Mesa Airlines

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November 8, 2011

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: • Airline Focus: Mesa Airlines • In Memoriam: Beloved Flight Attendant Nick Aaronson • Layover Safety • Spirit Flight Attendants Rally • Maintaining a Flight Attendant Voice at ASA-ExpressJet

Airline Focus: Mesa Airlines

Preparing for the start of contract negotiations on behalf of the 600 Mesa Airlines Flight Attendants, the Mesa AFA Negotiating Committee is drafting opening proposals based on the priorities set by Flight Attendants through surveys, meetings and direct member feedback.

Soon after being elected to office last year, Mesa AFA officers took the first step in the AFA negotiations process: they asked questions and listened to their members. “We asked Flight Attendants what they want in one-on-one conversations, in meetings and through surveys,” said Mesa AFA MEC President Chantil Huskey. “With that information, we started building our opening proposal in October which we’ll present to management in December. We did as much outreach as possible to get their input because the process is completely driven by the priorities set by the Flight Attendants.”

The Mesa AFA Negotiating Committee met with AFA International officers, and expert AFA collective bargaining and legal staff at AFA headquarters for training in negotiations where they furthered their understanding of the negotiations process and refined their strategy. AFA Staff Attorney Scott Goodman, who brings extensive airline labor relations and legal experience to the table, was selected by the Mesa Committee to serve as their Staff Negotiator. AFA Staff Negotiators assist AFA Negotiating Committees throughout the entire negotiations process, from start to finish. The Committee then conducted a member survey to quantify the Mesa Flight Attendants’ priorities for negotiations and held road shows at Mesa Flight Attendant bases. Throughout the process, they have been in direct conversations with members about their concerns.

“We wanted to make sure we launched this process with a full understanding of and agreement on what our members want us to accomplish in negotiations,” said Huskey. “The opening proposals that we will soon be presenting to management will be based on feedback we have received from our members. We have the opportunity to make the lives of our members better through negotiated improvements and from the gains that AFA has achieved for our profession on Capitol

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Hill, like FMLA for Flight Attendants—issues that we don’t have to negotiate. Once we have a tentative agreement with management, members will vote on whether to approve it or not. With Flight Attendants’ approval, we have a working contract that we enforce through our grievance and arbitration processes. With all of those forces working in our favor, we have a real voice in the workplace.”

Despite management’s traditionally anti-worker stance, the Mesa AFA leadership has been able to come to agreement with management outside of contract negotiations on important policy changes for the Mesa Flight Attendants: gaining improvements for reserve Flight Attendants, favorable clarifications in the commuter policy, more flexibility with open time scheduling, and a test period for other scheduling improvements.

Founded in New Mexico in 1982, Mesa has bases in Charlotte (CLT); Honolulu (HNL); Washington, DC (IAD); Kahului (OGG), Kona (KOA) and Lihue (LIH), HI; Chicago (ORD) and Phoenix (PHX). The airline operates as a Delta Connection, US Airways Express and United Express carrier and, since 2006, operates go!, which provides intra-island service in Hawaii. After one year in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Mesa Air Group emerged from bankruptcy this year. With 113 aircraft and over 650 daily departures to 120 cities in the US, Canada and Mexico, Mesa Airlines brands itself as a high quality, low cost regional airline. The majority of previous Mesa flying entailed one Flight Attendant per aircraft but, in the near future, all flight crews will include two Flight Attendants per aircraft.

“The Mesa AFA leaders have played their cards very well in a changing environment and are on the right path toward advancing the contract and working conditions for Mesa Flight Attendants,” said AFA International President Veda Shook.

In Memoriam: Beloved Flight Attendant Nick Aaronson

The loss of a flying partner is profoundly devastating when they are brutally taken from us in the line of duty. US Airways PHX Council 66 member Nick Aaronson’s untimely passing touched the hearts of many Flight Attendants in a personal way. We are able to connect and identify with the loss of a Flight Attendant in a manner that most others can’t understand. AFA EAP peer representatives were there from the start, and are at hand to support fellow Flight Attendants every single day – no matter which member airline is in need. The article below was written to provide those who were unable to attend events in support of Nick’s journey home a snapshot of how Flight Attendants and airline employees pulled together to ensure his final journey was filled with love, unity, and honor.

Nick Aaronson’s Farewell Flight

PHOENIX, AZ – As reported by AFA Council 66 President Deborah Volpe – The call was one that I had hoped to never receive, the death of a Flight Attendant while on a layover in another country. While time seemed to stand still, our US Airways Flight Attendant family began to come together to grieve the loss of someone very special. Our concern was for our work force, which would no doubt carry the heavy weight of losing a co-worker and close friend. The next matter of importance was to make sure Nick was brought back to the United States to his family in California. http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4042/c/538/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=61808[10/24/2013 3:03:40 PM] AFA Interactive

Nick's journey home read like a typical Flight Attendant duty assignment: MEX to PHX; PHX to LAX. One thing was clear, Nick should not go unescorted as his casket made its way back to L.A. I joined the US Airways Senior VP of Inflight in MEX to receive Nick's body and escort him back to PHX. Upon landing in PHX, the PHX Fire Department stood as an honor guard along with other ground personnel as Nick's casket was placed on a vehicle that would take him to his connecting flight to LAX.

A somber send off was planned on the ramp next to Nick's flight back to LAX. Over 300 Flight Attendants gathered in uniform wearing black ribbons and carrying flashlights and white roses. We were blessed to be joined in unity by our co-workers from US Airways based in CLT, PHL and DCA who commuted to PHX just to say good-bye to Nick. In addition, we were joined with Flight Attendants from Frontier, Southwest and United Airlines. Also joining us were Pilots along with Passenger Service Agents. Nick's casket was draped with a cloth that contained thousands of messages from Nick's friends and co-workers. Passengers seated on the aircraft witnessed hundreds of Nick's friends and co-workers lovingly placed their 300 white roses on top of his casket in a final farewell.

Upon the aircraft pushing back, all of those present lined the length of the alleyway as guide to the taxiway. The silence was broken by the start of the engines and soon hundreds of flashlights waived their final good-bye as Nick began his final leg home.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The L.A. segment of Nick’s journey home began at 2100, when Flight Attendants from AFA Local Councils based at Los Angeles gathered curbside at LAX Terminal 1 to represent the broader Flight Attendant community. AFA members in uniform from Alaska, American Eagle, Hawaiian, and United Airlines came together with US Airways Flight Attendants to usher Nick home to his family in Southern California.

Just prior to the flight’s arrival, Nick’s mother embraced and held each of the Flight Attendants as only a mother could. Despite her grief, Nick’s mom thanked Flight Attendants for being there in support of the family. Nick’s sister, brother, and other family members expressed their appreciation, saying they never knew how strong the bond was in the “Flight Attendant family.” US Airways Flight #1535 arrived from Phoenix at 2145 where a single line of over 40 Flight Attendants stretched across the gate. Nick’s Flight Attendant friends deplaned first, and were taken in by his awaiting family.

The family was then taken down to the tarmac to receive Nick after his final flight. Six ramp employees in uniform with orange vests carried Nick from the aircraft to the awaiting vehicle as Flight Attendants looked on from the gate room with flameless tea light candles lining the windowsill. Upon return to the gate room, Nick’s family was lovingly received with two lines of Flight Attendants standing in tribute to him; letting them know they were not alone. That day, even Flight Attendants were in awe seeing each other in uniform standing in one place – united in our show of support for Nick and his family. Flight Attendants are extraordinary people – always the first to help others in need or lend a comforting hand. Flight Attendants from five AFA member airlines standing together in unison were moved by the closeness of our bond. We are first responders for those in our care and the first to understand one another in times of loss, sorrow, and grief. Even in the most difficult of events, it is a comfort to know we always have each other.

Video tribute to Nick from his friends >>

Photos from the PHX segment of Nick’s journey home >>

Layover Safety

Whether you layover at the airport or downtown, maintaining your safety should be your top priority. Remain vigilant at all times. Here are some tips that may help:

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Know the name of your hotel and how to get there before leaving your domicile. Appearing lost or confused in a public place can make you a target for crime. Stay together – avoid going out alone. At the hotel, keep luggage in your possession or secured at all times. Place valuables in a hotel or in-room safe or, better yet, leave them at home. Do not mention room numbers in the presence of other hotel guests. If hotel staff announces your room number so others can hear, request another room assignment. Try to have rooms assigned close to other crewmembers. Take note of the number of fire exits and where they are located. Prior to closing the door when you enter your room, have a fellow crew member wait while you inspect the room and use your suitcase to prop the door open. Otherwise, have hotel security or other staff escort you to your room and wait while you inspect it. Check closets, under beds, behind drapes, and the bathroom. Ensure the phone is working and that you can directly dial 911 or the local emergency number. Once inside your room, use all available door and window locks. If any are broken or inoperable, request another room. Place the "Do Not Disturb" sign on your door and your room key and flashlight at the bedside. If someone knocks on your door, ask them to identify themselves and look through the peep hole. If it is a hotel employee, consider calling the front desk to verify their identity before allowing them inside. If it is necessary for anyone to enter your room unannounced, hotel protocol industry-wide calls for the presence of at least two persons, at least one of the same gender. When away from your room turn on the TV or radio to a minimal volume that can be heard from outside your door. Travel in numbers to areas that are confirmed as safe by the hotel concierge or front desk staff. If you do go out by yourself, tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return or leave a note of your intended plans in your room by the phone. Do not dress in a way that draws attention or wear expensive jewelry. Carry a personal ID and cell phone. Be aware of your surroundings.

Spirit Flight Attendants Rally

Maintaining a Flight Attendant Voice at ASA-ExpressJet

This week the National Mediation Board (NMB) will announce dates for a union representation election for the over 2,300 Flight Attendants in the ASA/ExpressJet merger. The Atlantic Southeast Airlines (ASA) and ExpressJet (XJT) merger will create the world’s first super regional http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4042/c/538/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=61808[10/24/2013 3:03:40 PM] AFA Interactive

airline, headquartered in Atlanta, with connecting service for Delta, United and Continental. The new airline will be called ExpressJet and use the ASA logo.

By law, both the XJT and ASA contracts remain in place after the representation election. XJT Flight Attendants will never work under the ASA contract and ASA Flight Attendants will never work under the XJT contract. This merger provides the opportunity to negotiate the best of both. Together we will do even better by setting the best standards for all Flight Attendants. Increased pay, more flexibility, better benefits, job protection, seniority guaranteed and all of the benefits of our Flight Attendant union.

Click “Like” at www.facebook.com/XJTandASAforAFA if you support a positive future for the Flight Attendants at the new ExpressJet.

Visit yourafa.org for the latest election information.

The National Mediation Board (NMB) has yet to make a decision regarding charges of management interference in the Delta Flight Attendants’ union representation election. The Delta Flight Attendants need a union and the clear choice is AFA, the Flight Attendant union. AFA members worldwide are committed to a Flight Attendant victory at Delta. It is time for a revote.

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