Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to Dear AFA.  Today is Friday, January 7th, and this is Denver Council 9 Volunteer Allen Ward, reporting. 

Day of Action Brings Unprecedented Show of Solidarity

Our third Day of Action was a great success  We expected hundreds, however the turnout far exceeded our expectations as Flight Attendants around the world protested the pace of negotiations and demonstrated Solidarity in reaching a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.  It has been 99 days since the merger was completed and more than 7 months since the announcement of the merge with Continental.  Sadly, we have seen no meaningful change at the negotiating table.  The honeymoon is now over and it is time for management to get to work at reaching a new Agreement so we can all move forward onto the next set of negotiations to bring United and Continental airlines together. 

Today we joined in Solidarity with our Sisters and Brothers from ALPA along with other work groups at the new United.  In addition, Flight Attendants, Pilots, Mechanics and other work groups from American, Southwest, US Airways, American Eagle, Delta, Continental and various other airlines joined us on the picket line in support of our cause.  We are incredibly grateful for all of the support.  You have said from the beginning of this process that we will accept no more concessions and you will do whatever IT Takes! to get an Industry Leading Contract.  Today you put that promise into action. 

Much like the old, the new United management revels in the idea of making us work harder for less.  We have been struggling with less pay, destroyed working conditions, cancelled pensions and more time away from our families for the last eight years, while executives continue to take millions in bonuses and pay raises every year and have managed to create the world’s largest airline with their mega-merger in a fraction of the time spent negotiating with their labor groups.  The concessions we were forced to endure during bankruptcy were scheduled to conclude with a new Contract available a year ago on the amendable date – January 7, 2010. 

Every day past our amendable date, a new Collective Bargaining Agreement becomes more expensive.  Management needs to abandon their delay tactics and get down to the business of negotiating a new Flight Attendant Contract.  Today we made it clear we stand firmly behind our Negotiating Committee.  We demand the improvements we have identified as important to all of us.  And, we set the tone for our action moving forward.  Our fight is not easy, anything that’s worth fighting for rarely is.  Our Solidarity and commitment to secure the improvements contained within our proposals will build our power and through our collective action we will make them do what they don’t want to do.

Take a moment to view pictures and video our third Day of Action.  If you were on the picket line yesterday relive the amazing feeling of standing together and take a look at your flying partners who stood with you in cities all over the world.  If you were working yesterday, imagine what it will feel like to join our next protest on your day off.  Pictures and video of the day are posted on www.unitedafa.org.  We have received so many pictures we haven’t been able to get all of them posted so continue to check them out into next week.

Urgent Call to Action this Weekend– Tell Illinois Legislators to Back off Worker’s Compensation

We are sending out an urgent call to action this weekend as lawmakers in Illinois are set to dismantle the state’s Worker’s Compensation system as early as this Sunday.  This is a serious threat to the Worker’s Compensation benefits we all count on.  We are reaching out to all Members worldwide since per our Collective Bargaining Agreement the state of Illinois (or at an individual’s choice any other state or country) has jurisdiction for Worker’s Compensation benefits.

The changes being proposed could potentially:

• Allow United Airlines to choose the doctor you visit
• Eliminate pre-existing conditions and repetitive trauma injuries
• Reduce payment to doctors and hospitals limiting your access to quality medical care
• Limit how much medical treatment injured workers get

Do not let the Illinois State Legislature play roulette with our Worker’s Compensation benefits.  If you live in Illinois call your State Senator and Representative.  If you live outside of Illinois, contact Senate President John Cullerton and House Speaker Michael Madigan.  For contact details and the message that needs to be delivered, check our website.  It is imperative that legislators in both the House and Senate hear Labor’s message that these significant changes are not acceptable to Labor.  Don’t delay.  Call today and throughout the weekend as action on this legislation could happen as early as this Sunday, January 9^th.

Contact your U.S. Senators – End Senate Gridlock

After you make your calls to the Illinois Legislature, we have another critical call to action, urging the U.S. Senate to fix the archaic rules under which they do business.  The current rules that govern the United States Senate are hurting our democracy.  Secret holds and filibuster abuse allow a handful of Senators to stop the rest of the Senate from moving forward on vital legislative issues and important nominations. 

In recent years, the rules of the U.S. Senate have been abused to prevent the passage of laws that support working families.  The Senate secret hold allows Senators to anonymously block bills or confirmation of presidential nominees.  As you may recall, a secret hold was placed on the Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act (our Family Leave legislation), because one Senator was concerned that commute time would count towards Family and Medical Leave (FMLA) eligibility hours.  The Senate should not be run by a minority – every bill should get an up or down vote.  Every Senator’s position should be public record.

Please call each of your Senators and urge them to vote YES to change the rules that permit a minority to obstruct the will of the majority.  More information is available on our website.

Negotiations Survey Open until January 18

As has been the case since the beginning of Negotiations, our Negotiating Committee is guided by the feedback provided by you to set our priorities at the negotiating table.  There can be no doubt in management’s mind about who they are negotiating with and that our community of Flight Attendants stands behind our proposals built upon our collective priorities.  That is why we place so much importance on the value of continually soliciting your feedback and will continue to do so throughout the Section 6 process and eventually once our Flight Attendant groups are combined.  Your constant feedback is important to us.  Make sure you take the time to fill out the latest Negotiations Survey before January 18^th.

Partnership Bids Open

The Partnership Flying Program was negotiated by AFA in an effort to save jobs and further reduce the need for involuntary furloughs.  The current partnership program was implemented on August 31, 2010.  Many of our flying partners have taken advantage of the flexibility of the program and helped save the jobs of others who might have been impacted by an involuntary furlough. 

We are pleased to announce that United has agreed to continue the partnership program for another 6-month period.  The current partnership program ends on March 1, 2011, and a new bid of partnerships commenced yesterday, January 6, 2011.

You must find a partner to bid with to participate in the program.  If you are looking for a partner, you may use the POSTRD option in Unimatic, and likewise if you are looking for a partner, you may search via TRDBRD.  All current partnerships will need to be re-bid if you wish to participate in the program for another six months.  For additional information, visit our website.

Welcome to our New AFA International Officers

January 1^st marked the beginning of a new administration for our newly elected AFA International Officers:  Veda Shook, Sara Nelson and Kevin Creighan.  Veda Shook, an Alaska Airlines Flight Attendant since 1991 and the former International Vice-President is our new International President.  Veda has always been a strong advocate for Flight Attendants, working tirelessly on our behalf.  Sara Nelson, a Union Activist since the beginning of her career at United Airlines in 1996 and our former MEC Communications Chairperson, will be a tremendous asset to the International Office. She was elected International Vice-President.  Kevin Creighan, former London Council 7 Local Council President at United Airlines, has held the office of International Secretary-Treasurer since 2005.  Kevin’s skills and experience make him uniquely qualified for the position of Secretary-Treasurer.  Please join us in sending a warm welcome to our newly elected AFA International Officers.

American Flight Attendants Negotiations Update

After announcing a news blackout (in other words, there would be no public comments during the negotiations session), the Flight Attendants at American Airlines returned to the negotiating table this week.  They hadn’t formally met since May of 2010.  Unfortunately, three days of federally mediated negotiations ended with no deal.  The APFA has made strong pleas to the National Mediation Board (NMB) to declare an impasse and release them from further mediation so they can exercise their rights and escalate the fight for the Contract they deserve.  The NMB has not yet granted this request.

That’s all for this evening!  Thank you for calling and remain informed as we stand strong together to do Whatever it takes! to achieve an industry leading Contract!