Greetings,

AFA 66 eCommunication - Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Thirty-Sixth Annual AFA Board of Directors Meeting

The Annual AFA Board Of Directors meeting opened on a somber note this year due to the absence of AFA International President Pat Friend. Her sister Celeste, who had been ill, died this week and Pat was at home with her family coping with their loss. The MEC officers of Council 66 speak for all of our members in sending our thoughts and condolences to Pat and her family during this difficult time.

AFA International Vice President Veda Shook presided over the opening of the Board whose theme this year is “Poised for Progress”.  Shook spoke enthusiastically to the delegates of the Board, of our march together as a family and our progress forward as a union, and reminding us of our responsibilities as AFA leaders, “While our global economy is in the tank and CEOs are more bloodthirsty than ever, trying to cut costs at every turn whether through concessions or layoffs, now more than ever, is the time to be in a union.”

She went on to say, “As union leaders we are all charged with not only representing our members well, we are charged with educating all flight attendants on the importance of having the protections of a union and a legally binding contract.  While the contract is the bedrock of being in a union, we also need to help those who wish for the same protections we sometimes take for granted.  We also need to work with lawmakers and policy makers to make sure we have a safe and secure working environment.”

The next order of business was the presentation of The Association of Flight Attendants’ C.B. Lansing Memorial Award for Heroism in recognition of their efforts beyond the call of duty to the crew of US Airways flight 1549.  This extremely rare award is presented in the memory of Aloha Airlines flight attendant C.B. Lansing, who was called upon as a safety professional and sacrificed her life on the job in a 1988 plane crash. Shiela Dail, Dorene Walsh and Donna Dent put their combined 92 years of experience as US Airways safety professionals to the test for the remarkable outcome of the January 15 crash into the Hudson River.

The landing was initially dubbed the “Miracle on the Hudson,” by the media, but appropriately renamed the “Professionalism on the Hudson” by AFA and was memorialized in a video presentation outlining the events of that day.

US Airways First Officer Jeffry Stiles spoke on behalf of Captain Sullenberger with words of gratitude for his fellow crewmates saying, “ I am honored to have been a part of the crew and honored to have flown with them.”

The crew was also presented an award from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association’s (NATCA) members who praised the crew’s efforts, quick evacuation and ability to rise to meet the challenges of their profession.  

After the award ceremony, Shook reminded us of AFA victories this year including the reclassification of Flight Attendants as essential crew members along with pilots and air traffic controllers and the appointment of former AFA President Linda Pucala to the National Mediation Board.

Shook went on to recognize the tremendous opportunities that lie ahead for AFA including the opportunity to win representation for Delta flight attendants, changing OSHA and FMLA legislation for all flight attendants, and the possibility of securing top-notch negotiated contracts unimpeded by the NMB.

Finally, the AFA Board of Directors passed a resolution to honor AFA attorney Mark B. Bigelow for his 26 years of service to so many AFA carriers in arbitrations and grievances. Mark, who is facing terminal cancer, worked closely with Council 66 for more than 14 years as our first arbitration attorney following the election of AFA at America West in 1994. Mark also helped win the first arbitration case in 2000 in defense of the 1999 contract and continued as our arbitration attorney through 2008. To Mark, his wife Gail and his family, on behalf of the members of America West Airlines, Council 66, we thank you.

MEC President, Lisa LeCarre  
MEC Vice President, Dorene Fredette
MEC Secretrary-Treasurer, Jeff Albers

 

mec@afa66.org
www.afa66.org