• AFA-CWA WORKS WITH CONGRESS TO IMPROVE AVIATION SAFETY

• Support for Former TWA Flight Attendants

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AFA-CWA WORKS WITH CONGRESS TO IMPROVE AVIATION SAFETY

Component of New Bill Calls for 100 Percent Air Cargo Screening

Washington, DC -A Congressional conference committee yesterday completed work on H.R. 1, Implementing the 9/11 Commission's Recommendations Act, possibly clearing it for final passage by the end of the week. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) has worked with Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) for several years on improving aviation safety and security by closing up a loophole that has excluded a majority of air cargo from physical security screening.

"We commend Rep. Markey for his leadership on this vital security issue," said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. "Air cargo on passenger planes, which is stored in the same compartment as passenger baggage, should be subject to the same degree of security scrutiny, and we are pleased that the language in the bill delivers the level of screening that we have been advocating for years."

The air cargo screening provision in the legislation implementing the 9/11 Commission's recommendations rejects the approach that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has used to screen cargo. This flawed approach relied on data checks, rather than physical checks, which left open a gaping loophole that terrorists could exploit.

The new language in the 9/11 bill requires TSA to set up a system to screen 100 percent of cargo on passenger planes that is "commensurate with the level of screening for passenger checked baggage." The definition in the bill and accompanying report make clear that data checks are not sufficient - if such checks are used, they must be paired with an additional physical or non-intrusive check that examines the cargo's contents.

"This is a big victory for flight attendants, airline crews and the millions of passengers who fly every year. While it may be out of sight, air cargo is certainly not out of mind. What goes on underneath our feet is just as important as what happens in the cabin," said Friend.

For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. More than 55,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world's largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afanet.org


Support for Former TWA Flight Attendants

In our ongoing support of the campaign by former TWA flight attendants to extend their furlough recall rights, we would like to help spread the word about their online petition urging support for an Amendment to the FAA Reauthorization bill that may be offered by U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill from Missouri.

When American Airlines purchased TWA, the TWA flight attendants were stapled to the bottom of the American seniority list. Following 9/11, every former TWA flight attendant was furloughed with only 5 years of recall rights. Many of those former TWA flight attendants are now reaching the 5 year deadline and are in danger of dropping off the American seniority list. Regrettably, some of our fellow flight attendants have already lost their recall rights.

Senator McCaskill has drafted an amendment that she is considering offering that would extend recall rights of former TWA flight attendants to 10 years. The amendment would apply on a forward-going basis and is not retroactive. The amendment would also support any and all American flight attendants on furlough not just former TWA flight attendants. To show your support for this amendment and your solidarity for fellow flight attendants, please follow the link to sign the online petition.

http://www.petitiononline.com/911AID/petition.html

Thank you,

Mike Flores, President
The US Airways Master Executive Council
AFA-CWA


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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

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