• Notes from US Airways Bankruptcy Hearing - August 12 
• Employee Meetings with Dave Siegel
• US Airways Federal Credit Union not be affected by bankruptcy filing 
• AFA Lobby Day September 5th 
• September 11 Memorial in Washington for Airline Industry Employees

A hearing was held on Monday, August 12, on US Airways' bankruptcy petition in federal bankruptcy court in Alexandria, VA. An AFA legal team was on hand to represent flight attendants' interests. This was the first hearing since the company filed its bankruptcy petition on Sunday, August 11. 

This hearing is commonly referred to as the "First Day Orders" hearing, at which the company asks the court for permission to continue to spend money to maintain the business operation during the period of reorganization.  

The company filed motions to permit it to access its bank accounts, use credit cards, and most importantly, to continue to pay employees at the current negotiated rates. All those motions were granted. In addition, the court granted the company authority to pay pre-petition wages and claims related to work performed before the bankruptcy, but not yet paid out. In other words, flight attendants will receive the pre-petition wages owed them. 

At the beginning of the hearing, the company's attorney, John Butler, went to great lengths to characterize the bankruptcy filing as "labor-friendly." He went on to praise ALPA and AFA for the sacrifices they have made in the new Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA's) that were recently ratified. 

On a related note, the company also announced that it would file a motion on August 16, to reject the CWA agreement if that Union does not agree to concessions by then. Although the IAM is sending the company's last proposal directly to its membership, the company will move to reject that CBA as well if the company's last proposal is not ratified. A hearing on the company's motions to reject the IAM and CWA Agreements should be held by August 30.  

The court also scheduled "omnibus hearings" for September 5 & 26, November 4, December 12, and January 9, 2003 to discuss any pending matter . Other hearings may held as creditors file motions over specific issues that may arise.  

AFA will be on the service list for notice of all hearings that may be held. 
 

Employee Meetings with Dave Siegel

Dave Siegel will meet with employees in hubs and other major employment centers to discuss the company's reorganization and plans going forward. The meetings begin this week in Crystal City and continue through most of next week. Dave will make a brief presentation and then open the floor to questions. Meetings are expected to last about two hours. All employees are encouraged to attend a session if possible. 

The meeting schedule is:  

Friday, August 16  11:00 am  Crystal City  Crystal Gateway Marriott	Monday, August 19  8:30 am  Philadelphia  Airport Marriott	Monday, August 19  3:00 pm  Pittsburgh  Hangar 3
Tuesday, August 20  9:30 am  LaGuardia  Airport Marriott	Tuesday, August 20  3:30 pm  Boston  Airport Hyatt	Wednesday, August 21  9:00 am  Charlotte  Line Maintenance Hangar
Wednesday, August 21  4:00 pm  Orlando  Airport Hyatt	Thursday, August 22  8:30 am  Tampa  Airport Marriott	Thursday, August 22  6:00 pm  Winston-Salem

US Airways Federal Credit Union not be affected by bankruptcy filing

August 12, 2002 

Dear Karen Lascoli, 

In light of the recent announcement regarding the bankruptcy filing of US Airways, Inc., I would like to take a moment to address the Credit Union's relationship with the airline and the financial status of the Credit Union as it relates to your union members.  

As you may be aware, the Credit Union is governed by a completely separate entity than the airline. Although we share the same name as the airline, our business decisions are made solely by the Credit Union's Board of Directors and management. I would like to reassure you and your union members that their finances and accounts at the Credit Union will not be affected by the bankruptcy filing.  

US Airways FCU is well capitalized, financially strong and continuing to grow. The Credit Union has recently been examined by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), our federal regulating body. The results of the examination show that we are operating in compliance with the rules and regulations set by the federal regulators. We are in an excellent position to continue conducting 'business as usual.' Our 'business as usual' policies include: 

• Each of our members will receive the same service they receive everyday. Also, we will continue to make loans. No limits will be placed on share withdrawals and transfers. ATM withdrawals and debit card transactions will carry the same daily limits. 
• As always, the total amount of money in your savings accounts (shares) will be available on demand, except for any shares pledged as collateral on a loan, and that can be negotiated. It is suggested that you draw on these funds as you need them. 

Sincerely, 

Joseph C. Cirelli

AFA Lobby Day September 5th

It has been nearly one year since we lost 25 flight attendants in the vicious attacks on our workplace, and today we are no better prepared to defend our passengers and ourselves against a similar terrorist threat. 

In spite of Congress' mandate last November that flight attendants receive personal defense and cabin defense training, we still have not been trained sufficiently.

The airlines, with the cooperation of the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration, have found ways to circumvent the will of Congress and trivialize the threat to our workplace. Airline training departments have only introduced bare-bones security training programs and makeshift procedures designed to create the illusion of self-defense, rather than providing the real, hands-on training we need. If there is another attack, we cannot protect our passengers and ourselves with the illusion of security. 

New laws that would fix the loopholes in last year's legislation have been approved by the House of Representatives and are pending in the Senate. We must act now to make sure our Senators understand how important this mandatory training is for our safety and security and that of our passengers. We must act now if we are going to get Congress to finally require comprehensive and effective security training for flight attendants. 

Join us, and wear your uniform, in Washington, DC on September 5. Flight attendants from different carriers around the country will be flying in to lobby the U.S. Senate. AFA will organize the event, establish a meeting place, provide you with lunch, set the lobbying schedule, give you issue papers and talking points and an agenda for the day. But to be effective, the Senators must hear our message directly from flight attendants: "We need real security training now!" 

This legislation is our best opportunity to achieve the recognition and training we need to do what is now, like it or not, a piece of our job - securing the aircraft against a future terrorist attack. 

Talk with your friends. Get them to join us, too. Please let us know that you will be coming by calling 1-800-424-2401 ext. 828 or visit www.afanet.org . Leave us a message, including your name (and flying partners' names who will be joining you), your airline, domicile, and home or cell phone number (whichever is best to reach you between now and September 5) and your email address. Once you let us know you're coming, we will get in touch with you to provide all details of the event. Those details will also be made available through your Local Council and will be posted on www.afanet.org.
 

September 11 Memorial in Washington for Airline Industry Employees

Special Memorial planned for Airline Industry Employees to be held September 11, 2002 on the Mall in Washington D.C.  

WASHINGTON - Please join us in a day of remembrance, prayer, and hope as airline industry employees gather from around the world on September 11, 2002 for a special memorial event on the Mall in Washington D.C.  

The event has two purposes. First, we want to address the fear and anxiety still felt by many in the airline industry. Speakers will encourage, inspire, and offer hope. Second, we want our nation's enemies, who used U.S. airliners in their attack, to see that their plan to weaken and demoralize our industry has failed. Instead, we have risen up in solidarity and determination! 

We do not want to minimize the great loss and heroic acts of firemen, police, other emergency personal and volunteers on Sept. 11th and the days that followed. However, our focus will be entirely on the heroes of our industry that loss their lives that day. They exemplified the high standards and high calling of all flight crews in every airline in all of America.  

Please meet us at the Sylvan Theater, at the base of the Washington Monument, on September 11, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. We would be honored by your presence as we pay tribute to our fallen flying partners and all the brave men and women who continue to meet the everyday challenges involved in providing a safe and comfortable service for our passengers.  

Hosted by the Coalition for United Americans. 

If you would like to volunteer or need more information, please contact Nancy Clark at 703-390-0555.
 

Have you updated your profile yet?

The *E-Line* now uses a new and improved list server at union voice.org. This change will enable is to bring you improved services in the near future. But we must have your union voice.org profile updated for this to happen. You can join, update your profile - including changing your e-mail address - by visiting http://www.unionvoice.org/e_line_afa_usairways/join.html