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Government Affairs Report: June 2004

Author: Debbie Golombek, UAL MEC Government Affairs Committee Chair

Flight Attendant Security Training

On three separate occasions, Congress has specifically acknowledged the urgent need for Flight Attendant security training.

The Air Transportation Security Act (2001) - required the FAA to update and improve air carriers’ existing flight attendant security training programs to reflect the new terrorist environment. Because it did not contain specifics on exactly what the training should include, each carrier instituted their own program, so the type of training and time spent on the training varies from carrier to carrier.

The Homeland Security Act (2002) – mandated comprehensive, industry-wide, flight attendant security training standards to be developed by security experts at the Transportation Security Administration.

The FAA Reauthorization Act (2003) - the original language in this legislation contained a basic, mandatory level of security training including provisions for crew communication and coordination, psychology of a terrorist, and basic moves to defend oneself; and a voluntary advanced level of training which would include more aggressive methods of self-defense and be more physical; and a requirement that TSA must develop regulations and guidelines for these trainings. Then at the last minute the language for the basic security training was changed from the TSA “shall” issue these guidelines to the TSA “may” issue these guidelines.

By changing this one word, the ability to force TSA to issue industry-wide guidelines was removed, and Continental Airlines has succeeded in keeping flight attendant security almost non-existent. Flight attendant security training should not be a partisan battle - but it appears that a Houston, Texas based airline had the ear of Congressman Tom DeLay (R-TX) House Majority Leader, (who coincidentally represents Houston) who as Majority Leader had the influence to have the word “shall” changed to “may” while the legislation was being debated in Conference Committee. Majority Leader DeLay believes there is no difference in the meaning of the two words!!

With the help of our friends in Congress we have been able to keep the pressure on the TSA.

If you recall, as part of this year’s ambitious lobbying strategy, we asked members of Congress to support our efforts to urge the TSA to develop industry wide standards for basic flight attendant security training. A letter authored by Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR) was sent to TSA Acting Administrator, Admiral David Stone with 152 House members signatures. In addition, Congressman Peter King (R-NY) sent his own letter to the Admiral Stone.

Senator Ernest (Fritz) Hollings’ (D-SC) letter to the TSA was sent with 36 Senate signatures including Democratic Presidential candidate, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) and Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME). The letter with signatures is included as an attachment to this report. If you need help interpreting the signatures please let me know.

Congressional Hearings

Senator John McCain (R-AZ) Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee held a hearing on aviation security, Tuesday, June 22, 2004 , where Pat Friend, AFA International President, was invited to testify. The purpose of the hearing was to review the current state of aviation security and what steps Congress still has to take to close the security gaps that remain. In his opening statement senator Mccain stated “Although it is clear that the level of aviation security has improved since before September 11, 2001 , there is significant room for improvement. When Congress established the transportation Security Administration (TSA), it mandated that the agency would do more than simply take over the screening of passengers from the airlines. The TSA is responsible for a comprehensive aviation security system.”

Pat’s testimony highlighted the glaring crucial missing link in aviation security – the lack of adequate flight attendant security training.

On June 23, the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Commerce Subcommittee, held a hearing on Travel, Tourism and Homeland Security: Improving Both Without Sacrificing Either. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) invited Pat Friend to be part of the panel. Pat testified on flight attendant security training and why it is important to travel and tourism in the airline industry.

In her testimony, Pat quoted the 9/11 Commission, which reiterates what AFA has been saying since September 11 th: “We also learned how hijackers beat the last line of defense on the four flights, because the professionals had been trained to cooperate with hijackers, not fight them.” Pat continues “Unfortunately, nothing has changed since that horrible day.”

During the question and answer period following the testimony, Congresswoman Schakowsky focused on the lack of adequate flight attendant security training and stressed the points in Pat’s testimony. Subcommittee Chairman, Cliff Stearns (R-FL) pledged that he and his staff would work with Congresswoman Schakowsky to keep the pressure on the TSA.

Having our International President testify twice in one week, is just another indication of the respect and confidence members of Congress have for AFA-CWA, when it comes to issues of importance to Flight Attendants.

The week prior to these hearings Tom Brokaw, NBC Nightly news had a segment on flight attendant security training. Council 5 member Chris Herman was one of the four flight attendants who discussed security training on the segment.

Homeland Security Appropriations

Also this month, Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) submitted language addressing flight attendant security training to the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, a committee which se serves on. The language was included in the mark-up of the appropriations bill and Congresswoman Roybal-Allard is committed to work with Congressional leaders to ensure this requirement remains in the final version of the bill.

TSA Responds

Because of our lobby efforts and Congressional pressure on the TSA, AFA has been invited to meet with TSA Acting Administrator, Admiral David Stone, next month.

Also, Pat received a phone call from representatives of the Federal Air Marshals to discuss AFA’s concerns. AFA has also been invited to tour their training facilities. An open dialogue with the FAM’s training representatives can only result in good cooperation in the future.

Congressional Follow-Up: Retiree Medical Benefits

House and 20 Senate offices who contacted Glenn Tilton regarding the retiree medical issue. The follow-up letter explained that an agreement had been reached between the United Airlines Retiree Coalition and United on retiree medical and insurance benefits, that was approved by the bankruptcy court. This was another opportunity to thank these offices for their support.

CRAF Outsourcing

In April the New York Times reported that the Department of Defense was seeking a change in a law, that would allow foreign airlines to compete with U.S. flag carriers for contracts to transport U.S. troops and equipment. AFA immediately initiated a grassroots effort and AFA E-activist campaign requesting AFA members to contact their members of Congress and ask them to investigate this potential outsourcing of flight attendants jobs.

The following is a letter received from Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) in response to our E-Activist campaign.

Thank you for your letter regarding Department of Defense transport contracts. I appreciate you taking the time to write and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

The Defense Department has requested a repeal of Section 2719 of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2003, which made specific changes to the criteria that determines whether an airline is domestically or foreign-owned. The Department of Transportation has its own set of standards used in determining whether an air carrier is domestically-owned or foreign-owned, which the DOD used prior to the passage of the Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act.

I had my staff contact the Department of Defense and I understand that the DOD has no intent to contract with foreign carriers, except in an emergency situation where no domestic carriers are available. According to the Department, their intent in repealing Section 2719 is to return to using the Department of Transportation's guidelines in determining the ownership of an air carrier, which the DOD believes are much simpler and straightforward. I understand that you are opposed to this repeal and I will certainly keep your thoughts in mind as I monitor the progress of this debate.

Again, thank you for writing. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact my Washington , D.C. office at

(202) 224-3841.

Sincerely yours,

Dianne Feinstein
United States Senator

AFA was also contacted by the Department of Defense. The Pentagon wanted to let us know that outsourcing flight attendant jobs was not their intent (can you say election year!)

Flight Attendant Certification

The 2003 FAA Reauthorization Act (Flight 100 – Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act,) which was signed into law last year, requires the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to certify flight attendants. The flight attendant certification requirement gave the FAA a one year period, from enactment of the law ( December 11, 2003 ) to put the program in place.

The FAA recently sent out a notice that they believe the system should be in place by the end of the summer.

Flight Attendant Certification should not be confused with Flight Attendant Security Training.

Voter Registration Drives

Voter registration drives were conducted in June at JFK, IAD, DEN and BOS.

The good news is that we are finding that a majority of flight attendants are already registered (and looking forward to casting their ballots).

Labor 2004

Last year, the AFL-CIO kicked-off Labor 2004. This nationwide effort is aimed at personally contacting more than 1 million union voters before Election Day. AFA-CWA members in the key battleground states may be contacted by a Local Labor 2004 coordinator.

A number of AFA members joined their union brothers and sisters in the June Labor 2004 precinct walks, going door-to-door talking to union households about working family issues. This massive mobilization effort put thousands of union members out in communities passing out literature and discussing how important the November election will be. The battleground states where union household voters can make a difference are, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

If you would like to join in the fight for America ’s working families, you can visit the AFL-CIO web site at www.aflcio.org to sign-up as a volunteer or call your local AFL-CIO State Fed.

In the November 2000 election, voters from union households represented 26% of the overall vote. Union households had an even higher proportion of the vote in key battleground states. This high turn out of union voters can be attributed to the AFL-CIO’s Labor 2000 campaign. An estimated 100,000 union members volunteered their time at phone banks, and in precinct walks to mobilize working family voters.

According to election night polling by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, union members supported Gore-Lieberman over Bush-Cheney by a margin of 63% to 32%.

We can do better in 2004!!

Medicare Prescription Drug Bill

Last year, President Bush signed into law legislation that made the most sweeping structural changes in the 38 year history of the Medicare program.

According to a report released by the Health Reform Program at Boston University ’s School of Public Health , the pharmaceutical industry will reap $139 billion under the Medicare Prescription Drug legislation. The report states “61% of Medicare’s new prescription drug subsidy is a windfall profit to drug makers. Given the remarkably low real cost of producing the added volumes of pills that Medicare patients need, the lack of price controls in the Medicare bill will give enormous windfall profits to prescription drug makers.

The new Medicare drug discount cards being offered to seniors give drug and insurance companies sole control over what discounts seniors and disabled will get and how much they will pay. Seniors are allowed to change cards once a year, while sponsors can change which drugs they cover and what discounts are offered anytime.

Prescription drug prices have risen in price by more than 15% a year – five times the rate of inflation. Even in 2001, as the economy was faltering and corporate profits sank for the average Fortune 500 company, profits for drug companies on the top 500 list skyrocketed by 33%.

Homeland Security Uniforms Made In Mexico

The Bush administration's Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is allowing $30 million worth of uniforms for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents to be outsourced to Mexico , according to the National Border Patrol Council, an AFGE affiliate. Unlike the Defense Department, which under law must ensure its uniforms and other clothing items are made in the United States , DHS has no such restrictions. The Border Patrol uniform contract was awarded to a Nashville, TN, company that is outsourcing the manufacturing to Mexico and that means "American taxpayers' money may be supporting sweatshops," says UNITE President Bruce Raynor.

And speaking of Homeland Security, the following is a June 1, press release

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) today released the following statement in response to news reports that Accenture, a technology and management company who has their headquarters in Bermuda to avoid paying US taxes, has been awarded a $10 billion border security contract with the Department of Homeland Security. DeLauro has authored legislation that would prevent companies who use tax shelters to avoid paying taxes to receive government contracts from the Department of Homeland Security. She successfully offered an amendment to do just that in July 2002 during consideration of the Homeland Security Act, but it was watered down before the bill was signed into law .

“I am deeply disappointed that the Department of Homeland Security has awarded $10 billion of the taxpayers’ money to a company that refuses to pay its own federal taxes. Accenture, and other companies like it, have used loopholes in the tax system to shirk their duties to the United States, by incorporating, on paper, in other countries like Bermuda.

“These companies enjoy all the benefits of corporate citizenship in America - they look like U.S. companies, the principle market their stock is traded in is the United States, and their physical assets are protected by our armed forces. They just refuse to pay for the benefits - as every other U.S. citizen and company does.

“It is outrageous and it is wrong to reward these companies for abandoning our country -- particularly from the very department charged with safeguarding our homeland security as we work to pay for the ongoing war on terrorism. The United States government should not be doing business with those who want all the benefits of citizenship without any of the responsibilities that come along with it.”

My Vote, My Right

To ensure every vote is counted in the 2004 election and no eligible voter is intimidated, the AFL-CIO is launching the My Vote, My Right campaign. Working with affiliated unions, constituency groups, state federations and local central councils, the federation will mobilize union members by reminding them of past election problems and providing information on how to protect their votes. Voters' Rights Protection Advocacy Teams will be established in 32 communities in 12 battleground states-- Arizona , Florida , Michigan , Minnesota , Missouri , Nevada , New Mexico , Ohio , Oregon , Pennsylvania , Washington and Wisconsin . Teams will work with community allies to lobby for changes to protect the right to vote and to use media and the courts, if necessary, to ensure these changes are made. If you live in a battleground state and need more information, call Lora Foo at 202-508-6922. Materials, including state voting bills of rights and fact sheets, will be available online.

Money In Politics

Wall St. Beats Financial Path to Bush Door

The Washington Post reports that financial and insurance interests have donated $12.14 million to the Bush-Cheney re-election campaign. The CEO of Merrill-Lynch asked subordinates to write $2,000 checks to Bush. The total was $279,750. Donations are seen as good investments. Bush has supported laws such as dividend tax cuts and capital gains cuts that have saved billions of dollars for Wall St. firms. Taxpayers haven’t faired as well. They will have to make up for the more than $125 billion in tax revenues that won’t be collected.

The Rising Cost of Prescription Drugs

The Department of Health & Human Services announced its approval of 28 companies to provide seniors with Medicare drug discount cards. Individuals and PAC’s affiliated with these “private sponsors” and their parent companies have contributed more than $2.5 million to candidates and committees in this election cycle. Approximately 71% of those contributions went to Republicans.

As always, if you have any questions please feel free to contact me.

In Solidarity,

Debbie Golombek
UAL MEC Government Affairs Committee Chair