• JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA BAPS YOUTH CONVENTION

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JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA BAPS YOUTH CONVENTION 
 
On Tuesday the Company sent out a CBS message informing Flight Attendants of the 2007 BAPS Youth Convention in Jacksonville Florida. The convention, held between July 5 and July 15, convenes a group of over 8,000 Hindu youths to carry out their humanitarian efforts for different cultures worldwide. Included in the group are approximately seventy Swamis. As noted in the CBS, Swamis are similar to 'living saints' in other religions and live by a set of five vows, among them a lifelong vow of celibacy that forbids personal (verbal or physical) contact with women.
 
The CBS message and other Company communications noted that as a worldwide carrier:
 
"US Airways provides service to many cultures. Respect for cultures other than your own is a part of our service to the world. Cultural differences are fascinating but can also be awkward and confusing. A sincere interest in other people and a respect for people who are different from ourselves is important when serving multicultural customers. Your extra effort in understanding and accommodating our multicultural customers in accordance with their needs is greatly appreciated."
 
For over two decades US Airways and the US Airways Flight Attendants have provided worldwide service and are acutely aware of the cultural differences and needs of the passengers who fly our airline. US Airways Flight Attendants have always conducted themselves appropriately with respect to individuals of different cultures and beliefs.
 
US Airways Flight Attendants are also entitled to equal treatment and respect for their own cultural beliefs and societal norms. Our culture, after years of struggle, treats women as equal to men. Our culture does not treat females as a potential impediment to the fulfillment of others’ cultural vows.
 
The Company communiqués directed our female Flight Attendants to ignore their own cultural beliefs and placed the burden on them to alter their behavior and job duties in order to allow the Swamis to fulfill their vows.
 
The directives placed the cultural needs of the Swamis above the rights and feelings of female US Airways Flight Attendants.
 
The BAPS youth convention did not have to be held in a country that does not share or believe in the special needs of some of their members. The BAPS youth convention participants did not have to choose to fly US carriers-but they did. The aura of political and corporate correctness encouraged the Company to make a revenue decision- sell tickets to the Swamis and force United States citizens employed by the Company to pretend they live under the value set of a different culture. The Swamis did not have to fly on a US carrier, staffed by US citizens but they chose to do so. Many of our members feel buying a ticket does not entitle anyone to force a different set of behavior patterns on our employees.  
 
Within our airline and our Union we have strived to provide a workplace that respects diversity. We will continue to do so, and we will respect the values of others, as long as they also respect ours. The appearance is whatever group that books tickets on US Airway has the right to dictate the behavior of our members. In this case it is the Swamis, but it begs the question- where will it end?
 
The debate on political and cultural correctness will continue on a world stage. The world is diverse and cultures differ, but it seems to me, we have a right to have our own cultural standards considered and take precedence when living and working in our own country.
 
What would have been the consequence for the Company to turn this around and say, "this is the United States, and we are not going to tell our Flight Attendants to ‘stay out of the aisle and not make any verbal contact with the Swamis’; you sir(s), have to absent yourself and use your escorts to run interference and ignore females on the airplane" (except in safety or emergency situations).
 
While the Company has the right to sell seats and provide transportation to whomever they choose they also have to respect the rights and culture of their own employees.
 
The Company policy and directives have offended our members. I agree with our members’ assessment; the policy does exactly the opposite of what the Swamis themselves profess. In the CBS message the Company noted the following:
 
"The Swamis respect all women, and are taught to honor women and their inherently unique and valuable role in society."
 
The Company made a decision to accept the needs of passengers who have different cultural beliefs and force female Flight Attendants to ignore theirs. I am not sure that is the same as providing, "extra effort in accommodating our multicultural customers in accordance with their needs."
 
 
Thank you,
 
Mike Flores, President
The US Airways Master Executive Council
AFA-CWA

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