Contents:

• Impasse on Pilot job protection halts small jet negotiations
• US Airways names David Siegel new President and CEO
• Good News for Furloughed Flight Attendants on Unemployment
• US Airways Future Crew Scheduling has new hours of operation 
• Local Council Elections
• Project Liberty

Small jet negotiations between ALPA and US Airways were terminated Saturday morning at approximately 1:30 a.m. The parties reached an impasse on pilot job protection issues, including employment for the protected 287 pilots and setting a furlough recall schedule for non-protected pilots.

Over the past week intense negotiating efforts produced progress on the Company’s issues on the number of small jets to be operated under US airways’ code and other operational issues. For ALPA, there was progress on the "Jets for Jobs" protocols; however, unresolved pilot job protection issues included agreement on a minimum size for the mainline operation, mainline growth and minimum Captain positions were the final stumbling blocks.

No further talks are scheduled.

(From the ALPA-US Airways MEC CODE-A-PHONE UPDATE for March 9, 2002)
 

Siegel, 40, known for his "low-key demeanor and people skills," comes from Avis Rent A Car, where he was CEO for about six months. He has also held various executive planning positions with Northwest and Continental.

"While this is a particularly challenging time for the airline industry, I’m delighted to return to commercial aviation, where I spent much of my career," said Siegel. "I have long viewed US Airways as an airline with a strong franchise and tremendous potential, and I look forward to working with the company’s 36,000 employees in charting our future direction."

Stephen Wolf will retain the title of Chairman and leave the day-to-day operations of company to Siegel.

Good News for Furloughed Flight Attendants on Unemployment

President Bush signed the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, an economic stimulus bill, that will extend unemployment benefits for millions of American by 13 weeks and allows additional automatic extensions in states with high unemployment rates. It also provides businesses with a variety of tax breaks. 

For details, contact your state's Unemployment or Job Security Office.

US Airways Future Crew Scheduling will have new hours of operation starting Monday, March 11th:

DOMESTIC      0700-1900
INTERNATIONAL 0700-2100
DAILY         24 HOURS

This will enable crew scheduling to have more schedulers available
during peak daylight hours. 

The  Voice Response System (VRS) will continue to process sign-in requests for next-day trips until 1930 per the Contract requirements of Section 9 Paragraph D 2 b (4) Open Trip Processing and Assignment of Trips and AIL Processing (p.9-10). If you need to speak with a Crew Scheduler after 1900 then call Daily Crew Scheduling which will be open 24 hours a day.

The nomination stage of the LEC Officer Elections for Council 41 & 70 has been completed; next is the Election process. In the next couple of weeks, as per the AFA C&B, "No later than ninety (90) days before the start of the term of office", the AFA International Office will mail LEC Election ballots to your home address (March 27 for DCA, April 1st for PHL).

Time Lines for Local Elections for LEC Officers

  DCA Council 41
      Election Ballots mailed -              March 27
      Election Ballots must be postmarked -  April 17
      Election Ballots counted -             May   01

  PHL Council 70 -
      Election Ballots mailed -              April 01
      Election Ballots must be postmarked -  April 22
      Election Ballots counted -             May   06

Make sure your ballot is counted. Mail your ballot by the Postmark Date.

The next term of office for Council 41 & 70 LEC Officers
will commence July 1, 2002.

Make sure the AFA Membership Department has your current address so you may receive a ballot. Call Irell Thompson at 800-424-2401 x833 or go to: http://www.afausairways.org/addresschange.html

If you are active member you are entitled to receive a ballot. If you do not receive your ballot, contact your local AFA office or the International Secretary-Treasurer of AFA for a duplicate. 

Your Union works best when you participate.

Project Liberty, a free service available to Flight Attendants living, working, or traveling through the New York City Metropolitan area, has been helping Flight Attendants, their families and partners cope since September 11th.

• Is someone in your family concerned about your flying?
• Could you or any of your colleagues use a stress/trauma screening?
• Would you benefit from receiving information about coping strategies?

Project Liberty offers one-on-one or group sessions wherever you wish: by telephone, at your home, at your layover hotel, or at Ground Zero providing face-to-face crisis counseling and education services.

Call Project Liberty: (631) 321-8229 ext. 269. Or check out the website: http://www.projectliberty.state.ny.us

Or call 1-800-LIFENET to locate your nearest Project Liberty provider.