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A
Message From the International
President
Dear AFA-CWA
Leader,
On February 11,
I had the privilege of testifying again before the House
Subcommittee on Aviation of the Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee regarding the  reauthorization of the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA). It was an opportunity to emphasize to our
nation’s most influential legislators the critical issues
for the nation’s flight attendants that the FAA has
neglected to address in the past: basic OSHA protections, flight
attendant fatigue, cabin air quality, access to a HIMS program
and restricting foreign ownership and control of our domestic
airlines.
I applauded the
Committee’s work on the FAA reauthorization for addressing
issues that are important to Americans who work in the aviation
industry, pointing to increased funding for the Essential Air
Service (EAS) program as an example. Service to small and even
mid-size communities is the first casualty when airlines cut
capacity, leaving a trail of wasted infrastructure investments
and unemployment for aviation workers.
However, special emphasis
in my testimony was given to two critical issues: carry on bags,
prohibiting the inflight use of cell phones, and our related
concerns about the inflight use of Voice Over Internet Protocol
as communications technology rapidly advances.
While cell phone use is
addressed in the reauthorization bill, the safety and security
risks posed by the exploding number of carry-on bags being
brought onboard the aircraft is not.
AFA has tried to force the
FAA to adopt and enforce a uniform policy for carry-on bags
since the 1990s. With airline management now imposing checked
bag fees, the size and number of bags being brought into the
aircraft cabin has increased dramatically. This not only poses a
serious risk to the safety of passengers and flight attendants
in the aircraft cabin, it also raises security concerns.
I offered AFA-CWA’s
assistance in working with the Committee to include language in
the final bill that would create a concise, uniform and
enforceable standard to limit the size and number of bags being
brought into the aircraft cabin. A standardized policy would
provide oversight relief to the FAA, simplify air travel for
millions of passengers and improve working conditions in our
aircraft cabins. I also asserted that the FAA
reauthorization process is an excellent platform for launching a
long overdue discussion on developing a comprehensive national
aviation policy for the United States and urged the Committee to
invite debate among the millions of workers whose lives and work
are directly affected by that policy.
In closing, I gave
AFA-CWA’s endorsement of the bill with the caveat that it
be extended to include a one-size-fits-all carry-on baggage
policy and that it be the launch pad for a balanced, sensible
national aviation policy for the 21st
century.
In Solidarity,
Pat
Friend
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PRESIDENT'S
CALENDAR
Since the last issue of President's
Exchange, I have participated in the following activities:
January 16 – National Endowment for
Democracy Meeting;
January
22 – Interviewed by Government Accountability
Office (GAO) representatives in preparation for their
congressional report on the Financial State of the Airline
Industry;
January 23
– NWA MEC conference call;
January 26 – Conference call
with Demos, a New York-based think tank regarding national
aviation policy; Dinner with Northwest – Delta campaign
committee;
January 27-28
– CWA Executive Board Meeting;
January 30 – Attended White
House announcement of the creation of the Middle Class Task
Force.
 President Obama speaks with Intl. President
Pat Friend about AFA-CWA issues. Vice President Biden, who will
lead the Task Force, said that the leaders “of organized
labor have dedicated their lives to the thing that this task
force is about: making the lives of working people better. I
would argue there would be no middle class were there not a
organized labor movement that started 150 years
ago.”
February 2 –
Meeting with AFA-CWA Next Generation Committee;
February 3 – Conference call
with Emerge America, an organization that trains women to run
for elective office. AFA-CWA members have graduated from Emerge
America courses in the past with one member currently enrolled
in Arizona class. I sit on the Advisory Board for Emerge
America; Meeting with Next Generation Committee;
February 4-5 – Attended
first Council 67 meeting of Ryan International flight attendants
in Rockford, IL;
February 9
– Management meeting; Monthly meeting with Shane
Larson;
February 10
– Call with AFL-CIO Strategic Approaches
Committee; Meeting of the International Government Affairs, Air
Safety, Security and Health and Communications Department staff
to discuss their activities and projects;
February 11 – Testimony
before Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee regarding the FAA Reauthorization
legislation;
February 12
– Monthly meeting with Chris Witkowski, Air
Safety, Health and Security Dept. Director; Luncheon with
AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department President Ed Wykind;
CWA Executive Board Political Committee conference
call;
February 18
– Meeting to prepare for AFL-CIO
Transportation Trades Department audit and annual meeting in
March; Officer Meeting;
February 19 – Monthly
meeting with AFA-CWA EAP Department Director Heather Healy; Aero
Club Luncheon with topic of Challenges Facing Airline Industry
in 2009; CWA Executive Board conference call.
AROUND OUR UNION
BOD
Reminders
The deadline for hotel reservations
for the Board of Directors meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is
February 28, 2009. To make reservations, please click
here. An information packet
will be mailed to all BOD members on February 27, containing
Advanced Agenda Items for the upcoming BOD. Please be sure to
plan your Local Council meetings accordingly.
Tentative Agreement Reached at
Alaska
Alaska Airlines flight attendants
reached a tentative agreement with management on a proposed
two-year contract extension on February 10. “We understand
the benefit in having a stable labor agreement in the face of
the challenging times ahead,” said Kelle Wells, Alaska MEC
President. “This proposal offers pay increases for flight
attendants while keeping our insurance formula and work rules
intact. Our members will now evaluate whether this tentative
agreement and the associated changes are in their best interests
and vote accordingly.”
The Tentative Agreement (TA) details were
sent to Alaska members on February 18. Polls will close
and the vote will be tallied on March 10. If the Alaska flight
attendants do not approve the TA, AFA-CWA will prepare for
traditional negotiations beginning this spring.
Ryan International MEC Holds
First Meeting
Ryan International flight
attendants and pilots turned out in force to welcome
International President Pat Friend to their first official
AFA-CWA membership meeting and pizza party. Illustrating the
democratic nature of AFA, Pat explained the need for a
membership drive and election of officers prior to appointing a
negotiating committee that will begin negotiating their first
contract. Pat also described the various committees that can be
formed by the MEC, stressing the importance of member
mobilization to support contract negotiations and elected
leaders. In appreciation for her hard work during their
organizing drive, the Ryan Flight Attendants Organizing
Committee presented a small gift to United flight attendant
organizer Shriver Lenox (see photo below).
Interim MEC/LEC President Tammy
Angel-Gorzela and Interim MEC/LEC Secretary/Treasurer Denise
Kaufman will initiate meetings with management to lay the
groundwork for union activities at Ryan International.
“It was truly inspiring to watch
this newly organized group as they begin their journey and come
to reap the benefits of union membership,” said Tammy
Angel-Gorzela.
AFA-CWA Provides Air Safety Perspective to
Congress
The House Transportation and
Infrastructure Committee, Subcommittee on Aviation, will
broadcast a live web cast of their hearing on the US Airways
Flight 1549 accident on Feb. 24, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Flight crew
members will attend the hearing where AFA-CWA Air Safety, Health
and Security Coordinator Candace Kolander will testify on past
improvements in aviation safety, based on AFA-CWA input, and
also on ways to continue to improve aviation safety. To watch
the live web cast, click here and
follow the ‘Live Web Cast’ link.
AFA-CWA Participates in International Aircraft
Cabin Safety Symposium
Over 250 participants
and exhibitors attended the 26th Annual International Aircraft
Cabin Safety Symposium sponsored by the Southern California
Safety Institute (SCSI) in Los Angeles, February 9-12. This
prestigious forum draws safety advocates from around the world
and focuses on timely issues impacting crewmembers as well as
the traveling public.
AFA-CWA was well represented
at the Symposium. Northwest Airlines MEC Air Safety, Health
& Security Chair Jeanne Elliott, who sits on the Symposium's
Executive Committee, served as the Panel Moderator for 'Inflight
Health Issues', and
AFA-CWA Air Safety, Health &
Security Coordinator Candace Kolander made a presentation
entitled: "Fatigue: The Flight Attendant Perspective." The
Symposium included not only formal presentations but a broad
range of workshops and training seminars. Click on www.scsi-inc.com for
further information on the Symposium and SCSI.
Florida Post Office Dedicated to
United Flight Attendant
A 2008 Congressional
resolution officially designated a Fort Pierce, Florida, U.S.
postal facility to be named in honor of United Airlines Flight
Attendant CeeCee Ross Lyles who tragically lost her life on
September 11, 2001 on United Airlines Flight 93. The resolution
was sponsored by Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) and Senator
Bill Nelson (D-FL). United MEC Vice President Linda Farrow
joined community leaders and Lyles’ family members for the
dedication ceremony on Tuesday, February 17. Farrow was
United MEC President during the events of 9/11. In 2003, the
city of Fort Pierce erected a bronze statue in memory of the
United flight attendant and Fort Pierce native in Liberty Garden
in Veteran's Memorial Park.
Northwest, Delta FAs Enjoy ‘Airline
Life’
Northwest and Delta flight attendants
held a joint celebration of ‘airline life’ on
February 17 with a happy hour at the Monarch Club House in
Memphis. The event was charged with the positive attitudes of
the Northwest and Delta flight attendants as they look toward
working together to create a better future together within the
AFA-CWA family.
CARRIER UPDATES
Alaska
Airlines
The Negotiating Committee reached a
tentative agreement with management to extend the current
contract for two years. The tentative agreement includes
additional pay raises. Roadshows are underway and the ballots
will be counted on March 10.
Lynx Aviation
The AFA-CWA
transitional officers worked on a contract survey in preparation
for negotiations for their first contract. AFA also is
negotiating an interim agreement with company management
regarding reimbursement for wages lost while conducting union
business.
United Airlines
The United
Airlines Negotiating Committee has been reviewing and analyzing
results from a survey sent out in December. The Committee is
working through the current collective bargaining agreement,
identifying sections that need to be changed or deleted.
It is also drafting new language for certain sections. This
process will continue as the Committee drafts its opening
proposal. A draft of the opener will be presented to the United
MEC for approval in early April.
US Airways/America West
The
Negotiating Committee conducted research on Preferential Bidding
Systems and is expecting to receive a scheduling
counter-proposal from management next
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