NWA-AFA eNews
July 27, 2010

We can go straight and directly to our flight attendants, listen to them and immediately make changes, make improvements. . ."

 ~  Richard Anderson

» CABIN FEVER IV: MR. HEAT MISER

"I was sweating from the time I got on the plane and throughout the flight. We are working not in shorts, tank tops and flip-flops, but in fabrics that do not breathe, along with panty hose.  This seems to be a common occurrence to have only one pack working.  This is unacceptable and will cease to be a cost saving measure when you lose your customers."

Since summer's hot streak first began, your NWA-AFA MEC and ASHS Committee have been pulling out the stops to cool down aircraft cabins on your behalf. It is no exaggeration to suggest member pleas for corrective action are nothing short of desperate. A lack of Cabin Fever response from Inflight Services prompted THIS LETTER to Richard Anderson and Joanne Smith. Our request for cooler cabins synopsizes how cost-cutting plans from a pencil pusher's air conditioned office have turned our workspace into steaming saunas.

Fortunately, key members of management agree that cabin comfort should never be compromised-and "never at the expense of passenger and crew comfort and safety."  Sharing member feedback with Delta leaders at the quarterly, contractual Joint Safety meeting earlier this month, your MEC Air Safety Health and Security Committee emphasized that Flight Attendants must be provided with procedures to follow and numbers to contact when faced with extreme cabin conditions.

Your MEC ASHS Committee has made additional inroads with other key safety and service related areas, providing valuable input that helped shape the company's recently published "Safety and Service Must Work Together."  FULL STORY

As always, report incidents of Cabin Fever and other service/safety concerns to the company via the FACC/FAST form and an automated Inflight Incident Report, if the situation warrants. And keep on keeping us in the loop via our Online Feedback Form HERE. There's a whole lot of reporting going on this summer. But remember, if you don't report it, it didn't happen.

READ PREVIOUS ARTICLES IN THIS SERIES:

CABIN FEVER I: FEELIN' HOT HOT HOT!!!
CABIN FEVER II: THE HEAT IS ON!!!
CABIN FEVER III: HEATWAVE!!!

» REVISED SYSTEM SENIORITY LIST POSTED FOR PMNW FAs

As contractually required for twice yearly publication, our updated our seniority list is now available on DeltaNet.  If you believe there is an error, omission or incorrect posting which affected your seniority, per Section 20 - Seniority of our contract you have sixty (60) days to submit a written inquiry/challenge to the new list.  The deadline for submitting a protest will be September 24, 2010.  Please submit written inquiries to:

Dustin Ray
Analyst-Operations & Planning
Department 606
1010 Delta Boulevard
OC-1 Building, 5th Floor
Atlanta, GA  30354

» "DELTA FLIGHT ATTENDANTS NEED TO BE UNIONIZED . . ."

"As a retired 41 year NWA employee I have an interesting perspective.  I spent 20 years as a Flight Attendant and union activist and 21 years in management.  Delta Flight Attendants need to be unionized and here is why: AFA gives one voice to Delta on key issues like staffing, service standards, retirement, work rules-such as maximum duty days - and most importantly SAFETY and HEALTH issues impacting Flight Attendants.  Your article focused mainly on salary issues, but at the end of the day the issues above, especially oversight of safety and health, are as important.  I encourage all Delta Flight Attendants to vote for AFA and insure a healthy future in a safe work environment.  Anything less makes that promise of industry matching salary a one note pony!"

~ SuzAnne Balzer, retired former NWA Director of Flight Attendant Scheduling and Contract Compliance (in response to a MSP Star Tribune article)

» LOCAL ELECTION NEWS

In the midst of seemingly constant NMB election news regarding AFA-CWA union representation, Local Officer election cycles continue, as well. In accordance with the AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws, all Councils in Election Category I (LEC94 -DTW, LEC96-SEA, LEC98-LAX and LEC99-HNL) are scheduled to nominate and elect officers for the term of service beginning January 1, 2011. As most members recognize, electing Local Council officers for your base is an equally important, but entirely separate process-independent of the upcoming NMB election to retain union representation for our combined flight attendant group. Local Council Officer elections are internal elections at each base, and set on a staggered three-year cycle throughout the NWA-AFA system, during which members in good standing will choose their Local President, Vice President, Secretary and (depending on base size) Council Representative(s).

All active members in good standing are entitled to nominate one candidate for each office. All flight attendants who receive at least 2 nominations and complete a Commitment to Serve form will appear on the election ballot. Nomination ballots and Commitment to Serve Statement cards were recently mailed and returns must be postmarked within the next several weeks, depending on the exact dates assigned to your local. Check the nominations packet you received in the mail or click HERE for additional information and dates specific to your base. If you do not receive your nomination ballot or have never filled out an AFA membership form, please contact your LEC President or the AFA International Office at 800-424-2401 EXT 706.

FUTUREfocus

On July 21, 2010, the Air Transport Association (ATA) appealed the U.S. District Court's decision to uphold new NMB voting rules.  Following the court decision, Delta Air Lines-the largest legacy carrier to sign onto the lawsuit-stated they would not appeal the decision. However, they also indicated they support any appeal ATA makes on their behalf. Whichever the case may be, the process calling for our election continues. Together, we move toward Opportunity, Unity and Respect and a World Class Contract for all Delta flight attendants. READ MORE>>

» IMPORTANT NOTE ON DEPENDENT COVERAGE

AFA has learned that protocol may not have been followed, in some cases, by Delta's Employee Service Center for those with dependents who turned or are approaching age 19 since January 1, 2010.  The normal process provides that the Employee Service Center sends an employee a letter 60 days prior to his/her dependent's 19th birthday instructing the employee to provide documentation to support continued coverage.  There is a 90 day grace period following the dependent's 19th birthday, and at the end of that period, medical, dental and travel benefits will be terminated.  If you have a child approaching 19 or who turned 19 since the beginning of the year, AFA strongly recommends that you submit the required documentation to avoid any lapse in medical, dental or travel privileges.  FULL STORY

NWA-AFA SUMMER RESERVE S.O.S.

Don't forget the NWA Summer Reserve S.O.S. if you get into a sticky scheduling situation this summer. Contact your Local Council Officers first for all scheduling, discipline, contract, grievance and rumor control issues. The NWA Summer ReserveS.O.S. is your supplemental 24/7 scheduling support to help tackle this summer's unique challenges. Keep your contract close and an ally on speed-dial at 888.3.NWA.AFA, option 2 (888.369.2232) or summer@nwaafa.org.

» 72nd ANNUAL CWA CONVENTION

Your Local AFA Presidents/local flight attendant delegates will be in Washington DC this week representing our collective interests in this yearly meeting of CWA.  While we retain our autonomy in many areas per the AFA C&B, through our affiliation with CWA we have been fortunate to enjoy the strong support of our union brothers and sisters of CWA in our efforts to protect and defend our contract.  To learn more about what your fellow flight attendants AFA reps will be doing this week in Washington DC, please read the Official Call HERE.



What is it like to be a working woman in America in 2010? Help identify the issues and concerns of working women and move women's issues into the national dialogue by taking the 2010 Ask a Working Woman survey, or by encouraging the working women in your life to complete the survey. The survey will be online through August 13, 2010.

HOW WAS YOUR STAY?

Your NWA-AFA Hotel Committee wants your feedback about our layover hotels around the system. Too far? Too loud? Just right? Take a minute to complete the Online Hotel Survey. Remember, if you don't report it, it didn't happen! Online Hotel Survey HERE.

» TRUTH AND CONSEQUENCES

Delta executives always seem to be promising flight attendants the moon, although the reality of what we get is more like green cheese. Consider these comments by CEO Richard Anderson in a video message two years ago, with a reality check served up by Delta flight attendants. 

View the latest Delta AFA video, Truth and Consequences, where Delta Flight Attendants weigh in on Richard's insincerity.

» IN THE NEWS

Delta vote to seal fate of unions, Star Tribune, July 25, 2010

"For two decades, Rene Foss worked as a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines, and took her union, contract and benefits for granted. Then came the airline's bankruptcy, a 40 percent pay cut and NWA's takeover by the mostly nonunion Delta Air Lines.

"It was a real eye-opener," said Foss, who 2 1/2 years ago became a union activist and is now on the front lines of what will be an all-or-nothing labor contest at the nation's largest airline. . .READ MORE >>

BRING A COLLEAGUE. GET MOTIVATED. GET INVOLVED.

The NWA AFA MEC Calendar of Events is found on the front page of nwaafa.org.  Delta Flight Attendants are often invited to local union meetings throughout the country as well, and there are also information sessions and gatherings planned and posted at Delta AFA.

DON'T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR UNION PIN - AT WORK & TO TRAINING!

Show your support for collective bargaining by wearing your union pin to work and all company events.  Together, we are AFA.  Click HERE or visit afanet.org for information about AFA-CWA union structure and the history of the AFA-CWA.  Dues & Member Information can be viewed HERE.

EXTRA!! EXTRA!! READ ALL ABOUT IT-FIRST!!

Do you like to be the first to hear the scoop, or prefer it filtered through eight layers of rumor mill before it reaches your ears? Flight attendants are arguably the world's most quick-paced and mobile workforce. As information about our campaign for representation develops at an equally fast pace, you can keep up with breaking news by using our new Delta AFA text messaging service.

Get involved.  Stay informed.  Be the first to know with Delta AFA text messaging.

Sign up to receive Delta AFA text message alerts by clicking HERE or text "goafa" to 69866.

Previous eNews editions:

20 July 2010
13 July 2010
06 July 2010
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