US AIRWAYS PASSENGER SERVICE EMPLOYEES
LOCAL 3640
2009 Political/Legislative Conference Report
In attendance for Local 3640 was Richard Dennis, chairperson of the Political/Legislative committee.
The conference was June 23-25, 2009 in Washington D.C.
The four basic issues of CWA in 2009 are as follows:
- Employee Free Choice Act (To get legislation passed in the Senate and House, and signed into law by President Obama).
- Health Care Reform (four priorities, #1-employers should be responsible for covering their workers, #2-guarantee coverage for pre-Medicare retirees, #3- guarantee people a choice of private and public health insurance plans, #4-do not tax the health care benefits of working families.)
- Flight Attendant Legislative Issues. (FMLA reform, Enforceable carry-on luggage guidelines, updated provisions in the FAA reauthorization Act)
- Commission on Civil Rights reform.
The Employee Free Choice Act, or EFCA effort this year is a continuation of work towards more effective Labor legislation that CWA has been working on for 17 years.
The 3 primary parts to this legislation are, Majority sign-up, or card check elections,
First contract mediation and arbitration, and stronger penalties for employer violations. Majority sign-up or card check would require that union representation of, and bargaining authorization will be recognized once a majority of workers at a company, based on class and craft, have signed card requesting union representation. The legislation should also have first contract mediation and arbitration, specifying set time lines (90 days) at which point either the workers, or the employer can request Federal Mediation. If no agreement can be reached after another set period of time (30 days), possible binding arbitration, with the results binding the parties for two years. Finally, the legislation provides for penalties up to $20,000 per violation against employers found to have willfully or repeatedly violated workers’ rights during an organizing campaign or pursuit of a first contract.
On the issue of Health Care Reform, CWA considers the 4 priorities listed above as critical to any successful legislation. For members interested, both the Local 3640
Web-site, and our Legislative/Political Action Committee have very detailed information available.
Also available is information on the Flight Attendant Legislative issues, and the commission on Civil Rights reform recommendations.
As Our Local’s delegate I had meetings with the offices of three different House members, and both of North Carolina’s Senators on Wednesday afternoon. I personally met with staff members for Congressman Howard Coble (6th District, N.C.), Senator Kay Hagen, Senator Richard Burr. In our last appointment, we met with Congressman Larry Kissell (8th district N.C.). In the meetings with Senator Hagan’s office and with Congressman Kissell, I was part of a larger group of Delegates, the numbers of which varied from meeting to meeting. In my meetings with the staff of Congressman Coble, and Senator Burr I was the only CWA member presenting our issues.
This effort involved over 2000 CWA members from all over the United States, meeting with our elected representatives. This is part of a greater effort to support positive legislation on issues important to CWA, and us, as both Union members and Usairways employee’s. As part of this ongoing effort it is important that we continue to write, call, and e-mail our members of Congress. We need too support those issues that concern and effect our lives, as well as the legislation being debated and voted on, which include Health Care reform, and E.F.C.A.
If you have any questions, please fell free to contact any of the members of our Legislative Political Action committee. And remember, there are links to both our Locals' Website and other CWA web links that has more information.
Richard Dennis
Chairperson - Local 3640 Legislative Political Action committee.
