Greetings,

AFA 66 eCommunication - Saturday, May 23, 2009

New AFA-CWA Membership Cards
City of Phoenix Notice to Employees Parking at 42nd Street
AFA-CWA Testifies on Emergency Planning after Recent Flu Outbreak
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New AFA-CWA Membership Cards

All AFA-CWA members in good standing will soon receive an envelope in the mail marked "Important Membership Information Enclosed." The mailing, which is currently being processed at the post office, includes the latest issue of Flightlog magazine and the new AFA-CWA membership card and should arrive by early June.
 
The AFA-CWA membership card represents the pride we take in shaping our profession. Printed on each card is the member's name, airline and member number, along with AFA-CWA contact, emergency and membership information. We are excited that, very soon, all AFA-CWA members in good standing will be able to carry their new membership cards with pride.

If there are any errors or incorrect information on your card, please contact the Council 66 office to correct and process a new card.  mec@afa66.org

City of Phoenix Notice to Employees parking at 42nd Street

In December 2003, the Phoenix Aviation Department offered employees who worked at Terminal 4 an opportunity to park in the 42nd Street Employee Lot. The Lot has been very popular to those who live East of Phoenix Sky Harbor and work in Terminal 4. Due to a reduction in Airport revenues, the Aviation Department is required to reduce its operating budget to compensate for revenue losses of roughly $1.25 million annually.

Unfortunately due to these losses the airport has decided to close this 42nd Street lot effective July 1, 2009. Flight Attendants currently assigned to the 42nd Street Lot will be given until June 30, 2009 to relocate to the Tonto East employee lot.

Your existing 42nd Street Employee Lot parking card will be reprogrammed effective June 12, 2009 to allow you to begin parking in your newly assigned parking location. Shuttle bus service to the 42nd Street Lot will end at midnight on June 30, 2009. At that time, all vehicles should have been removed from the Lot and parking cards will no longer work at that location.

As with the 42nd Street Employee Lot, buses for the Tonto East Lot pick-up and drop-off employees at the northwest end of Terminal 4. Shuttles operate at intervals of 10 minutes or less between 4:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. and at 20 minutes or less between 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.



Association of Flight Attendants-CWA Testtifies on Emergency Planning after Recent Flu Outbreak
 
Washington, DC – The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) testified Wednesday on Capitol Hill regarding concerns that arose after a recent public health emergency and the summer travel outlook for this year.  The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation conducted the hearing which focused on aviation consumer issues and emergency contingency planning during public health emergencies.
 
“We strongly believe that we must be given the tools and ability to play our part in slowing or preventing the spread of a potentially fatal disease outbreak,” testified Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. “As workers in a high risk environment we are entitled to protections in our work place, yet for far too long the Federal Aviation Administration has failed to protect those that work onboard the aircraft and continued to deny flight attendants common OSHA protections. As the front line employees in this industry, flight attendants have a unique day-to-day understanding of steps that can be taken to reduce the risks associated with a public health emergency in order to make the travel experience better.”
 
After the recent health emergency surrounding the spread of the H1N1 virus, AFA-CWA requested that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issue an emergency order to all U.S. carriers requiring them to take specific steps to help flight attendants not only protect themselves from exposure, but also to minimize the possibility of inadvertently spreading disease during an outbreak.
 
AFA-CWA asked that the FAA direct airlines to follow three important steps: require that all aircraft be supplied with breathing masks and non-latex gloves at least on flights to, from, and within at-risk areas; that airlines allow flight attendants with flu-like symptoms to call in sick free from discipline; and allow pregnant or immune system compromised flight attendants the ability to change their scheduled trips if they involve flights to areas of the disease outbreak. Unfortunately, the FAA did not issue an emergency order and according to a recent survey, a majority of AFA-CWA carriers took little action on AFA-CWA’s recommended plan.
 
“Many airline management teams still hold the outdated view that flight attendants are primarily a marketing tool rather then our federally mandated role as inflight safety and security professionals. Management appears less concerned with minimizing the risk of exposure to potentially dangerous illnesses than in minimizing the perception and appearance of a possible threat to health,” added Friend.

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



mec@afa66.org
www.afa66.org