|
10 JULY 2009 |
Printer friendly PDF
version HERE  |
|
DELTA-AFA
RALLY VIDEO
More than a hundred Delta-AFA
activists and leaders gathered in Atlanta, May 13-14 to discuss
how best to win an industry-leading contract for Delta’s
World Class Flight Attendants. The meeting culminated with an
enthusiastic rally at Delta’s Camp Creek parking area. A
recap of this event can be viewed by clicking the TV or
HERE.
Download this video and others by visiting delta|afa.
Visit the
campaign:
|
|
UPCOMING POLICY AND PROCEDURAL
CHANGES
As noted in
DL's "IFS Weekly Newsletter" of July 2nd, two more significant
FA Manual revisions will occur on August 1st and October
1st. 'Change Alert' communications are planned to be
issued to highlight the more significant changes made.
These revisions are intended to further align NW and DL policies
and procedures as plans continue to adopt a common Onboard
Manual in December 2009.
Please be
aware that there will be more FAA presence in the near future as
integration continues. Remember that you may use our FA
Manual as a reference if you are quizzed by the FAA.
Continue to be familiar with the changes currently in place and
those to be issued. –Submitted by MEC Air Safety, Health
and Security Chair Jeanne Elliott
SEDGWICK FMLA
UPDATE 
We have
received the phone script and sample Sedgwick/Delta FMLA letters
for our feedback and they will be revised. The letters
that were being sent to our members are not acceptable to the
Union, and neither is the
content of the phone script. We will submit suggestions to
alter these letters and the script going forward. Please
continue to submit any issues or concerns that you have to your
local AFA representatives, regarding the company Delta has
outsourced our FMLA processing (Sedgwick).
LONG TERM DISABILITY INSURANCE
AFA
representatives met with Northwest and Delta absence management,
Cigna claims representatives and NGP this week, in our
continuing efforts to improve member satisfaction with our LTD
insurance. We are now attempting to insert Independent
Medical Examiner language in our policy, so that our members
will have a 3rd and final, binding appeal venue.
(National Group Protection is assisting the MEC and is an
advocate for our members with claim questions and issues).
Please review the LTD FAQ for assistance: http://nwaafa.org/docs/resources/AFA-NWA%20LTD%20-%20Frequently%20Asked%20Questions.pdf
PASS THIS ON...IT’S IMPORTANT!
There appears to be some confusion surrounding the
"advocacy program" Delta published this week. The truth is, there's not really
anything new in it.
The wording in the policy concerning "advocacy material"
is somewhat dubious as it pertains to union pins.
We can
wear our union insignia--KEEP WEARING YOUR PINS. Don't be scared or
fear repercussion.
We are legally entitled to wear our union pins. DO NOT STOP WEARING YOUR
PINS. Obviously,
Delta believes wearing the pins to be detrimental to their hope
of no union, so make sure to get everyone to wear them. For a more in-depth look
at our rights during this campaign, visit
http://deltaafa.org/default2.asp?active_page_id=76 .
The
good news in this email is that we have - in writing - the
permission to talk about union activity in the crew
lounges. We have
been doing this in ATL and CVG. Have no fear of talking about the
representation in non-work areas of the lounge. Encourage conversation
and education. Go
to http://www.nwaafa.org/ for information to help start the
dialogue.
KEEP TALKING TO YOUR PEERS AND KEEP WEARING YOUR UNION
PIN.
Submitted by DTW Flight Attendant Kim Evasic
MAC COMPATABILITY WITH AQ TRAINING
As
integration training moves into AQ beginning in August, we've
been made aware that the CBT portion of the training is not
compatible with Mac computers.
As
background, Delta's CBT training has not been Mac
compatible. AFA has
been in contact with the training and IS department and we are
told a solution is in the works. At this time, Mac users are still not able to
complete AQ CBT unless it is done with a PC or at a base
computer.
With a
high percentage of flight attendants using Mac computers, we
feel it is reasonable for the Company to offer compatibility
with their computer based training. The AQ training is rather time consuming and
flight attendants - regardless of computer operating systems -
should be able to complete the training in the environment of
their choice. AFA
will continue to ask for a resolution to the problem and will
update you as soon as we have more information. In the meantime, please
report AQ CBT technical issues to your base and copy in your AFA
Local Executive Council.
Submitted by MEC Vice-President Daniel
Grey
MEC GRIEVANCE TRAINING
On July 8
and 9th over 35 LEC Officers attended Grievance
Training in MSP. The facilitators included MEC Grievance Chair
Greg Riffle and Vice Chair Patti Reller, along with AFA legal
counsel Peter Swanson. Topics included a review of preparing a
successful grievance, interpreting the contract, scenarios and a
mock mediation hearing, Principles of Just Cause in disciplinary
cases, EEO Issues, FMLA/HIPAA guidelines, and much
more.
Guest
speakers included Bonnie Peterson, who discussed Workers
Compensation issues and MEC EAP Chair Rosemary Miller who
reviewed EAP/Drug and Alcohol issues. MSP based flight attendant
Rebecca Collier, who is part of the C3, gave a presentation on
the Campaign Database and coordinating with the Campaign. MEC
webmaster Neal McMahon also gave a training session on
Unionware, which is the computer system we use to file and and
track grievances and ongoing issues.
One of the
benefits of our legally binding contract is Section 27 -
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE. This section gives us the right to file a grievance and
have it handled in a specific manner that is set forth in our
contract. Without this benefit it would be up to the Company as
to how disciplinary and contractual disputes are resolved. There
would be no promise of fairness and justice - with no
opportunity to have an independent arbitrator weigh in for a
legally binding final decision - to resolve a dispute between
the Company and the Union member. There would be no
“just cause” requirement for discipline and no
legally binding system of rules or procedures with which the
Company would be required to comply. In other words,
you’re on your own. –Submitted by MEC
Communications Chair Rene Foss
SLIP LEAVES - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW -
JULY 16 DEADLINE 
The
SLIP Leave deadline is fast approaching, and those wishing to
participate will need to submit their bid by July 16, 2009 at
4pm central. We know there are ongoing concerns about
whether the Company will honor the terms of the SLIP leave,
with our representation and legal contract at risk this
summer. The Company has sent out past
communications to assert that they will honor the terms of these
leaves, regardless of the outcome of our election. The
Union has requested another
such reassurance from them, for the most current SLIP
leave. There is no guarantee without a legal
contract, but these assurances in writing do give a measure of
confidence to many of our flight
attendants. Flight Attendants in Minnesota
will join all other NW bases and will now be able to collect
Unemployment Insurance benefits as a result of our AFA-CWA
Government Affairs Committee’s tireless efforts to change
the law that now recognizes voluntary lay-offs in lieu of
furlough. The law extends benefits to those represented by
a Collective Bargaining Agreement, such as ours with the
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, as well as a written
employer policy at non-union companies. For questions and
benefit information please visit the Resources tab of our MEC
website, and then click on Employment
Resources.
CHI SATELLITE PARKING UPDATE
After
repeated requests by Local AFA reps, the Company has stated that
they should be in a position to communicate ORD parking with in
the next few days. The final procedures will be posted on ATLAS.
One of the delays is attributed to the news that the ORD station
person who manages the parking is on vacation and is not
scheduled to return until this week. They have stated that
the process for parking will be in place prior to opening of
S-CHI and the concern of those who have already purchased
parking paddles will be addressed.
ATL SATELLITE DOWNSIZING ANNOUNCED
The Company
announced a downsizing of the ATL satellite, due to recent
cancellations and cross fleeting announcements for
September. For our complete cross fleeting Q&A that
was sent out earlier this week, please click HERE. This downsizing of ATL will be accomplished per
contractual provisions - first with a voluntary bid to return to
Home Base, which will be awarded in seniority order in S-ATL.
The six (6) month satellite base commitment will be waived for
these requests. Should there be insufficient bidders, the fight
attendants in ATL will be returned to Home Base in reverse
seniority order, also effective September 1.
ARE YOU INFORMED?
As we
continue to move forward with this monumental merger, changes
are happening around us. The historic Northwest signs are being
taken down from the hangers in MSP, our World Business Class
service is back to being hand delivered, and our “All
Call” procedures as well as safety checks have changed as
well. The amount of information is at times overwhelming, but it
is vital that we keep up with these changes as they affect our
careers and any deviation from these new changes can lead to
disciplinary action.
At
Northwest, we’re very fortunate that we have a back up to
ensure we receive this information, our Union. Yesterday, I spoke to one of the
many Delta flight attendants I’ve befriended during this
merger process who only noticed a change to Delta’s
“Advocacy Policy” because she was browsing the
DeltaNet portal. Imagine the thousands of flight attendants who
do not take the opportunity to look through DeltaNet daily,
weekly or at all. These changes occur to their work rules,
without any warning or notice regarding the new policy, or just
a memo from one of the executives after the fact. Without being
informed of these new changes, you could be at risk for
disciplinary action and/or termination from the company.
One of the
many advantages of having representation is the information we
receive from our union. If there are changes occurring that are
detrimental to our job, we receive notification from AFA, as
well as the company. Because we have several sources of
information, flight attendants are educated about what affects
us and in turn we have an opportunity to discuss these changes
at our union meetings, in our crew lounges and on the job. How
informed will you be without representation? Visit www.nwaafa.org and www.deltaafa.org and your Local Council
websites
regularly. - Submitted by Member Engagement Vice
Chair Jarrod Anderson
BRING A COLLEAGUE. GET MOTIVATED. GET
INVOLVED.
The NWA AFA MEC
Calendar of Events is found under the "Events" tab at www.nwaafa.org. Delta Flight Attendants
will be invited to local union meetings throughout the country
in the coming months, and there will be information sessions
planned and posted at www.deltaafa.org as
well.
GOT
MERGER QUESTIONS?
GET ANSWERS!
 You are always welcome to contact
your AFA-CWA Local officers, whose contact information is found
at nwaafa.org. Another way to get
accurate answers to merger questions is to email Questions@nwaafa.org. A
variety of information sources are available to our members,
including the MEC newsletter all
call, local union bulletin boards, the
recorded weekly Hotline message, and of course our
websites. Visit
www.nwaafa.org
and www.deltaafa.org for information, as well
as to sign up for e-news and to view archived MEC Hotlines
and campaign information.
DON'T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR
UNION PIN - AT WORK & TO TRAINING!
 Click HERE or visit www.afanet.org for
information about AFA-CWA union structure and the history
of the AFA-CWA. Dues & Member Q&A can be
viewed here: http://nwaafa.org/resources/dues/.
|
