|
Global Bids are now posted. You can find your result
on The Hub.
Instructions for using The Hub are posted in the reminders
section below. The following dates are the most junior
to have been awarded these options.
Domestic:
55 hour option-4/1/87
75 hour option-5/16/94
105 hour option for those with 5 years seniority-2/2/95
105 hour option for those with less than 5 years seniorty
did not fill.
International:
4 trip option-2/24/86
6 trip option-5/18/85
====================
VSIP and VF Extension Update As Of September 8
17 have applied for the voluntary separation package.
All 17 are currently not on active status.
740 have chosen to extend their voluntary furlough.
605 are currently scheduled to return December 2. Extension
deadline is September 11.
====================
CREW ACCOMMODATIONS UPDATE
New Property Update
BDA - A downtown property has been chosen for this
layover. Complementary shuttle service will be offered
to the beach, located at the hotel's sister property.
The hotel will also offer 25% discount on food/beverage.
The location also offers a choice of many restaurant/shopping
venues. Distance from the airport is 15 minutes. A
CBS message will be sent informing crews of name and
transportation information. Since this web site is
not secure, the property name will be posted on the
AFA bulletin board in each domicile.
EWR - Additional information on this property: local
calls as well as 800 and credit card calls are complimentary.
AFA Crew Accommodations Committee
====================
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS UPDATE
FAA Reauthorization
For the past several months, AFA has worked, on a bi-partisan
basis, to address a number of our legislative goals
in this year's FAA Reauthorization legislation. We
were successful in convincing both the U.S. Senate
and U.S. House of Representatives to include language
on Flight Attendant certification and a provision that
would improve and monitor cabin air quality in their
versions of the FAA Reauthorization bills. These were
major victories for AFA.
The Senate and House versions of the FAA Reauthorization
were sent to a conference committee to work out the
differences between the two bills before the legislation
can go to the president for his signature. In the final
stages of the conference committee negotiations, meddling
by the White House and the Republican leadership has
resulted in a dangerous and controversial bill. The
Conference Report, as currently crafted, guts Flight
Attendant security training requirements, jeopardizes
aviation safety by allowing the privatization of our
air traffic control system and grants foreign cargo
air carries an exemption to evade cabotage laws.
AFA is now working with all of organized labor and
the democratic leadership to kill the bill or send
it back to conference committee. The Bush Administration
has asked the airline industry to lend their lobbying
weight to get the bill passed.
These controversial sections of the conference report
on FAA Reauthorization which set a dangerous precedent
and must be defeated. AFA will be activating our E-Activist
system alerting AFA members about this issue and allowing
them to send a message to urge their Members of Congress
to vote against the Conference Report on FAA Reauthorization.
Security Training: The FAA Reauthorization conference
report dramatically undermines our efforts on Flight
Attendant security training. The Reauthorization bill
originally did include provisions that modify our training.
Several Republicans on the Committee had been approached
by certain carriers to make Flight Attendant security
training completely voluntary and paid for by the Flight
Attendants. The carriers argued that Flight Attendant
security training would be too costly and their Flight
Attendants believed that the training should not be
mandatory.
Since it was clear that changes would be made, the
Democrats worked with the Republicans to make the changes
as minimal as possible, keep as much of the training
as possible mandatory, and guarantee that a Flight
Attendant would not have to pay for any training themselves.
Finally, language was written that AFA was not completely
satisfied with, but it protected as much of our training
as possible.
At the last minute, Continental Airlines went to House
Republican Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX) to make further
changes to the security training language. Congressman
DeLay ordered the conference committee make a change
that would leave it up to the discretion of the TSA
and the Administration as to whether or not they would
issue guidelines for Flight Attendant security training.
ATC Privatization: The House and Senate versions of
the reauthorization bill contained language banning
any ATC privatization, which the Administration vehemently
opposed. But in the conference report Republicans lawmakers
substituted a new proposal that would allow for expansion
of the federal contract tower program and would sunset
the privatization ban after four years. This proposal
would allow the Administration to contract our air
traffic controllers and support staff at the towers
to the lowest bidder.
Cabotage: The conference report contains a special
interest exemption that would allow foreign cargo air
carriers to engage in cabotage. Cabotage is the ability
for a foreign carrier to serve and fly domestic routes
and is currently prohibited in the United States.
This provision would allow a foreign cargo carrier
to fly domestic routes, as long as that carrier first
lands at Ted Stevens International Airport in Anchorage,
Alaska.
Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) introduced legislation
which would require group and individual health plans
to provide a minimum hospital stay for mastectomies
and lymph node dissections performed for the treatment
of breast cancer. This legislation would eliminate
the drive through mastectomy where patients are forced
to go home hours after surgery against the wishes of
their doctor.
The Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2003, H.R.
1886, has 149 cosponsors. A cosponsor list is included
as an attachment to this report. If your US House member
is not a cosponsor of this legislation please contact
her/his office and urge them to cosponsor this important
piece of legislation.
Presidential Campaign 2004
AFL-CIO Hosts Presidential Forum
On Tuesday, August 5, the AFL-CIO hosted a Presidential
candidate forum focusing on working family issues.
The nine democratic contenders presented diverse approaches
to America's health care crisis, promised to protect
the rights of workers who want to join unions and agreed
that the current Administration's economic and tax
policy are not worker friendly.
In video taped segments union workers from across the
country shared their concerns and posed questions for
the candidates on issues ranging from jobs, health
care, retirement security, trade, education and the
right-to-organize.
All nine democratic candidates were present, which
says that support from the AFL-CIO and individual unions,
is high on their priority list. All nine Democrats
and President Bush were invited to answer a detailed
AFL-CIO questionnaire on working family issues. President
Bush did not respond to the questionnaire and declined
an invitation to appear before the AFL-CIO's Executive
Council meeting in Chicago or at any other time this
summer in Washington, D.C.
The Democratic candidate's answers to the questionnaire
can be found at www.aflcio.org/candidates2004 .
Union Endorsements
Democratic Presidential candidate Congressman Richard
Gephardt (MO) currently is the only candidate to receive
endorsements from individual unions. The AFL-CIO will
decide at their October Executive Board meeting if
there is sufficient support for one of the nine Democratic
candidates to receive an AFL-CIO endorsement. President
Bush's failure to respond to the AFL-CIO questionnaire
has eliminated any chance he had at an endorsement
(not too mention his pro-corporate, anti-worker agenda).
Our membership is quite diverse and we know that we
have a high percentage of Flight Attendants who are
registered Republicans. When discussing the upcoming
2004 elections, we should stress that on many issues
which affect our safety, health and security, and even
the future of United Airlines, the current Administration
and Republican leadership do not share our viewpoint.
In addition, President Bush and his Republican allies
are pursuing a relentless assault on working families.
Their top priority, anti-employee initiatives include
(to list a few):
·A plan to eliminate overtime pay for at least 8 million
hard working Americans.
·Opposition to providing low and middle income working
families a fair share of tax cuts.
·Overturning safeguards designed to prevent the countryÿ¿ÿ¿s
leading workplace hazard: ergonomic injuries.
·Plans to impose new reporting and disclosure requirements
that will cost national and local unions an estimated
$1 billion a year to comply, but rejected any similar
financial disclosures for corporations.
·Repealed rules that require companies receiving federal
government contracts to have a solid track record on
employee health and safety, the environment, civil
rights and responsible corporate practices.
·Reversed restrictions on cash bonuses, allowing over
2100 political appointees to be eligible for up to
$25,000 in bonuses.
·Refusal to approve an increase in the minimum wage.
·Proposed changes to retirement policy.
California Governor Recall
The AFL-CIO adopted a resolution at their Executive
Board meeting opposing the recall and supporting Governor
Davis.
As many of you may know, Sharon Davis, wife of Governor
Gray Davis is a former Flight Attendant and AFA member.
====================
REMINDERS:
Voluntary Furlough (VF) Extensions Due September 11
2004 Vacation Bids Close September 28
Voluntary Separation (VSIP) Must Be Postmarked By September
25
November Bidding Timeline:
Primary Blocks Open September 16, close September 22
SAP Opens September 23, close September 29 in PIT/PIW/BOS/PHL/PHW,
close September 30 in LGA/CLT/CLW/DCA
Secondary Lines Open October 7, close October 12
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.
More Global Bid Option Results
====================
Global Bids are now posted. You can find your result
on The Hub.
Instructions for using The Hub are posted in the reminders
section below. The following dates are the most junior
to have been awarded these options.
CLW CLW
Non Lodo Lodo--German
L/H......6/20/78 L/H.......4/24/89
Rsv......8/11/86 Rsv.......7/22/96
PIW PIW
Non Lodo Lodo--German
L/H....09/02/72 L/H...04/04/88
Rsv....02/04/85 Rsv...05/20/92
PHW is not available for posting at this time.
Domestic:
55 hour option-4/1/87
75 hour option-5/16/94
105 hour option for those with 5 years seniority-2/2/95
105 hour option for those with less than 5 years seniorty
did not fill.
International:
4 trip option-2/24/86
6 trip option-5/18/85
====================
REMINDERS:
Voluntary Furlough (VF) Extensions Due September 11
2004 Vacation Bids Close September 28
Voluntary Separation (VSIP) Must Be Postmarked By September
25
November Bidding Timeline:
Primary Blocks Open September 16, close September 22
SAP Opens September 23, close September 29 in PIT/PIW/BOS/PHL/PHW,
close September 30 in LGA/CLT/CLW/DCA
Secondary Lines Open October 7, close October 12
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.
|
