Questions & Answers
Questions and Answers 50 - 51
Question 50: I understand that after the first 90 days of unpaid SLIP leave, I am no longer obligated to pay my union dues until I go back on paid status. How is it that I can still vote in a representation election if I won’t be paying dues until I return to work in June 2009?
Answer: Because your eligibility to vote in a National Mediation Board (NMB) representation election is based solely on being employed as a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines. Whether you are an active member of AFA-CWA is irrelevant for purposes of determining your eligibility to vote in the NMB election. All flight attendants employed by NWA and by Delta will be eligible to vote, even those flight attendants who are furloughed or on leave.
Question 51: As a flight attendant who will go out on SLIP leave at the end of August, how will I know when a representation election is called by the NMB after a merger? When is that going to happen, anyway?
Answer: Northwest and Delta have published their merger timeline, with the intention to receive merger approval from the government and operate as a single carrier by the end of this year. Our union has its own timeline, and is prepared to file an “investigation of single transportation system” petition with the NMB immediately once certain indicia are observed, like central control of operations, one management team or one executive board of directors.
This request from AFA-CWA will cause the NMB to investigate whether the airline is indeed operating as a single transportation system, thus whether our union may trigger a representation election at the newly merged carrier, having at least 35% of the combined workforce showing interest in union representation.
Once the NMB determines that the single transportation system exists – which may take several months – the NMB will establish an election timeline and set a vote count date, then mail a ballot to every flight attendant on the rosters supplied by both Northwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines. Even if you are on leave, you are still eligible to vote.
If you do not receive a ballot within a reasonable amount of time prior to the actual tally – if you believe your ballot is lost or has been damaged – AFA-CWA will want to provide you instructions for requesting a replacement ballot from the NMB.
The NMB, which in its current composition is unapologetically hostile to unions, will not provide AFA-CWA with the mailing lists of eligible flight attendants. That’s why it’s so important that you keep your mailing address and other contact information current with both the company and AFA-CWA during any leave of absence.
If your address, phone or email changes while you are on leave, please contact the AFA-CWA Membership Services Department immediately. You may do this by going to our website, nwaafa.org, or to the AFA-CWA International website at afanet.org. Please visit our MEC website often, as it is updated daily and should be your first source for information about the NMB representation election.
Posted by Communications on 08/12 at 06:20 PM