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Greetings, December 2nd Local Council Meeting Notes
First, we would like to say "THANK YOU" to all of those that attended! We had over 25 attendees. there were Northwest retired flight attendants, members from other bases and we also had a flight attendant who brought her NW pilot spouse. Medical Comparison Our Guest speaker was Mary Lou Savage, AFA Senior Benefits Attorney. Mary Lou was instrumental in enlightening us with a comparrison of Health Insurance Benefits, between Northwest and Delta. The benefits that we currently enjoy, due to our contract, are significantly better for our work group, as well as for our retirees! Copies of the comparrison are availabe, so if you would like a copy, just let one of your officers know. Financial Analysist Comparison AFA-CWA recently commissioned an independent analysis of the cost of the legacy carriers cost for flight attendants. Recent data provided from the DOT (Department of Transportation) was used to show that the Delta flight attendants cost, on average, 3.3 million less per year, on a seat per mile basis, than the Northwest flight attendants. Although DL might have a slightly higher hourly rate, it is clear there is a lot more to what we earn than what we make per hour. The costs the DL group pays for medical, inferior retirement, and work rules, saves them a great deal of money. Satelitte Bases Satellite bases were discussed, and we encourage you to review Side Letter 20, in your Contract regarding this issue. Delta is promising to improve the current AFP (Alternate Flying Program This is their terminology for Satelitte bases). Thier current AFP program is archaic, at best, with no protections for flight attendants. Our current Satelitte base language is far superior. You can expect DL to make changes (potentially temporary) to make their program comparable. Law Suit Protecting Senoirity AFA has recently filed a law suit in Federal Court regarding our "Single Carrier Status". Joanne Smith has accused AFA-CWA of "stall tactics" regarding seniority integration. By Ms. Smith's own admission, the earliest the NW and DL flight attendants would be able to fly on the same aircraft is sometime in 2010. There is not a SINGLE issue that requires immediate resolution to senoirity! Integration of our senoirty will not become an issue until we begin to fly on the same aircraft. They have not even garnered approval from the FAA for a Training Program for all aircraft currently being flown by Delta. Thier own business plan says it will be aproxomatly 18 months before training is approved and completed for us to fly on all aircraft as a combined group. Until then, we will continue to fly our own aircraft using our own senoirity list. According to many years of NMB past practice, senoirity integration has always been completed after the election to determine representational issues. Delta's goal is to rush the election in an attempt to have it during the holiday season when flight attendants are at their maximum stress threshold, and while the NMB is still controlled by the Bush Whitehouse. The reality is: no one is stalling, all AFA-CWA is asking for is to be free to make a decision regarding our future, without interference or harrasment from management. Organizing Efforts AFA-CWA has begun a massive organizing compaign to mobilize the NW and DL flight attendants. In this current econimic environment, it will be imparative that we maintain the job protections we currently enjoy! We must also add the 12,000 plus voices of the Delta group to our efforts. When combined, we will be the largest group within the worlds largest Flight Attendant Union. We will set the standards for our profession around the globe. This campaign can not be won without everyone doing their share. Brenda McAden and Lucy Emanuel are the State Chairs for Tennessee, and can provide you the names of the State Chairs for AR or MS, if that is where you live. If you are interested in assisting with the campaign, please contact either Brenda (901) 389-7425 or Lucy (901) 210-0649, as they are currently putting together our local phone and visibility representatives. We are asking for a few hours a week, which is time well spent to maintain over 60 years of bargaining history. Managment Changes One of the many changes to come will be our own Base Manager, Mona Gertner, is being replaced at the end of December. After over 21 years of service to NW, Mona has been given her walking papers. No matter how you feel personally about managment, this is the reality of how Delta treats employees. If we did not have the protections of Section 1 (Scope) in our contract, do you think our fate would be any different? There will be a 'going away' party for Mona on December 17th. Delta recently announced that Brian Moreau has been named as head of the Scheduling Department of the combined airline. Mr. Moreau is the mastermind behind PBS, the 70 hour minimum double-cross, and the 2006 holiday reschedule fiasco. Imagine a world where he is in charge of your day to day worklife without the protections of a contract, or the right to a grievance.
Next Meeting The next LEC 93 meeting is scheduled for Jan. 13, 2009. Ed Gilmartin, AFA-CWA General Council, will be the guest speaker. Mr. Gilmartin will be available to answer questions about legal issues, and our merger timeline.
The meeting will be held at the MEM airport, in Conference Room "A", starting at 11:30AM until 3:00 PM.
In Unity, Shawn Fivecoat LEC-93 President AFA-CWA (901)326-1348 |
