Government Affairs Committee
Our Voice On Capitol Hill
The goal of the Government Affairs Committee is to bring issues that affect our careers to the attention of our legislators on Capitol Hill as well as to state and local law-makers. The focus of the committee is to facilitate legislation that improves our careers, taking as many issues as possible off the negotiations table. Legislate, Not Negotiate!
News
FAREWELL TO AFA-CWA LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR SHANE LARSON
AFA-CWA International Legislative Affairs Director Shane Larson will be leaving his position after 11 years of dedicated service to all AFA-CWA flight attendants.
Shane has worked tirelessly to fight for flight attendants through legislative efforts on Capitol Hill.
His leadership has inspired and empowered flight attendants to educate members of Congress on a wide array of issues affecting the flight attendant profession. These efforts have brought about many positive changes including the recent passage of the Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act, FMLA legislation that will ensure coverage for every airline employee.
We will miss his guidance, expertise, and great sense of humor and we thank him for his hard work on our behalf. Shane will be the Legislative Director at the CWA and we look forward to a continued association. I know that you will all join us at the Government Affairs Committee in wishing our friend Shane the best of luck in his new position at the CWA.
Thank you, Shane
Submitted by
Camilla Wolkerstorfer
NWA MEC Chair
Government Affairs
Posted by Gov Affairs on 01/26 at 10:46 AM
Carry On Baggage Madness!
Congressman Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) authored legislation to create a uniform and enforceable carry-on bag policy allowing only one item no larger than 50 linear inches and one personal item. H.R. 2870 would create a universal size requirement for carry-on bags instead of allowing each carrier to determine its own size requirements. The bill also requires that restrictions be enforced at screening locations through use of a template.
Over 20 years ago carry-on bag policies were established, but each airline has chosen to create their own program making it difficult and confusing for passengers. While acknowledging that excess carry-on bags can hamper emergency evacuations, the FAA has failed to establish uniform requirements, allowing carriers flexibility confusing many customers. With airlines currently charging for checked bags, passengers are trying to avoid charges by bringing more items onto airplanes which are not designed to accommodate each customer’s carry-on luggage. This policy abuse has created on-board incidents, delays in departures, physical and verbal abuse of flight crew members and fights between passengers. In a 2004 survey of Travel Insider newsletter, readers admit that 80% exceed the official carry on allowance with no resistance from airlines. International flights have much stricter policies in place; however with the rise in alliances between domestic and International carriers, many customers encounter different rules as they travel between airlines.
Currently, Canadian officials have banned most carry-on baggage for U.S bound passengers following the failed Christmas Day terrorist plot on board one of our airplanes. Transport Canada, the department within the government of Canada which is responsible for developing transportation regulations and policies, state that passengers may carry only medical devices, small purses, cameras, laptop computers, canes, walkers, diaper bags, musical instruments, and bags containing life-sustaining items. Our neighbors to the north have taken a proactive approach to this very difficult and challenging situation. It is time our government takes a similar approach to ensure safe skies for us and the traveling public.
Representative Lipinski’s Bill- HR2870 will ensure the TSA monitor and restrict carry-on baggage, eliminating long lines and delays, creating a more efficient and effective system, and a safer travel environment. A consistent, uniform carry-on bag policy must be created and enforced.
Camilla Wolkerstorfer
MEC Government Affairs Chair
Coalition fights to allow cellphone use on planes
An article appeared in USA Today stating that a collation of electronics manufacturers, phone service providers and consumer groups is trying to rally airline passengers this week to stop Congress from banning air-to-ground phone service.
The group says that airline passengers in the USA should have the option of using technology that’s available to them to talk while flying just as passengers in 72 other countries can.
A leader of the coalition claims that most consumers “want the choice of being able to use this technology.” Passengers, he says, should be able to “call home and say, I’m going to be an hour late,” to call the office and give some brief instructions, or to call and get the test results from an ill family member.” We know from experience that this is not what our customers would do. Our customers would use their cell phones to conduct business and chat with friends and family while we attempt to brief them on safety, provide service and ensure a safe and comfortable flight.
A measure in the House version of a bill to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration goes further. It would outlaw talking via cellphone.
The Senate version of the bill doesn’t currently have the ban. And the group lobbying Congress wants to keep it that way. The Senate isn’t likely to act on the bill until early next year. But we must begin to act now.
Advocates of the ban, such as Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., say they want to protect fliers from the intrusion of phone calls in one of the last phone-free zones.
DeFazio, who introduced the ban last year before it was incorporated in the reauthorization bill, says passengers shouldn’t be subjected to fellow passengers’ noisy conversations.
He points to a survey of 3,000 frequent fliers done by the International Airline Passengers Association that found that 88 percent said air-to-ground calls would be “a source of great irritation.”
Send your Senator a loud message that as safety professionals, we cannot allow this to happen on our aircraft. We must be allowed to ensure a safe and comfortable flying experience for all of our customers. Click on the link to the right and print a letter that you can send to your Senator today.
Posted by Gov Affairs on 12/11 at 10:16 AMLetter to Anderson Asking For His Support Benefits Tax Equity For All
October 2009 - Please click HERE to reach MEC President Janette Rook and SEA FA Bryan Bennett’s Letter to Richard Anderson, requesting his support for Benefits Tax Equity for ALL.
FAA Re-Authorization Bill passes second hurdle - but no cell phone ban!
We need your help NOW!
On Tuesday July 21, the Senate Commerce Committee discussed and reported out to the full Senate S. 1451, the FAA Reauthorization Act. As you may recall the House passed their version recently as well. Included in the base bill were an unprecedented number of provisions specific to flight attendants supported and pushed for by AFA. Those include, flight attendant fatigue research, expansion of the HIMS program to cover flight attendants, a requirement that flight attendant be proficient in English and a provision directing the FAA and OSHA to complete work on developing workplace safety and health protections for flight attendants.
During debate of the bill, an amendment offered by Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) was accepted that would require the FAA to identify aircraft sensor and air cleaning technology that could be used to reduce air supply contamination onboard the aircraft. After one year, the FAA would be required to report back to Congress on their results and the available technology.
The Committee also accepted an amendment offered by Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) that would enhance the alcohol awareness training for flight attendants.
Unfortunately, the ban on cell phone usage was not included in the bill, nor did any Senator offer an amendment during the bill consideration to ban cell phones inflight. With your help, we will continue our aggressive grassroots campaign to see if any Senators are willing to offer such an amendment when the bill comes up on the Senate floor. Please print out a copy of the cell phone ban letter found on this web page to the right and fax it to your Senator. In addition you may call your Senator and use the following script urging them to support a ban on cell phones during flight. You can call the Congressional switchboard at 202 224-3121 and ask for your Senator’s office number. You may also go to http://www.senate.gov/.
Script:
“Hello, I’m a constituent and I live in (your city and state of residence). I’m calling to urge the Senator to support an airline in-flight cell phone ban as part of the FAA Re-authorization. The aircraft cabin is no place for cell phone conversations, and use of cell phones in-flight poses a risk to safety and security. The US House of Representatives has taken the first step by including a cell phone ban in the FAA Reauthorization Bill. As a constituent I urge the Senator to work to ensure that the FAA Re-authorization includes a ban on in-flight cell phone usage.”