Dear AFA Recording: Feb 20, 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, February 20, 2015.

Continued Airbus Airflow Issue
As many of you know the company, in an effort to conserve fuel and reduce costs, made changes to the Airbus fleet in regards to how the Pilots are to operate the heating and cooling systems on the ground and inflight.  Since this decision the United Master Executive Council (MEC) Safety Health and Security (SHS) Committee has received an increase in reports of Flight Attendant and passenger illnesses during flight.  Thanks to these reports the United MEC SHS Committee was able to request a review of this procedure.  As a result United Flight Operations have amended their policy, which now allows the Captain to use a higher setting of the airflow system when advised by Flight Attendants of cabin need; however, the default setting is still set to a lower setting.

Any time Flight Attendants and/or passengers are experiencing symptoms such as light-headedness, dizziness, and/or aerotitis, advise the Captain and advocate for the higher airflow. Flight Attendants should document these events by filling an ISAP report that identifies the safety issues and or concerns.  For more information on the ISAP program or to file an ISAP report please visit our website.

Airbus Cabin Temperature Issue
With the company’s addition of the extended overhead bins on the Airbus fleet, we have identified a design flaw with these extended bins and the aircraft cabin temperature probes.   The probes on the Airbus fleet are being obstructed and are unable to determine a correct cabin temperature.  This has resulted in uneven temperatures throughout the cabin, which are difficult to control.  The United Master Executive Council (MEC) Safety Health and Security (SHS) Committee has addressed this issue with the company.  As a result, Engineering was made aware of the problem, and has started relocating the temperature probes on the Airbus fleet in an attempt to resolve the issue. 

Please continue to file ISAP reports to address an incident with the inconsistent cabin temperature on the Airbus fleet.  For more information on the ISAP program or to file an ISAP report please visit our website.

United MEC Government Affairs Training and Lobby Days in Washington D.C.
The United MEC Government Affairs Committee concluded their annual 3 day training in Washington D.C. this week. In attendance we had seventeen (17) participants from several Local Councils around the system including BOS, DCA, JFK, HNL, IAH, LAS, LAX and SFO along with a Member of pre-merger Continental Council 63, who successfully completed our United MEC Government Affairs Training, and facilitated lobby days in Washington, DC. 

The Government Affairs representatives reviewed and were provided additional resources and tools to help manage issues at the Local level.  During the lobby visits our Members were able to visit over 40 Senate and House offices and discussed our priorities with the upcoming FAA Reauthorization bill with these representatives.

We congratulate our colleagues who stepped forward to do this important work on behalf of all of us, and we thank them for renewing their commitment as advocates for all Members.

25 Smokefree Cabin Years
Nearly 25 years ago AFA along with Americans for Nonsmokers' Rights (ANR) took on Big Tobacco to get smoking off of airplanes. Flight attendants fought hard to ensure we had a smokefree workplace, and we won. It is hard to believe that it has been 25 years since the no smoking sign was permanently illuminated on airplanes. Next week, we will commemorate the 25th anniversary of Smokefree Skies.

On Monday, February 23, 2015 Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin will be holding a news conference at O’Hare to mark the 25th anniversary of the enactment of then-Representative Durbin’s smoke-free airplane legislation. This event is scheduled to take place at 10:15 am on Monday morning at O’Hare Airport in Terminal 2. Flight Attendants are encouraged to attend and should wear their uniforms.

Don’t Forget to Verify and Update Your E-Lines Email Address
Don’t forget all current subscribers to the United AFA E-Lines need to verify and update their information before we relocate our newsletter system. If you have not verified your information by the March 3, 2015 deadline you will no longer receive the E-lines newsletter. Verifying your information is quick and simple. Please visit our website for instructions. Once you have provided the information you will be all set for the transition.

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