Contents:

• ITD Supplemental Bid for April 1, 2002
• CBS Message for ITD Flight Attendants Foreign Currency Acceptance
• The Votes are in...Ballot Count Day in DL Organizing Campaign
• Flight attendants self-defense, training addressed in federal guidelines

In conjunction with your MEC Officers and US Airways, the ITD Supplemental Bid Packet is now online at http://www.afausairways.org.

You may read the question and answer section, the memo from Senior Director - Inflight Services and print and fax/mail the ITD Supplemental Bid Form, all from your home or office.

Q & A: http://www.afausairways.org/Supplemental/apr02_QA.html
BID FORM:http://www.afausairways.org/Supplemental/Apr02_bidform.html

This bid period begins April 1, 2002 and ends December 31, 2002.

THIS BID WILL CLOSE AT 1200 NOON (EST) ON MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2002. US Airways Inflight Administration fax number: 703-872-6476.

Beginning January 1, 2002, the 12 European Union (EU) Member States converted from their national currencies to Euro notes and coins.  The EU Member States include Austria (ATS), Belgium (BEF), Finland (FIM), France (FRF), Germany (DEM), Ireland (IEP), Italy (ILT), Luxembourg (LUF), Netherlands (NLG), Portugal (PTE), Spain (ESP), and Greece (GRD).

National notes and coins will be phased out and replaced with Euro notes and coins.  Please note the following timeline for currency acceptance:

Jan.1, 2002 - Feb. 1, 2002
* You may continue to accept both the national currencies from
  the 12 EU Member States as well as the Euro.

Feb.1, 2002 
* You may continue to accept foreign notes from the 12 EU
  Member States but are NOT permitted to accept their foreign coins.

Mar.1, 2002 
* You may no longer accept foreign notes from the 12 EU Member States
  as payment of duty free goods.

Please refer to the duty free currency conversion chart for other accepted currencies.

Beth Slagle
US Airways Analyst - Inflight International

Starting at 11:00am eastern time today, the long-awaited counting of the ballots in the DL Organizing Campaign will begin.
Get the latest balloting results at http://www.deltaafa.org/

Flight attendants self-defense, training addressed in federal guidelines

AFA members applauded new training guidelines set forth by the Federal Aviation Administration on January 18, as they directly address the concerns of the flight attendant workforce.

AFA President Patricia Friend and AFA staff safety and health experts worked closely with the FAA and pilots' union to develop the new guidelines.  The training program designed for flight attendants requires that airlines develop comprehensive new training procedures that encompass four main components: communication, self-defense, getting the aircraft on the ground and situational training exercises.

Airlines have until March 19 to develop new training programs based on the FAA s guidelines.  The FAA will have 30 days to review the airlines  training proposals and either approve, reject or recommend changes that ensure they are in compliance with the new guidelines.

The new programs are required to include better tools and procedures for communication between the cabin crew, the flight deck and the ground during emergency situations.  Flight attendants will also be taught self-defense and separation techniques designed specifically for the aircraft environment.  Crews will also participate in live situational training exercises, replacing the woefully outdated hijack training video that is currently used.

Two important pieces of the overall training program are still in the formative stage.  The FAA will assess the issue of training on non-lethal protective devices based on a study by the National Institutes of Justice, which is due to be released on February 17, 2002.  The FAA is also consulting with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and about the specific requirements of the self-defense training program.  We will update you once these reports are issued.

Flight attendants across the country stood together after the events of September 11 and demanded significant changes in training to prepare for the new challenges and dangers in the workplace.  "We won t allow the airlines to cut corners," said Friend.  "We will be watching to ensure that the airlines uphold their end of the bargain so that flight attendants get the training and the tools we need to protect ourselves and our passengers."