NBA CHARTER PROBLEMS

On Friday, April 24th, MEC Grievance Chairperson Greg Riffle, Negotiations

Committee representative Bruce Retrum, and LEC93 President and MEC Charter Liason Shawn Fivecoat met with NWA Crew Scheduling representatives Brian Moreau and Jiva Ahrens to discuss the on-going problems associated with the bidding and operation of the NBA playoff charter assignments. Because the details of the program were not communicated adequately or far enough in advance, many flight attendants were misinformed about the details of the “KC” days, as well as how the “T4” days were to work, and the pay details. As a result, many flight attendants who were made to unnecessarily sit available from 9-5 on either a “KC” day, or a “T4” day, found out later via their paycheck that they were not going to be paid 4:15for those days.

As a result of the meeting with AFA, the Company has promised to implement the following steps to remedy these problems:

1. An audit of all flight attendant’s lines who participated in the NBA/NHL playoff

Charter trips program will be conducted. If it is discovered that the flight attendant sat and was available for either a “KC” day, or “T4” day, but wasn’t utilized, and wasn’t paid, then a 4:15 credit will be given to them for those days. The Company agreed that there was no obligation to be time available on a “KC” day, and that the “T4” days could only be assigned at the flight attendant’s request. In the future, if a flight attendant chooses a day to be a “T4” day, and is not utilized, there will be no pay associated with that day.

2. A clearer and more detailed communication piece will be sent to all flight

attendants participating in the NBA/NHL playoff program that will specifically address how trips are to be assigned, and also to address how the “KC” and T4” code days are to be treated, and what impact they will have on your monthly pay.

3. A new Duty Manager, Kristen Nicholas, has been assigned to oversee the Charter Program. She will be fully briefed on the program by Brian Moreau, along with all other Duty Managers. In the future, if you have questions about the program you should first direct them to kristen.nicholas@nwa.com . If the issue is time sensitive, contact the acting Duty Manager for that day. Please be assured that we will continue to closely monitor the on-going assignments of the NBA playoff charter trips. If the Crew Scheduling department fails to implement the agreed changes and remedies in a timely manner, we stand ready to file an MEC Grievance in order to pursue further remedies for you. Also, please continue to contact your local AFA representative if you continue to experience problems with this program. -- Submitted by MEC Grievance Chairperson Gregg Rifle.

NMB UPDATE: PUCHALA STILL MUST BE CONFIRMED BY SENATE

On March 13th, the Obama administration chose Linda Puchala as its nominee to the National Mediation Board (NMB). The AFA-CWA applauded the choice and released the following statement, "We are very pleased with White House's choice and believe Linda's consensus-building skills and commitment to the collective bargaining process will be a valuable addition to the agency which is so critical to labor relations in the aviation and railway industries," stated Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President.

We know and understand that many of you are anxious for the confirmation of Linda Puchala to the National Mediation Board (NMB) and wanted to give you an update on the process. The Committee is presently reviewing all of the background information sent to them by the administration. Once this process is complete the committee will bring the confirmation to a vote to the Senate floor. This takes time as there are many other appointments to many other slots within the Obama administration also being considered. In the meantime we ask that you be patient with the process and allow it to move forward unencumbered. Rest assured that your union is monitoring the process and will let you know of any developments.

RESERVE DAILY RELEASE GRIEVANCE SETTLEMENT

AFA and the Company have recently settled a grievance filed by DTW Council 94 Representative Daniel Grey regarding the assignment of Reserve Daily Releases (RX in Crew Access). The grievance charged the Company with the misapplication of the RX code. The RX code does not recognize a conflict with a flying assignment previously placed on your line. Therefore, unless you specifically cancel your request after you’ve received a daily release that would create a conflict with a previously existing trip your release will still be awarded.

Recognizing that some flight attendants were unnecessarily losing 4:15 from their

reserve guarantee, the grievance was filed. As a result of the grievance, the Company agreed to implement changes in how the reserve daily release is implemented. If a Daily Release is awarded on a day where you finish a trip at base, and your flying and/or rest finish on that day at 1201 or later, you will now have the option to cancel that release at the time of notification. This means that, when you are notified that the RX has been awarded, you will need to contact crew scheduling and cancel the RX, if that is your preference.

This also applies to reserves whose extended duty rest at base would wholly cover the RX. If you are on extended duty rest, and are not notified of your RX award until after you return to base, you will still be able to request a cancellation of your RX award. Of course, there are some instances where you may wish to keep the release in place, and you will still have the option to do that. However, the option to cancel your RX award will not apply to reserves whose flying and/or rest conclude before 1200 on the day of the RX award, or if you are on a 1400-1400 on-call period, or if you have been given an AM-PM award.

For further details, including the full text of the grievance settlement, please refer to the following link in Section 7 of the contract on the MEC website.

RESERVE_DAILY_RELEASE SETTLEMENT_Letter_3-18-09