Dear Council 70 Flying Partners,

Please read the Press release below. 

Try to attend. 

You will be glad you did, as you will feel as sense of community, a sense of pride and a sense of accomplishment.

Flight Attendant's will join us from other airlines along with trade unionists from all walks of life.  Together we will show the Courts and the Congress that US Airways FA's intend to stand up for what is right and just.  

Our Contract is the only thing that protects us from management abuse and brutality.  The only thing this management will understand, the thing that scares them the most, are employees in solidarity, with a like mind and a purpose marching together. 

Court proceedings will be ongoing from Dec. 2, 2004 through Dec. 17, 2004.  Your NC continues to meet and discuss concessions with management. 

A show of strength will fortify our position for our cause.   

Let's stand together and send the message..."Negotiate not abrogate!"

FYI:  It is my understanding that those who can should attend in uniform.  If that changes, I will let you know.  Thanks in advance and SEE YOU THERE. 

Take Care, Fly Safe and "Let's Rally!"

Mollie McCarthy
LEC President
Council 70 PHL/PHW

PS:  Directions:  ORANGE AND BLUE LINES to McPherson Square, exit metro to I Street. At I Street, go west to 16th, turn south (left),  walk 2 blocks to Lafayette Plaza

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MARCH ON WASHINGTON DECEMBER 14th

LAFAYETTE PARK
H Street NW between 17th and 15th St.
North of the White House 

Press Conference and Rally 5:15PM  

COME STAND UP FOR OUR CAREERS AND HOLD OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ACCOUNTABLE

Across the nation, airline management is seeking to destroy Flight Attendant contracts, pensions and careers.  This current assault has evolved from seeking to cut costs on the basis of proven economic need to a destructive race to the bottom that threatens the collapse wages, benefits and working conditions across the industry. 

Airline management wants to turn back the clock on the decades of progress AFA made turning a job into a profession.  Through the years AFA members have fought and won a number of critical changes in the airline industry that have led to safer airplanes and have transformed our profession into a career of safety and security professionals.  The profession, we fought so very hard for, is now under attack. 

Airline management is overreaching.  If they are not stopped, these cuts will spread to financially healthy carriers and then on to other industries throughout the United States.  The demise of pension benefits, health care benefits and decent wages, will be the demise of middle class America. 

It is now time to send our message to Washington.  The White House and Congress have refused to enact any policies to address the skyrocketing cost of fuel, the rising costs of health care, and the loss of thousands of aviation jobs.  Our pensions are in jeopardy of being terminated, yet, Congress has turned a blind eye to the serious structural problems with the nation's defined benefit pension system and the federal agency that insures them, the PBGC.   

Flight Attendants can no longer bear the burden for Washington's lack of sound aviation policy.  Our legislators must take action now before thousands of jobs are lost and the nation is left without one its most critical industries. 

Help send a message to airline management, corporate America and Washington's lawmakers that dragging down the standard of living for Flight Attendants, threatens the very foundation of traditional American values.

Please make December 14 your most important priority! Bring your colleagues, friends and families to Washington as the best holiday gift you can give to the future of your profession.  

COME JOIN YOUR COLLEAGUES, THE LABOR COMMUNITY AND OUR FRIENDS IN CONGRESS AT DECEMBER 14 LAFAYETTE PARK, WASHINGTON, D.C. 5:15PM

After the press conference there will be a candlelight march.  

For further information and to RSVP please contact Debbie Golombek at 516-628-8889 or  legislative@unitedafa.org    or Kelly Norton 760-328-8215 or kellynorton2@aol.com