Local Council Meetings

Council 70-PHL
October 21, 2003
12:00pm-?
Airport Marriott

Council 89-CLT
October 21, 2003
11:00am-?
CLT Airport Auditorium Above Food Court

Council 40-PIT
October 22, 2003
11am-4pm
Airport Hyatt

Council 41-DCA
October 24, 2003
11am-2pm
Hampton Inn, Alexandria

All members in good standing are encouraged to attend.

PDF Ballot

Permanent Defense Fund Polls Close Friday, October 17, 2003 at
12:30pm. Only 1384 members or 24.4% have cast their ballot. You
are encouraged to let your voice be heard and vote on this
important issue. All eligible voters received the following
ballot via US Mail.

Your MEC has passed a resolution mandating that the US Airways
Flight Attendants be balloted on the question of whether to
adopt a $10 per member annual assessment to fund a Permanent
Defense Fund (PDF)for the purpose of providing financial
assistance to US Airways Flight Attendants who MAY IN THE FUTURE
be involved in legal, authorized strikes or other work actions,
including CHAOS work actions. Money from the PDF may be used to
defray expenses related to engaging in such work actions
including, but not limited to, flight pay loss for flight
attendants working a flight targeted for a CHAOS work action,
hotel expenses and transportation costs associated with helping
flight attendants return to their home domicile when stranded
because of a strike. The PDF will also pay for the costs of its
own administration, future fund raising to build the PDF, and
the cost of this ballot.

If passed, the commencement of this PDF assessment will be March
15, 2004 meaning along with the monthly dues charge an
additional once a year assessment of $10 will be levied, with
only that portion to go into the PDF. This PDF assessment will
occur every subsequent year on that date.

Voting instructions are included in the ballot letter. If you
have misplaced your letter please call the membership department
at 800-424-2401, ext. 861, to receive your pin number.

Say Goodbye To CompuServe

The days of requiring CompuServe for home Catcrew access are
numbered. The Crew Scheduling department has a tentative plan to
replace CompuServe as the vendor to interact with our CATS
screens. At this point, they do not have final approval to
execute the changeover but are hopeful all will be finalized in
the near future. The changeover is targeted for November, having
a one-month overlap with CompuServe.

What this means for the crewmember is they will have remote
access to Catcrew by way of a web browser and any Internet
service provider (ISP). CompuServe may be used if you choose, or
any other ISP. Brett Wilkie, Manager of Planning, IT and Crew
Administration, reported that no major browser compatibility
issues exist. Start ISP comparison-shopping but do not cancel
CompuServe until a formal announcement is made or actual
implementation occurs. You know how fast things can change
around here.

NEW RESERVE SYSTEM UPDATE

The following was sent via CBS.

As a reminder, the reserve time balancing system will go into
effect as scheduled on November 1, 2003. (AFA requested a delay
of implementation until after the holidays however the request
was denied.) This means Future Scheduling will process trips in
least time order on October 31st for the following day,
beginning at 1500 for domestic reserves and 1700 for ITD
reserves.

Our objective is to make sure all flight attendants are fully
prepared for the change from a seniority-driven system to one
driven by credited time as a percent of a reserve's option.
Therefore, a booklet will be distributed no later than October
22nd containing information regarding the new system. This
information will be available in all crew rooms as well as via
theHub. Additionally, we will have a representative in each crew
room beginning Monday, October 27th through Friday, October 31st
to answer any questions you may have after you have thoroughly
reviewed the booklet. Base schedules for crew room coverage will
be forthcoming.

NEW ID REMINDER

The following was sent via CBS.

As a reminder, the deadline for picking up new I.D. badges
is Friday, October 31, 2003. As you know, US Airways is
mandated by TSA to require all crew members to display
the new I.D. badges. Individuals who fail to comply by the
above deadline will be placed on an unpaid administrative
leave and are subject to disciplinary action. Thank you in
advance for making this a priority.

ITD Flight Attendants/Retirees

If you are planning on retiring anytime in the near future,
choose carefully when picking a retirement date as it relates to
your remaining vacation.

For example, if you are an International flight attendant and
choose a retirement date that falls prior to using all of your
remaining vacation days for that year, you will be paid out at
domestic rates with no premiums for those days that fall after
your retirement date, regardless of what division you are in
when you earned that vacation.

If you choose a retirement date that falls in the middle of a
7-day vacation period, you will be paid the higher rate with
applicable premiums for the days prior to your retirement date.
For the days remaining AFTER your retirement date, you will be
paid the lower rate (as if it were not 7 days or more vacation
in a row) with no premiums.

Upon retiring, the Company does not look back. They consider
your retirement date to be a break from the Company and they
will only look forward from that point. Upon retiring, you are
no longer an International flight attendant earning premium pay
of any kind. Therefore, they will only pay out any remaining
vacation and vacation accrued for next year, at Domestic rates
with no premiums.

Bid vacation to your advantage. If possible, bid or re-bid as
much of your vacation as you possibly can so that it falls prior
to your date of retirement.

AFA filed a grievance (grievance number 30-99-02-58-02) on this
issue, which was denied.

Dr.'s Note Reminder

H.1. A doctor's statement may be requested for any sick
occurrence in excess of five (5) occurrences during any
continuous active twelve (12) month period.
2. Notwithstanding the above, the Company may require a
physician's written confirmation of illness or injury or make
personal inquiries of the type or nature of such illness or
injury when a supervisor can demonstrate he/she has reasonable
cause to believe that an individual flight attendant's use of
sick leave may have been for other than legitimate reasons.
Further, the cost of such physician's confirmation, pursuant to
Paragraph H.1. above and this Paragraph, shall be borne by the
Company with the understanding that a flight attendant may be
required to see a physician of the Company's choice and at a
time dictated by the Company.
3. The provisions of this Section are established to ensure that
a flight attendant shall not suffer a loss of compensation while
he/she is legitimately ill or disabled. A flight attendant who
uses sick leave for other than legitimate illness or disability
may be subject to disciplinary action based on the facts
involved.

Round 2 Vacation Bids Open

2004 vacation from round 1 is currently posted in Catcrew. Round
2 is currently open and closes October 31, 2003 at 1800.

REMINDERS:

-- Permanent Defense Fund Polls Close October 17 - Cast your ballot at: https://www.ballotpoint.com/afa or call 877-232-8683 - Having Trouble Voting? Call 800-424-2401 Ext. 861 M-F

November Bidding Timeline:

Secondary Over Projection drops open October 14, close October 31
Reserve Lines Open October 17, close October 23


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