Dear AFA Recording: Jan 27, 2015

Return to Archives

  • Updated: Positive Space Travel Program Due To Northeast Storm for BOS and JFK Domiciles
  • Day One 2015 Winter United MEC Meeting
  • Port of Seattle Parking
  • Union Plus Scholarship Deadline
  • Known Crewmember (KCM) Policy Enhancements
  • ACTION: No Fast Track for Trans-Pacific Partnership Call Your Representatives

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 Tuesday, January 27, 2015.

Updated: Positive Space Travel Program Due To Northeast Storm for BOS and JFK Domiciles
United management has updated their NRPS (positive space) travel program for the BOS and JFK domiciles as a result of severe weather in the Northeast.  This NRPS travel program is effective from Sunday, January 25, through Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 2359 CST for the affected domiciles as specified in the Inflight Services Scheduling Alert.

Flight Attendants domiciled at BOS and JFK may self-list for positive space business travel to their domicile if they have a scheduled ID to fly on Sunday, January 25 through Wednesday, January 28, 2015.

Instructions for listing for Positive space travel may be found on Flying Together >> Travel [Top Menu] >> Positive Space Business Travel, and are similar to those used when booking travel to training. Once you list for the flight on which you wish to travel, your PNR needs to be authorized in order to complete the ticketing process as well as for check-in and seat selection.

To have your PNR authorized please contact your domicile duty desk and provide your confirmation number:

  • BOS: Contact the domicile duty desk at: 617-455–3670
  • JFK: Contact the domicile duty desk at: 718-632-1395

If you have any questions or concerns please contact your domicile supervisor.

Day One 2015 Winter United MEC Meeting
The Winter Meeting of the United Master Executive Council (MEC) began in Chicago today. Your Local Council President, joined by the 14 other presidents from around our system, addressed the business of our Union and the issues that are important to you.
 

We encourage every Member to witness our democratic process by attending a MEC meeting if you are in the Chicago area.  Summaries for each day of this meeting will be posted on our website after the meeting.

Port of Seattle Parking
As of February 1 in Seattle, the company will revoke the current paid parking and each Flight Attendant who plans to park in the Port of Seattle parking lot will be required to set up an individual parking account. Beginning yesterday, January 26, 2015, Flight Attendants who commute out of Seattle will be able to go to the Port of Seattle Parking office to set up an account. Currently the parking rate with the Port of Seattle is $76 per month and our Contract requires reimbursement of $25 a month be paid by the company. To be reimbursed you will need to submit a company expense form monthly to United. 

Union Plus Scholarship Deadline
Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more than $3.6 million to students of working families who want to begin or continue their post-secondary education. Last year alone, 116 Union members and Union family members were awarded $150,000 in scholarships, ranging from $500 to $4,000.

The deadline for the 2015 Union Plus Scholarship application is January 31, 2015, and this scholarship is open to any student who is attending or planning to attend a college or university.  Applications are evaluated according to academic ability, social awareness, financial need and appreciation of labor.

If you are interested in participating in the application process for this program, we encourage you to visit the Union Plus website for more information. 

Known Crewmember (KCM) Policy Enhancements
Flight Attendants now have the option to transit through the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Known Crew Member (KCM) checkpoint not in uniform.  When entering the KCM checkpoint area all crew members must be active, have a valid airline badge and a government ID.  All parameters of the KCM program still apply with this policy enhancement and can be reviewed on
our website.

Please remember ALL crew members transiting through a KCM portal are subject to random screening, either at the KCM or through a passenger screening check point. The following are more specifics regarding the random screenings process and the Liquid, Gel and Aerosol (LGA) requirements for crew members transiting KCM checkpoint in and out of uniform.

Uniformed Crew Members

  • Uniformed crew members will continue to have Liquid, Gel and Aerosol exemption at the passenger screening checkpoint and the KCM access point.

Non-uniformed Crew Members

Non-Uniformed crew members who are selected and receive random screening: 

at the KCM access point

  • Will continue to have their Liquid, Gel and Aerosol exemption.

at a passenger screening checkpoint (standard lane or employee lane where available)

  • WILL NOT be allowed the Liquid, Gel and Aerosol exemption.  They are not permitted to utilize the TSA Pre Check lanes and do not have front of the line access to the standard passenger screening lane.  (Note: Crew members not in uniform are considered passengers when screened at any passenger screening checkpoints and will be subject to passenger screening standards.) 

Please ensure that you understand all KCM regulations, so that you don't inadvertently violate these security restrictions. We do not want the actions of a few to jeopardize KCM enjoyed by all working crew members.

ACTION: No Fast Track for Trans-Pacific Partnership Call Your Representatives
The Transpacific Pacific Partnership (TPP) is poised to become the most dangerous trade agreement ever. This far reaching trade agreement would set rules governing approximately 40% of the world’s economy; yet, it is being negotiated behind closed doors. Though this agreement could become the largest trade deal in history, the sweeping changes envisioned in TPP could become law without most Americans ever knowing what’s in it. 

Under the proposed deal, multinational corporations just have to demonstrate a threat to their “expected future profits’ from laws and regulations in order to bypass our court systems and directly sue governments in private international tribunals.  It will enable corporations to challenge everything from consumer safety laws to environmental protections to fair labor standards. 

TPP would also make “Buy America” laws illegal.  Right now the federal government gives preferential treatment to U.S. business when buying goods and services.  TPP would make that practice illegal.  Historically, corporations have taken advantage of any opportunity to pay foreign workers less and take advantage of local laws to cut costs. 

Why Is This Important To Flight Attendants?
Fast Track Authority, if granted by the Congresses, wouldn’t simply apply to only one trade deal – it would apply to as many trade agreements as can be negotiated by this White House or the next one. The next “big’” trade deal in the pipeline is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The European Union will be pushing for access to the U.S. domestic market and an increase to the allowable foreign ownership and control of U.S. airlines. This would be devastating to U.S. aviation, our job security and aviation security.

What can Flight Attendants Do?
You may contact your Representative by calling the Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121 or by using the CWA’s toll free "Call Congress" line at Call 888-966-9836

Enter your zip code, to be you will be connected with your U.S. Representative.

Be polite but firm when delivering your message.

Sample script. 

“Hello my name is __________ and I am a constituent calling from _____ (city where you are registered to vote). As a constituent I am concerned that large scale trade agreements are being negotiated in secret. I wouldn’t vote for my employment contract without seeing the details and Congress shouldn’t either. I urge you to oppose Fast Track for the TPP.”

Please encourage your family, friends and flying partners to make their calls.  We must make it clear to our elected Representatives that we expect them to oppose Fast Track for the TPP. For more information about this topic visit the United MEC Website.

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

 

top of page