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[Today's date]


Dear _________________________

On October 28, 2009, U S Airways CEO Douglas Parker announced that domiciles in Boston, New York and Las Vegas will be closing on the following dates: New York/Las Vegas on January 31, 2010 and Boston May 2, 2010.  This devastating news will affect as many as one thousand (1000) employees across the system.  In Boston, it will affect approximately 180 flight attendants and 85 pilots that are actively working out of the Boston domicile at the Logan International Airport.  Included in this announcement was a reduction in capacity on the Boston – New York Shuttle service by replacing the airbus 319 aircraft to a smaller E 190 aircraft on this route.  As FAA certified Safety Professionals we have a concern as the less-capable aircraft will be based out of Philadelphia, which may very possibly jeopardize the customer’s expectation of on time performance due to limited landing capability in certain weather conditions at Logan Airport on the E190 than the 319 Airbus and the flights originating in and out of Philadelphia, PA.  Customers expecting the service they receive today may not be provided with the reliable, comfortable, service but will be paying the same price.

The only job choices offered to the flight attendants and pilots are located in Philadelphia PA., Washington D C and Charlotte NC or find ourselves on the unemployment line.   No incentive package for any union employee was part of this announcement.

US Airways provided union leaders with an analysis of this economic decision of which in conjunction with a hired consultant, they are currently reviewing.  The Association is working on a proposal of an incentive package which includes a severance, medical benefits and travel options as with these closures management has advised that they need to reduce flight attendant staffing by 130 across the system.  The Association/we expect an uphill battle to secure an agreement to assist us in making this life altering decision. In the Boston domicile alone, the top 25% of flight attendants are at the age of 52 or above.  We are single flight attendants, parents of younger and school aged children, single parents, parents of children with special medical needs, flight attendants caring for elderly parents, and we  will be faced with the decision of traveling by air/standby to get to work or collect unemployment.   In Boston alone, the top 25% of flight attendants have a seniority of 30 years or more.  The most junior flight attendants in Boston alone have 9 years of seniority.  The overall average salary of a flight attendant in Boston is $38,000.00.  The Boston domicile has been in existence for approximately 40 years. We believe a less life altering, less destructive to the local employees who have given so much, less destructive to the local economy decision would be to reevaluate and maintain Boston as a base or maintain it without the administrative costs as a satellite base staffed with flight crew.

We need help.  We need an advocate in our corner to assist us in getting this company to do the right thing.  Without consideration of a satellite base, we would need this company to review and provide a commuter policy consistent with the reality of employees having no other option other than commute stand-by travel by air, uproot ourselves / our family and move to maintain employment or find ourselves unemployed.  Ultimately, we believe there are other options. We believe instead that the company should be open to recommendations that offer less impact and begin discussions to save jobs and the livelihoods of employees in this New England region to be the collective goal.

The flight attendants at US Airways have given back more than $150,000,000.00 (one hundred and fifty million) in concessions since 9/11 and that is not including the portion America West flight attendants gave back.  The PBGC is now responsible to administer the retirement benefit we lost in January 2005.  We feel we have given so much to this company and we see nothing in return but economic decisions without the consideration of reviewing all of the options.  We continue to see upper management make millions selling company stocks.  **Money that was made on the backs of labor.  When will it end?  Please, we need the help of our legislators to address this situation with US Airways Management and to question this decision that will impact this region perhaps further burdening the coffers of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Vermont.