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AFA/CWA MERGER INFORMATION
Just a few days left in the voting on the merger between AFA and
the Communications Workers of America.
One piece of misinformation keeps coming up, and we want to set
the record straight:
If the result of this merger vote will change the AFA Merger
Policy in the event of an airline merger?
NO, the AFA Merger Policy remains intact. The vote is solely to
determine if AFA as a Union will partner and merge with CWA to
increase our strength, as a Union. The AFA Merger protection
remains in tact.
The merger vote has nothing to do with the corporations of US
Airways or United Airlines, or any other airline for that
matter. But if airline management decides to merge the airlines
in the future, your seniority will be protected by the AFA
Merger Policy, because it will continue to exist. The seniority
of United flight attendants will NOT take precedence over yours
in any merger of airlines.
CWA Strength
Letter from Morty Bahr, CWA President
November 21, 2003
Dear AFA member,
As you approach your deadline of December 1st in voting on the
proposed merger between your union and ours, I want you to know
that I appreciate what an extraordinary important decision this
is for you. And it is for us in CWA, too.
We believe that this proposed joining of our forces will send a
strong message to the giant corporations that dominate the
airline industry, and to their allies in Washington, that
working women and men will not be run over by corporate greed
any longer.
Ordinarily, it is not my policy to interject our union at this
stage of such a critical vote. Like us, you are professionals
who will decide for yourselves what is in your own best
interests, both financially and politically, with the choice
and, I think, opportunity before you. It's a choice that will
strengthen both of us while assuring you that your dues will not
have to increase.
That's why I must stand up for the reputation of my sisters and
brothers in the CWA and answer the baseless charges I've heard
leveled at our union during this process.
I am compelled to put the record straight: CWA is a financially
sound and strong union. The fact that we are also financially
prudent is quite a different matter. We have assets of over
$268 million. By joining together 700,000 workers in a number
of industries, our dues revenue doesn't suffer the kind of
dramatic dips prone to the airline industry.
But, like the AFA and every other labor union, we are a
non-profit organization. We put our money where our members need
it.
Our Strike Fund and Defense Fund, which we use to help our
members when they need it most, totals some $250 million. We
didn't hesitate to use it on behalf of our 70,000 Verizon
members, including spending over half a million dollars in
advertising, so the public would understand their stake in our
member's struggle. And our members won.
Our strong financial condition means that when we go head to
head with giant multi-national corporations, we bring power to
the bargaining table. Should the merger between our two vital
unions be approved, we will not hesitate to bring that same
power to the table for you.
In solidarity,
Morton Bahr
President
Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO/CLC
====================
Please let your voice be heard and VOTE!
Polls Close Monday, December 1 at noon.
Vote by phone: 1-877-232-8683
Vote by Internet: https://www.ballotpoint.com/afa
Questions on voting procedures? Call AFA Membership at
1-800-424-2401 ext. 777.
AFA/CWA MERGER INFORMATION
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? Call 800-327-0117 and listen for the catcrew help desk
prompts.
AFA Local Numbers
Council 40 PIT 724-695-3329
Council 41 DCA 703-690-6859
Council 69 BOS 978-352-7401
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 201-803-6141
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325
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