• NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE - 1996 PAY RATES

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Dear Members,

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

This is the first in a series of Elines that will continue through the negotiation process. As you know, the company presented AFA with a Comprehensive Economic proposal on Tuesday. It did not take much analysis on our part to determine the proposal was inadequate - in every way.

The company proposed 1996 pay rates, further concessions to the current East CBA that included the elimination of the 100% and 90% medical plans.

The company proposal is an insult. The company based their proposal on a plan to force East flight attendants to take further concessions in order to fund West flight attendant pay parity. West flight attendants should receive pay parity. East flight attendants sacrificed in order for this merger to exist. The company's proposal does not recognize those sacrifices and further devalues the East CBA.

As a result of the company's proposal, the East AFA served the company with a notice of intent to enter into Section 6 negotiations pursuant to the East Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA). The Railway Labor Act governs Section 6 negotiations. The process is very "legal" and formal. An Eline next week will detail the Section 6 process and the Union's intentions.

We have had enough. We will not accept any concession. We will only ratify a contract that improves our lives. If we cannot reach a merged contract - and it appears that prospect is dimming- we will use every avenue available to us. Therefore we have invoked our right to invoke the Section 6 provision.

The negotiating committee works your behalf. So do the individual Local Council Presidents. The Local Presidents are all in agreement with the direction of the Joint Negations Committee.

We live in 2011, yet earn 1996 wages. According to the company proposal, they want us to continue working for 1996 wages for the next half-decade. That will not happen.

There is no need to tell you what things cost in 1996 versus today's costs. We have lived it. The price of everything has increased. Our wages have not. And, the company does not want to increase our wages. While the cost of fuel is constantly cited as a reason for beating up on employees, management wages and bonuses have increased over the last 20 years.

The US Airways Board of Directors holds a quarterly meeting in PHX. Labor representatives are included in a two hour session. The meetings are at the very expensive Scottsdale Ritz Carlton. Valet parking is the only option. After the meeting, everyone- management and Union leaders stands around and waits for their vehicle. While I wait for my rented PT Cruiser, I watch senior executives get in their top of the line Mercedes, Jaguars and BMWs- not a one drove away in a 1996 model.

Last week, the same senior executives told AFA negotiators the airline could not afford pay increases above our current contract. They claimed any increases above those levels would endanger the company's stand - alone viability. The very people, who interact, protect and serve our revenue paying passengers have been told, in order to survive and keep their jobs, must work for 1996 wages.

Company executives tout US Airways is running a good airline in terms of performance. YOU are running a good airline. Obviously, it is a labor of love as the money is not there for YOU.

Now, let's focus on what the company is saying. In negotiations, The Union compares wages and work rules to other carriers. The company has refuted all Union comparisons and economic proposals. While we will continue to fight for industry standard and the next Eline will focus on that comparison, let's take a look at comparing US Airways to US Airways. The chart below compares our 1996-2000 wages with the company's proposal.
 

Figuring out the percentage difference between 1996 and the company proposal would be a waste of key strokes. The bottom line is the company proposal increases wages over a fifteen year period by an average of 1.5% (I did figure it out).

A lot of you have written in the last 24 hours asking why the negotiating committee did not just simply walk out of negotiations. A walk out is the natural inclination. A walk out means the company wins. No more negotiations and no more fight.

This committee, this MEC, this membership will not withdraw, will not quit, will not stop in our quest to achieve the result we need. The company would like nothing more than to not see our faces in PHX.

The company has two flight attendant networks, two flight attendants scheduling systems and two flight attendant contracts. What this company needs to realize is they are dealing with one, unified and committed group of flight attendants. Walking out is just what the company wants. We are walking back in next Monday in PHX with a commitment to all of you.

Thank you,

Mike Flores, President
The US Airways Master Executive Council
AFA-CWA

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www.afausairways.org

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AFA Local Numbers
 
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325


US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

Reply to Inflight: askinflight@usairways.com

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