Dear Ms. Dougherty, Ms. Puchala, Mr. Hoglander, and all other esteemed members of
the National Mediation Board:
I write to inform a few facts.
On Oct. 31, 2010 I left voicemail messages for all of you dear members of the NMB
Board.
APFA, the American Airlines flight attendant union, stapled about 4000 TWA flight
attendants (FA) below their 20,000 strong FA workforce in 2003.
All 4000 of us were furloughed in early 2003. Since then, the eight years have been
challenging and gut wrenching at best. Suicides, foreclosures, financial devastation,
divorces, chronic unemployment, removing kids from colleges, inability to care for aging
parents, life threatening illnesses without the cushion of insurance were some of our
hardships.
When APFA pulled the rug from underneath our feet, a lot of us were on the threshold
of retirement, hence finding employment at that stage in life was difficult.
Both AA and TWA flight attendant departments consisted of mainly the female gender,
my point being that, APFA which claims to stand up for women's rights did not even
blink after ruining the careers/lives/livelihood of TWA women.
Next came the more humane gesture from my brothers/sisters at APFA. We are
required to pay union dues while out on the street or else our right to vote is crushed.
The cherry topping on this sweet tale of union equality (or lack thereof) was utilizing our
online seniority as hygiene paper. Or simply put, a TWA lady with 43 years seniority had
to begin from scratch. Or better yet, this poor soul was stapled under a kid with two
years of online seniority.
Other AA divisions (pilots, mechanics, gate agents, etc.) rescued or even salvaged a
portion of their seniority, wages and careers. We, the ex TWA flight attendants salvaged
absolutely nothing as these groups to this day look away in silence, as they claim yet
more for themselves. True human spirit of love and sharing. I guess we do not fall under
the mantle of working families.
Our heath insurance/travel/pension benefits which were accrued for decades vaporized.
I guess that too qualifies as hardship.
An AA FA retiring today averages a few thousand dollars monthly while the TWA
counterpart is lucky to qualify for a few hundred. Hardship? I guess so.
Today APFA stages a letter writing campaign to the NMB board to describe their
sorrow. I empathize with them for averaging US $ 40,000 with basic flying and the
earning potential could easily reach 50K to 60K.
I came to America 31 years ago. It still remains the most beautiful nation on this planet.
I refuse to be a victim but I delight in striving for the truth.
So kindly view their campaign of sorrow with the love it deserves.
Or how about a sweet suggestion to these fine ladies/gentlemen about granting us back,
what rightfully has been ours all along, our online seniority.
Do, please, share this with AA/APFA management.
This message is written with zero malice and complete forgiveness because the final
mediation will be in the hands of the Board that counts most, ''The Board Above.''
I am proud of my TWA family for facing this hardship/challenge with class.
May God bless America.
Thank you for listening. I hope our communication endures. We have been listening to
'silence' for almost a decade.
Best wishes to the NMB Board, AA, and APFA.
Respecfully,
'Still here'
the National Mediation Board:
I write to inform a few facts.
On Oct. 31, 2010 I left voicemail messages for all of you dear members of the NMB
Board.
APFA, the American Airlines flight attendant union, stapled about 4000 TWA flight
attendants (FA) below their 20,000 strong FA workforce in 2003.
All 4000 of us were furloughed in early 2003. Since then, the eight years have been
challenging and gut wrenching at best. Suicides, foreclosures, financial devastation,
divorces, chronic unemployment, removing kids from colleges, inability to care for aging
parents, life threatening illnesses without the cushion of insurance were some of our
hardships.
When APFA pulled the rug from underneath our feet, a lot of us were on the threshold
of retirement, hence finding employment at that stage in life was difficult.
Both AA and TWA flight attendant departments consisted of mainly the female gender,
my point being that, APFA which claims to stand up for women's rights did not even
blink after ruining the careers/lives/livelihood of TWA women.
Next came the more humane gesture from my brothers/sisters at APFA. We are
required to pay union dues while out on the street or else our right to vote is crushed.
The cherry topping on this sweet tale of union equality (or lack thereof) was utilizing our
online seniority as hygiene paper. Or simply put, a TWA lady with 43 years seniority had
to begin from scratch. Or better yet, this poor soul was stapled under a kid with two
years of online seniority.
Other AA divisions (pilots, mechanics, gate agents, etc.) rescued or even salvaged a
portion of their seniority, wages and careers. We, the ex TWA flight attendants salvaged
absolutely nothing as these groups to this day look away in silence, as they claim yet
more for themselves. True human spirit of love and sharing. I guess we do not fall under
the mantle of working families.
Our heath insurance/travel/pension benefits which were accrued for decades vaporized.
I guess that too qualifies as hardship.
An AA FA retiring today averages a few thousand dollars monthly while the TWA
counterpart is lucky to qualify for a few hundred. Hardship? I guess so.
Today APFA stages a letter writing campaign to the NMB board to describe their
sorrow. I empathize with them for averaging US $ 40,000 with basic flying and the
earning potential could easily reach 50K to 60K.
I came to America 31 years ago. It still remains the most beautiful nation on this planet.
I refuse to be a victim but I delight in striving for the truth.
So kindly view their campaign of sorrow with the love it deserves.
Or how about a sweet suggestion to these fine ladies/gentlemen about granting us back,
what rightfully has been ours all along, our online seniority.
Do, please, share this with AA/APFA management.
This message is written with zero malice and complete forgiveness because the final
mediation will be in the hands of the Board that counts most, ''The Board Above.''
I am proud of my TWA family for facing this hardship/challenge with class.
May God bless America.
Thank you for listening. I hope our communication endures. We have been listening to
'silence' for almost a decade.
Best wishes to the NMB Board, AA, and APFA.
Respecfully,
'Still here'
