MEC GRIEVANCES FILED – OPR AND MANAGER FLYING

AFA this week filed two new MEC Grievances that we want you to be aware of. The first MEC Grievance has to do with Inflight Managers working on flights or entire trips - as a part of the minimum crew, or in addition to the minimum crew in violation of our Section 1 Scope provisions. The second MEC grievance has to do with the Company’s failure to provide separate quiet room facilities for OPR Reserve flight attendants at certain of our bases, and failing that, by not providing quiet room facilities at a nearby hotel, or providing day rooms.  To read a bit more about why these grievances were filed, click here: http://nwaafa.org/docs/OPRMgrFlyingGrievance.pdf.   

PREPARING FOR AIRCRAFT QUALIFICATION (AQ) TRAINING

AQ training will commence on August 3rd at all three training locations.  A “Welcome to AQ” letter has been issued to those who have already bid for a class date.  This communication provides a program overview, expectations, availability of resources, transportation and logistics.

This training will qualify all pre-merger NW Flight Attendants on:  MD-88/90, B737, B767, B777 and variations of the B757.  A comprehensive CBT is also made a part of AQ and is a prerequisite to the program.  Each aircraft will include proficiency checks on all exits and a written assessment (25 questions).  Door operation will include both normal and emergency modes.  One exercise will involve a Red Level Emergency.  So . . . review the new commands and keep that Evacuation Preparation Checklist (EPC) handy!

Other valuable resources include:  AQ Resource Guide (issued 60 days prior to your training date) and Exit Operation training videos available on the LMS via RADAR and ATLAS. A further reminder . . . . FA Manual Revision 5-09 will be issued shortly and includes additional changes that should be reviewed for both IQ and AQ, along with Bulletins 8-09, 9-09 and 10-09. "Change Alert #5" was issued on July 21st, highlighting the most significant changes of the revision and bulletins. If you have training questions please direct inquiries to: mailto: IFTRAIN@nwa.com.  --Submitted by MEC Air Safety, Health and Security Chair Jeanne Elliott

CALLING ALL SERVING JACKETS & VESTS

Your MEC Grievance Committee will be arbitrating a uniform grievance on September 2nd with Arbitrator Dana Eischen.  The grievance speaks to the fact that the company is requiring flight attendants to wear what is called an "outer garment" when working in Business Elite.  This outer garment is the dress, the jacket, or the vest.   As you know, the vest is an optional uniform piece. It has been past practice at Northwest, that when a specific uniform piece was required to be worn in First or Business class, the company provided that garment and replaced it when damaged at company expense.  Furthermore the company even paid for the dry cleaning of this garment at the conclusion of the segment on which it was worn.  As part of this arbitration, we would like to present as evidence the gray and white serving jackets and the blue vest for males.  If you have either of these items and would be willing to loan them to the Grievance Committee, we would appreciate it.  Please phone the MEC Grievance office at 952-241-4109 or email MEC Grievance Vice Chair Patricia Reller at: mailto:preller@nwaafa.org. 

AFA/NWA JOINT SAFETY COMMITTEE CONVENES

Your MEC Vice President, ASHS Committee and Local 94 Safety Chair participated in the July 15th quarterly Joint Safety, Security & Health Committee meeting, as mandated by Section 22 of the CBA.

The agenda addressed a broad range of timely issues/concerns, including:H1N1 virus update and protections afforded crews, turbulence events involving FA injuries, hazards posed by duvets in FC/BE, update on Cabin Engineering  Projects underway - and updated information on IQ and AQ training and  “integrated” procedures.  It was stated that the new Onboard Manual (OBM) will be issued to all FAs on December 1st.

Some immediate success as a result of this important forum includes:

- The Company's buy-in to notify AFA of communicable disease exposures.

- An invitation to AFA to be a participant in the new DL Turbulence Working Group.

- Evacuation Preparation Checklist (EPC) will be installed on all aircraft (replacing the previous Memory Joggers) - and invitation to AFA for continued feedback and suggestions on both IQ and AQ training programs.

The Joint Safety Committee has shown to be an effective forum to address critical concerns and timely issues from our Members.  ASHS continues their work 24/7 - and needs to hear from you on specific workplace issues and/or areas presenting injury potential.  Stay informed, keep ASHS informed! --Submitted by MEC Air Safety, Health and Security Chair Jeanne Elliott

FAA RE-AUTHORIZATION BILL PASSES SECOND HURDLE

On Tuesday of this week, the Senate Commerce Committee discussed and reported out to the full Senate S. 1451, the FAA Reauthorization Act.  As you may recall the House passed their version recently as well. Included in the base bill were an unprecedented number of provisions specific to flight attendants supported and pushed for by AFA.  Those include, flight attendant fatigue research, expansion of the HIMS program to cover flight attendants, a requirement that flight attendant be proficient in English and a provision directing the FAA and OSHA to complete work on developing workplace safety and health protections for flight attendants.

During debate of the bill, an amendment offered by Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) was accepted that would require the FAA to identify aircraft sensor and air cleaning technology that could be used to reduce air supply contamination onboard the aircraft.  After one year, the FAA would be required to report back to Congress on their results and the available technology.  The Committee also accepted an amendment offered by Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) that would enhance the alcohol awareness training for flight attendants.   

Unfortunately, the ban on cell phone usage was not included in the bill, nor did any Senator offer an amendment during the bill consideration to ban cell phones inflight.  With your help, we will continue our aggressive grassroots campaign to see if any Senators are willing to offer such an amendment when the bill comes up on the Senate floor. Please visit www.nwaafa.org/committees/govaffairs/ and print out a copy of the cell phone ban letter and send it to your Senator. In addition you may call your Senator and use the following script urging them to support a ban on cell phones during flight. 

Script:  "Hello, I'm a constituent and I live in (your city and state of residence). I'm calling to urge the Senator to support an airline in-flight cell phone ban as part of the FAA Re-authorization. The aircraft cabin is no place for cell phone conversations, and use of cell phones in-flight poses a risk to safety and security. The US House of Representatives has taken the first step by including a cell phone ban in the FAA Reauthorization Bill. As a constituent I urge the Senator to work to ensure that the FAA Re-authorization includes a ban on in-flight cell phone usage."  --Submitted by Albert Garcia, MEC Government Affairs Chair 

CARRY-ON MADNESS, CELL PHONES – WHAT TO DO DURING THOSSE TEDIOUS SIT TIMES

Our volunteers are out on the line asking you to sign letters for your House Representatives urging them to co-sponsor legislation to restrict carry-on baggage and letters are coming in daily. Our volunteers in turn are processing them and faxing and mailing your letters to your Representatives. Thank you to all of you that have taken the time to sign these letters, but we need more of you to do so. This grassroots effort will help us garner support for this important piece of legislation. Your efforts will go a long way to relieve the boarding process from the chaos that all of us must endure prior to door closing as result of excessive baggage brought on board by our customers. Copies of the letter may be downloaded and printed from our MEC Government Affairs web page. There you will also find a comprehensive position statement for the AFA regarding carry-on baggage. Print as many letters as you can and take them with you on your trips. Once you get them signed, just leave them in your local's mail box. We will take care of sending them for you. 

In addition please see a script on the front page of the website that you may use when calling your Senators regarding an inclusion of a cell phone ban amendment to the FAA Re-Authorization bill that will be voted on shortly in that chamber. But you can do it without a script. Just tell your Senator to please support an amendment to the FAA Re-authorization bill to ban use of cell phones on your airplane. Ask your friends to call their Senators as well. You can contact the Congressional Switchboard at 202 224-3121 and ask for your Senator's telephone number.  

These efforts to legislate improvements to our workplace are what makes our union work for all of us. All it takes is a few minutes of your time and a couple of those roll-over minutes from your cell phone during those tedious sit times. Together we can make this happen! -- Submitted by Albert Garcia, MEC Government Affairs Chair 

HEALTH CARE REFORM

As you are likely aware, the national debate over health care reform will be culminating in some critical Congressional votes in the coming weeks.  President Obama has asked Labor and other health care allies to increase the pressure on our Congressional representatives, by participating in a massive call-in day to Congressional offices next Tuesday, July 28.