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April 21, 2005
Subject: MEC President Departs at the end of the Year.
Dear Members,
I am writing to you to inform you that after rescinding my VFLR once early this week, I re-thought my decision again, and decided to take the VFLR on December 2, 2005. I had agonized over this decision with my family and close friends outside the business and decided that, after 25 years of service to our airline and 4 years of being your labor advocate, it is time to hand over the baton to someone else who will bring new fire and energy into the union and represent the ever-changing needs of our group.
I would like to spend most of this letter thanking you for the opportunity you gave me by trusting me enough to be your voice of representation at a time when all odds were against labor, our airline and industry. Together, in these past four years, we have endured the pains of 9/11, job uncertainty, furloughs, displacements, base closures, 2 bankruptcies, 3 lifestyle-changing, career-changing concessions, pensions dumped, 2 management teams not from this planet, IRAQ war with fuel prices soaring with no end predicted, and multiple reworked, over done business plans. Here we sit, at present day, not nearly in the break-even mode, looking for an airline partner to marry. If successful, that will be yet more changes to endure in this ever dynamic industry in flux.
As predicted the VFLR will allow many of the f/as who have been reserve to capture lines sooner rather than later, as the VFLR went somewhere mid 1988 and up the seniority chain. In addition, there will be over 470 f/as who will retire by year's end. I hope for a better existence for our members as time proceeds.
For the new electee who succeeds me, I wish you strength as a leader, with an obsession biased towards labor, "balance-driven" motivational ideology, and a "rain-maker" when dealing with this management, placing your professionalism on a window sill nearby and using it on an "as- needed-basis". And, most importantly, make the media your friend because that is the heart of success in this labor-intense business.
To you the AFA membership who have shown much courage, strength, dedication, who have performed your jobs with professionalism and excellence in a brutal, oppressive environment, you have given a mutual respect to the union. I salute you and applaud your tenacity to protect the profession and your airline in spite of all the trials, tribulations, criticism, and adversity...to you, I say, protect one another at all times.
I will continue to do my work for the MEC, for you the membership, through these next several months, with the same energy, motivation, and focus to ensure your needs are met in the work place and the contract is honored by all parties until my final hours in the MEC office.
This ride has truly been an amazing and enriching experience; one I won't ever forget as I continue on my life's adventure. Hope to see you, one fine day, on the other side.
Teddy Xidas
MEC President, USAirways, AFA-CWA , AFL-CIO
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