• COLD STONE CREAMERY PROMOTION
• Accessing The Hub
• AFA Local Numbers

Dear Members,

COLD STONE CREAMERY PROMOTION

The airplane has become a marketer's dream - a captive audience with uncompensated pitchmen. Welcome to the new US Airways. US Airways, along with one of its corporate partners, Cold Stone Creamery, have decided to use FAA certified Safety Professionals to distribute "$1.00 Off Coupons" for the Phoenix-based ice cream vendor. For those of you on the East who don't know, Cold Stone Creamery is a chain of upscale (and over-priced) ice cream parlors.

I have no issue with the business concerns US Airways chooses to affiliate with. I also recognize in today's competitive industry, partners and relationships are important to the airline.

I have a very large problem with the marketing department's seemingly endless use of what they may think is "free" labor to do their bidding. Our primary job is to be onboard as Safety Professionals. Secondarily, our job is to promote US AIRWAYS by offering the finest in-flight service in the industry. That does not include hawking other Company's goods and services. There are plenty of other creative ways to market our partners' promotions. The Union has suggested several other avenues to accomplish the marketing department's goals. Instead, they have chosen the path of least resistance - prey on the captive audience - and use our Flight Attendants to do their work.

Managing Director of Inflight Services, Sheri Shamblin, has sent the following letter to all Flight Attendants:

Dear Valued Flight Attendant:

We've heard from a few of you, and acknowledge your concerns regarding US Airways InFlight marketing promotions and in particular the Cold Stone Creamery promotion. Keep in mind that these marketing promotions generate revenue for both the company and in many cases, you, the flight attendant. They certainly are not meant to be demeaning or degrading. We have agreed to meeting with your union leadership in the near future to discuss all of the marketing promotions and seek their input and feedback on these programs. However, we have already committed to the holiday promotion in partnership with Cold Stone Creamery, which will launch on November 13th and continue through November 21st.

Your dedication and professionalism are essential to the success of US Airways.
Sincerely,

This letter has left a bad taste in my mouth - one that even a $1.00 off (our reward for doing this) ice cream cone can not erase. The Union has reluctantly gone along with the BofA credit card program, which put real money into the hands of some of our members and does add revenue to the airline. Duty free sales are a negotiated contractual provision that do the same.

The Union will most definitely be meeting with Company concerning the use of Flight Attendants in any further marketing campaigns. We are tired of it, and more importantly, our passengers are tired of being subjected to ads and sales pitches.

Furthermore I ask that you contact Sherri Shamblin and VP of Flight Operations, ED Bular to express your concerns:

Sherri Shamblin - sherri.shamblin@usairways.com

Ed Bular - ed.bular@usairways.com

Thank you,

Mike Flores, President
US Airways MEC
AFA-CWA

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AFA US Airways website

http://www.afausairways.org/

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http://thehub.usairways.com 
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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

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