopping that request one day prior to the postmark  - the motion fails.

Agenda Item 16 – clarifying whether or not a member has to vote the same as the member expects when given a proxy – the motion fails

Agenda Item 17 – to include actual income in quarterly financial reports and annual budgets – the motion is adopted hey can vote in a different manner than proxies held – the motion fails

Agenda item 18 – uniform/official AFA color – the motion is adopted.

Agenda Item 19 – extending the term of the Finance Committee to keep the current members thereby aligning them with the other standing committees of the BOD with the fiscal year – the motion is adopted.

Agenda Item 20 – budgets for transitional MECs  - motion is adopted

Agenda Item 21 – providing BOD voting results for the members via AFA website, and providing how each vote was conducted – the motion is adopted.

Agenda item 22 – allowing an elected officer at a multi-council airline to hold only one leadership position – the motion fails.

Agenda Item 23 – allocating monies from the Reserve Fund to finance the AFA-CWA Pension Funding Fix – the motion fails

Agenda Item 24 – providing language for hotel selection at BOD meetings to include windows that open and 24 hour food accessibility - motion is adopted

Agenda Item 25 – establishing a Crew Accommodations and Transportation Policy Committee - motion is adopted

Agenda Item 26 – changing the CWA Scholarship fund to include a flight attendant and his or her spouse or domestic partner – the motion fails

Agenda Item 27 – changing language to require all officers from the International level through the union volunteer level to retain and maintain their safety recurrent status and qualification – the motion fails

Agenda Item 28 – insurance coverage for autism and the encouragement of AFA to work with management to ensure plan coverage for the diagnosis of Autism  - the motion is adopted.

Agenda Item 29 – giving a proxy from one member of the MEC to another prior to the commencement of a MEC meeting – motion is adopted

Agenda Item 30 – providing recognition to councils for ensuring that 98% of their membership pays dues – motion is adopted.

All agenda items that were approved this year will go into effect on June 1, 2009.

Buddy Brannon, Vice-President
US Airways Master Executive Council
AFA-CWA

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AFA Local Numbers
 
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325

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