Letter to Council 22 Members
Dear Council 22 Members:The MIASW surplus has not only affected those that were surplussed, but those of us that still remain here. It's difficult for me to put into words how truly saddened I am that we are losing such a talented group of professionals and we all await the day that MIASW and United returns to its previous healthy state. Please know that all of us here at MIASW, your flying partners, friends and Council 22 union representatives, will always be here for you should you have any questions, need help in any way or just want someone to talk to
I'd like all of you to realize that the situation here in Miami was unlike that of PHLSW and LASSW. Miami lost much of its flying whereas PHL and LAS retained it. For the last several months, the company has been forcing flying into Miami at a cost of over $100,000.00 a month (or 1.2 million dollars a year) and in this "bankruptcy environment" the company was no longer willing to continue doing it. I recently attended a meeting with senior UAL management and asked if there was something that they could please do for Miami and I was told, "No." I have worked extremely hard while in Chicago to get the best that I could get such as extra slots when PHLSW and LASSW were going to stay open on a trial basis. I managed to get the bids delayed so that you had the opportunity to bid in your new domicile when the bid packages were not available in Miami and I was also able to get the company to agree that F/A's affected by the surplus will retain their 540 day recall rights back into MIASW in the event they transfer to another domicile, subsequent to the domicile to which surplussed.
For example, if a flight attendant was surplussed to DCASW and then wanted to transfer to ORDSW at a later time, they could transfer (if their seniority could hold it) and they will retain their recall rights back into MIASW even after their first transfer after the surplus.
Below is a letter from Frank Colosi, Director of Labor Relations for Onboard Services to Greg Davidowitch, UAL/AFA MEC President dated July 28, 2003 agreeing to the provision waiver regarding recall rights to those surplussed out of MIASW:
Mr. Gregory E. Davidowitch, President
UAL/AFA Master Executive Council
Association of Flight Attendants
6400 Shafer Court, Suite 250
Rosemont, IL 60018
Dear Greg:
The Company and the Association have agreed to waive the provisions of Section 22.J.4.a for flight attendants affected by the 2003 MIA domicile Surplus. MIA based flight attendants affected by the August 2003 Surplus will retain their 540 day recall rights to MIASW in the event they transfer to another domicile, subsequent to the domicile to which surplussed.
Sincerely,
Frank Colosi
Director Labor Relations
Onboard Services
I and the rest of your Miami flying partners will truly miss working with each and every one of you that has been affected by this surplus. We wish you the very best and hope to see you all back in Miami very soon.
In Solidarity,
Moe Kerrigan
LEC President, Council 22 in Miami
