[03.11.08] -- Jo Longway Reinhardt passed away on March 9, 2008 after a long courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). A service for the family is being planned at this time. Her husband Rodger hopes to have a "celebration" of Jo's life sometime in April 2008. No matter where we are based, Jo was "one of us" and we extend our deepest condolences to her family and friends in Seattle.

Honoring Jo Reinhardt – Excerpt from AFA E-Lines, March 14, 2008 [03.14.08] -- A year ago one of our flying partners called on us for help when United ended her employment after a 3 year medical leave of absence due to the paralyzing disease, ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Jo Longway Reinhardt described what she loved about being a Flight Attendant in a letter that asked for help from her flying partners. "There's something special and unique about a job where you can share a jumpseat with different individuals on different flights and feel a close camaraderie My flying partners and I have celebrated many life events and surrounded each other with love in times of sorrow. This has been my experience as a flight attendant." When the company cut off Jo's employment and access to medical benefits, thousands of Flight Attendants sent their support with contributions and a call for another way to care for Jo and her family. Jo and her family spoke out against the callous actions of management and helped pressure the company into initiating a fund that will assist employees who experience extreme circumstances similar to her own.   On Sunday (March 9, 2008), Jo lost her life to ALS, but we will always remember our flying partner and continue to be inspired by her brave actions and accomplishments. Jo made an invaluable contribution to those of us who will benefit by her refusal to be silent when in her waning months she encountered an unjust obstacle. Jo may not have shared our jumpseats in recent years, but she continued to express the caring qualities of a Flight Attendant every day of her life and her commitment to justice will have her presence in many of our lives for generations to come.

United Establishes Foundation – Excerpt from AFA E-Lines, April 25, 2007 [04.25.07] -- Management has recognized the seriousness and the sometimes extraordinary circumstances that Flight Attendants and other employees confront when diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Our airline has announced a company funded Foundation to assist employees facing dire medical situations. Due to AFA's advocacy, highlighted by Jo Longway Reinhardt, the goal of the foundation will be to, on a case-by-case basis, consider the circumstances of employees who are facing dire medical situations, and provide assistance as appropriate for their circumstance. United expects the foundation to be up and running shortly. Jo and Roger Reinhardt have been advised. The Reinhardt family is incredibly grateful for the generosity and support of AFA and our Membership.

UAL F/A's Company To Donate Proceeds To Jo Reinhardt May 02, 2007 Dear Darren,   I want to say thank you for all of your assistance to CREWTAG.com in regards to Jo Longway-Reinhardt. My company will be in the ORD domicile between May 7-13 trying to raise money and awareness for Jo and her family. We sell novelty gifts including T-shirts, coffee mugs, luggage tags, etc; focusing on the funny aspects of CREW life and Air Travel in today's hectic world. We sell our products in stores and to customers worldwide.   This year in the ORD Domicile, we will donate one dollar for every single luggage tag sold. We will hand out fliers to inform F/As how to make a donation to Jo's family directly through the SEA AFA if they chose not to purchase any of our products, or simply wish to make a donation directly. I have high hopes for this event and look forward to raising as much support as possible. I will also apply the same $1 for each item sold as a donation pledge through our website sales until the end of May.   Thanks again for all your assistance! I am very impressed at how much we can get done when we work together. The AFALAX.org website looks amazing! I am proud to fly with such compassionate and committed people like yourself.   Best Regards, Gene Taylor, Director Crew Tag, Inc. PO Box 118123 Chicago, Illinois 60611 www.crewtag.com

Seattle Flight Attendant Stricken With Lou Gehrig’s Disease Fired - April 17, 2007 Dear-AFA Excerpt: (United) leads the industry in one area: callousness. Today, after Senior VP of Flight Operations and Onboard Service Sean Donohue and VP of Onboard Charlie Ahmes sat in front of the United Master Executive Council to talk about "recognizing the employees," "supporting front-line employees," and "engaging and supporting employees as a top priority."  Managing Director of Labor Strategy John Nelson addressed the Master Executive Council next. After spending the afternoon saying all the right things and meaning none of them, John Nelson and his group excused themselves because they had to leave to attend to "other business." What was that other business you might ask? Was it addressing employee anger by immediately instituting a raise like the one Tilton and executives got? Was it leaving to draft a letter about opening negotiations early?  Was it agreeing to address any one of the many issues associated with our quality of work life?  Was it signing Reciprocal Cabin Seat Agreements with airlines across the industry? No. It wasn't any of these things. This group had to leave before the close of business west coast time so that they could terminate our flying partner Jo Reinhardt. Jo is a Seattle Flight Attendant who, after 18 years of faithful service to United Airlines and becoming a mother for the first time at a late date, heard devastating news delivered by her doctor that she had Lou Gehrigs' disease and she would not live to see her infant son grow up. Today, Jo's 3-year medical leave ended. And, up to today AFA, Jo and her family have been told by these same managers that they were working to find a positive solution rather than kicking Jo to the curb. These mangers left our meeting and called Jo to tell her that they were terminating her employment.  Paralyzed from the neck down and breathing only with the assistance of a respiratory machine, Jo, her husband and their 3-year old son are devastated. Medical insurance is gone. While the cost of the medical care was far beyond what her family could afford before, it will now be impossible.  If you weren't angry with our callous management before, it's time to get angry now. And, with our anger focused, we will deal with these deceitful and heartless talking heads. But also, it's time for our Flight Attendant family to do what we do best. As Jo wrote to all of us four months ago, "There's something special and unique about a job where you can share a jumpseat with different individuals on different flights and feel a close camaraderie. My flying partners and I have celebrated many life events and surrounded each other with love in times of sorrow. This has been my experience as a flight attendant. I absolutely love my job." Now it's time for us to give our love to our flying partner, Jo. She needs us like never before. If you can help to support Jo and her family with a check, write your checks to her husband, Rodger Reinhardt.  While we know that these executives don't have the human decency to do the right thing, they should match every dollar raised. Tilton, for example, should match with a $1000 contribution for every one dollar raised by Flight Attendants. This would correlate to the number of times he exceeds the average pay of a Seattle Flight Attendant. And, the methodology should be the same for the rest of the executive suite. But we know who these people are. And we know we can only count on each other. Send checks or letters of support to AFA-CWA Council 10 - Seattle, ATTN: Jo Longway Reinhardt, PO Box 54326, Redondo, WA. 98054.  No one is better at caring for others than Flight Attendants, and together we are a powerful force. We can do tremendous good for Jo, and WE will. Thank you for calling.  Remain strong in solidarity.