ONE VOICE

Brief Summary Chart

Meatloaf Cupcakes

Oh Stewardess, I Speak Jive!

Support your co-workers and encourage them to VOTE UNION!

AND MUCH MORE

Resource Page:Where did we get that speculative information?

ONE VOICEBringing Continental, Continental Micronesia and United together in one place.

Whether we like it or not we went from:

WHATEVER IT TAKES TO

A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

2 www.thefanews.org

Now, on Feb. 21, Imagine no safety netEncourage co-workers at the gate to vote union

Agents

Union Contract

From the Editors’ DESK

Dear Frequent Flyer!

Our Tentative at s-United is out and what a range of emotions have been expressed. There is so much to digest and we are not going to direct you one way or another. We will share with you the opinions of others as well as a few factoids you may miss when you read the tentative yourself.

First and foremost, we all know we addressed only 12 issues on each side. Unfortunately, we could not even get those issues resolved in a manner which we as Flight Attendants so richly deserve.

The biggest issue we see with this tentative is how AFA negotiates on our behalf. Many have expressed concerns as to why a buyout and crossover are linked to the Tentative. We have addressed that in a past issue and we agree. For AFA to allow a Flight Attendant who is planning to avail themselves of the buyout, vote on the work rules and future compensation package is unfair.

What we can observe and bring into focus in this edition, is what the union did not accomplish and what the outcome would be. We can also observe that in the past 20 years, we have all waited for AFA to successfully negotiate an entire contract for the membership at s-United unsuccessfully. Each time, the union has said we will get better at the next round. We are still going round and round and accomplishing little toward a productive future for ourselves and our families.

If we vote for this Tentative and it is ratified, there will be an obligation to begin achieving a combined contract within 60 days of signing. Many are ready to move on and get to this stage. Keep in mind, should we reach this stage, that there is no guarantee that we will get anywhere near a combined contract in any expeditious manner. Our two cultures are vastly different and although we wish to move on and be one, the reality is we are worlds apart in our wants and needs.

The other reality is that the union did not achieve improvements with our trading. Gone is the unlimited trip trading hopes that were offered by the union.

Our focus in this issue is not the Tentative on its own. Our focus is what once again it did not achieve. Our focus is what our Tentative will mean for Continental Flight Attendants. Yes, this does impact you as well. Even with two Continental Flight Attendants at the negotiating table, this is a direct indication on how they will negotiate our combined contract.

We must focus sadly on the shortcomings of this contract because that is the only way we can stop repeating the same mistakes in a combined contract.

ONE

VOIC

E Ja

nuar

y/Fe

brua

ry 2

012

3 www.thefanews.org

Expedited 12 VS Tentative: Was it worth the wait?

ONE

VOIC

E Ja

nuar

y/Fe

brua

ry 2

012

12 TOPICS What Did We Get?

Increase pay effective January 07, 2010, with

single pay scale and additional longevity step

increases

Compensation increase at DOS. 4 years to wait for top out. No single

pay scale.

Penalty pay for contract violations 5Q new

NO

Increase Per Diem Sec 6.A

Wait a year and still less than CAL

Legal Rest (Section 7.J.)Improve minimum Legal

Rest provisions for Domestic and

International (12.M.) including Key-in-hand

on layover

12.M. Not addressed but we waived work rules

for money!Reduce rest to FAA min.

For 5 hours Yea work rules!

Minimum Duty Rigs (Section 8.A.) Increase compensation through higher guaranteed minimum pay and credit for hours on duty

(Section 8.A.)NOT COVERED IN TA HIGHLIGHTS

Schedule Trading (Section 9.G.) Improve Flight Attendant schedule flexibility with trip trading improvements. Also includes limited testing of instant award for trades with Open Flying

Where is the “instant awards trading with open time test”

• Jetway Trade• Ability of Lineholders to preference (instead of having to indicate specific ID) when requesting Trip Trades with Open Flying (TTOF).• 25% increase in minimumguaranteed trade daily allotment from 4% to 5% for TTOF• Eliminate the “fence” between international and domestic allocations, so that unused international allocation may be used by domestic Flight Attendants.• Charter trades based on seniority vs. first-come first-serve.

Vacation Pay (Section 18.K.)

Wait 2 more years for vacation increase

4 www.thefanews.org

Expedited 12 VS Tentative: Was it worth the wait?

12 TOPICS What Did We Get?

ick Leave (Section 19.A.) Leave (Section 19.A.)

Sick Leave (Section 19.A.) Improve general Sick Leave provisions, including Occupational Benefits and associated attendance points.

Fly 234 hrs in a quarter to get 1.5 hrs of sick accrual.We get 2.6 minutes per hour additional sick leave accrual, Wow! Cal gets $5.00 per hr pay.

No attendance points if I am highjacked!

• Increase maximum accrual from 950 to 1,000 hours.• Additional accrual of 1.5 hours per quarter if Flight Attendant has 234 hours (actual, deadhead, and vacation) during quarter (234 is based on 78 hour Reserve guarantee for three months).

• Credited with a combination of flight time credit and sick leave credit up to the value of line instead of current book 97/100 hours.• Increase minimum hour option when on sick leave an entire month to 71 hours.• No attendance points for any absence that is a result of verified unannounced clear air turbulence or sudden aircraft movement, passenger assault, emergency evacuations, aircraft accident, hijacking or sabotage.• Option to have direct deposit of Workers’ Compensation payments to financial institutions in the U.S.• Commitment to request its Workers’ Compensation vendor to provide detailed statements showing both TTD payments and reimbursement of out-of- pocket medical expenses.

401(k) Plan Terms (Section 34.B.) Increase Company- paid direct contribution and match and expand 401(k) investment options.

Now AFA is taking credit for something they had nothing to do with. By getting raises it automatically went up, How about a pension? CAL gets the same match in Sept.

Higher wage rates provide increased Company direct and matching contributions.New ROTH option.

Pay taxes on this money after you retire.

ONE

VOIC

E Ja

nuar

y/Fe

brua

ry 2

012

5 www.thefanews.org

Expedited 12 VS Tentative: Was it worth the wait?

TENTATIVE WHAT IS MEANS ON THE LINE

EWR co-terminal with JFK and LGA.

Now we will have to drive to 3 airports in the area.

Crew Scheduling Tapes (New 4.A.)

Ask the CAL FA’s! Now the company will have a way to discipline you because of what you say to scheduling.

Reciprocal Cabin Seats (New)

Wow, thank you for writing this down for us .....We may have forgotten that we had it.

WHAT ELSE DID WE GET?

“

"All major unions oppose FAA bill as written."By Brian Wozniak, s-CAL IAH

IAM and TCU/IAM leaders issued statements criticizing a Congressional proposal that provides long-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding at the expense of airline and rail workers' rights to join unions:"While the Machinists Union supports FAA reauthorization and the vital infrastructure investments it will provide, the Machinists strongly oppose the flawed labor proposal that jeopardizes the independence of the National Mediation Board (NMB)," said IAM Transportation GVP Sito Pantoja.The proposal imposes Congressionally-mandated standards for union representation elections and oversight that have always been up to independent federal labor authorities to decide."In developing this greatly flawed proposal there was no consultation with rail labor or management, the two groups who worked with Congress to write the Railway Labor Act more than 75 years ago," said Robert Scardelletti, National President of the Transportation Communications Union/IAM (TCU/IAM). "It makes

no sense to tie changes to the Railway Labor Act to an aviation safety bill."

Included in the FAA Reauthorization bill are changes to the Railway Labor Act, the federal labor law covering airline and railroad workers, which would require the support of at least 50 percent of an employee group before a union representation election could be held. Currently, there is no statutory requirement, but National Mediation Board policy sets a 35 percent threshold. Other private sector workers who fall under the National Labor Relations Act need only 30 percent to trigger an election. While the proposal requires the NMB to hold public hearings before changing its rules, this very proposal imposes new standards on the NMB without the benefit of any such public hearing.

ONE

VOIC

E Ja

nuar

y/Fe

brua

ry 2

012

6 www.thefanews.org

ONE

VOIC

E Ja

nuar

y/Fe

brua

ry 2

012

1 2 pounds Ground Chuck2 2 cups Whole Wheat Bread, Torn Into Pieces3 16 ounces, weight Shredded Cheddar Cheese4 1 whole Medium Onion, Diced5 2 whole Eggs, Lightly Beaten6 ¼ cups Tomato Sauce7 ¼ cups Ketchup8 2 teaspoons Salt9 1 teaspoon Pepper10 MEATLOAF SAUCE11 ½ cups Tomato Sauce12 ½ cups Ketchup13 2 Tablespoons Regular Mustard14 2 Tablespoons Worcestershire Sauce15 3 Tablespoons Vinegar16 3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar17 CREAM POTATOES18 3 pounds Potatoes, Peeled And Cubed19 ½ sticks Butter20 2 teaspoons Salt21 ¼ cups Sour Cream22 ¼ cups Evaporated Milk

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Line cupcake trays with 24 aluminum foil baking cup liners.Mix ground chuck, bread pieces, cheese, onion, eggs, salt, pepper and 1/2 cup of tomato sauce.Fill each cup with meatloaf mixture. Press into aluminum baking cups and fill tops above the liners in a mounded shape simulating the finished cupcake shape since the mixture won’t rise.Bake for almost an hour or until done.SAUCEAbout halfway through baking, mix together ingredients for the sauce and spoon or baste it on the tops of the meatloaf cupcakes.CREAM POTATOESWhile meatloaves are baking, prepare potatoes.Boil peeled and cubed potatoes for 20 minutes or until tender.Drain in a colander and return to pot. Add butter and salt.With a mixer, beat on medium until completely smooth.Add sour cream and evaporated milk for a creamier consistency.You can add more or less sour cream and milk to achieve different consistencies.ASSEMBLYWhen meatloaves are done, remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes. Remove the foil liners from the trays. Be careful because the sauce may cause the edges to stick to the trays. Separate with a knife if this happens and lift out of the trays. The meat will have shrunk a little and some grease will be in the bottom of the liners so be careful.Spoon potatoes into a large ziploc bag with the corner cut off and pipe potatoes on top of meatloaves in a swirling motion.Use leftover sauce when serving if you like.Enjoy.

MEATLOAF CUPCAKESBY

Pamela Dockery, JFKSW, s-UA

TA Day became synonymous with April Fools Day and the joke was on us. It became clear AFA wasn't the union to bring our contract and pay up to industry standards. The TA was simply a meatloaf in a Chocolate Cupcake with Vanilla Frosting disguise. In this spirit I decided to make these meatloaf cupcakes and found much to my dismay I couldn't get the job done. I either burnt the meatloaf and turned the mashed potatoes into a gummy mess. I found it wasn't all that easy to fool the eye. Maybe I should have taken lessons from the negotiating committee. In case you would like to make these yourself I've included a blog entry from The Tasty Kitchen featuring Bakerella's fabulous meatloaf cupcake recipe.

7 www.thefanews.org

ONE

VOIC

E Ja

nuar

y/Fe

brua

ry 2

012 In The End, This Is Where We Stand

by Our Brilliant Mystery Commentators

Your priorities have remained firm from the inception of our negotiations. We should recognize that these 12 major issues might not be everyone’s personal top 12. However, all the information is consistent and clear that these issues are the collective priorities of our Membership.

In 1993, AFA pulled out of the Union coalition because UAL had opened foreign domiciles. The motto was whatever it takes to close them.

In 1995, with still no contract- they went into expedited negotiations with minimal proposals, and settled on a ten year contract- and the foreign domiciles  remained open.

Near the end of the ten year contract UAL declared bankruptcy in 2003. AFA with no resources to fight UAL, rushed into an agreement with UAL that took pay and bonuses away, as well as  had us pay for our medical.

In 2005, UAL still in bankruptcy, and AFA still not having resources, agreed to more pay concessions, still holding on to their precious work rules. They also said they would do whatever it took to keep the pension, since it was the only pension not underfunded. The AFA scoffed at the IAM National Pension Plan, went to court, held rallies, threatened chaos- the pension plan was still terminated.

In 2009, we were still having rallies, threatening chaos, and we were going to restore and more.Through the representation election in 2011, AFA was going to do whatever it took. CAL wages were the floor. We would hold onto the work rules. The CAL FA’s bridge agreement was a catastrophe. We have unbelievable leverage.When AFA won, they decided expedited negotiations were the way to go after all. Again, almost 20 years later, limiting the issues to 12.

Reaching only their own limited expectations, AFA is promoting, once again, their achievement AND promising they will do whatever it takes next time.Sound familiar?

In 2016, UAL FAs with 26 years will have never seen a full section 6 negotiations, and will told once again,AFA will do “Whatever It Takes”.

We still won’t be at CAL wage rates, nor have their ability to make as much additional money. UAL flying will continue to shrink, and we won’t have CAL’s job protection.What would you do?  

CWA-AFA quotes over the years....

AFACompensation is normally the last item on the table during negotiations and we will stand together to substantially increase our pay. You’ll notice that an exact percentage is not delineated in our Opening Proposal – and we make it clear that we expect United Flight Attendants to lead the industry in hourly rates of pay.Greg Davidowitch, President – United MEC Letter to all flight attendantsApril 6, 2009

“Thank you for calling and remain informed as we stand strong together to do Whatever it takes! to achieve an industry leading Contract!”Closing for all Dear AFA communication

United Flight Attendants took sharp pay cuts before the airline emerged from bankruptcy in 2006. Negotiations on a new contract began a year ago Tuesday."Flight Attendants are sick and tired of waiting for the compensation and working conditions we are due," he said. "We will not agree to the wholesale destruction of portions of our contract to pay for any perceived improvements."Greg Davidowitch, April 05, 2010

Finally, we are suppose to accept that this was all done “ per your mandate”. As a group we would not accept let alone mandate something this pitiful after waiting 10 years. So of course in the eyes of AFA, it is the Flight Attendants’ fault. We did not tie enough yellow ribbons to send the company a strong message. Pitiful.

8 www.thefanews.org

ONE

VOIC

E Ja

nuar

y/Fe

brua

ry 2

012

Oh Stewardess, I Speak JiveWhat Everyone’s Talking About – January/FebruaryWilliam Schrul, JFKSW

Abner, she’s flying!1. Happy 2012  s-UA FA’s get a

TA.  The bad news: if it’s ratified the world is scheduled to end the day after.

2. W-2’s Available Online  s-UA’s comes with a coupon for powdered milk and a block of cheese.

3. WOP Queens Working A Trip  Abner, she’s flying!

4. ABC Puts Pan Am On “Decision”  Viewers to be offered $200.00 in travel vouchers and a phone card.  Stewardesses will be offered jobs with s-UA.  Seniority to be adjusted. 

5. BioFuel Flight  Bring your poop to work day proves huge success.

6. Lady Gaga  Official song of the 2011 representational election:  Uninformed This Way.

7. AFA’s New Math  where a 10% raise equals $64.00 per hour

8. Unlucky Charms  In an attempt to woo the Aer Lingus FA’s into joining AFA, AFA calls them scabs, pickets and video tapes them.  Imagine what they’d do if they didn’t like you. 

9. Wool Allergies  AFA negotiates industry-leading wool allergy uniform

alternative:  The Justin Bieber Paternity Suit.

10.  Whatever It Takes  = It takes whatever and it likes it.  And then it puts the lotion in the basket.

I'M LOVIN' IT..................AFA's NEW DOLLAR MENU for United Flight Attendants

$35 - Delta campaign

$4 - a box of pencils

$3 - colored ribbons

$2 - rubber bands

$1 - United Flight Attendants 

Your union dues at work: $43 total (soon to be $50?)

Working hard to pay for AFA's date with Delta, it looks like a new DOLLAR MENU for United Flight Attendants is coming. A dues-increase is on the agenda at AFA (but sorry, you won't be able to vote on it)

IT'S A GOOD TIME FOR THE GREAT TASTE

Because AFA wined & dined Delta with lobster tails and lamb chops, United Flight Attendants get fish sticks and one-dollar cheeseburgers (ketchup costs extra, just like the stamp to send AFA's post card to Jeff Smisek). But why is it that AFA is increasing the cost of our fish sticks from $1 to $5 ? 

YOU DESERVE A BREAK TODAY

Easy. They needed your union dues to be low during the election so they could use IAM's higher dues against them. You see, surplus monies at IAM go into their strike fund (100 million dollars). And surplus monies at AFA? Where does it go?

WE DO IT ALL FOR YOUIt gets spent.

Otherwise, the local level has to hand it over to the international level, and they don't like doing that

DID SOMEBODY SAY McDONALD'S?

At AFA, any local-level dues surplus must be handed over to the International level at the end of the quarter. And since there is hardly ever a surplus handed over (hmmmm) the local level makes sure they spend it

on ribbons

and buttons

I'M LOVIN' IT

What does the CWA-AFA Tentative Mean For All Of Us here at Continental.Brian Wozniak CAL IAH

The recent TA has implications far beyond just the UAL FA’s. With two contracts in place, do you think the company will have a real financial incentive to “give” us more in a combined agreement?If we let history be our guide, s-CAL should look to USAir. It took the union almost seven years to get them something to vote on. Now they can point the finger and blame as many people as they would like, but in the last 20 years they have failed to deliver improvements for anyone except themselves.All the other UAL work groups have made improvements, the only reason the FA’s received anything is because the courts said they would.

CAL Fa’s worked through bankruptcy with Lorenzo, and when CAL’s independent FA union sought help from the IAM, AFA pressed the case before the NMB and the CAL Flight Attendants and forced them to become decertified for five years. AFA argued they had the right to represent us not another union because we were part of AFA years before. When push came to shove, AFA did not want to represent us. They did not want anyone else to help us either.This is what we have to look forward to. Are we going to allow the people who are our leaders, and I use that term very loosely, to choose what is in their best interest and tell us to swallow it like bad medicine? Or are we, as UAL and CAL fa’s going to take responsibility for our lives and take our union back?This agreement affects both of us and there is no indication that just because the TA is ratified we will start on combined negotiations.History does not lie, no matter what version AFA tries to recount

9 www.thefanews.org

ONE

VO

ICE

Janu

ary/

Febr

uary

201

2

ACROSS1. A Maori club5. Surplus10. Render unconscious14. Baking appliance15. Anagram of "Talon"16. Puncture17. Oceans18. Opposition20. Typographical error22. Acquired the knowledge23. French for "Wine"24. Clairvoyants25. Incompatible32. Woo33. Delete34. Not good37. Unique38. Strike39. Center40. Mesh41. Express a thought42. Hinder43. Stream45. Excuse49. Lyric poem50. Voluntary self-punishment53. Loan shark57. Combine together59. Black, in poetry60. Flows61. Equestrian62. Alone63. District64. Curtain65. Chair

JUMPSEAT PUZZLES

1. Sit for a photo2. Affirm3. Rip4. Offensive5. Threaded6. Verse7. Autonomic nervous system8. Train track9. If not10. Portion11. 1000 kilograms12. Canker sore13. Requires19. Thigh armor

21. Hue25. Computer symbol26. Not a single one27. Religious splinter group28. Send, as payment29. Pee30. Cowboy movie31. Utilize34. Rude person35. Circle fragments36. Apollo astronaut Slayton38. Health resort39. Uninformed41. Unpaid

42. Corpse44. Stick together45. 3-banded armadillo46. Bushbaby47. Absurd48. Light wood51. Credit or playing52. Arab chieftain53. Stair54. Double-reed woodwind55. Soft drink56. Clove hitch or figure eight58. American Dental Association

DOWN

10 www.thefanews.org

WHERE DID WE GET OUR INFORMATION?

Summary of 2005 - 2010 Agreement: http://www.unitedafa.org/news/bankruptcy/agreements/2010/summary/default.aspx AFA Tentative Agreement 2012-2016: http://www.unitedafa.org/contract/negotiations/docs/ta_complete.pdf

Meatloaf Cupcakes: BAIT AND SWITCH!: http://tastykitchen.com/recipes

ONE

VO

ICE

Janu

ary/

Febr

uary

201

2

If your coworkers at the gates lose their voicethese won’t help.

Encourage gate agents to vote union.