Council 70 Electronic News

PHL News-Line 70

"... they can not even abide by the contracts they bullied us into."

May 24, 2003

Dear Council 70 Flying Partners,

Since massive concessions were ratified under management's threats of liquidation we, the flight attendants, have struggled to live under the new agreements. Unfortunately, US Airways management has failed to even abide by the contacts they bullied out of us. 

We have negotiated with management in good faith to resolve outstanding issues. Management has resorted to the unilateral rewriting of our new sick policy, and are now making noises about doing the same with the new reserve system. 

When we realized our words were falling on deaf ears, we filed grievances. In fact, we have filed so many grievances that many outside our airline are taking notice. This new management has not taken our grievances or the grievance process seriously. Their cavalier attitude is a show of total disrespect for our profession, our contract, our dedication and our union. 

With layoffs and minimum staffing piled on top of pay and benefit cuts, we need to step up and say ENOUGH! 

If we cannot get the company to respect us in negotiations or through the grievance process, we have no choice but to take it to the public. If this new management team will not listen then maybe reading about it and seeing it in the media will open their eyes, ears and minds. 

The US Airways Board Of Directors meets on June 6 & 7 in Alabama. I am sure Dr. Bronner will relish using that opportunity to explain to the media why his employees are disgruntled and why they have lost all faith and trust in his US Airways management team. 

By doing Informational picketing, Flight attendants will get the opportunity to share their stories with the media, speak to reporters and show our resolve to be treated like the valued employees we have proven to be in front of the cameral. Please dress comfortably and professionally as you will be on TV! 

Let your voice be heard - defend your contractual rights - protect your profession - show our numbers and our strength by standing side by side with your fellow flight attendants. 

INFORMATIONAL PICKETING

New Policy Forces US AIRWAYS FLIGHT ATTENDANTS To Work Sick Or Lose More Pay!

The Public and Crews Put At Risk 

JUNE 5 & 6, 2003

PHL International Airport

Meet in front of Concourse B at 9 AM

We need you and your creative minds. Think up a slogan for our signs and let us know. Also MANY of YOU have contacts with members of the media and political officials. If you do, please get that information to us at 215-492-0840 ASAP! Help us get our message out by sharing your contacts with us. 

What Can You Do To Help?

1. Come to the pickets! ( Even if you are on leave or furloughed--voluntary or involuntary!)
2. Tell everyone you know to come to the picket! (Including family, friends and fellow employees from other groups)
3. Call the Local 70 office and let us know of any media or political contacts you have. 
4. Have a good time and feel good about making a difference!



It's Your Choice

Since this new management arrived on the scene, just a little over one year ago, we have lost 25% of our pay & benefits, approximately 50% of our fellow members and a whole heck of alot of our contractual rights. We can continue to privately on the jumpseat or we can do something positive about it and for ourselves. It is our choice to make a difference.

More than any other base, management is targeting PHL/PHW. It is my opinion that the company believes if they can 'Break the Spirit' of the PHL FA's they can establish 'Past Practice' here at their largest FA domicile, the rest of the bases will be easily forced to fall in line. 

Whether we want to be or not, PHL/PHW has become the first line of defense when it comes to protecting our contract. A handful of union rep's will not get the job done. Our contract is being virtually obliterated by this new Enron style of management. Only a united front will force change. It really is all up to US to make the difference. 

Here is a quick list of just a FEW of the areas in which our contract or our members rights have been abused in recent months. 

And Even the Grievance Process it's self is being handled poorly, there are time management does not even show up for a scheduled hearing.

We Are Not Alone. Here is A Quote from ALPA's May 23, Code-A-Phone; 

"While we, have delivered through sacrifices that financially stabilized our airline and professionalism that has kept operations reliable and safe, management continues to refuse to honor its contractual commitments...and continues to mislead you through its public and private communications.

...the unacceptability of management failure to deliver on its commitments to you, its false and misleading statements made to you, and the aggressive misapplication of our working agreement."

Highly recommended, Read ALL of ALPA's Code-A-Phone Message Here: 


Negotiations On Reserve Reconvene In DCA May 27- 29 

If the company does not cancel, AFA and Management will meet to discuss the New Reserve System from May 27 through May 29. Management canceled the previously scheduled meeting THREE times in a row. 

Can you believe it? It appears their negotiators, which included at least one lawyer, did not understand how their changes to the reserve system would work with our contract before insisting on having them. OOPS. I am already hearing noises that they will not abide by the reserve system THEY wrote and insisted upon in December. Sound familiar? 

I personally contacted members of their negotiating team BEFORE we voted and made them aware of the potential problems as I believed the best solution was for both sides to sit down and reach a compromise that would be good for all, and to do so BEFORE the FA's were to vote. Management made it very clear they were not interested in handling the situation the honorable way. I will go into this more in the future. 

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Have a Happy and Healthy Memorial Day Weekend!

Before I sign off, here are a couple of quotes that seemed to fit well with this News-Lines main message.

Of course, there is my personal favorite.
"We must all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." 
-- Benjamin Franklin 

"Problems can become opportunities when the right people come together."
--Robert Redford

"There are no passengers on Spaceship Earth. Everybody's crew."
--Marshall McLuban.

"We could all take a lesson from the great northern geese which fly thousands of miles in perfect formation. Formation flying is 70 percent more efficient than flying alone."
--Dan Zadra

"One step by 100 persons is better than 100 steps by one person."
--Koichi Tsukamota

That's all for tonight. I look forward to meeting you all on June 5 & 6.

Take Care and Fly Safe,

Mollie McCarthy
LEC President
Council 70 - PHL/PHW