• Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights
• AFA-CWA RAISES AWARENESS OF FLIGHT ATTENDANT FATIGUE IN CONGRESS

• Accessing The Hub

• AFA Local Numbers

Coalition for an Airline Passengers' Bill of Rights (CAPBOR)
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA)

COALITION AND AFA-CWA JOIN TOGETHER TO URGE
CONGRESS TO ENACT SERIOUS AVIATION POLICY REFORM

Washington, DC ­- The leading airline passenger rights group and the world's largest flight attendant union have joined together to urge Congress to address serious flaws in current aviation policy.

"Passengers are continually frustrated at airline management’s inability to handle long ground delays and are therefore urging Congress to pass the Passenger Bill of Rights," said Kate Hanni, CAPBOR President. "Airlines have repeatedly failed to provide Congress with any sort of deplanement plan, despite a call from several prominent leaders. This arrogant attempt to circumvent Congressional requests is just another example of how airlines continue to leave passenger rights on the ground."

"A Passenger Bill of Rights will be an empty promise until Congress enacts serious aviation policy reforms such as substantial investments to update and upgrade our air traffic control system; increases in funding for Airport Improvement Projects (AIPs); a carry-on baggage policy that applies to every airline and every flight; ensuring Essential Air Service (EAS) to small communities; improving cabin air quality for crewmembers and passengers; and providing a safe working environment on board aircraft for flight attendants," said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President.

Recently, United Airlines revealed its "new policy" to handle long ground delays, which describes extraordinary delays as "flights of note."

"To trivialize both the passengers and the crew on flights held up to 11 hours in deplorable conditions, by calling these horrific flights 'flights of note', is absurd. Management took 'flights of notoriety’ and minimized them as 'flights of note' and it struck the wrong chord!" said Hanni.

"For far too long airline executives have dictated federal aviation policy resulting in passengers and aviation employees having to take a back seat," added Friend. "Congress and consumers may want a Passenger Bill of Rights, but management has to ultimately enforce the law and airline executives have historically shown that customer service is a convenience for them if it does not impact the bottom line. A Passenger Bill of Rights may set high expectations for passengers and when airline management drops the ball, flight attendants will bear the burden."

CAPBOR (www.flyersrights.org) has 15,120 supporters. It was founded by Hanni and hundreds of other passengers who were stranded on several American Airlines planes for up to nine hours at Austin International Airport, December 2006.

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

-----------

AFA-CWA RAISES AWARENESS OF FLIGHT ATTENDANT FATIGUE IN CONGRESS

National Transportation Safety Board's Most Wanted Transportation Safety Improvements Hearing

House Transportation and Infrastructure Aviation Subcommittee
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Time: 10:00 am
Rayburn House Office Building Room 2167

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) International President Patricia Friend will testify in front of Congress on Wednesday, June 6, regarding the need for the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) to include flight attendant fatigue concerns in their "most wanted" recommendation regarding reducing accidents and incidents caused by human fatigue.

"We believe that the NTSB 'most wanted' recommendation setting working hours for flight crews and aviation mechanics based on fatigue research, circadian rhythms, and sleep and rest requirements is flawed in that it does not include the need to address flight attendant fatigue in the recommendation," said Friend.

Fatigue is a very real and serious concern for the flight attendant workforce and poses a potentially dangerous risk for the safety of the aviation system. Multiple studies have shown that reaction time and performance diminish with fatigue and can ultimately cause an unacceptable situation for safety and security sensitive employees. In fact, last year the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) issued a report that concluded that flight attendants are "experiencing fatigue and tiredness and as such, is a salient issue warranting further evaluation."

"The NTSB must further investigate and recommend changes to address the safety concern of flight attendant fatigue before a serious incident happens," added Friend. "It is crucial that we be just as concerned with flight attendant fatigue as pilot and mechanic fatigue if we hope to achieve the NTSB's stated goal of preventing accidents and saving lives."

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.
 

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

Accessing The Hub:

http://thehub.usairways.com 
Logging in the first time your user name is u0(zero) and your five digit employee number. Your initial password is the first five digits of your social security number. 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

Got Questions? Get Answers

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: http://www.afausairways.org/emailaddresses2.htm

Your MEC Officers
Association of Flight Attendants
Hotline & *E-Line* - US Airways