• ANTI-UNION ADVERTISEMENT IN THE US AIRWAYS INFLIGHT MAGAZINE
• Accessing The Hub

• AFA Local Numbers

Dear Members,

ANTI-UNION ADVERTISEMENT IN THE US AIRWAYS INFLIGHT MAGAZINE

In the May edition of the US Airways InFlight magazine, "US Airways -The Magazine That Connects You", the publisher, Pace Communications, published an advertisement from the law firm, Stevens and Lee Lawyers and Consultants.

Featured on the inside back cover of the May edition, a very prominent and lucrative location for advertisers, the ad referenced the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) as a detriment to corporations.

The law firm of Steven's and Lee Lawyers and Consultants-as mentioned in the text of the ad- also "specializes" in anti-union activity and boasts the firm's ability to keep corporations "union free".

When AFA-CWA became aware of this ad we immediately contacted the Company on behalf of our members and all the other unionized members of US Airways. The message was clear from AFA-CWA- why did the Company allow an ad of this nature find its way into the magazine. And why?

The Company responded with two letters- one from Pace Communications, and one from the Company. On behalf of all the unionized members of US Airways, I responded to the Company and have included my response in this communication.

I will let you be the judge.

~~~~

4000 E. Sky Harbor Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ   85034
480.693.0800

Michael Flores
AFA MEC President
205 Regency Executive Park
Suite 310
Charlotte, NC 28217

May 13, 2009

Dear Michael Flores,

It was recently brought to my attention that an advertisement running in the May issue of US Airways Magazine is offensive to some of our employees, and more specifically, to our union leaders. The advertisement, featured on the inside back cover, is for Stevens & Lee Lawyers & Consultants. Regrettably, the ad text is dedicated to the Employee Free Choice Act.

Clearly our union leaders have views on this potential legislation and those differ greatly from the ad’s stance. I first want to apologize for the insensitivity of this ad, and second, I want to explain how our magazine is produced so that you have better insight as to how this ad ended up on the aircraft without our review.

US Airways Magazine is produced each month by a third party, Pace Communications. The publisher, Pace, assumes all of the costs associated with producing the magazine and indeed, pays the airline (through a revenue sharing agreement) to put the magazine on the aircraft. Pace sells all of the advertising for the magazine, and while we do not review or approve any of the ads that they do run, we do reserve the right to refuse any advertisement that is not in line with our corporate values or that may be offensive to our customers or our employees. We are rarely contacted to review a potentially controversial ad, and we were not contacted about this ad prior to the acceptance or printing of the current issue.

Our relationship with Pace goes back many years and began when Pace was founded to publish the inflight magazine for Piedmont Airlines. My point here is that we have had a long, successful partnership with Pace and this unfortunate misstep is an anomaly in a relationship that spans many years and has served our employees and airline well during that time. I can tell you from my personal experience with the Pace team that they would be, and indeed are, deeply chagrined to understand the negative perception of this ad among our terrific employees. They certainly did not mean any offense; rather in an ever changing world where economic hardships are rampant, they simply were doing their best to continue to provide advertising revenue for the airline. This was an oversight on their part and they have assured me that they now understand this was not an appropriate ad to accept.

You can also be assured that going forward, Pace will flag any advertisements that could be construed as taking a stance on a controversial topic like the EFCA, and that they will not accept ads with copy on this legislation in the future.

I’ve attached a letter from the Pace team as well, and invite you to call me directly if you would like to discuss further. In the meantime, I again apologize for any offense this has caused to you or your members. We are proud of the work you do here, and look forward to continuing to work together for US Airways, our customers and our collective futures.

Sincerely,


Elise Eberwein

Senior Vice President, People and Communication

~~~~

Elise Eberwein
SVP, People & Communications
US Airways

May 12, 2009

Dear Elise,

Further to our email exchange, I am very sorry to hear that the advertisement for Stephens & Lee in the May issue of the magazine has caused problems. Stevens & Lee is a Reading, PA law firm that runs a full page advertisement in US Airways Magazine every month.

They use the magazine to target business owners/managers in order to recruit new clients. The May issue ad is the first time this particular execution has run and we can see how the ad might have given off a negative message to your employees - especially your union leaders.

There was no intent on the part of the advertiser or Pace Communications to cause any offence or problems to US Airways and we apologize for any offence caused and will ensure that this type of advertisement does not run again.

Yours Sincerely,

Craig Waller

President Pace Airline Media

~~~~

Michael Flores
Master Executive Council President
US Airways AFA-CWA
205 Regency Park Drive
Suite 310
Charlotte, NC 28217

Elise Eberwein
Senior Vice President People and Communication
4000 E. Sky Harbor Blvd.
Phoenix, AZ, 8503

May 18, 2009

Dear Ms. Eberwein,

I am in receipt of your letter dated May 13, 2009, regarding the advertisement in the May, 2009 US Airways Inflight magazine by the law firm Stevens & Lee. The advertisement was on the inside page on the back cover of the magazine- a prominent and expensive advertisement location.

While your letter is apologetic to the members of AFA-CWA, and does acknowledge the pride the Company has in our members' work, it falls short in the expectations the Union and our members expect from US Airways.

Specifically, the advertisement in question is from a law firm, according to the advertisement's text, does more than address the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). The text touts the firm's ability to "represent clients in union avoidance in more than 1000 cases with a success rate of 95%". Furthermore the text also makes a reference to the firm's ability to, "have assisted clients to remain union free".

The focus of your letter is to explain, to Union leadership and the members of AFA-CWA, because a third party, PACE Communications, produces the magazine, US Airways absolves itself of any responsibility for editorial control.

This particular advertisement places AFA-CWA members in a hostile work environment.

That environment places US Airways Flight Attendants on an airplane with a group of passenger that have access to a Company publication-the passengers don't know the magazine is outsourced- denouncing Unions and the right to be a member of a Union and the associated rights of the Union membership. Flight Attendants in the service of US Airways have a lawful right to Union membership and representation- free from hostility.

Your letter references the long standing relationship between the Company and Pace Communications, and while the Union appreciates that relationship, the Union does not appreciate the fact that after all of those years, PACE did not realize this particular advertisement would be offensive to the vast majority Union represented employees. It seems curious to the Union that, as the AFA-CWA is in the process of negotiating a single Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Company, the PACE would publish such an advertisement.

Your letter also states that PACE Communications will, in the future, be responsible for "flagging" any further advertisements that are deemed offensive or contain references to EFCA. That is not acceptable to the Union. As your letter indicated, PACE chose to put revenue first and consideration to the working conditions of our members, second.

US Airways- not PACE Communications- is ultimately responsible for any publication bearing the Company's name that appears in the seat back pockets of an airplane staffed by the hard working and loyal employees of AFA-CWA. AFA-CWA does not accept the premise that continuing to allow PACE Communications-and not US Airways- to maintain editorial control of the content of the magazine.

US Airways must assume a more diligent role in PACE Communications editorial decisions with regard to the magazines advertisements and contents.

I look forward to your commitment that US Airways will assume a more "hands-on" role with regard to the content that is disseminated to our customers and employees in all future publications by Pace Communications.

Thank you for your time-

Sincerely,

Mike

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

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

AFA US Airways Website

www.afausairways.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 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