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View From The Jumpseat
January 2010 - ATL/NYC Member ConcernsDecember 2009 - DTW FA Janette Rook's Views
November 2009 - BOS FA Jacob Easter's Views
October 2009 - MEM/ATL FA Kathy Swarts' Views
January 15, 2010 eNews . . .
THE SCOPE OF OUR FLYING...CLICK HERE TO READ A Q&A ABOUT SECTION 1 AND OUR CONTRACTUAL SCOPE PROVISIONS.
http://nwaafa.org/docs/legal/NWA_AFA_SCOPE_QA.pdf
LABOR QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“History is a great teacher. Now everyone knows that the labor movement did not diminish the strength of the nation but enlarged it. By raising the living standards of millions, labor miraculously created a market for industry and lifted the whole nation to undreamed of levels of production. Those who attack labor forget these simple truths, but history remembers them.” ~ Martin Luther King Jr.
“KEEPING THE DREAM ALIVE-CONTINUING THE JOURNEY”
Delta Air Lines will celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday with a variety of special initiatives in his honor. Company sponsored events include community service and renovation projects throughout the system. In recognition of King’s values and core principles, we encourage involvement in these worthy endeavors.
Additionally, you are invited to join fellow Delta flight attendants, labor leaders and AFA- CWA supporters in Atlanta on Monday, January 18, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., for a march and rally to honor King’s work. For complete details, click the link. http:// http://www.unionvoice.org/delta_nw/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=28797134 Our goal of obtaining a legal and recognized voice in the workplace closely parallels Dr. King’s ideals. On January 18th in Atlanta, we pay tribute to a man who inspired a nation, and dedicated his life for workers and minorities so that equality, fairness, and dignity become not just a dream, but a reality for all.
PAYROLL CONCERNS SOAR TO TOP OF FAQs
Payroll inquiries continue to top the FAQ charts, due to this week’s transition from NWA’s in-house department to Delta’s third party payroll system. On January 13th, your MEC sent a special edition eNews http://www.unionvoice.org/nwa_afa/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=28840710 to address member concerns, including payroll calculation errors and the contractual requirement for timely corrections. Please refer to Wednesday’s special edition eNews link for the contact information you need to correct specific payroll issues with Delta. Delta provided a different e-mail address than previously published for payroll inquiries in yesterday’s, ‘Pay Transition Updates’ memo, requesting you contact the Employee Service Center at .
Even if you rarely check your check online, now is the time to start. Cross-check your CMAS (currently still available on the ATLAS homepage under Hot Links on the left- hand side or the Employee Self Service page on DeltaNet) with your online pay “stub” to verify accuracy. Take special note as to whether your W2 deductions and address are correct. Pay for duty rigs, ground time, and Reserve Increase Adjustment have reportedly incurred a higher volume of calculation errors. Your MEC is tracking the types of problems encountered and your resolution success rate with Delta’s Employee Service Center (ESC) at 800-MY-DELTA. Please continue to share your experiences with .
AFA-CWA SUPPORTS DELTA’S HAITIAN RELIEF EFFORTS
Massive devastation following Haiti’s 7.0 earthquake earlier this week has spurred international relief efforts. As always, generous members are already looking for ways they can help. The momentum and direction of aid initiatives will evolve in the coming days, as government and relief agency plans determine specific needs. For now, we encourage those who want to assist to look into Delta recommended relief resources, which emphasize the American Red Cross, UNICEF and CARE. Primarily, financial donations are needed most at this time. While recognizing the value of kind intentions, employees are discouraged from personal travel to Haiti to volunteer until safer, more coordinated efforts are determined by the appropriate agencies.
A few of our members still await news about family members and loved ones missing in Haiti. Please remember your NWA-AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) http://nwaafa.org/committees/eap/ is always available for Flight Attendants and their families impacted by this horrific event.
ATL SATELLITE BASE AND AFP CLOSINGS
By now, most of our members have heard about Delta’s plans to close our ATL Satellite base, where over 200 of our members are based. All S-ATL Flight Attendants will be returned to their home base, effective May 1. PMDL DWN and MIS AFPs (Detroit and Minneapolis) will also close, according to company policy. Your MEC coordinated with Local 90 Officers to share our own announcement [link] to all affected members, with assurance their contractual rights will be enforced. Local Officers http://nwaafa.org/contacts/Local_bases/ at affected bases are available to assist and answer questions as more details become available. http://nwaafa.org/docs/s-ATL.pdf
MEC PURSER AND LOD COMMITTEE UPDATE
The Christmas Day terrorist attack on flight 253 highlights a continued need for strong communication and cooperation between Pursers and LOD Flight Attendants. With constantly changing TSA regulations, purser and LOD collaboration is more important than ever. Effectively relaying cabin policy changes to our passengers is paramount.
LOD flight attendants’ language skills are tools to achieve a better quality of service. In today’s environment of heightened security awareness, they’re now vital for informing and updating our passengers of necessary security measures. The relationship between Purser and LOD addresses more than just customer service-It can also be a means by which we ensure the integrity and safety of every flight.
~ Submitted by MEC Purser Committee Chair Kim Evasic and LOD Committtee Chair Jeffrey Ferrer
SURVIVING CQ TRAINING: AN UPDATE
In response to the many questions/concerns we’ve received on Continuing Qualification (CQ) training which commenced in all three training centers last week, you MEC Air Safety, Health and Security Committee has created an update with some key points related to 2010 CQ. The exact sequence of aircraft to be tested is not the same for each Training Center due to their configuration and layout; however, remember that each day’s proficiency drills include both NW and DL aircraft. Click here to review 2010 CQ update. http://nwaafa.org/docs/safety/2010CQ.pdf
We continue to work with IFS Learning to ensure all feedback and questions regarding CQ training are addressed and changes made, as required. Please let us continue to hear from you!
~ Submitted by MEC Safety Chair, Jeanne Elliott
WINGS AND THINGS: A VESTED INTEREST IN (E)QUALITY
On Thursday, Delta announced a uniform vest wear testing program is currently underway. The same memo included a reminder for Flight Attendants to pick up their second set of uniform wings. Special thanks to NWA-AFA members for your collective insistence that the company act on these issues.
As always, we continue to channel related complaints and concerns, both through the grievance process and other means, at our members’ direction. Your MEC Grievance Committee filed several uniform-specific grievances shortly after the Richard Tyler ensemble was introduced on March 30. Delta provided additional wings following our assertion that NWA Flight Attendants have always enjoyed two sets. You may recall, however, their initial response http://www.nwaafa.org/docs/grievance/ LION_VEST_FORM_LETTER.pdf to other more costly uniform complaints, such as low-quality, defective vest fabric that pills, frays, unravels and otherwise prematurely disintegrates, was somewhat dismissive in its tone.
Company wear-testing results will finally be produced more than a year after PMNW employee-purchased vests first evidenced fabric problems.
On a related note, the “Vest Grievance” addressing the disparity in designated outer garments in Business Class, is scheduled for arbitration next week. Click the link for the rest of the story. http://nwaafa.org/docs/legal/BEvestgrievance.pdf
WE DID IT! IMPROVEMENTS NEGOTIATED TO THE EXCISE TAX
Throughout the week, NWA-AFA locals across the system shared CWA President Larry Cohen’s urgent, time-sensitive message encouraging our members to contact their Representative and Senators to defeat a proposed tax on health care. CWA leadership, locals and our members have led the opposition to the excise tax. From the start, CWA leaders made it clear that a tax on workers’ health care was the wrong way to finance health care reform… Click http://www.cwa-union.org/news/cwa-newsletter-special-edition-we-did-it.html for the rest of the story.