[quote name='Nor'Easta' post='394618' date='Jul 7 2006, 04:07 AM']Just ask your fellow AFA members at United what they think of the AFA.[/quote]
I feel compelled to respond to both Nor'Easta's and Fly's comments regarding the AFA. Having come from an airline that had NO union representation, I can tell you my $39 per month is the best bang for my buck. So what has AFA done for me as a United Airlines flight attendant? I will happily respond. When United went into bankruptcy and we went through not one, but two rounds of concessions (not the fault of AFA), the company presented a term sheet containing the list of the give-backs the company sought. The company wanted to make Hawaii, Alaska, Mexico, and Central American/Caribbean flying domestic rates of pay; the company wanted gut all paid holidays (there were ten), the company wanted to eliminate reserve-override pay (currently $1.82 per hour). The company wanted to gut our work-rules such as 30 in 7 (cannot fly more than 30 hrs in a 7 day period), 8 in 24 (cannot go over 8 hours in a 24 hr period).
So what did my union do for me? My union greatly MINIMIZED the give-backs the company wanted. Five paid holidays were preserved (down from ten), all of our work-rules were preserved, all of the international flying that the company sought to pay at domestic pay rates, remained at international rates of pay, reserve-override was preserved. When Hawaiian island turns were introduced for the first time in our work-life (post Chapter 11), our union secured worked rules that guarantee 36 hours free of duty, so that reserve flight attendants wouldn't be stuck doing island turns back-to-back. (Contrast this with flight attendants at ATA who often fly back-to-back island turns). When the company forcefully dumped our pensions onto the PBGC, our union was able to negotiate a company direct-contribution payment, in addition to the company match provisions.
Furthermore, we are the only work group on United Airlines property that enjoyed full medical and dental benefits while on voluntary furlough status...this was in addition to full seniority accrual and pass priveleges while on furlough status. (I took advantage of this NEGOTIATED contractual item and did not work for the company for two years while enjoying full benefits...where in the marketplace does this happen?).
Additionally, I have been an AFA dues-paying member for over 12 years and not once during that time, has there been an increase in my union dues. Finally, through my monthly dues, my union (AFA) has a Political Action Committee comprised of volunteers that lobby tirelessly on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and who have been instrumental in getting FAA regulations established that include, no smoking on any U.S. domestic flights (this later was expanded to ALL flights on ALL U.S. carriers), emergency exit path lighting installed on the cabin floor of all U.S. registered aircraft, smoke detectors installed in aircraft lavoratories, enhancements to the the very inferior duty-time regulations set forth by the FAA. Furthermore, the Political Action Committee has been hard at work lobbying our congressmen and women to prevent the sell-out of our industry to foreign interests, lobbying for better guidelines with regard to flight attendant fatigue, etc. etc.
In the last 12 years (the time I have been a dues-paying member at AFA), the price to fill my gas tank has skyrocketed, my insurance premiums have gone up, the price of food has gone up, the price of electricity has gone up, the price of water and garbage has gone up, etc., etc.
At the end of the day, when compared to the workrules of the rest of the industry (and for additional insight just talk to any AA F/A who don't even so much as get a crew meal provided on an international flight), I can confidently say, the AFA has been a BARGAIN at $39 per month!
Signed,
A PROUD AFA Member
