Inflight Services is offering a Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) similar to the program offered in fall 2002.

Links to the program documents are below. A CBS message went out to the Flight Attendants on March 24, 2003.

Additionally, copies are being mailed to the homes of eligible flight attendants out on a leave of absence.

-- VSIP Memo from Sherry Hendry
-- Voluntary Separation Program
-- Older Workers' Benefit Protection Act Eligibility Summary
-- Participation Application and Release Form

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Voluntary Furlough Returnees

Are you returning from Voluntary Furlough on June 1, 2003? You are currently eligible to apply for Voluntary Furlough 5 (VF5) beginning June 4, 2003. This is not considered an extension therefore you are eligible for 120 days of medical coverage.

Further unemployment compensation is dependant on your State benefits. Please contact your local unemployment office for specific information on unemployment benefits.

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How do we make our Union stronger in this desperate time for the airline industry?
Patricia A. Friend, AFA International President

Our industry has experienced unimaginable changes over the past two and a half years. Dramatic financial losses experienced by our airlines have resulted in over 9,000 AFA members being furloughed or laid off since September 11, 2001.  The financial problems have also meant millions less in dues -- hurting AFA’s ability to continue as a strong advocate for flight attendants.

Management at our carriers see the industry’s financial crisis as an opportunity to achieve shortsighted labor concessions and as a tool to weaken our union.  AFA's challenge in this environment is to find ways to increase our power and our ability to represent our members more effectively.

AFA has trimmed costs as much as possible without weakening member representation or our long-term stability. But this is only a short-term solution.

A large dues increase to solve the financial crisis isn't the answer, either.  As clearly stated in a resolution passed by AFA's Executive Board in January, “this Board recognizes that our members cannot and should not at this time be asked to assume the added burden of a dues increase to stem the financial losses” of our union.

The option that would potentially strengthen our ability to represent flight attendants, even during the worst of times in our industry, is partnering with another, strong AFL-CIO union.  To explore this alternative, elected AFA representatives recently met with leaders of potential partner unions. 

Prior to meeting with representatives of other unions, AFA leaders agreed on a number of factors vital to making a potential affiliation partnership successful for AFA members: 

-- AFA’s ability to maintain control over our identity, autonomy, structure and democracy, and our ability to be the sole representative of flight attendants within the partnership.

-- Increasing our power at the bargaining table and on Capitol Hill, and increasing services to members and funding at all levels (without increasing dues). 

-- Membership perception of the potential union partner, along with an evaluation of the strengths and compatibility of each potential partner to find a culture and member base that fit the identity of our unique membership.

How do we make our Union stronger in this desperate time for the airline industry?
 
After meeting with the representatives of six unions, AFA representatives at the meetings unanimously determined that only one union, the Communications Workers of America, satisfies all of those requirements. CWA made a presentation that demonstrated their commitment to preserving our history, our culture and our democratic structure, and to creating a partnership that increases our effectiveness for flight attendants.

CWA is a union of over 700,000 workers.  It has a strong commitment to providing all CWA affiliates and locals with access to their extensive financial and membership resources.  CWA has a large Members’ Defense Fund that supports mobilization efforts in collective bargaining campaigns (including CWA's use of the Defense Fund for developing television, radio and newspaper ads to enhance workers’ power in contract campaigns).

AFA would be able to retain our full name, identity, autonomy and structure.  CWA represents airline workers, as well as other professionals in telecommunications, journalism, high tech, and health care, and has a very strong presence on Capitol Hill.  AFA representatives were left with the perception that CWA’s culture is a very good fit for flight attendants and our Union.

CWA also has a record of successful, recent affiliation partnerships (links to the websites of the affiliated unions are below). Each of their recent affiliation partners has been given extensive autonomy and preserved their identity.

AFA representatives and attorneys are now working with CWA on what the terms of an affiliation partnership would look like, to determine if CWA is able to fully meet the needs of AFA's members in a potential affiliation.

The results of those discussions will be presented to the AFA Executive Board on April 1-2.  If the Board believes the two unions share the same vision for how an affiliation would benefit AFA members, discussions will continue to develop a full affiliation partnership agreement.  The agreement would be submitted to your elected representatives and voted on before being finalized.

We will keep you updated on the progress of these discussions.   For the full Executive Board Report on the possibility of affiliation, please visit www.afanet.org.

Links of Interest

-- CWA - http://www.cwa-union.org/
-- The Newspaper Guild-CWA - http://www.newsguild.org/
-- NABET-CWA - http://www.nabetcwa.org/
-- IUE-CWA - http://www.iue-cwa.org/