Dear AFA Recording: Jan 16, 2015

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Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen and welcome to Dear AFA. We are a democratic, Member driven Union of Flight Attendants for Flight Attendants. Today is Friday, January 16, 2015 and this is Chicago Council 08 Volunteer and United Master Executive Council Communication Committee Vice Chairperson James Allen reporting. 

Local Meetings and Winter Regular MEC Meeting: January 27-29
The Winter Regular Meeting of the United Master Executive Council will take place during the week of January 27, 2015 at the Hyatt Rosemont in Chicago. Your Local Council President, joined by the 14 other Local Council Presidents from around our system, will address the business of our Union and the issues that are important to you.

We encourage Members to witness our democratic process by attending their Local Council meetings and the MEC meeting, if you are in the Chicago area.  Scheduled times for your Local Council's meeting and the MEC Meeting Agenda are posted on our website.

Profit Sharing Election Window Open through January 25, 2015
For this year, elections can be made now through January 25, 2015 at 11:59 pm Central Time during which time you can decide to defer all, or a percentage of your Contractual profit sharing payment to your:

• 401(k) retirement savings account or,
• Roth 401(k) Plan account, if applicable.
• UK Stakeholder Plan Account

If you make NO election, you will receive your profit sharing as a cash payment.  We anticipate that United will once again make the payment mid-February.

For more information about our Contractual Profit Sharing plan visit our website.

Electronic W-2 Tax Forms
Saturday, January 17, 2015 is the last day you can elect to register to receive your 2014 W-2 tax form electronically.  If you have not yet registered for electronic delivery, go to Flying Together > Employee Services > My Info > Payroll > W-2 and follow the steps to register for your electronic W-2.  Pre-merger United Flight Attendants who have previously registered to receive their W-2 tax forms electronically, your account, username, and password are still valid. 

E-Lines Newsletter Update
The United AFA Communication Committee is in the process of upgrading the newsletter system to a more reliable, faster and more economical server. In preparation for this database upgrade we require all current subscribers to E-Lines to verify and update their information in order to receive the E-Lines Newsletter after the relocation has occurred.

In addition to the E-Lines Newsletter relocation we have added a Text Message feature.  This feature will ensure that the United MEC is able to convey very important information to our Members as quickly as we receive it.  The system will be utilized on an occasional basis, and only to communicate time sensitive information.  Some situations where a text message might be sent would be to alert and direct you to important safety and/or security information.  Additionally, we will use the system to communicate breaking Union news items such as reaching a Tentative Agreement (TA) on a Joint Contract.

To verify your information, please visit our website. Once you have provided the information you will be all set for the transition.

AFA Salutes Crew of US Airways Flight 1549
Yesterday marked the sixth anniversary of the “Miracle on the Hudson” flight where three Flight Attendants and two Pilots saved 150 men, women, and children.  We are very proud of the first responders which include the crew, emergency response teams, Air Traffic controllers, and ferry boat operators who helped remove the passengers from the Hudson River on that cold January day. 

Take a moment and review the AFA News Release on our website.

Joint Negotiations Continue in Houston Next Week
Joint Negotiations with management, facilitated by the National Mediation Board (NMB), will continue in Houston next week.

To receive the most up-to-date information regarding Joint Negotiations sign up for the OurUnited Newsletter at OurUnited.org

That’s all for tonight and thank you for calling.

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