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Dear Members,

US AIRWAYS AND SWINE FLU

On October 24, 2009 President Obama declared the H1N1 virus a national emergency. What does that mean for US Airways and more importantly what is US Airways doing to protect you. Not enough-in my opinion.

The virus is already present in 46 states, a statistic that exceeds the normal yearly influenza outbreak.

The medical community has responded as hospitals have started restricting visitor access, isolating emergency rooms and taking other new precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. The government has responded by declaring the virus a national emergency but has cautioned that does not mean a widespread pandemic is imminent.

Because Flight Attendants work in a confined environment and are in close proximity to hundreds of people daily, the Union believes more than the "existing protocols should be provided to our members.

On behalf of the membership, I sent the Company a letter in September outlining the seriousness of the virus and several measures the Union believes will protect our members from contracting or spreading the virus.

In summary, the letter called on the Company to increase the supply of medical grade gloves and masks, not dispatch flights on aircraft with inoperable potable water systems and increase usage of aircraft APUs while on the ground to pressurize those systems. More importantly, the Union made it clear to the Company because our sick policy of 70% pay makes being sick a financial hardship, Flight Attendants who contract the virus be paid 100% for their sick time. In addition, a Flight Attendant who calls in sick with the virus should not have that sick call recorded for disciplinary purposes. The Union believes all of our requests were not only prudent, but reasonable.

The Company responded to the Union on October 16, 2009 denying all of the Unions requests. According to Deborah Thompson, Director of Emergency Planning and Response, US Airways has established a set of "protocols" the Company believes are sufficient to handle the H1N1 outbreak at this time.

I contacted Ms. Thompson regarding the "protocols" for Flight Attendants, particularly what happens when Flight Attendants encounter a customer during the boarding process who exhibits flu-like symptoms. The "protocol" in that event is to request the flight deck crew to call MedLink for an assessment and contact the customer service shift manager.

If that is what the Company wants that is what we will do- even if it means delaying the departure.

Airport customer service personnel have been provided with the following information when they suspect a customer may have a communicable disease. According to Ms. Thompson, Flight Attendants are to follow the same type of protocols as the customer service agents.

Airport staff should be alert for signs and symptoms of illness, such as fever accompanied by a rash, unusually flushed or pale complexion, jaundice (yellowing of skin, eyes, or nails), shivering, profuse sweating, and inability to walk without assistance.

If such symptoms are apparent, the agent should have some discussion with the passenger. Suggested verbiage might be:

-- "Are you feeling okay today?"

-- "Are you okay for travel?"

-- "Are you running a fever?" or,

-- "Would you like me to call someone for assistance?"

If you feel the passenger may have a communicable disease based on the above criteria, a shift manager or CRO must be involved. If the shift manager or CRO agree with your assessment then MedLink must be called. If Medlink advises that the passenger meets the above criteria have them patch the call through to the CDC and explain the situation and what was discussed with MedLink. The CDC will advise their final recommendation on whether the passenger may or may not have a communicable disease.

Below is the letter from the Union and the Company's response is linked below the Union's response.

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October 6, 2009

Mike Flores
MEC President
US Airways Master Executive Council
205 Regency Executive Parkway
Charlotte, North Carolina, 28277


RE: Measures to Limit the Spread of Novel H1N1 Influenza Via US Mail and Email

Dear Robert:

On April 26, 2009 (and subsequently renewed on July 24, 2009,) the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that a public health emergency exists nationwide involving Swine Influenza A (Novel H1N1 Influenza) that "affects or has significant potential to affect national security." On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General officially recognized the global nature of the influenza pandemic, raising the alert status to phase 6. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO (AFA-CWA) is concerned by the health threat to all airline employees, passengers, and the public at-large from Novel H1N1 Influenza. We are particularly concerned for our members who are part of the significant group of people considered at higher risk for serious complications from influenza infection, including pregnant women, persons who live with or provide care for infants aged <6 months, children and young adults aged 6 months-24 years, and persons aged 25-64 years who have certain medical conditions that include asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney disease, and neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders.

As we both know, any pandemic can cause serious economic consequences to our industry. It is therefore in both of our best interests to do everything we can to protect our passengers and employees from either contracting or spreading the disease.
Given the seriousness of the ongoing pandemic, and concerns that the coming fall flu season may bring a substantial increase in H1N1 influenza activity, I am writing to request that US Airways implement the following specific steps to limit the spread of disease:

1. Develop, implement, and enforce passenger health screening policies and procedures as recommended by the WHO, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), or other national health authorities; and

2. Inform all airline employees that certain groups of people are considered to be at higher risk of influenza-related complications. This includes pregnant women, persons who live with or provide care for infants aged <6 months, children and young adults aged 6 months-24 years, and persons aged 25-64 years who have medical conditions (including asthma, diabetes, suppressed immune systems, heart disease, kidney disease, and neurocognitive and neuromuscular disorders.); and

3. The CDC recommends that anyone with flu-like illness stay home. This is to protect the sick person and to control the spread of disease. In light of this CDC recommendation, any attendance policies or practices that discourage employees from calling in sick should be rescinded or ceased for the duration of the pandemic; and

4. As you are well aware, the current East Sick policy is onerous at best. Behavioral scientists have developed a term for employees who come to work sick- the term is "presenteeism". When employees come to work sick those employees create an infection risk for their co-workers. The net result is more employees become ill and are forced to call in sick, or worse yet, come to work sick. Therefore, I am asking the Company to not allow any sick call, as a result of a diagnosed case of Swine Influenza, to be counted toward any disciplinary progression. One of the reasons Flight Attendants come to work sick is because our current sick policy only pays 70% of the value of the trip(s) missed. Therefore, I am also asking the Company to pay 100% of the trip(s) missed for a sick call, as a result of a diagnosed case of Swine Influenza; and

5. Inform flight attendants that they should avoid close contact with passengers and with each other, as well as with potentially infected surfaces, all to the extent possible; and

6. Inform crewmembers and passengers that, while onboard, if they have to cough or sneeze, they should do so into their elbow or shoulder and wash their hands afterwards; and

7. Ensure that aircraft are equipped with proper and sufficient hand washing materials, and emphasize to crews the importance of regular and thorough hand washing, preferably with soap and water or with alcohol-based gels. All aircraft should have properly functioning potable water systems and an adequate supply of soap and paper towels. Hand washing is especially important before and after eating and serving food and drinks. Also, crewmembers must be informed of the need to avoid touching their own eyes, nose, and mouth; and

8. Not dispatch aircraft with inoperative potable water systems; and

9. Train flight attendants to recognize and manage passengers who display symptoms of influenza-like illness (including fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, runny or stuffy nose, headache, chills and fatigue, and possibly diarrhea and vomiting.) This includes encouraging any passengers with flu-like illness to wear a face mask* and isolating them from other passengers to the extent possible. Train flight attendants who are in close contact with passengers who have influenza-like illness to wear a face mask* and gloves and ensure that adequate supplies are readily available; and

10. Provide non-latex gloves and appropriate face masks* to flight attendants. Allow flight attendants to choose whether or not to wear these (or their own) gloves/masks, without discipline. Information to flight attendants regarding use of these personal protective equipment items should include reminders that wearing gloves will prevent them from getting infected through any cuts on their hands, that they should not touch their faces when wearing gloves, should wash their hands after they take the gloves off, and that if the gloves get torn, they should remove the old gloves, wash their hands, and put on a new pair; and

11. Train pilots to turn up the air packs to "high" whenever possible, as maximizing the airflow to the cabin can reduce the risk of exposure to airborne viruses. This is especially important during ground operations, when risk of infection is highest because people are active and in closer contact with each other when stowing bags. In addition, allow pilots to run the APU on the ground during the boarding process so that the potable water systems will be available; and

12. Train flight attendants to inform passengers during the pre-flight safety briefing of appropriate means to reduce the spread of infection.

Providing flight attendants, who must work in and around potentially infected passengers, the proper information, training and equipment to protect themselves and the public from exposures to Novel H1N1 Influenza will reduce threats to both the public's health and the airline's economic security. Therefore, we urge US Airways to implement the protective and proactive measures outlined in this letter. Thank you for your consideration.


Sincerely,

Mike Flores, President
The US Airways Master Executive Council
AFA-CWA

 
THE COMPANY'S RESPONSE - (Adobe pdf document)

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AFA Local Numbers
 
Council 41 DCA 703-212-8090
Council 69 BOS 781-289-8454
Council 70 PHL 215-492-0840
Council 82 LGA 315-736-3483
Council 89 CLT 704-527-0325

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US AIRWAYS Benefits Information 800-872-4780

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