Government Affairs Committee

Alaska MEC Government Affairs – February 2016

March 14, 2016 14:47

SECURE OUR SKIES ACT This legislation will save lives

Flight Attendants Achieve Introduction of Legislation Aimed at Stopping Human Trafficking (AFA media report)
Washington, DC (February 2, 2016) — The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) today praised the introduction of the Secure Our Skies Act to fight human trafficking with proper training for aviation workers, led by U.S. Representatives Dina Titus (D-NV-01) and Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10).

“As aviation’s first responders we are charged with the safety, health and security of the passengers in our care,” said AFA International President Sara Nelson. “Traffickers steal lives. But for a window of time, we can see it and report it. Millions of innocent victims are trafficked throughout the world each year, and many are transported on our planes. We are proud to work with Representatives Titus and Comstock to move this important legislation to reality in our workplace. With proper training we can be 100,000 eyes in skies saving lives.”

The bill requires training for flight attendants, pilots and dispatchers of air carriers to to identify and report human trafficking.

“Human trafficking doesn’t happen just on the ground. That’s why members of the airline industry are in a strong position to help stop these crimes,” said Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV-01). “The SOS Act will close off the skies to traffickers by providing training to professionals who know their way around aircraft. I thank the nation’s flight attendants for their commitment to fighting these heinous crimes. They know we have to spot the signs to stop the crimes.”

The infrastructure and training mechanisms are already in place through the Department of Transportation’s Blue Lightning Initiative, launched almost three years ago on June 6, 2013. Blue Lightning teaches airline personnel on a voluntary basis about common circumstances with human trafficking in order to recognize and report these instances to law enforcement for swift action. AFA launched a public campaign on June 1, 2015 to promote the provisions of the SOS Act.

“It is critical that we are ever vigilant in the fight against the heinous crime of human trafficking,” said Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA-10). “Every day, flight attendants see and interact with children on the thousands of flights across our country and throughout the world. They are the eyes and ears in this constant battle, and this legislation will give them the tools

to save the most vulnerable in our society and fight this terrible scourge. I want to thank Congresswoman Titus for working in a bipartisan manner on this important legislation.”

“Everyone immediately recognizes the horror of human trafficking, but we must turn our outrage into concrete action to stop it,” Nelson concluded.

See Rep. Dina Titus introduce the bill on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xUhhhCiWWGU

UPDATE ON THE FAA REAUTHORIZATION PROCESS

February saw the introduction of the much awaited FAA Reauthorization bill. I have included Gov Affairs Director Steve Schembs comprehensive update and explanation on the bill as it moves through Congress:

FEB 26, 2016 – The FAA Reauthorization Bill has been introduced in the House, reviewed and adopted by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee as amended. Our 10 hours rest between duty periods and a Fatigue Risk Management Plan are included in the bill as well a AFA-promoted issues listed at the end of this update.

Now the Senate is writing its version of the bill, which is expected to be introduced in the coming days. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee “mark-up” will likely be scheduled prior to their Easter recess starting March 18th. This means committee action could take place on the very day of our March 16th Rally for Rest. Regardless, the Rally is well timed and it is assisting us in promoting inclusion of our rest/fatigue language. If you have not already RSVP’d, we encourage you to do that now: https://cdn.afacwa.org/ issues/rest/.

Once both House and Senate bills are introduced and adopted by the respective committees, each full chamber must also vote on the bill. Amendments could also be considered during this process, although sometimes the bill can only be considered as adopted by the committee.

Next, a conference between the House and Senate is held to write common language. This final version of the bill must again be adopted by both chambers before going to the President’s desk for signature. We must remain engaged throughout the process and continue to use the power of our numbers to take action in support of rest and recognition of Flight Attendant fatigue.

The FAA Reauthorization bill is must-pass legislation, although our experience shows this might include several extensions before the long-term bill is passed. Getting our rest provisions in these base bills now sets a foundation for inclusion in the final passage of the bill regardless of when that actually occurs.

This week AFA has ramped up our advocacy to the U.S. Senator’s writing the FAA Bill; Sen. John Thune (ND), Sen. Kelly Ayote (NH), Sen. Bill Nelson (FL), Senator Maria Cantwell (WA), Senator Cory Gardner (CO) and all of the members of the Senate Commerce Committee.

Thanks to a massive effort for calls from members, and special thanks to AFA Frontier for relentless efforts in generating calls from Colorado, we are making good progress with the Senate. But we can’t let up for a second. We have to keep up calls next week and right up to the point of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee vote on their version of the bill.

At the Rally for Rest on March 16, hundreds of Flight Attendants will urge members of the Senate to include the 10 hours minimum rest and a Fatigue Risk Management Plan into the Senate bill. We will also go to every House office to encourage support of our rest in the FAA Reauthorization bill and thank members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for recognizing the importance rest plays in supporting our health and the tools necessary to fulfill our duties as aviation’s first responders.

CWA NEXT GEN AT JOBS WITH JUSTICE

Government Affairs Committee members Kris Hall and Drew Lemish were the AFA representatives at the Jobs with Justice Next Generation conference in Washington DC, Feb. 12th and 13th.

JWJ activists joined sessions on organizing, social media, innovations in the labor movement, grassroots fundraising and much more as part of JWJ’s two-day national conference. CWA Next Generation leaders were on hand as former CWA President Larry Cohen was recognized for his years of building JWJ and his commitment to democracy and working families. (CWA Media report).

Kris had this to say about the experience: “I found it profoundly educational- every workshop, every caucus, every conversation. I made so many connections, met and listened to so many stories, discussed so many concerns that would not have been possible without JwJ!”

Respectfully submitted,

Beverly Bullock
MEC Government Affairs Chairperson

Upcoming Port of Seattle Commission Race

July 15, 2015 19:00

The AFA Alaska Master Executive Council (MEC) would like to share some very interesting information with you about the upcoming Port of Seattle Commission race, in which there is one open seat up for election. Why are we writing to the entire group about a local election? The outcome of this particular election could have fairly significant consequences for Alaska Air Group. Why?

Nine candidates are currently announced as running. One of the candidates–Ken Rogers—is a pilot for Delta Air Lines. Not only that but he also just stepped down from Delta’s board of directors. What is even crazier is that according to publicly available funding reports, almost all of Captain Rogers’ campaign contributions have arguably come more or less directly from Delta Air Lines—via contributions from board members, executives and other Delta employees.

Alaska Air Group management is very concerned about the outcome of this election because there are several very significant Sea-Tac Airport issues that the Port Commission sets policy on that have a big impact on whether the competitive playing field is level.

Alaska is tracking the Port of Seattle race closely and believes there are two candidates who are worthy of the consideration and support of King County (Seattle) residents:

Herb Krohn, the Washington state legislative director for the United Transportation Union, which represents railroad and other transit workers.
Darrell Bryan, the recently retired president of Clipper Navigation, which operates the Victoria Clipper boats.

The top two candidates in the August 4 primary election will advance to the general election in November. Ballots for the primary will be mailed to King County residents on July 15^th.

More information can be found on Alaska’s World at http://alaskasworld.com/News/2015/07/15_port_race.asp.

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt and MEC Government Affairs Chairperson Bev Bullock

ACTION REQUIRED: Tell Congress To Stop Fast Track

June 9, 2015 05:00

Congress is set to start voting on Fast Track Legislation soon. Our congressional representatives need to hear from you! Fast Track paves the way for the biggest trade deal ever – the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP), negotiated in secret, with the rules of the deal written by multinational corporations and investors. We can expect the same results as we’ve seen with NAFTA and similar so-called Free Trade Agreements. We need trade agreements that improve the lives of workers here and in the countries with whom we trade. Please take these two steps right now:

Send an email to your congressional representative: http://act.aflcio.org/c/18/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=9939
Call (855) 712-8441 to be patched through from the AFL-CIO to your congressional representative.

It only takes a couple of minutes and could mean the difference between a vote that helps our jobs or harms them!

In Solidarity,

Your MEC – Jeffrey Peterson, Brian Palmer, Yvette Gesch, Becky Strachan, Laura Masserant, Cathy Gwynn, Sandra Morrow, Stephen Couckuyt and MEC Government Affairs Chairperson Bev Bullock

This is a message from your AFA Alaska Government Affairs Committee. For more information about Fast Track, the Trans Pacific Partnership, or how to take action, contact your Local Government Affairs Committee Chairperson. You can also visit http://www.stopfasttrack.com or check out a short video (just over 2-½ minutes) at https://youtu.be/DnC1mqyAXmw.

Tell Congress: No Fast Track for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

January 27, 2015 08:10

A Message from your AFA Government Affairs Committee

Tell Congress: No Fast Track for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)

Would you ratify a contract with your employer without knowing, other than broad generalizations, what that contract contains? No? Well that is what Congress is being asked to do with U.S. Industry.

Corporate lobbyists are urging Congress to give the White House Trade Promotion Authority (aka Fast Track) in order to rubber stamp the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). Fast Track is when the Congress cedes its Congressional obligation to review, amend and debate trade agreements.

“Fast Track” legislation is expected to come before Congress in March. AFA-CWA, working with a coalition of more than 100 organizations, is fighting back and urging Congress to oppose Fast Track. AFA and CWA have are encouraging members to call Congress starting January 27 and through the remainder of the week to tell Congress that Fast Track must be stopped.

Why Is This Important To Flight Attendants?

Fast Track Authority, if granted by the Congresses, wouldn’t simply apply to only one trade deal – it would apply to as many trade agreements as can be negotiated by this White House or the next one. The next “big’” trade deal in the pipeline is the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). The European Union will be pushing for access to the U.S. domestic market and an increase to the allowable foreign ownership and control of U.S. airlines. This would be devastating to U.S. aviation, our job security and aviation security.

What is the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)?

The TPP is a massive trade deal that has been mostly negotiated in secret by the U.S. and 11 other countries.

This trade deal makes it likely that service industry jobs will be eligible to outsource. TPP is specifically designed to guarantee and protect profits for corporations. If approved, corporations can sue a country if it raises its minimum wage, like Egypt did, or adopts regulations to protect the public health, like Australia.

TPP would make “Buy America” laws illegal. Right now the federal government gives preferential treatment to U.S. businesses when buying goods and services. TPP would make that practice illegal. Historically, corporations have taken advantage of any opportunity to pay foreign workers less and take advantage of local laws to cut costs.

Labor standards and working conditions overseas have a direct impact on air safety as more and more US-based airlines move their Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) work overseas.

Congress is now considering whether to allow the pending TPP trade deal – the largest in history — to be “Fast Tracked” through without the chance for them — our elected representatives to amend it.

What is Fast Track Authority?

Fast Track authority means Congress will have to vote on 2,000+ page trade deals as written with almost no debate and no ability to amend. Fast Track supersedes the typical check and balance process of our democracy. Members of Congress will be voting to give the TPP this expedited approval without having actually read the TPP agreement! They will, in effect, be voting for the trade agreement before reading it.

Who wants Fast Track?

Corporations want TPP because it puts profits over people by allowing Executives to challenge laws that may have an impact on their profits. It would facilitate the export of jobs to low wage countries.

Can Fast Track Be Stopped?

YES! We have stopped it before. In 1998, Fast Track was voted down in a bipartisan vote (171 Democrats and 71 Republicans).

Many Members of this Congress do not support Fast Track either and are standing with us to fight back. Both Democrats and Republicans have announced their opposition to the push for Fast Track authority and more are signing on every day. We can win this.

Our coalition of more than 100 groups – including workers, people of faith and community leaders and more – is working together to Stop Fast Track and the TPP.

Call Your Representatives

Call 888-966-9836

Enter your zip code, to be you will be connected with your U.S. Representative.

Sample scripts:

“As a constituent, I expect you to stand up for America and oppose Fast Track for the TPP”

“As a constituent I am concerned that large scale trade agreements are being negotiated in secret. I wouldn’t vote for my employment contract without seeing the details and Congress shouldn’t either. I urge you to oppose Fast Track for the TPP.”

Do it Today

Urge Congress to oppose outsourcing. Ask for a NO vote on Fast Track.

Use Twitter to Tweet:

#BarackObama Do the math: US jobs created by trade – jobs sent overseas 4 low wages = fewer jobs for US workers. #stopfasttrack #sotu.

On Facebook change your status to encourage your friends and family join the fight:

Tell the White House and Congress to stand up for US jobs!

Large-scale trade agreements are being negotiated in secret. I wouldn’t vote for my employment contract without seeing the details and Congress shouldn’t either. Urge your representatives in Congress to oppose Fast Track for the TPP.

For more information contact your AFA-CWA Government Affairs Committee. You can find contact information at http://afaalaska.org/governmentaffairs.

Government Affairs Update – October/November 2014

January 8, 2015 09:26

AFA Alaska Government Affairs

October/November 2014

Post-election and a Lame Duck Congress

The November mid-term elections saw a major shift in the balance of power in Congress with Republicans now in control of the Senate and the House.

AFA friend and advocate AK Sen. Mark Begich lost his senate seat to Republican Dan Sullivan. Senator Begich who sponsored both our knives and cellphone bills, worked closely with our ANC committee on his re-election campaign. I would like to give special recognition to ANC GA Chair Jan Bottini Strait for her tireless commitment to this election. Jan led and inspired her ANC Flight Attendant who talked to fellow Flight Attendants, wrote postcards, made phone calls and knocked on doors. ANC committee member Thresia Raynor, released to AFL-CIO and the Alaska State Fed, is to be recognized for her work reaching out to union members and their families to get labor-friendly candidates elected in Alaska.

With a Republican platform that doesn’t bode well for unions and collective bargaining rights, it remains to be seen how this will be played out in the next two years. Incoming Republican Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell has already made it known that he would like to make changes to the NLRB.

Congress is in a lame duck session and with just a few days left before members leave on vacation it looks like little will get done—except the looming government funding bill which much be resolved before the end of the year, the worst case scenario being a government shutdown.

In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid will attempt to keep the senators there well in to December to finish up executive branch appointments before Republicans take over. Recently Pres. Obama nominee Lauren McFarren was confirmed to the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board). McFarren completes the 5 member NLRB, now 3 Democrats and 2 Republicans.

AFA Agenda:

As the 114^th Congress approaches, the AFA Legislative Policy Committee has set about prioritizing issues. AFA GA Director Stephen Schembs has already met with members of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee about the upcoming FAA Reauthorization. The AFA Policy Committee has keyed in on four areas for consideration:

International Issues—codify that Dept. of State and DOT continue to negotiate “air transport services”
Flight crew fatigue/rest requirements
Human trafficking/assault reporting
Full scale emergency evacuation tests

NAI Scheme

AFA. ALPA, TWU, and the TTD (AFL-CIO) and other organizations, including representatives from 3 major airlines, met in Washington DC for a one day “Fly-In” on Nov. 19 to take the message to Congress to “Deny NAI.” SEA Committee member Krystal Cook and I were among the 35 AFA members who visited members of Congress, asking them to sign on to the Collins-Sires Dear Colleague letter addressed to DOT Sec. Anthony Fox, encouraging him to reject Norwegian Air International’s application. By the end of the week over 180 House members had signed on to the letter. AFA flight attendants made calls to all 435 members of the House, started a social media campaign on “Twitter” and talked to dozens of House and Senate members and their staff. Hopes on the senate side is that language will be included in the omnibus bill that would essentially block NAI from moving forward:

1580

1 SEC. 415. (a) None of the funds made available by

2 this Act may be used to approve a new foreign air carrier

3 permit under sections 41301 through 41305 of title 49,

4 United States Code, or exemption application under sec-

5 tion 40109 of that title of an air carrier already holding

6 an air operators certificate issued by a country that is

7 party to the U.S.–E.U.–Iceland–Norway Air Transport

8 Agreement where such approval would contravene United

9 States law or Article 17 bis of the U.S.–E.U.–Iceland–

10 Norway Air Transport Agreement.

11 (b) Nothing in this section shall prohibit, restrict or

12 otherwise preclude the Secretary of Transportation from

13 granting a foreign air carrier permit or an exemption to

14 such an air carrier where such authorization is consistent

15 with the U.S.-E.U.-Iceland-Norway Air Transport Agree-

16 ment and United States law.

More on NAI:

The Norwegian Shell Game

AFA has been working with other aviation unions to block a scheme to outsource our jobs – #DenyNAI. If the Department of Transportation (DOT) approves Norwegian Air International’s application for a Foreign Air Carrier permit, it will set a dangerous precedent. The air carrier plans to fly to the US under an Irish certificate with Pilots hired in Singapore and Flight Attendants in the United States working under a constantly renewed contract that keeps base pay below $18,000 each year.

AFA leaders, activists and members have taken part in our coordinated #DenyNAI campaign. This is a complicated issue because of the shell companies involved and multi-faceted campaign we are waging against them. But the issue is very clear – if we allow this game to go unchecked, our jobs, collective bargaining rights and safety regulations could evaporate with a flags of convenience model for aviation.

What is Social Dumping?

Norwegian Air Shuttle (NAS) is the third largest “ultra” low cost European carrier and operates several companies flying under the ‘Norwegian’ brand: NAS, Norwegian Long Haul (NLH)and Norwegian Air International (NAI).

NAS, headquartered in Oslo, Norway, has a fleet of 737 aircraft which primarily fly throughout Scandinavia and the European Union. NAS has an Air Operating Certificate (AOC) issued by the Norwegian government. NAS workers are represented by the Norwegian labor union, Parat, and thus have a seniority list and other negotiated benefits, in addition to strong job protections under Norwegian law. Their employer pays taxes to the government of Norway which administers extensive social protections including health care, paid parental leave, and other including benefits that make up a strong social safety net.

The company’s long-haul flying is done by NLH and NAI utilizing 787 aircraft from Scandinavia and the EU to Asia and the United States.

NLH has a Norwegian AOC but, having obtained an exemption from the Norwegian government, registers its aircraft in Ireland. This enables the company to hire foreign workers without Norwegian work permits. NLH has route authority to fly to the US under the US/Norwegian Air Transport Agreement (ATA), an open skies agreement.

On the other hand, NAI is an Irish company with an Irish AOC and aircraft registered in Ireland. The Norwegian government has no oversight over NAI, and so the company is not bound by the US/Norwegian ATA. Further, NAI does not employ flight crews: It uses a staffing company to hire and train crewmembers. NAI has hired Asian and US crews to lower their operational cost below what they would have to pay if they were to continue to operate under the Norwegian AOC. NAI currently operates flights from Scandinavia and the EU to Asia, with sights set on providing service to the US under a provision in the broader EU/US Open Skies Agreement.

Norwegian Bait and Switch
The NAI application to fly to the US is under review by the USDOT and NAI has also applied for exemption authority. The exemption would allow NAI to initiate service to the US without receiving a foreign air carrier permit. Instead of flying under the legitimate NLH structure, the parent company would use NAI to operate Irish-certified flights to the US. If the DOT approves the NAI application, the legitimate NLH will likely be merged under the Irish AOC and cease to exist. The provisions of the US-Norwegian ATA already accommodate all of the proposed NAI route structure, which could be operated with aircraft that is registered in Norway, abiding by Norwegian law.

AFA opposed the NAI application to fly the US on the basis that the Norwegian model, creating a new Irish company for the purpose of flying to the US as part the EU/US open skies agreement, violates Article 17 bis EU/US Open Skies Treaty. AFA has been working closely with allies such as ALPA, ITF/ETF, Parat, and TTD to put pressure on the US government urging them to deny the NAI application.

NAI was created to circumvent Norwegian labor laws and therefore amounts to social dumping of corporate responsibility.

If DOT allows NAI to set up a “flags of convenience” business model it will put downward pressure on US carriers to lower labor costs on transatlantic operations in order to compete with this new “ultra” low cost carrier model.

This opens the floodgates to duplicating the model throughout aviation as competition “requires” regulatory change or exemption.

Our Efforts to Fight Back

Since Fall 2013, AFA has also continued to work with the Senate and members of the House of Representatives to send letters to Secretary Foxx and the White House urging them to ensure the terms of the EU/U.S. treaty are upheld. AFA has worked with labor allies to encourage our members to sign a petition to the Obama Administration urging them to protect the US aviation industry and US aviation jobs.

In our continuing campaign, AFA has:

Met with Norwegian officials and other International aviation unions to join forces to prevent the flags of convenience business model from infiltrating our industry (February 2014.)
Submitted comment to the DOT rulemaking urging them to reject the NAI applications (February 2014).
Urged AFA members to sign the White House petition (February 2014).
Introduced a resolution at ITF meeting calling on European Commission and the US DOT hold NAI to the labor provisions of the EU/US Open Skies Agreement (May 2014)
Worked quickly through our Government Affairs activists to achieve the U.S. House of Representatives unanimous vote for the DeFazio/Westmoreland Amendment to H.R. 4745, the FY 2015 Transportation Appropriations bill (June 2014). The amendment requires DOT to follow U.S. law and labor protection provisions outlined in the U.S.-EU Open Skies Agreement when considering an application for a foreign air carrier permit.
Met with DOT Secretary Foxx and called attention to our filed comments (June 2014).

In July 2014, a US delegation from the Department of State and the Department of Transportation met with the European Commission. The EU requested the meeting to attempt to persuade the US DOT to approve the NAI application, or to tend an exemption. Meeting notice was posted to the U.S. federal register.

In August 2014, AFA supported ITF/ETF efforts to get EU member states to weigh in with the European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility and Transportation, and submitted comments.

The DOT must rule on the exemption application by the end of August 2014. In the event the US government grants an exemption, we will keep up our fight to block the NAI foreign air carrier permit application and work to ensure that our jobs and Flight Attendant profession are not further eroded by any decision. We won’t back down – and until or unless the application is approved or an exemption given, we will work to defeat the outsourcing scheme outright.

(Temporary exemption was not granted in August}

Respectfully Submitted,

Beverly Bullock
MEC Government Affairs Chairperson

Alaska MEC Government Affairs – February 2016

SECURE OUR SKIES ACT This legislation will save lives