Laid off airline workers ask federal help

WASHINGTON -- Laid-off workers wearing the uniforms of pilots, flight attendants and mechanics pressed Congress for increased unemployment benefits and subsidized health insurance yesterday in light of the $15 billion aid package approved for the airlines.

"Americans are hungry for a continued, positive response to the aftermath of the Sept. 11 tragedy," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. "They want to see fairness in a time marked by injustice, to see balance and calm in a time of suffering -- and that's what we're calling for here today."

Mary Fagerberg of Baltimore, a United flight attendant since May, was laid off last week. She said the termination was especially hurtful since she had fought back her fear to get on a plane after 12 of her United flight attendant colleagues were killed.

"I had to get on a plane and I had to work," she said. "Through tears, I got on that jump seat and I worked. I didn't get a letter of gratitude for working hard. I got a letter of termination."

Congress approved a $15 billion relief package for the airlines Sept. 21. More than 100,000 aviation layoffs have been announced since the attacks, and many of those workers are being let go without severance pay, health insurance and other benefits.

Before the attacks, an index of the nation's unemployment rate had risen to 4.9 percent in August. The government will release September's figures tomorrow. The layoffs also will have devastating effects on regional economies that rely on the aviation industry, said Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash. Boeing has said it will lay off up to 30,000 workers in its commercial aircraft sector, most of which is in the Seattle area.

Several bills have been introduced in Congress to aid jobless workers, including one by Sen. Jean Carnahan, D-Mo. Her bill would provide $3.75 billion in benefits to workers, including extending unemployment benefits from the usual 26 weeks to 52 weeks, covering premiums for health insurance extensions or Medicaid and job training.

President Bush has signaled he would consider a 13-week extension in unemployment benefits. Since joblessness in many states is unlikely to reach the levels that mandate an extension, one official said the administration is looking at the possibility of using federal money.

The administration also is considering expanding a Labor Department emergency grant program to give displaced workers additional relief, including money for health care and possibly job training. The $200 million program could swell to more than $1 billion.

Meanwhile, American, Delta and United airlines shared $1 billion of federal money as the government began compensating the airline industry for its financial losses following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

Overall, 55 airlines received $2.3 billion in federal dollars. Congress allocated $5 billion in taxpayer money to help the financially stricken airlines, which have slashed flights and laid off workers following the Sept. 11 hijackings of four commercial airplanes.

The money is being allocated according to market share.

The funds mark the first installment of the $15 billion airline industry bailout package signed into law by Bush Sept. 22.

The remaining $10 billion in loan guarantees is to be handed out by a four-member Air Transportation Stabilization Board, consisting of Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill and Comptroller General David Walker, or their designees.

United Airlines, the leading airline in terms of revenue last year, received $390.7 million, followed by American with $359.4 million and Delta with $327 million.

At the low end, Florida West Airlines received $819 and Vieques Air Link received $4,013.

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