• Grievance Committee Scores Big at System Board 
• Flight Attendants Still Defenseless a Year After 9/11
• FOCUS GROUPS NEEDED
• New E-Line Editor

Grievance Committee Scores Big at System Board

Our contract in Sections 24 and 25, Side Letters 32 and 33 and in accordance with Section 204, Title II of the Railway Labor Act, provides and outlines the procedures for resolving disputes between the union and the company in the event these two parties are unable to come to a mutual understanding over contractual language or when the union believes the company unjustly disciplines one of our members.  In order to administer the contract and procedures set forth, the MEC long ago established a Grievance Committee.  Additionally, the contract outlines the procedures for the System Board of Adjustment (“Board”) which is a five member panel whose purpose is to adjust and decide disputes which may arise under the terms of the contract and its amendments. The Board  includes two individuals chosen solely by the company, two members elected by the MEC from union members in good standing, and one neutral member (“arbitrator”). Check out Sections 24, 25 an

On January 1, 2002 PIW flight attendant Aida Soler-Bryant, assumed her newly elected office and began serving a three year term as chairperson of the Grievance Committee. She was elected by the MEC in November 2001.  Aida, along with the assistant, Richard Delgadillo, PIW flight attendant, has the primary objective to manage the grievance department to ensure proper processing of all grievances system-wide.  They also assist Stephani Brown, AFA’s staff attorney, in preparing, researching, and coordinating the cases presented to the Board in an arbitration hearing. The two union representatives on the Board are flight attendants Pam Murray, PHW and Lynn Lenosky, PIW. This process is much like a court case with opposing attorneys from AFA and US Airways presenting their arguments to the five member Board supported by testimony, witness/s, submission of evidence and written and/or oral briefs.

In March, just 2 ½ months after taking office as the new chairperson, the Grievance Committee presented five cases to the Board through the process of Expedited Arbitration as described in Side Letter 32.  Since the Board is reduced to 3 members (an arbitrator, one union and one company System Board member) during Expedited Arbitration, Lynn Lenosky represented AFA’s position on the Board for these cases and AFA attorney Stephani Brown argued the cases before the Board. The following is a brief description of each case and the outcome.

To read the rest of the Report, see .... http://www.afausairways.org/Grievance/update.html.

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Flight Attendants Still Defenseless a Year After 9/11
Weak Security and Hijacking Training Endangers Passengers

Hundreds March on Capitol Hill For Comprehensive Cabin Security Program

WASHINGTON-Inadequate security training provided by airlines has left flight attendants unprotected and unable to defend themselves, passengers and the aircraft against another hijacking or terrorist threat as we approach the one-year anniversary of the September 11 tragedies.

"The airlines, once again, have done what's cheapest and easiest when it comes to security; Association of Flight Attendants International President Patricia Friend told more than one hundred flight attendants from across the country marching on Capitol Hill. "My fellow flights attendants and I are no better prepared for a terrorist attack than we were a year ago. We were among the first to die in the attacks of September 11th and will be so again unless drastic changes are made, and they are made now."

Currently, federal law allows each airline to develop its own security program for flight attendants. But without specific requirements, the airlines have offered only the bare minimum--in many cases just two or three hours of updated training--and have made vital components, like self-defense, voluntary. 

Flight attendants have sent more than 27,000 cards calling for legislation that will provide a comprehensive cabin security program to Senator Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC), Representative Bill Young (R-FL) and Admiral James M. Loy, Acting Undersecretary of Transportation for Security.

The key provisions in the legislation would include:

• Required minimum of 28 hours of classroom and situational hands-on training in security and self-defense.

• Air carriers provide hands-free communication device to communicate with the cockpit.

• A study to determine whether possession of a non-lethal weapon by a member of the cabin crew would aid in flight deck crew safety.

• Specific requirements for training-the-trainers who will administer security and self-defense training.

"We must provide flight attendants with the training to protect ourselves and our passengers in the event of a terrorist attack," Friend continued. "It is the only way everyone on the aircraft will have a fighting chance to survive."

More than 50,000 flight attendants at 26 airlines join together to form AFA, the world's largest flight attendant union. Visit us @ www.afanet.org.

FOCUS GROUPS NEEDED
AFA FLIGHT ATTENDANTS NEEDED! EARN $30
AFA is working with mental health experts and AFA's research partner, DSG, Inc., in conducting a study on the well being of Flight Attendants, particularly after the September 11 terrorist attacks. In addition to the well being survey, focus groups are being held to better understand the needs of flight attendants.

To learn more visit: http://www.afanet.org/Focus%20Group%20Flyer/focus%20group%20flyer.htm

New E-Line Editor

Chuck Cannaday, your MEC Web Site Administrator, has taken over the responsibilities of sending out the E-Line for AFA US Airways. We will be offering the E-Line in both a text format as well as an HTML format. The latter will be a little more visual. For those of you that would like to receive the E-line in an HTML format, or would like to change information in your E-Line profile, you may visit your online profile from the link below.

Have you updated your profile yet?

The *E-Line* now uses a new and improved list server at union voice.org. This change will enable is to bring you improved services in the near future. But we must have your union voice.org profile updated for this to happen. You can join, update your profile - including changing your e-mail address - by visiting http://www.unionvoice.org/e_line_afa_usairways/join.html