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September 2011

“I will forever be in awe of them and

thankful for the time we

shared.” Shriver Lenox

“It feels like it happened

yesterday”Melody

Sweeney

ONE VOICEVisit us at:

www.thefanews.org

We Remember

Bringing Continental, Continental Micronesia and United together in one place.

Garden of Reflection, Yardsley PAOne Voice would like to take a moment to remember all our flying partners who shined in the face of unfathomable terror on September 11, 2001.

2,973 fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, best friends lives were cut short. Our industry will never be the same. Today, we say thank you and continue to honor their memories each day as we board an aircraft. Keep them close and always remember!

Below are foundations that need our help in preserving the memories. The foundations all have their unique goal. Would you please take a moment and donate? All are such worthy foundations.

Imagine what 25,000 of us can do!

The Garden of Reflection www.9-11memorialgarden.org

Capt. Denny Flanagan captdennyflanagan@gmail.com

330-472-3146Please contact Capt. Flannigan to donate to “Just A Buck” Program.

A payroll deduction can be madethrough the United Charity program. If we can get enough employees

to donate Just A Buck per pay check we can continue to give financial assistance to young men and women interested in an aviation career.

This Program is open ONLY to UA Employees at this time.

Continental and Continental Micronesia can get involved through this website as well:http://dahlfund.org/

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A letter from the Editors:

A newspaper has several goals: to inform, to entertain, and to bring a voice to those who read it.

This paper will do that. ONE VOICE will bring the latest news to the jumpseat on all of our aircrafts at Continental, Continental Micronesia and United. Our hopes are that you will become more familiar, as each issue is printed, with your Brothers and Sisters at all three airlines.

Change is taking place at the New United every minute of every day. We see it in the announcements we make during our flights, to our yearly training, to the logo on our planes. Times are changing and ONE VOICE will keep you in the loop. ONE VOICE is not about playing it safe. ONE VOICE is going to be about the issues. ONE VOICE is going to be straightforward. You won’t always like what is printed. Good! ONE VOICE will not always be politically correct. ONE VOICE is here to get you out of the jumpseat and asking questions. ONE VOICE is here to get the dialogue started. ONE VOICE is here to challenge each one of us to be informed and use our voice to get our message out.

In the coming issues, we will delve into what you are talking about on the jumpseat. ONE VOICE encourages everyone to email us their suggestions and their opinions. If you want to take an active role in ONE VOICE, email us!

This is our unique chance to be heard. Use it and don’t take it for granted. Over 3000 Flight Attendants did not vote in our representation election. Time to step up and participate in your career and your future. We are not here to do it for you. You have to be engaged!

ONE VOICE is putting the debate (and the crossword) in the jumpseat.

Let’s start talking!

BRIAN WOZNIAK - CAL IAHFABIENNE ZWERLING - UAL IADMORNA MACDONALD - CMI GUM

www.thefanews.org

ONE VOICE

One Voice received so many articles for the first issue and we want to take a moment to say thank you! In all honesty we really liked them all and struggled as to which to put in this issue. Therefore, we decided to step up the creation of our website so that we could display all the articles you submitted.

Please take a moment and visit us. No matter which side of the fence you are on, you won’t be able to stop laughing at William Schrul’s perspective of the Crossover Debate.

Jeff Johns spent long hours sifting through CWA-AFA’s Convention. We will post Part One of Three on our website.

[3]

IN THE NEWS

EXPEDITED NEGOTIATIONS:A PERSPECTIVE:Name Withheld

AFA has recently reached an agreement with United Airlines concerning expediting negotiations at that airline. This method, according to AFA, is the first time it is being used. 12 issues will be addressed by each side within a specific time frame.

Take a moment and ask yourself, your flying partners and your union the following as we progress in a new phase of negotiations, over 600 days since we entered negotiations with the Company.From the  Company that would accept nothing short of a "Continental" style contract and the Union that would do “Whatever It Takes” to get what we deserve, we get expedited mediated negotiations. For over two and a half years only minor progress was achieved, with neither side budging and direct talks maybe once a month. Now we are told AFA is optimistic we will have a contract before the end of the year.

Should we expect UAL is going to completely capitulate to AFA's demands? AFA to completely capitulate to United's demands? Both sides suddenly agreeable to compromise?

What motivation does UAL have to negotiate in good faith for a UAL only contract? And if they are suddenly agreeable, shouldn't AFA demand a combined contract so all FA’s would move forward? Was AFA always in bed with UAL and working together so AFA would win?The IAM's strategy of an interim contract was roundly criticized by all AFA leaders. CAL FA’s overwhelmingly approved the interim agreement with the promise they would get another chance quickly. What changed?

If the AFA is successful in negotiating an interim agreement, it would still be 6 months before they could begin negotiating a combined agreement. {3 months to negotiate and 1 month to explain and another month to ratify and 1 month to prepare joint talks- and that timetable is extremely aggressive}. Should CAL and CMI FAs be forced to wait to see if this strategy is successful. If it does not bear fruit- where are we all then?

Is there a contingency plan? If there is, shouldn't we be told what it is?

Will UAL FAs get full retro, maintain medical and dental, get a pension plan, and hold on to all their work rules?All with the threat of an NMB revote looming over us? The clock is ticking and we have no answers except AFA's suddenly rosy projections.. 

CROSSOVER: THE ISSUE TODAY

Today's Catch:  A DEAD FISH By Robbie FANNING - UAL ORD

I can ask a thousand people if they want to eat a dead fish.  A handful will answer "No" from simple amusement.  Or I can ask a thousand people if they want to eat coconut-lime Chilean Sea Bass.  I'm sure a few hundred more will respond, most saying "Yes".  Both questions are the same but produce different answers.  

Whenever AFA wants you to think a certain way, Chilean Sea Bass suddenly becomes a rotten carcass, and a rotten carcass suddenly becomes Today's Catch. Earlier in 2011, the IAM requested management address the severe understaffing at CO.  Based upon IAM's request, management offered the now defunct ‘Crossover’ Hiring program allowing the transfer of the still-overstaffed United flight attendants into CO, to be based in IAH or EWR, with merged pay and new-hire seniority.  However, when integration takes place, all would go back to their original seniority date. In addition, a furloughed flight attendant retains all recall rights and seniority.

Notwithstanding the election between AFA and IAM, it appeared the Crossover program was a good idea to furloughed-United flight attendants who simply wanted to work, or to anyone at United willing to transfer to a CO base, work from the bottom of the seniority list on straight reserve, yet also be set for an immediate hourly raise, minimum reserve guarantee commensurate with CO’s new contract, and a cash payout of $2,500.00 

To AFA, though, the timing seemed very fishy.  They immediately accused the IAM of using the Crossover program to win votes at the expense of CO understaffing:  ".....(the Crossover) may be applied to every single IAM mailing or communication in circulation....The IAM’s negative, deceitful campaign is an insult to the intelligence of Flight Attendants and therefore we have not focused our campaign on combating the repeated lies...

AFA's protest of management's Crossover program during laboratory conditions of the election demonstrated their fear of UA F/A's discovering that IAM's contract with CO was more lucrative. A "No" answer was needed from a survey question so AFA needed to advertise Today's Catch as a rotten carcass by wording their now-famous, utterly ridiculous survey question to 15,000 United flight attendants:

"Are you willing to work under the terms of the Machinist's Contract at the bottom of the seniority list?"

Amazing how an immediate raise-in-pay, post-merger restoration of seniority, 83 hours of guarantee and $2,500 in cash is suddenly turned into an image of working under a machinist's bottom.

ONE VOICE

Continental Airlines2.5% pay raise on 9/1/11

The Continental Flight Attendants now top out at $ 52.53 per hour and while UAL flight attendants are in the initial phases of expedited mediation, thanks to the current IAM contract, the CAL flight attendants will be eligible to open their new round of contract negotiations with a pre-assigned mediator as soon as October 2011.While UAL flight attendants have been waiting for a contract the CAL Flight Attendants have received two years worth of pay raises and are ready for more.

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EDITORIALS

What’s it really like at Continental? By Roger JAMERSON - CAL FA

Don't get me wrong...I was dissatisfied with the IAM plenty of times but in the end, the Continental Flight Attendants do have the best contract in the industry if you look at our pay and flexibility. The United Flight Attendants I have talked to seem afraid to look closely at what we actually have over here at Continental. Yes I pay for my family's health insurance but I choose my doctors and dentists and am quite satisfied with that. My pay scale more than makes up for my health care costs. I've been flying 28 years and I make $51.25 per hour base pay (not including intl. or lead pay or incentive pay) with another raise beginning Sept. 1st.......I can trade, pick-up, and drop trips 24 hours a day. If it is in open time I don't mind if a junior f/a gets a trip before I do because trips become available all day and night and our open time changes by the minute.

Anyway, if you all at United would just give our contract a good look, I believe you would be very surprised at what you could have. We can always improve on it together....Remember that the management you have now agreed to our contract so I strongly suggest the AFA do the same. After all, the AFA has put an AFA sticker over all the IAM contracts in the crew rooms so there must be something in there that they are proud to put their little baby blue stickers on!........Our contract at Continental certainly isn't perfect, but it sure is way above at what the United contract is.....

Fear vs. Courage: A Flight Attendant Perspective.

By Trisha BURKE - UAL SEA

Where are you today that you weren’t yesterday?

Since the election results I have pondered our collective situation time and time again. Very recently I arrived at a theory that, as a group, we are where we are as a result of fear.

Following is a list of common flight attendant-specific fears:

-non-voluntary furloughs

-terrorism

-alienation from our peers

-company disciplinary action/”points”

-strike

-turbulence/on-the-job injury

-not making enough money

-inadequate union representation

-not having a dependable retirement income

This is not a comprehensive list, of course, but it covers the majority of fears of most flight attendants. It is natural, I believe, to be concerned about these issues, but our FEAR of these issues has historically held us back and continues to do so. The recent representational election proves this, in my opinion. When asked why someone voted the way they did the response is often in the vein of “the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t know”, “work rules are really important to me”, and “I don’t know anything about the IAM”, etc. These are all ultimately statements of fear. And, historically, this is the basis from which we have operated and focused our daily work lives.

I wish to propose a different tact from our historical methods. I propose that we begin each day to operate, decide, and act on the basis of courage.

“Courage is the power to face difficulties.” We have difficulties before us. We HAVE had. But we have, largely, abdicated our solutions to our employer, to the union, to others. It is time, past time, for us to each as individuals find our own power, influence, and courage within to exact the outcomes we desire.

That means that we must individually find our personal strength, conviction, and courage to do what must be done to secure the future, indeed the NOW, that we want. And we can do that, each of us and all of us. We must be willing to face, endure, work through any consequence that our courage brings.

We must stop hesitating, second-guessing, shying away from change, the unknown, and what awaits us when we have engaged ourselves in the process of going after what our profession deserves. We are worthy. We are dedicated. And we MUST be willing.

There is nothing that we cannot overcome. No situation that would challenge us beyond our ability to cope. We are a resourceful, capable, passionate group of people who can survive. We have proven that.

At this time of 9/11 retrospection and remembrance, please make a personal commitment to your own and our collective power and courage. Those who went before us on that fateful day would have it so.

ONE VOICE

On their website, AFA did not have these bullets points present regarding the crossover. Why? Would you not like to know the whole deal? Should you not know the whole truth?

1. $2500 pre-tax cash payment to help defray costs.2. Existing sick leave and accrued but unused vacation shall be retained. AFA states a loss of benefits on their website.3. Travel benefits at your current seniority.4. 83:00 hours pay for training.5. Pay Rate: Your years of service at your airline at CAL rate of pay.

Why were these facts not readily available on the AFA website?

Again, no Flight Attendant would lose seniority and all Furloughed Flight Attendants would retain their recall rights

Today Continental Airlines is hiring and

8 in 24. Is it a protection or a restriction? Share your thoughts.

https://www.facebook.com/#!/questions/161051287311152/?qa_ref=na&notif_t=question_answer

[5]

Getting to know you!Guam: My Island/My Base by Morna MACDONALD - CAL GUMGuam is a U.S territory island in the Western Pacific which encompasses an area of approximately 221 sq. miles. 30miles long and 4 to 12 miles wide. Yes we do know everyone on island!  And you can drive round the entire island in a little under two hours. We have world class diving in warm waters and most of our activities are outside in the tropical weather. Seriously it is like a small town, you can drive to the store for groceries and you are guaranteed to run into someone you know.

It is the largest island in Micronesia and the 32nd largest island of the U.S. We are known as typhoon ally and we experience earthquakes  of magnitudes from 5.0 to 8.5 which just rocks the island without too much damage. We are one big rock in the Pacific.  The climate is characterized as tropical marine. The weather is generally hot and very humid with little seasonal temperature variation. The mean high temperature is 86 °F (30 °C) and mean low is 76 °F (24 °C) . The dry season runs from December through June. The remaining months (July through November) constitute the rainy season. The months of January and February are considered the coolest months of the year with night time temperatures in the mid to low 70s and generally lower humidity levels, it is a beautiful time to visit with warm tropical breezes. They say the highest risk of typhoons is during October and November. They can, however, occur year-round which we have experienced. 

Our flight attendant group is a little under 300.  We have all worked very closely for more than 20yrs. (Our most senior is 40 years this month) We are a family as is the culture on Guam. Being part of a family as you know, we are very aware of each others character, strengths and weaknesses. We get on a flight and know who we are working with and what to expect from each individual and how they react to any given situation. We know their

kids,mothers, brothers, cousins and fathers. We know what each family member is going through and even though we may not always agree with the slight flaws in a few characters, whenever anyone is going thru a crisis we rally together regardless. If someone is ill or unfortunately passes or someone in their family does, the entire group is their to help despite what any differences or arguments we may have had in the past or in the present. We are of an eclectic mix and understand and respect each others

background of the culture they came from and enjoy the exchange of language, foods and traditions. 

Latest developments in Guam:

APPLAUSE FOR AFA: by: Fabienne ZWERLING - UAL IAD

Resolution No. 142-31 (COR) (As Introduced) - J.T. WOn Pat, Ed.D. / T.C. Ada / T.R. Muna-Barnes (Guam Senators)

On August 30th, 2011, Sarah Nelson, International Vice President for the AFA, testified at the Guam Legislature on behalf of Air Micronesia Flight Attendants, against the shift in flying that United Airlines Inc. has proposed in that market beginning November 1, 2011. In the proposed move, United would transfer flying from Flight Attendants at Continental Micronesia to Legacy United Flight Attendants. This move would significantly decrease the earning potential for those who are based in Guam.

Ms. Nelson opposes the move in flying stating that there would be a great financial impact and that AFA would “fight it with everything they had.” if this shift proved to be detrimental to the base in GUM.

While the base in Hong Kong (also represented by AFA) would be devastated with the loss of half their flying, Air Micronesia will only have an approx. loss of 40 flying positions. However, because of the contract negotiated by the IAM, they will not suffer a loss of pay protection and their No Furlough Clause would kick in.

Unfortunately, Legacy United Flight Attendants do not have that same financial or job protection. Furthermore, most Legacy United Flight Attendants based in Asia would have limited opportunities to transfer to other locations due to their citizenship status.

The membership at Legacy United Airlines should be asking Ms. Nelson the following question:

• Who at AFA is addressing the consistent loss of flying that Legacy United Flight Attendants are incurring?

• Flying and hiring is going to Continental. They are understaffed. We, at United, are overstaffed and desperate for flying and money. When are you going to address our losses, AFA?

• What happens to those in HNL and the island turns that are being flown by Continental?

• Finally ask yourself this: If AFA had not divided 25,000 Flight Attendants into three separate unions, would we not be fighting the fight as ONE and pursuing a combined contract?

ONE VOICE WELCOMES YOUR FEEDBACK!

ONE VOICE

[6]

Travel Tips/StoriesWe would love to see your travel/layover tips in the paper.Come share with 25,000 Flight Attendants the greatest kept secrets of our job. Write to us:onevoicefa@gmail.com

AROUND THE WORLD

It is said one should use prudence when having a relationship at work, but if your partner is Lufthansa it should be clear skies.  I'll admit it, I love miles.  Years ago I began a relationship with Membership Rewards thru American Express, and after years of inattention realized in 2004 I had enough miles for a First Class Round-The-World Flight.  It was love at first sight when I boarded a Lufthansa 747-400 in Kuala Lumpur and flew on to Frankfurt with a stop in Bangkok.  We have now been in a 7 year relationship and I look forward to the warm and welcoming arms of Lufthansa when I carefully choose to use my miles for a big vacation about once a year.

The appetizer service is just a snapshot of total excellence in First Class.  The caviar service is wonderful of course, but I always opt for what I call "The Tower".  Fine, fresh ingredients compose three additional choices, and you are invited to sample them all.  And now for a closeup:  seared ahi tuna on a sweet mango tartare and wasabi avocado vinaigrette;  seared beef carpaccio with baby arugula and watercress, pickled onions and lemon oil;  red and yellow tomatoes with mozzarella, basil, and pesto.  This service is most recent from July 2011.

Breaking up is hard to do, and after September 30th the Membership Rewards points can no longer be transferred to either the OnePass or Mileage Plus accounts.  So sign up for both a Continental and United Frequent Flyer number and credit card from each, and earn some bonus miles.  I was lucky to find this seat in the Saver Pass awards for 67,500 miles.  60,000 miles were bonus to me for shifting my loyalty to our company's cards, and another 7,500 came from my option to take miles instead of a $50 perfect attendance award on two occasions (5,000 miles or $50 in the paycheck).  

I booked the seat the night before.  I had heard a tip from someone in the know a while back -- always check on seats 21 days out, and keep checking, even the night before.  You might just get lucky.  I had planned on non-revving Hamburg from Houston, and it looked good, although only in coach.  The night before, it looked like I might be on a jumpseat on my way to a nice cruise vacation.  Instead, I dined on appetizer towers, sampled the wines, and had a nice refreshing glass of Ruiniart Rose Champagne in the very special First Class lounge in Frankfurt.  

I think we married well.  And she's a funny partner, too -- I commented to my First Class Flight Attendant once how spectacular her English was, and when I inquired where she learned it so well, she replied, "watching reruns of Hogan's Heros" when I was a child.  So come enjoy the Star Alliance as a customer - it's the only way to fly.

ByCharles Giordano

ONE VOICE

Do you

have great travel tips to share with 25,000 of your

closest flying partners?What are you waiting for write to us:

www.thefanews.org

PARISBy Fabienne Zwerling

Monoprix: Make sure you have your frequent shopper card when you go to this grocery store.

Available at checkout.Boucherie de la Fontaine de Mars:112, Rue Saint Dominique - 75007

Absolutely wonderful homemade Pates and Terrines and the owner is so nice!

Find Rue Saint- Dominque and just get lost amongst the shops. You won’t be disappointed!

Suffren : Brasserie - Restaurant 84, Avenue de Suffren 01 45 66 97 86

Yes it is pricey but worth the trip. The Seafood Plate is gorgeous! Order it!

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Of course there’s a Crossword!

Answers in our next edition

ONE VOICE

ACROSS1. Copy6. The Sun, for example10. Points14. Homes for bees15. Go backpacking16. Reflected sound17. Notions18. Operatic solo19. Unskilled laborer20. Exchange messages22. Young woman23. Born24. Without company26. Silicon dioxide30. Cavalry sword32. Poplar tree33. Stove or dishwasher37. Loyal38. Licoricelike flavor39. A small ball or droplet40. Bowdlerize42. Beside43. Blackbird44. Minuscule45. Goat-like antelope47. What a knight is called48. Ends a prayer49. Beautify again56. Indian music57. Weightlifter's pump this58. Periods of discounted prices59. Narrow opening60. Matures61. A keyboard instrument62. Ultimatum ender63. It smells64. Rent

DOWN1. Fashionable2. Italian resort3. Not under4. In the vicinity5. Core6. Form7. Novice8. Similar9. Decipherable10. Reprehensible11. Sea12. Not these13. Your male children

21. Ocean25. Floral necklace26. A period of discounted prices27. Wild goat28. Jump29. Shed light on30. Malice31. Basilica area33. A Freudian stage34. A gas found in some lights35. Tins36. Jittery38. Relating to rural matters

41. Regular (abbrev.)42. Spray can44. Twitch45. Tiny46. Patronage47. Detect48. Backside50. Therefore51. Accomplishes52. Scarce53. Seaweed54. Earl Grey and orange pekoe55. Feudal worker

[8]

In Our October Issue:✤ Interviews with the Continental Flight

Attendants running for office at AFA.✤ Update on where our flying is going at all

three airlines.✤ Getting to know you: Another flight

attendant another airline.✤ Update on expedited negotiations.✤ First CAL AFA meeting: New Member

denied entry.

✤What do you want in the next issue?

HOUSTON Election Timeline:

Mail date 10-14-11

Polls Open 11-04-11

Polls Close/Count date 11-15-11

NEWARKElection Timeline:

Mail date 10-14-11

Polls Open 11-04-11

Polls Close/Count date 11-15-11

CLEVELANDElection Timeline:

Mail date 10-11-11

Polls Open 10-18-11

Polls Close/Count date 11-10-11

ONE VOICE

All our contracts, all in

one place:

www.thefanews.org

YOUR RESOURCE PAGE

DATES TO REMEMBER

GUAMElection Time

Mail date 9-22-11

Polls Open 9-29-11

Polls Close/Count

date

10-25-11