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Greetings,
AFA 66 eCommunication - Friday, October 2,
2009
AFA Files Grievance Over Vacation
Proration
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Defective
Uniform Lining
2010 Annual Open Enrollment Begins
Options
for Submitting Your 2010 Vacation Bid
AFA Files Grievance Over Vacation
Proration
In June, AFA notified Flight
Attendants that Company management was threatening to prorate
the vacations of those Flight Attendants who decided to
participate in the Voluntary Leave of Absence Programs to help
another Alight Attendant avoid an involuntary job loss.
Yesterday, the Company published the 2010 Flight Attendant Vacation
Bid with prorated rates for those Flight
Attendants who took the August 2009 four and sixteen-month
VLOAs.
Your MEC communicated to the Company that we disagree with
the Company’s position on proration of vacation for Flight
Attendants taking VLOAs. AFA believes Flight Attendants should
not be penalized for helping the Company and each other and is
disappointed that the Company has taken this stance against
employees who sacrificed so that some one else could remain
employed.
The Company has refused to modify its position and AFA has
filed a grievance over this issue. The 2010 Flight Attendant Vacation
Bid was posted yesterday and is
available on the AFA
Website and Wings and
closes on October 31, 2009.
October is Breast
Cancer Awareness Month
The month of October is National Breast Cancer Awareness
Month. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month To date,
breast cancer remains the most common form of cancer among
women. This disease has affected over 2 million women living in
the United States alone, and has touched each and every one of
us through the important women in our lives. In 2005 alone,
there were over 188,000 people (both men and women) diagnosed
with breast cancer and over 41,000 deaths from the
disease.
Instead of October being the month of scare
tactics and spooky decorations, this year make October a month
to wear something new, a pink ribbon to support breast cancer
awareness, survivors living with it or who are in remission, and
those who weren’t so lucky.
To find a cure,
thousands of men, women, and children around the United States
will be joining breast cancer walks throughout the month and
wearing pink proudly. Join a walk or donate to one today in your
area by visiting the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
website. Large-scale walks are the Breast Cancer 3-day and the
Avon Walk but there are also numerous opportunities to help
support your community’s breast cancer awareness
activities.
Research has shown that screening
mammography, used together on a regular basis with clinical
breast exam and monthly breast self-examination can reduce
deaths from this disease by one-third or more for women over 50.
US Airways Flight Attendants and eligible’s with medical
coverage, have access to an annual exam or more often if
determined medically necessary. We encourage you to take care of
yourself and those women close to you, and schedule an exam for
yourself, your sister, or your mother. Or go with a woman you
love and accompany her for a mammogram.
For many
reasons, some women do not have medical coverage or the
financial ability to pay for a mammogram. You can help those in
need by visiting the websites of valuable foundations such as
the Lance Armstrong Cancer Center Breast Cancer Network of
Strength (formerly Y-ME) or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation. In addition, AFA supports the Lance Armstrong
LiveStrong Foundation dedicated to all types of cancer
including breast cancer. These foundations provide a means to
support research toward a cure and to help people who are
currently dealing with breast cancer.
Take some time to
consider what efforts of support you can lend to your loved ones
and those in need. Regardless of whether you contribute
financially, with your time or by helping raise awareness, you
become a part of something much larger than any of us can
accomplish alone.
Defective Lining on TwinHill Blazers, Zip Jackets and
Vests
Returns needed by October 31st.
In our recent survey we had nearly
1900 customer service agents and flight attendants give us
feedback on the uniform program. 41% of these respondents told
us that they had concerns with the lining on your blazers, zip
jackets and vests. We have worked with TwinHill and have good
news.
TwinHill has identified an isolated manufacturing
defect that affects the lining on some of our tailored
garments. If the lining has torn on your blazer, zip
jacket or vest, just call TwinHill Customer Service at (866)
429-1026 to request a no-cost return label. Your repaired or
replaced garment will be shipped by TwinHill within five days of
receipt of your return.
If your replacement or a future
order rips in a similar fashion, you’ll need to follow-up
with TwinHill Customer Service to request another no-cost return
label. This isolated issue only impacts some of our items in
inventory and TwinHill can’t tell which tailored pieces
are unacceptable. We’re sorry for any inconvenience this
situation may have caused you.
If you have
jackets/blazers or vests since program launch in May 2008 that
need to be replaced due to the defective lining TwinHill is
asking that any returns be initiated by October 31st.
Starting November 1st
TwinHill may not replace the garment based on our standard wear
and tear guidelines.
2010 Annual Benefits Enrollment
Open Enrollment begins October 15th and is
available through October 30th at Noon for your yearly
opportunity to review/change or modify your Medical, Dental,
Vision, Long/Short Term Disability, supplemental benefits
and other benefits selections for next year.
Remember the only method for annual enrollment is
online. Take some time in your busy October schedule to go
online at www.eBenefitsUS.com
Call BenefitsUS
at 1-888-860-6178 from 5 a.m. - 5 p.m. PT to assist you
with login questions, navigating the site and any general
questions. Please send any feedback to benefits@afa66.org and
askinflight@usairways.com
Options
for Submitting Your 2010 Vacation Bid
As a reminder, when submitting your vacation
bid, you have two options:
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