MEC Hotline Message
Recording: 1-888-3-NWA-AFA
MEC Now On Twitter! You can find out news from your MEC as it happens on Twitter. Follow us at "nwaafamec". To sign up, go to www.twitter.com.
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 22, 2010 eNews . . .
HAITIAN TRAGEDY INVOKES OUTPOURING OF GENEROSITY
The devastation in Haiti remains pervasive and overwhelming, but assistance agencies coordinating with government systems are working non-stop meet this human tragedy head on. Yesterday, Delta operated its first military-contracted disaster relief charter flight to Port-au-Prince
staffed by Inflight Service Managers and facilitators (as permitted by PMDL work rules). Opportunities may soon exist for rank-and-file Flight Attendants to participate in this type of flying, although regular scheduled service may not resume for some time.
Involvement in aid and evacuation flights can be extremely rewarding, serving as a hands-on way to be part of disaster relief efforts. If an opportunity for this important work becomes available, your AFA Employee Assistance Program offers some noteworthy tips for stress prevention and management HERE.
Requests continue to pour in from generous employees seeking information about other ways they can help. The AFL-CIO is mobilizing members and calling for the global union movement to “do our utmost to aid our Haitian sisters and brothers in their moment of extraordinary need.” In addition to the list of relief agencies published in last week’s hotline, the AFL-CIO recommends donations to the following disaster assistance organizations:
Doctors Without Borders|Partners in Health| Red Cross International
SOLIDARITY IN THE SPIRIT OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING
AFA-CWA members and activists at Northwest-Delta Air Lines attended ceremonies in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. this week in Atlanta. The parade went through downtown and made its way to Ebenezer Church where a grandstand was set up for speeches and tributes to Dr. King. DL flight attendant Pat Lockhart represented our group and gave an inspiring speech about our organizing efforts and her personal reflection of the civil rights struggle.
It was a very successful and moving time in Atlanta. The parade drew thousands of people and I was so proud that we had such a strong showing at the event. MEC Member Engagement Vice Chair Jarrod Anderson lent his unique vocal styling to our parade and led our group’s rally all the way to Ebenezer Church! Sincere appreciation to all the ATL coordinators and activists that turned out last Monday. Our solidarity is a fitting tribute to the work of MLK.
~ Submitted by MEC Vice President Daniel Grey
TSA UNION CALLS ON FLIGHT ATTENDANTS FOR SUPPORT
Every hour of the day, U.S. Flight Attendants cooperate with TSA employees at security checkpoints throughout the country, upholding our first line of defense. Few are aware these hard-working employees are struggling to achieve fair work rules and raises through collective bargaining rights in a union campaign nearly twice the size of the our Delta AFA campaign.
As the largest federal employee union in the country , the Federation of Government Employees has been fighting unfair work practices and policies on behalf of Transportation Security Officers for eight years. The AFGE has asked us to support their organizing effort during a 45 day membership drive, with the hope they can secure an election date for a collective bargaining agent. Please take a minute to read about the AFGE history and offer an encouraging word to TSA workers you meet in your travels.
THE MIGRATION FROM RADAR TO DELTANET:
What’s Missing, What’s Broken, What’s Moved and Where
Poof, it’s gone! ... or is it? The transition from RADAR to DeltaNet has left many Flight Attendants wondering ‘Did it Fall Off the Moving Truck or Get Left Behind?’ Many of our familiar information resources seem to have gotten lost in the shuffle. Sometimes, it is simply the learning curve, as we figure out where Delta puts things. Sometimes, web pages are temporarily “closed for construction.” Other times, however, alert members call to our attention issues that require further investigation-such as the real time, personalized Defined Benefit retirement page that appears to no longer exist. Historically, many items have been disclosed to PMNW Flight Attendants as a long-standing practice of transparency that recognizes an employee’s right to know the payroll, benefit, and retirement information that affects them.
This week we further examine the transition to DeltaNet, paycheck changes, 401(k), and the use of third party vendors. Click HERE to read the complete story. As the big move from RADAR to DeltaNet and from in-house to third party solutions providers continues, your AFA officers will do our best to track important changes when they occur.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR PESTICIDES RESEARCH STUDY
AFA is currently supporting a research project on the spraying of pesticides on aircraft, known as “disinsection.” The study will determine whether disinsection increases pesticide levels in Flight Attendant bodies, as compared to the general adult U.S. population and compared to Flight Attendants who do not work on aircraft where pesticides are used.
This study is being funded by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration through their Center of Excellence Program/Airline Cabin Environment Research. For comparison reasons, Flight Attendants who fly routes where spraying occurs, such as BOM, are needed, as well as those who do NOT. NWA-AFA supports this study, recognizing the need to learn the impact of disinsection on our work group. Participants will be asked to collect urine samples on three days and return them to the research team for analysis in a pre-paid FedEx package.
If you are interested and/or have further questions, you may contact , Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences Institute at: 732-445-0154 . AFA’s Occupational Health Re
searcher may be contacted as well. Reference to the research team’s request for flight attendant participants can be found HERE. Further information on the significance of this research can also be found on the FAA’s Center of Excellence webpage on pesticides.
We appreciate your consideration in participating in this worthwhile research project affecting Flight Attendant health and the workplace.
~ Submitted by MEC ASHS Chair Jeanne Elliott
THE (TEMPORARY) SCOOP ON JUMPSEAT BOOKING
Amidst a whirlwind of procedural changes, the company has advised that our contractual provisions for jumpseat booking will remain intact for flights operated by PMNW crews. They assert that Delta policies will apply to PMDL operated flights, however. At this time, “cross-listing” for jumpseats is not in place, but the XFA walk up policy is still in place for jumpseats on oppposite metal. Other company assertions regarding which XFA policy applies and “who” staffs “what” remain in question, due to apparent intentions to violations of our Scope.
As most commuters are aware, we are in the midst of a one-time inventory cutover period through January 31, during part of which jumpseat listing is not available. Please remember the transition to DL flight number designations effectively closes out former NWA numbers. Any prior listings made under the old numbers will no longer exist. Previous communications indicated jumpseat booking via IVR and ATLAS would return with a new look on January 24 for travel January 31 and beyond. More recently, company officials have advised that technical difficulties will likely postpone the return of jumpseat listing, probably until the morning of January 25. Our old travel training program will still work, but the new one will not take effect until that time, as well. Stay tuned for additional updates, if necessary.
VIEW FROM THE JUMPSEAT
This week’s View From the Jumpseat comes from a concerned S-ATL member, with concerns about our Scope protection, closing of the Satellite base and the direction of future flying. The letter asks directly what we can expect to see AFA do, with an emphasis on the need for information. Click on the ‘View’ icon at the right or HERE to read our member’s poignant inquiry and a timely response from MEC President Janette Rook.
IAM-FIRST POST-MERGER UNION ELECTION SET FOR SIM TECHS
The first wave of post-merger NMB elections is slated to run February 3 - 25, as nearly 100 Flight Simulator Technicians will decide whether to retain union representation. Despite assertions of neutrality, Delta attempted to co-opt the election process and dilute their vote. Delta pushed to fold this small, unique workgroup into a larger unrepresented group. The National Mediation Board disagreed, however, recognizing Sim Techs as a separate and distinct class or craft that merits its own election. “If Delta had been successful in combining Sim Techs with mechanics, Northwest Sim Techs would have lost their union contract without a vote and Delta Sim Techs would have been denied an opportunity to make up their own minds about union representation,” explained IAM General Vice President, Robert Roach, Jr."Delta’s aggressive stance to prevent an election shows they are afraid of what their employees can achieve when acting collectively."More information about the Delta Sim Tech election is available at http://www.iam143.org and HERE
WHEN ARE WE VOTING?
While the National Mediation Board considers all comments regarding its proposed rule change for representation elections, the number one question on the line continues to be, “When are we going to vote?” Please click HERE for an informative flier that answers questions about our upcoming vote. Since much of our voting timeline rests in the hands of the NMB, we cannot establish definite dates for the election right now; but we hope the flier will help answer the question with all the facts we have available today. We urge you to print and share with your flying partners.
PILOTS’ VIEW
The Delta tradition includes a commitment to bargaining legally binding contracts-for the pilots. In our latest campaign video, two Delta pilots talk about the importance of representation to them and their profession, and why Delta flight attendants not only need, but deserve representation.
Click the TV or click HERE to watch the video. Please be sure to view, then register on the site, give it the highest rating possible, subscribe to future videos and share/forward it to your friends, family and others.
Visit the Delta-AFA campaign:Facebook | YouTube | Delta-AFA | iTunes Video | iTunes Audio