Securing the
Right Size
The new London Fog all-weather
coat has longer sleeve and hem length. Therefore, it is not necessary to
order tall sizes unless you normally wear a tall. If your old coat no longer
has a size tag and you cannot remember the size you previously ordered,
new contract language now provides for a fit line to be made available
at every crew base. Otherwise, the standard is to wear one size larger
than your jacket size.
The new sweaters are no longer
100% polyester. However, be aware that the wool content will cause some
shrinkage, so order your garments large enough to compensate for the inevitable.Shrinkage
will also occur with the wool content of your jackets, skirts and pants.
Therefore, it is important to remember this when ordering and, especially,
when hemming your pants. It may be necessary to initially wear them longer
to offset the shrinkage that gradually occurs with normal dry cleaning.
Did You Get What You Ordered,
When You Ordered It?
In the past, there was a
difference in suitcase sizes used for  mainline
flight attendants and Shuttle flight attendants. The Shuttle flight attendants
used the 16” Rollaboard suitcase. If you are a mainline flight attendant
and you received the small 16” suitcase accidentally, follow the return
procedures precisely and reorder the correct suitcase.
It is important that you
“double-check” every shipment of uniform items you receive. Do not remove
the tags from any item until you have tried it on and inspected it very
carefully! Flight attendants are receiving pants, aprons, etc. that are
poorly constructed. If your uniform item is substandard, follow the
instructions to obtain your replacement pieces. Any garment that does not
have tags or has been altered cannot be returned to Lion.
Since Lion historically maintains
inadequate inventory levels of all seasonal garments, consider ordering
any seasonal items early. Remember, new-hire orders are processed before
replacement items.
Reminders on Company Expense
Replacement
According to the contract,
all required uniform items are replaced at company expense. Therefore,
if you have purchased “extra wings” at the company’s request, please submit
in writing for your refund on the white US Airways Business Expense form
and advise the Association if you do not receive it.
Company expense replacements
are provided based on normal wear and tear. There is no restriction on
the number of garments the company will replace annually. If it is worn
or damaged, it is replaced at company expense per the contract. In
the future, the Company and the Association will hold discussions on uniform
replacement at company expense (Sideletter –L30-1).
The purpose of these discussions will be to formulate an improved procedure
for replacing uniform items (company expense) that will assure consistency
throughout the system.
Cell Phones
US Airways management prefers
that flight attendants do not use cell phones while in uniform. However,
there is no corporate policy restricting employee use of cell phones or
beepers while on duty. It is important that we preserve this privilege
by continuing to demonstrate discretion whenever using these devices while
in uniform.
New Contractual Language:
Section
6.H.3 – “ Flight Attendants will be provided with an invoice detailing
the cost of each uniform item from his/her paycheck.” – This language will
assist the flight attendant in determining accurate deductions for uniform
items.
Section
6.I. – “ In accordance with the Company uniform policy for other flight
crew members, flight attendants shall be provided a short sleeve shirt
option(s), and flight attendants will not be required to wear a jacket
between May 1st and September 30th…” – This language had already been in
effect but now has been written into our agreement.
Planning
to retire? Six facts you need to know about Social Security
Laura Magee – Editor, Contributor
– Laurie Borman, AFA Staff Attorney – Insurance and Benefits |
Social Security will affect
all of us at some point in our lives – whether we utilize Medicare, Disability
payments or monthly retirement checks. Here are seven basic facts you need
to know:
Social Security is
not a retirement plan.
This may seem to be an obvious
statement, but there are many Americans that do consider Social Security
their retirement plan. They do not regularly contribute to a savings account,
retirement plans, or 401(k) – either by lack of funds or by choice.
Your retirement benefit
is based on your lifetime earnings.
The money that you are paying
into the Social Security system is being used to pay out current recipients.
It is not being held aside and collecting interest on your behalf. The
generation that comes behind you will be funding your retirement benefits.
The amount of that benefit will be determined on your lifetime earnings;
the more money that you made, the higher the payout.
Accuracy of your earnings
record is up to you.
Every 3 years, you should
check your earnings record with the Social Security Administration. Since
your benefits are based on your lifetime earnings, accuracy of these earnings
is imperative to receiving what you are entitled to. People who have a
second job or have changed jobs frequently seem to have the most errors.
Your spouse is entitled
to Social Security benefits based on your earnings.
Even if your spouse has
earned wages, he/she is entitled to collect Social Security. When you begin
receiving benefits, your spouse may be eligible to receive up to one-half
the amount of your benefit if he or she is at least age 62. If your spouse
did work but earned a lot less, he/she may be eligible for a supplement
up to 50% of your benefit. Divorced spouses may also be entitled to a benefit
if the marriage lasted for 10 years or more.
Waiting to retire will
boost
your check.
You can collect a reduced
Social Security check at age 62. In April 2000, the law that reduced Social
Security benefits while continuing to work was improved. If you continue
to work, your benefit amount will now be reduced only until you reach full
retirement age, not up to age 70 as before. In determining when to retire,
your choices are either to collect a higher benefit or get additional years
of collecting. These are individual choices that are determined by job
status, life expectancy and your personal retirement savings. “Unless a
client has a shorter-than-normal life expectancy, I almost always advise
waiting,” says Carol Wilson, a certified financial planner in Salt Lake
City. “Most people would like to retire early, but I try to convince them
to put it off and increase their retirement income. They’ll be happier
in the long run.”
How to get your earnings
statement from the Social Security Administration.
Periodically, the SSA sends
out earnings statements to persons 25 or older. If you have not received
one, you can request your estimates through their web site at: www.ssa.gov
or call 800-772-1213. Request a Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate
Statement which will give you three retirement estimates: at age 62, your
full retirement age (65-67), and age 70. Be aware that this estimate assumes
that you will work at your current wages until retirement. Remember to
make adjustments to the estimates if this will not be the case. Your PEBES
will include your earnings history for your review. (Excerpts from Stages
magazine, Fidelity Investments)
Ready for Social Security
102? Visit www.ssa.gov
to download the entire Social Security Handbook, read more information
about retirement, or ask a question.
Formula for Social Security
Benefit Reductions While Continuing To Work
-
If you are under full retirement
age (currently age 65) when you receive your Social Security payments,
$1 in benefits will be deducted for each $2 in you earn above the earning
limit; currently $10,080 annually.
-
In the year you turn full retirement
age, $1 in benefits will be deducted for every $3 you earn above the annual
limit but only counting the earnings before the month you reach full retirement
age. For 2000, this other limit is $17,000.
Starting the month you reach
full retirement age, there will be no more reductions.
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Company Expense
Replacements
Despite clear contract that
is supported by the 1995 grievance settlement mandating that uniform replacements
be provided at company expense, flight attendants are again being denied
uniform replacements at company expense. Neither the Flight Attendant Agreement
nor the settlement language limits the number of items a flight attendant
can have replaced at company expense.
Company expense replacement
applies to company issue and additional purchase items. According to the
settlement, everything is replaced at company expense, except those items
specifically listed as employee purchase/replacement (winter scarf, nylon
briefcase with logo, umbrella, nylon garment bag, canvas shoulder bag,
clutch purse, female attaché, and the sack tote).
All other uniform items are
replaced at company expense and cannot be limited in quantity or restricted
to arbitrary time restrictions to qualify for replacement.
As stipulated in Impressions
of Excellence, uniform pieces have a life expectancy. However, replacements
will be provided based on appearance and wear. The company does not want
you to wear damaged or unsightly uniforms. Contact you local uniform committee
member if you have problems with uniform replacements at company expense.
They can work with the uniform specialist in your domicile to resolve the
issues.
Appearance Agenda
The Uniform and Appearance
Task Force converses regularly to discuss ongoing uniform issues. The committee
has representatives from management and labor for all uniformed employee
groups, marketing and purchasing. They identify uniform problems and make
recommendations to improve the overall consistent uniform image of the
airline.
The inferior cut and quality
of the female aviator shirt by Vanheusen was a major agenda item. AFA voiced
an objection to shirts not manufactured in the U.S.A. Subsequently, the
company switched to Lady Arrow, which is a proper female cut, finer quality
of cloth and made in the U.S.A. The tailored shirts do not flatter all
physiques, and the committee has recommended an additional white blouse
(similar to the cream blouse) be added to the uniform program. However,
the company is not receptive at this time.
A long-sleeve maternity smock
was approved in 1998. Since Lion has been unable to contract a manufacturer,
the purchasing department has been asked to research outside sources. Per
the grievance settlement, maternity clothes are offered on a loaner basis
at company expense with the understanding that they will be returned at
the conclusion of the pregnancy and maternity blouses will be made available
for purchase.
Customer Service and Inflight
have common issues on the table.
Of primary concern is the
need to redesign the female blazer to eliminate the exaggerated unisex
pattern and return to a standard female blazer. The labor representatives
from both groups are interested in new ties and scarves to resuscitate
an old uniform look.
Both Inflight and Customer
Service representatives have expressed strong interest in updating the
uniform with new ties and scarves/ascots. Lion has provided a few samples
in dark blue and red, white and gray. We have also provided samples of
scarves and ties from Creative Apparel that have been presented to the
committee. Unfortunately, management is not interested in updating the
‘old threads’. However, the committee members intend to keep this issue
on the table.
A positive change is the
addition of the London Fog all-weather coat. This item will be phased in
gradually as sizes in the current all-weather coat are depleted. This garment
will be available to Inflight, Flight and Customer Service employees.
The post backs on the wings
are breaking and the company is replacing them at their expense. In addition,
it is AFA’s position that if the Company wants you to wear wings on your
shirt and jacket, they are contractually required to provide the second
set at their expense.
The oversized sliders worn
with the aviator shirts are another manufacturer snafu. These are being
replaced by Lion and should now be available in each domicile.
Lion has also substituted
the dark blue leather belt with a plastic navy belt. The committee has
requested that Lion provide the original quality of belt. As previously
published, this item will be available in black once the current inventory
is depleted.
Due to problems like those
mentioned above, all uniform pieces were assembled and reviewed by the
committee. Based on this assessment process, the purchasing department
will review the quality and service issues with each uniform vendor. All
purchasing agreements will be re-evaluated and closely monitored for consistency
and quality.
Loaner Luggage
The company and TravelPro
have responded to AFA’s request for each domicile to maintain an inventory
of ‘loaner suitcases’. This should minimize the inconvenience flight attendants
are experiencing while waiting for repaired or replacement luggage from
Lion. Due to the high volume of luggage repairs, AFA has requested that
alternatives such as Samsonite and Skyways be tested in the field for future
consideration. Your recommendations for other brands to be considered can
be directed to your local uniform representative. Meanwhile, TravelPro
has upgraded the Crew Series with sturdier suitcases and a new tote bag
line. Each domicile should have pictures of the new totes in the Crew Service
Centers.
Special Sizes
Lady Arrow provides tall
female aviator shirts in sizes 8 –16. They are available by special order
and may take extra time for delivery. Due to a limited inventory and the
high demand for the female aviator shirts, many orders were filled with
larger sizes than requested. These shirts can be altered at company expense
if you have pre-authorization from your supervisor. Alterations can include
sleeve length, body width, and shoulder adjustments. If the cost of alteration
exceeds the cost of the shirt, your supervisor can replace it with the
correct size at company expense. If you do not want a size substitution,
please write “no substitution” on the order form.
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