• Halloween Picketing Press Release
• Accessing The Hub
• AFA Local Numbers

Dear Members,

US AIRWAYS FLIGHT ATTENDANTS TO STAGE HALLOWEEN NATIONWIDE PROTEST AT SEVEN AIRPORTS 

Picket Locations: Airports in Philadelphia, Boston, Charlotte, New York LaGuardia, Washington, DC, Pittsburgh and Phoenix

Tempe, AZ - US Airways Flight Attendants, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants - CWA (AFA-CWA), will picket at seven airports across the country on Halloween, October 31, 2006, to protest stagnant wages, sluggish contract negotiations and managements "nothing-for-workers" negotiating stance. 

Over 7,000 US Airways Flight Attendants are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants - CWA (AFA-CWA). America West Airlines and US Airways merged last year to form the 5th largest airline in the United States. Flight Attendants from both carriers were represented prior to the merger by AFA-CWA.

The seven-(7) airports are US Airways Flight Attendant bases, where Flight Attendants live and report for flights. 

"Management's nothing-for-Flight Attendants negotiating stance is DOA at the bargaining table," said Gary Richardson and Mike Flores, AFA-CWA MEC Presidents at America West and US Airways. 

"Flight Attendants at US Airways have experienced massive pay cuts since 2002. Over half of America West Flight Attendants have not had a raise since 2002, and those with one-to-ten years of service are among the lowest paid safety and service professionals in the industry," said Flores and Richardson. 

Executives at US Airways - who received millions in stock bonuses in the summer of 2006 - have publicly stated that a merged Flight Attendant contract will contain no cost increases. 

"It's been all treats for management in this merger and an empty bag for Flight Attendants," said Flores and Richardson. 

"In 2006, executives at US Airways awarded themselves two-(2) raises on top of pocketing millions in stock option payouts but continue to insist on no contract cost increases for Flight Attendants," said Flores and Richardson. "This would mean cuts in certain contract sections for our members and that won't fly."

Negotiations to combine both union contracts started in February, 2006. Only five-(5) sections, out of a possible thirty-six (36) contract sections have been agreed to by the parties. Several proposals are tabled because management will not commit the resources to reach an agreement. 

"Nine months into negotiations and management cannot make the hard decisions in the non-economic sections," added Richardson and Flores. "This foreshadows very scary struggles in the future over contract sections that mean the most to members, including compensation, vacations and scheduling."

Picketing times and airport locations will be released in the coming weeks pending airport authority permit approvals and will be contained in future press releases.

Prior to the picketing, AFA-CWA will also release studies which rank US Airways Flight Attendant wages against fellow Flight Attendants at most US airlines and more details on the status of merged contract negotiations between AFA-CWA and US Airways management. 

For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been the voice for Flight Attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capital Hill. More than 55,000 Flight Attendants at 20 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA. 

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AFA US Airways website

http://www.afausairways.org/

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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

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US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

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