AFA - US Airways E-Line
June 3, 2002
http://www.afausairways.org/eline.htm
Contents:
Action Alert:
Call/Fax your US Senators
In the previous Action Alert
of May 24, 2002, we asked you to contact Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), Chairman
of the Senate Appropriations Committee. For those few who heeded the call
to action: Thank you! (If you haven't contacted Senator Byrd yet, you can
still help by going to: http://www.unionvoice.org//campaign/support_loan_guarantee
We are being heard. But now
we need to get the message to the other US Senators.
Here's What's
At Stake!
US Airways CEO David Siegel
is going through our system talking to employees about the financial troubles
from the hit our industry took after September 11. The public's reluctance
to fly has been most pronounced on the East Coast where our flights are
concentrated and because our operations at Reagan Washington National Airport
were restricted for so many months.
The US House of Representatives
has already passed an emergency supplemental bill with a provision that
severely limits US Airways' opportunity to obtain the loan guarantee before
October 1st that it needs to recover from its economic losses as a result
of September 11th.
If Congress prohibits the
government from issuing loan guarantees prior to October 1st, our company
will literally run out of cash - and that means significant job cuts and
service disruptions in many of the more than 200 communities US Airways
serves.
Send a strong message to
your US Senators. They need to hear from the real people who make US Airways
work everyday.
Background
information: ATSB
The Air Transportation Safety
and Stabilization Act was signed into law in the Fall of 2001. The bill
provided funding for immediate cash relief to the airlines who were financially
impacted in the aftermath of September 11th. The bill also established
and funded the ATSB, or Air Transportation Stabilization Board, which was
authorized a total of 10 Billion dollars to be used to provide federally
guaranteed loans to aid the airlines in their recovery efforts.
The Air Transportation Stabilization
Board established a statutory deadline of June 28, 2002 for airlines to
apply for these loans
On April 18, 2002 US Airways
officials announced their intention to apply for a federally guaranteed
loan, stating they would complete the filing by the deadline of June 28th.
US Airways suffered a disproportionate
negative impact from the terrorist attacks as a result of the extended
closure of Reagan National
Airport, the number of shorthaul routes in our system, and because our
business is anchored in the northeast where the attacks took place.
US Airways' new management
team, recognizing this dire situation, has undertaken drastic restructuring
plans which include significant contributions from all stake holders. Labor
is the biggest contributor in this restructuring plan.
Supplemental
Appropriations Bills Might Prevent Loans
On May 24th, the U.S. House
passed HR 4775, the Supplemental Appropriations bill which, if enacted,
would prevent the government from guaranteeing any more loans until October
1, 2002.
Given US Airways' financial
condition, the airline expects to have a liquidity problem long before
October 1st without the loan.
The U.S. Senate will take
up their version of the Supplemental Appropriations bill THIS week of June
3rd. Their bill also delays the availability of funding until October 1st,
and reduces the amount of total funds available for federally guaranteed
loan from $10 billion to $4 billion.
If the Senate passes their
version of the bill, the air transportation system in the Northeast United
States, and the livelihood of 40,000 US Airways employees, could be thrown
into disarray as the result of a Chapter 11 filing by US Airways.
Every US Airways employee
must contact his/her U.S. Senators to ask that "Section 1004 of the Supplemental
Appropriations Bill be struck." Make certain your Senators know that no
changes should be made to the original ATSB loan guarantee program (if
the language is struck, the existing law will prevail and the funds will
remain accessible to the Company through the loan guarantee process).
Ask your Senators if you
can count on their support to strike the language related to the airline
loan guarantee program.
Who
to Call/Fax - What to say
Try to call the offices of
your U.S. Senators, preferably the local, state or district offices. These
telephone numbers can be found in the phone book under United Stated Government,
Congress - U.S.
Alternatively, you can contact
your Senator via the U.S. Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.
As the U.S. Mail/FedEx is
still encountering extensive delays on its way to the Capitol, consider
requesting a fax number so you can fax any correspondence you want your
Senators to have. You may also go to the on-line U.S. Senate website to
obtain the information. http://www.senate.gov
Here's a suggested script
to follow when CALLING your US Senators:
The text is also posted
on the website HERE: http://www.afausairways.org/Legislative/june02.html
Hello. My name is _____________
and I am a flight attendant with USAirways and a voter in the Senator's
state. I am calling today and urging her/him to support any efforts that
would strike "Section 1004 of the Supplemental Appropriations Bill", language
that would limit funding available for the Air Transportation Stabilization
Board and that would restrict the release of those funds to October 1,
2002. If such provisions are not stricken from the bill, USAirways will
most likely be forced to file bankruptcy, which would result in the loss
of thousands of jobs. My job and the jobs of thousands of people depend
on the Senate striking this language. Please tell the Senator it is urgent
that she/he support efforts to strike this language from the supplemental
appropriations bill.
(Please thank the person
for their time.)
Here's a suggested letter
to use when FAXING your US Senators: (The text is also posted on the website:HERE:
http://www.afausairways.org/Legislative/june02.html)
Dear Senator _____:
I am a flight attendant with
USAirways, a member of the Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO, and
a registered voter in your state. I am writing today about an issue of
the most urgent nature regarding the Supplemental Appropriations bill and
provisions related to the Air Transportation Safety and System Stabilization
Act (ATSA). I strongly urge you to support any efforts in the Senate to
strike "Section 1004 of the Supplemental Appropriations Bill.", language
in the legislation related to the airline guaranteed loan process.
Last fall, the Senate overwhelmingly
supported a financial assistance package for the airline industry in regard
to the harsh economic impact inflicted on the industry due to the September
11th attacks. My airline, USAirways, suffered a disproportionate impact
from the attacks due to the closure of Reagan National Airport and because
the majority of our business is anchored in the northeast portion of the
country, where the attacks had the largest impact on airline travel. In
light of the negative financial impact on the carrier, USAirways has outlined
a drastic restructuring plan which includes significant contributions from
everyone at USAirways. This restructuring plan will return our company
to profitability.
However, as part of the restructuring
plan, USAirways needs access to the loans available through the ATSA. If
Congress were to now to pull-back from it's intent of providing needed
assistance to the nation's airlines, it would result in devastating consequences
for my company. If Congress reduces the amount of available money and limits
the opportunity to obtain the loan guarantee before October 1st, our company
will literally run out of cash and be forced to pursue bankruptcy. Such
an action would result in the elimination of thousands of USAirways employees,
air service disruption in hundreds of communities served by USAirways,
and would lead to a severe economic impact on untold numbers of families
and communities.
Without the loan guarantee,
my future, the future of the 40,000 other employees, and the future of
the airline is in jeopardy. I encourage you to stand up and support me
and the other employees of USAirways by changing these harsh provisions
and restore the original intent of the ATSA. I hope we can count on your
support.
Respectfully,
Every US Airways
employee and their families has a stake in this issue. Contact everyone
you know. Have them call their U.S. Senators to ask that "Section 1004
of the Supplemental Appropriations Bill be struck." Make certain your Senators
know that no changes should be made to the original ATSB loan guarantee
program (if the language is struck, the existing law will prevail and the
funds will remain accessible to the Company through the loan guarantee
process).
Without the loan guarantee,
our future, the future of the 40,000 other employees, and the future of
our airline is in jeopardy. Please fax or call your Senator TODAY.
Thank you.
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