• EXCESS FILLER DAY PAYOUT
• CUSTOMS FORMS
• UHC INSURANCE CARDS
• EMBRAER 190
• FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS
• Accessing The Hub
• AFA Local Numbers

Dear Members,

Flight Attendants are allowed to hold, at his or her option, twenty percent (20%) of his/her vacation accrual to a maximum of six (6) days be used as "filler" days. At least fifty percent (50%) of such days must be taken in the year subsequent to accrual. Any unused "filler" days will be carried over into the following year and will be considered as part of the twenty percent (20%) hold.

The past practice of "filler" days carried over in "excess" of the twenty percent (20%) hold was to assign those days in the year subsequent to accrual. The day(s) were then assigned in reverse Calendar year order beginning with December 31 and ending on January 1. Days that were assigned in month(s) that contained a seven consecutive day or more period of vacation were paid at the higher rate.

At the end of 2005, the Company informed AFA the past practice of assigning the "excess filler" days would be changed and the day would be paid out rather than assigned. At AFA's insistence that practice was not implemented for 2006.

The Company now intends to implement a pay out rather than the previous assignment process for "excess filler" days. For various reasons AFA still contends the "excess filler" days should be assigned rather than paid out. Many Flight Attendants hold back filler days until the last quarter of the year and if they are unsuccessful in a filler day award will end up with "excess filler" days. In addition the Company procedure will be to show the "excess filler" days as being taken in December-which amounts to vacation buyback. Vacation buyback was not offered this December. AFA will challenge this decision and file an MEC Grievance to restore the past practice.

CUSTOMS FORMS

The Company issued a CBS message asking Flight Attendants to be more diligent in their required duties with regard to Customs Forms on International Flights. The Company stated they are being fined for passenger non-compliance. That is the Company's problem, not ours. Flight Attendants are safety professional- not hall monitors. The required duties for Flight Attendants are to read the appropriate announcements, pass out the required forms and assist passengers, if time or language speaking ability exists. There is nothing more Flight Attendants can or will do to solve the Company's problem. It is not the responsibility of the Flight Attendants to insure passengers have properly completed required Customs forms. Every flight that requires a LOD/O should have a LOD/O, which alone would alleviate the problem the Company is asking Flight Attendants to solve. The negotiating committee and the Company have agreed to some language in single agreement negotiations which will alleviate LOD/O coverage problems, particularly during the seasonal European flying.

TRIP IMROVING REMINDER

On November 22, 2006, an Eline was distributed to clear up any confusion regarding holiday trip improving. A link to that Eline is below:

http://www.afausairways.org/Eline/nov22_06.htm

The problems surfaced when some Flight Attendants were told they could not trip improve off of Christmas day because December 25th is a "protected holiday'. Not so. The "protected holiday" language only applies to SAP drops and limits the drops on "protected holidays" to fifteen percent (15%). If you have a trip that touches Christmas you can use the AIL to trip improve off of the 25th. The 23rd and the 24th are on Saturday and Sunday respectively, therefore the current weekend touch obligation will apply.

For example:

PAIRING #1234 (4-DAY)

FRIDAY DEC 22
SATURDAY DEC 23
SUNDAY DEC 24
MONDAY DEC 25

In this case a Flight Attendant could use the AIL to pick up a 3-Day trip on the 22nd. This would satisfy both the weekend touch obligation and include the ability to be off on Christmas day.

UHC INSURANCE CARDS

As you know the new US Airways has selected a new provider for our health insurance beginning January 1, 2007-United Health Care (UHC).

To date, we have not received our new UHC insurance cards. Yesterday I contacted the Company to raise that concern. I was told that the cards were in the process of being printed, but was given no assurance we would receive our proof of insurance cards prior to January 1, 2007. After a number of phone calls and emails today, I have been assured the proof of insurance cards will be in the mail to all East employees by the end of the week. That said there may be cases where someone does not receive a proof of insurance card prior to January 1, 2007. There will be a remedy for those who have not received the proof of insurance card by that date and the Company and I will post that information by the end of the week. It is beyond belief that a Company the size of US Airways has to have this issue brought to their attention by AFA. Actually, it is not. The Company is being run on a "shoestring" to save money- and they want to buy Delta Air Lines.

EMBRAER 190

The Embraer 190 is scheduled to begin service on February 12, 2007. Initially the EMB 190 will be based in PHL. During the ALPA US Airways and America West Transition Agreement discussions ALPA agreed to a lower pay rate for EMB 190, pilots based on a pro-rated gross weight formula in order to bring the EMB 190 to mainline. Good enough for them, not good enough for AFA. While we shared the ALPA position the aircraft should be operated by mainline Flight Attendants we did not agree to a lower pay rate. AFA insisted on mainline pay rates for the EMB 190, but did agree to forego Senior Pay on the EMB 190 for the period of time we are operating under separate agreements. The negotiating committee will address senior pay for the EMB 190 during the merged contract negotiations. Until that time the "A" position on the EMB 190 will not receive Senior Pay.

The EMB 190 configuration of 11 First Class/88 Coach Class passengers is going to cause problems for Flight Attendants and customers. The 99 passenger configuration will inevitably cause service and passenger bag stowage problems. AFA has expressed our concerns regarding the problems we know Flight Attendants and customers will encounter. The Company has agreed to a 60-day trial period to address those concerns. We will be soliciting input from our members who work this aircraft and monitor service and carry-on bag stowage problems during this period. We will make sure this aircraft is as "user friendly" to our members as the Company claims it to be for our customers.

FLEX SPENDING ACCOUNTS

The Company issued a statement today correcting an earlier USNEWS NOW article pertaining to Flexible Spending Account Information. For those of you who participate in the Flexible Spending Account program please note the following and plan accordingly:


CORRECTION: FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT DEADLINES FOR 2006

The deadline for spending your tax-free medical spending account for 2006 is March 15, 2007. Under the terms of the 2006 programs, which are different for West and East employees - West employees will have until April 30, 2007 to submit receipts for reimbursement of eligible spending/expenses.

For East employees, it is both your medical and dependent care spending accounts that you can continue your spending up until March 15, 2007 and the deadline for submitting your reimbursement requests is June 15, 2007. Expense reimbursement requests should be submitted to your 2006 FSA administrator.

This information is updated from information that was released earlier this week in a USNews Now about payroll and benefits things to consider at year end.


Mike Flores, President
US Airways MEC
AFA-CWA

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AFA US Airways website

http://www.afausairways.org/

Accessing The Hub:

http://thehub.usairways.com 
Questions about the Hub? Please contact the EDS Help Desk at 336-744-6000 for assistance. More information can also be found HERE.

AFA Local Numbers

Council 40 PIT 724-695-3329
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

New Hotline Number Toll Free: 866-USA-AFA2
US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

Reply to Inflight: askinflight@usairways.com

The *E-Line* is now in a new and improved format. By updating your profile at unionvoice.org you will be able to enjoy improved services in the near future! Visit your subscription management page at: http://www.unionvoice.org/

Got questions about This *E-Line* from AFA - US Airways or any other Union matter? Do NOT REPLY to the *E-Line*. PLEASE contact your local AFA officers or committee chairs directly