Let me tell you something, I was so damn proud of AFA today when I read the text of MEC Secretary Bobbie Pilkington's February 16 written testimony submitted before the United States Senate Sub-Committee in Washington D.C.  The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the UAL - US Airways merger and to provide arguments for or against the transaction.

Here now, is an excerpt from her written testimony provided to the Senate Sub-Committee:

"The summer of 2000 at United Airlines soon became known as the 'Summer from Hell', for not only U.S. air travelers, but United flight attendants, as well.  United's abysmal service record last summer was unprecedented.  And, as badly as our passengers were treated, United management treated its flight attendants worse.  Flight attendants were sent to drug infested, filthy hotels for layovers when flights were canceled.  On several occasions, flight attendants were forced to get their 'legal rest' on aircraft because Crew Scheduling personnel claimed they were unable to find hotel accommodations.  Contract violations were too numerous to begin recounting here, and many of the situations are still unresolved more than six months later, despite the best efforts of our Union representatives.

It is clear, that United Airlines continues to have difficulty managing its current operation as management violations of our contract persist unabated due to management's inability to schedule the airline properly.  Allowing United to add thousands of flights and tens of thousands of employees at a time when it cannot properly manage its current operation is asking for trouble.

We ask you to consider our opinion, as front-line employees of the airline, who get a first-hand look at United every day.  United's current management problems would be compounded exponentially -- in terms of further labor and operational problems -- if the airline's proposed transaction is allowed to go forward at this time."

So how do you like them apples?  This testimony will be read by Senators, CEO's of major airlines--including I'm sure our own Jim Goodwin, and many other IMPORTANT people in the merger-deciding process.  There are other sections of her testimony as well, but you can read them for yourself at a local AFA Bulletin Board near you.

Only once sentence in the entire testimony gave me a slight pause, and then a hearty laugh.  It was when she discusses the various changes AFA has helped contribute to the airline industry (like smoke-free planes, etc...) and then lists each one of them.  One of the items she mentioned in that list was "...promotion of the international Air Rage Campaign..."

That's kind of funny because it sounds like AFA promoted Air Rage!  But hey, we're only poking fun here, aren't we?

The bottom line here is that Ms. Pilkington's testimony was very direct, unemotional, professional, and uncompromising in its argument against the proposed merger.  If that's the kind of representation some members of our current AFA leadership possess, then we are well looked after.  Thank you Ms. Pilkington and the rest of the AFA leaders who helped contribute to that testimony.  Now, do not waiver from your position!