MEC Hotline Message
Recording: 1-888-3-NWA-AFA
10 October 2008 Hotline Message
THE UNION TRIANGLE
The Union triangle symbolizes the three major programs of the union: representation, organizing, and community/political action. None can stand alone. If the triangle is broken on any side, sooner or later it will be broken on every side. CWA’s founding president, Joseph Beirne, called this the Triple threat. Please join part of our Triple Threat today, by joining the Joint Organizing Campaign at http://www.deltaafa.org. The survival of our collective bargaining rights depends upon it!
PRE-PETITION BANKRUPTCY CLAIM PAYOUT
This week, our MEC president Kevin Griffin signed off on AFAs pre-petition bankruptcy claim. The pre-petition bankruptcy claim was a pool of money requested to be set aside by our union, in order to provide for grievance settlements that may have arisen prior to Chapter 11 filing. This way, back-pay claims and arbitration awards that were settled prior to NWAs bankruptcy filing can be paid, despite the companys financial status. After internal union review and after segregating all sums needed to payout those involved in arbitration wins, there was still money left over that is now authorized to be distributed to all members. This means, all flight attendant should see his/her portion of the residual payout on their paychecks within the coming weeks.
INFLIGHT AUDITS, WHEN IS ENOUGH, ACTUALLY ENOUGH?
We have reviewed the Company e-mail regarding the list of items that you will be responsible for as part of the Inflight Quality Assurance Audit program. In reviewing the contract and the items in the audit, we don’t have the basis to file a grievance. However, these new audits are strangely timed and surprising, particularly in light of the feedback that we have received from Management.
In a recent Newswire, Management lauded employees for our outstanding performance in August DOT rankings. In the Steenland Minute, Doug constantly praises employees for our operational performance, and in his October 6 message he even referenced our number one standing for the fewest passenger complaints. Sr. Vice President Julie Showers says we have coped admirably with all of the changes and thanks us for an exceptional year. We have accomplished this while flying more hours than ever, with record load factors and dramatically reduced pay and benefits.
On one hand the Company praises us for doing a wonderful job, and on the other hand strongly indicates that we’re really not doing our jobs by placing unannounced, non-flight attendant observers on flights. The contradiction is striking. Management often wonders why there’s so little trust between flight attendants and management. Perhaps it has something to do with Management saying one thing, but doing another.
Your Union has full confidence in your level of professionalism and ability to do your jobs well under scrutiny. In the event that you are notified by the Company that you must meet with a manager regarding something the auditors have reported, your Union reminds you that you can and should contact your Local Council immediately. It is important that you have Union representation for these meetings because clearly, management is not going out of their way to catch you doing something right. Imagine the life of a Delta flight attendant - having a manager onboard is a daily routine for them, but if written up by that manager, they have no voice & no representation. - Submitted by MEC Grievance Committee Chair Greg Riffle
EMPLOYEE INVOLVEMENT TEAMS, EIT
Your Union requests that members discontinue all participation in Employee Involvement Teams, effective immediately. We understand that flight attendant participation stems from only the best of intentions and we appreciate your willingness to work for change. Instead, we invite you to join AFA Committees, which require volunteers to succeed, and which focus on many of the same issues important to flight attendants. EITs are a known strategy for union busting – a divide and conquer technique to circumvent the collective bargaining representative. Depending upon the tactics employed, the creation of these EITs in a unionized company may be legally actionable. These appointed Employee Involvement Groups actually take the place of the Union at Delta. However, as Delta flight attendants report, their EIGs are merely lip service and they have no power to effect change, negotiate a legally binding contract, or to grieve violations. Recently a new NWA Cleaning EIT was announced. The Union feels that the Company does not require a focus group to explore the topic of cleaning. Perhaps Management would like to assign more tasks to flight attendants, but would like the cover of a Cleaning EIT to implement their already formed plans. - Submitted by MEC Vice President Janette Rook
THE BIG PICTURE - DTW TOWN HALL MEETING
On October 6th and 7th, Local 94 DTW hosted informal town hall meetings with AFA International President Pat Friend and CWA President Larry Cohen. Additional panelists included United Auto Workers Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Bunn, and Delta flight attendants Marianne Bicksler and Angela Winningham. Union leaders stated their commitment and pledged to provide all of the resources available to help the Northwest and Delta flight attendants, in our fight to maintain our right to collective bargaining at the new Delta. Marianne Bicksler and Angela Winningham compared and contrasted their non-union experiences with that of a Northwest flight attendant with collective bargaining rights and benefits. Question and answer sessions took place between the audience and panelists after each presentation. AFA Int’l President Pat Friend answered members’ questions, while stressing the importance and strength of the AFA mobilization model. President Friend also went over the Northwest and Delta merger timeline. Click HERE to view the Merger Timeline.
CWA President Larry Cohen offered views of union status domestically and abroad. One striking point he highlighted was the direct correlation between union membership and income equality. In other words, when union membership goes up, worker’s wages also go up, relative to management’s wages. Another alarming statistic he brought up - only 12% of American workers are now represented by unions, which is far below most other democracies around the world (24% of workers in Japan to 95% in France!) To view a comparison chart, click HERE.
REGISTRATION OPEN FOR EAP BASIC TRAINING
The next AFA Employee Assistance Program Basic Training will be held in Phoenix, AZ, Mon-Tue, November 17 at 9 AM through November 18 at 3:30 PM. Arrangements have been made with the Clarion Hotel Phoenix Tech Center, 5121 E LaPuente Avenue, Phoenix AZ 85044 for arrivals on Sunday, November 16 and departures after the training ends on Nov. 18. The training is free, but meals and room are not included. Room rate is $60 per night, tax included. Registration requires an on-line application, phone interview, and LECP approval. For more information or to register, please call the IEAP at 1-800-424-2406.
FIRST ANNUAL AFA PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS TRAINING (EAP)
Professional Standards is a peer mediation service offered through the AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP). This mediation service is offered by volunteer NWA-AFA flight attendants for flight attendants. We encourage everyone to utilize this resource because it allows our co-workers the opportunity to resolve conflicts or concerns with each other, without management involvement. This year, the two day training course was offered to ten EAP representatives by Mary Eisenstein, a retired NYC base flight attendant and Rosemary Miller, AFA MEC EAP Committee Chair. Mary and Rosemary are trained mediators whose seminar also included two pilots, an In-flight manager, and two substance rehabilitation professionals to assemble a well-rounded training experience to enhance our EAP representatives’ ability to better serve our membership. For NYC AFA EAP Chair Lyuba Halkyn’s complete article, go to EAP Committee page of the MEC website. - Submitted by NYC AFA EAP Chair Lyuba Halkyn
BEACON FOUNDATION – HOLIDAY GIFT BAZAAR
On November 4th-5th, DTW In-flight will host a Holiday Gift Bazaar to benefit the Beacon Foundation. Tables will be available for rental for handmade items. The Beacon Foundation is a non-profit organization created by NWA flight attendant for NWA flight attendant. Please support this worthwhile event.
RECIPROCAL CABIN/JUMPSEAT PROGRAM
One of the contractual benefits our Union negotiated for us was the Reciprocal Cabin Seat Program (Jumpseat Reciprocity - LOA 29). We are now able to travel on any participating airline for pleasure or commuting purposes. This space available, reciprocal program is negotiated with specific airlines, and the agreements do not always cover affiliate airlines or subsidiaries. While several airlines are already participating in the program, the Union and the Company are working to add even more airline partners. Please familiarize yourself with the agreements before enjoying this privilege. To view the updated list of agreements of participating airlines, please refer to AFA Links under the Resource tab on the MEC website.
OPEN MERGER REPRESENTATIVE POSITION - APPLY NOW!
The AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws contains our merger policy and describes the duties of Merger Representatives. Our 2 Merger Representatives will work with your elected MEC (9 Local Presidents and MEC Officers) to preserve Northwest Airlines flight attendants’ full bidding seniority. If you are interested in serving our members as a Merger Representative, click HERE for more information on the position. To apply, please send a letter of interest and résumé by 1200 CDT October 15th to or:
Karen Chapdelaine, Office Manager
Northwest Airlines Master Executive Council
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
8011 34th Avenue South, Suite 220
Bloomington, MN 55425
The NWA-AFA MEC Reserve Committee developed Reserve Tips for our newest AFA members. These were distributed in your initial training classes, along with the Contract Quick Reference Guide. These documents were updated this month and contain valuable tips to make Reserve work for you! Your Union wants to assist you, so please don’t hesitate to contact your elected Local Councils officers for contractual questions or for representation for disciplinary meetings. New hire input and participation is needed in the union, in order for us to better serve you. Welcome on board!
NEW HIRE CENTRAL
The NWA-AFA MEC Reserve Committee developed Reserve Tips for our newest AFA members. These were distributed in your initial training classes, along with the Contract Quick Reference Guide. These documents were updated this month and contain valuable tips to make Reserve work for you. Your Union wants to assist you, so please don’t hesitate to contact your elected Local Councils officers for contractual questions or for representation for disciplinary meetings. New hire input and participation is needed in the union, in order for us to better serve you. Welcome on board!
UNION PINS = SOLIDARITY
Northwest flight attendants fought for the right to wear a union pin on our uniforms, and for the benefits that come with it. All members are encouraged to wear their union pins while in uniform, as well as to all company events and training. If you need a replacement pin, please contact your Local for a new one.
BRING QUESTIONS. BRING A COLLEAGUE. GET MOTIVATED. GET INVOLVED.
MASTER EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETINGS
We invite all members in good standing to attend. The MEC meeting schedule is posted on the website, under the “Events” tab.
NRT - The MEC will host an informational gathering in Narita Oct 11-12 at the NRT flight kitchen. Panelists include MEC President Kevin Griffin, MEC Secretary Treasurer Mark Gehrt, LEC 91 President Josh Zivick, LEC 92 President Bob Cannatelli, and Dianne Tamuk, Director of Solidarity Center.
SEA - The MEC will meet in Seattle October 14-15 at the Comfort Inn.
LOCAL COUNCIL MEETINGS
Click HERE or on the “Events” tab on our MEC website for the latest local meeting details. Delta Flight Attendants will be invited to local union meetings throughout the country in the coming year.
GOT MERGER QUESTIONS? GET ANSWERS!
You are always welcome to contact your AFA-CWA Local officers, whose contact information is found at nwaafa.org. Another way to get accurate answers to merger questions is to email: . Answers to your questions will be researched by AFA-CWA attorneys. As additional information is gathered, it will be reported in hotline messages, on Union bulletin boards, and on the websites. Archived Merger Q & As, all editions of the merger mailer the source and the Contract vs. Policy Manual postcards are posted in the MEC Merger section of our website. Publications from the DL/NW Joint Campaign can be found at http://www.deltaafa.org.
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FLY SAFE, FLY THE CONTRACT, AND WEAR YOUR UNION PIN!