In This Weeks Hotline . . .

BREAST |DRUGS| MEDIA| OPERATION DONATION | RELIEF|USA 3000 |MEC|  PURSER |

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS 

AFA supports our airline’s active involvement to eradicate this terrible disease and we are pleased to do everything we can to increase flight attendant participation in this inspiring effort. We’re proud to see our AFA pin accompany pink ribbons and pink uniform pieces throughout the month of October. This is just one example of how we can all work together to support a good cause. Its heartwarming to see us work together to make such a difference. 

RANDOM DRUG & ALCOHOL TESTING AND ACARS MESSAGE 

In the last few weeks, AFA has received several reports of crewmembers not receiving an ACARS message alerting them to an alcohol/drug test.  ASHS has learned that this is due to a recent decision by the FAA that the use of ACARS  as a tool in the notification process is no longer an acceptable practice. Northwest made an attempt to point out the benefits of notification via ACARS, to no avail. As a result, NWA is currently phasing out the use of ACARS messages to comply with the FAA's ruling. Submitted by -- MEC Air Safety, Health and Security Committee

DELTA MANAGEMENT TRUMPETS ONE-SIDED MEDIA REVIEW 

Perhaps you’ve seen the anonymous, biased and inaccurate editorial  published this week by the Detroit News and trumpeted on DeltaNet as fact.  

Flight attendants have reacted strongly to the flood of anti-union media surrounding the recent petition from the Transportation Trade Department (TTD) to the National Mediation Board.  Please click  HERE or visit nwaafa.org  to read Detroit flight attendant Daniel Grey’s response to the latest Detroit News piece. 

OPERATION DONATION--AFA AND IAM UNITE FOR CHARITY 

AFA and IAM together with The Salvation Army and The Red Cross will host a donation drive to give back to our communities. We will gather at Northwest Airlines Building C parking lot in MSP starting at  noon on Thursday October 22 through noon Saturday October 24th for 48 hour straight! 

We will be collecting gently used or new winter coats and clothes, new toys, and non-perishable food items. The Red Cross Blood Mobile will be on hand and monetary donations are accepted at Wings Financial Account Number #0100050798.  We also need volunteers. If you can help in this worthy cause in any way or if you have questions contact Rene Foss at  rfoss@nwaafa.org or  Kaite Martin at kmartin@nwaafa.org. 

SAMOAN RELIEF EFFORTS  

NWA AFA, in response to calls for assistance from our Union sisters and brothers at AFA Horizon Air in SEA, requested assistance from Northwest/Delta Air Lines to provide aid towards the recent disaster that struck Samoa, after they experienced a devastating tsunami last week. NW/Delta Air Lines this week responded and has graciously agreed to assist relief efforts in Samoa by providing tickets for the Samoan Nurses Association, as well as cargo space from the West Coast for much needed supplies.  The MEC would like to thank our EAP Committee volunteers, AFA Local 99 officers, Northwest COO Mike Becker and all management representatives involved for their efforts to support this relief effort. 

USA3000 FLIGHT ATTENDANTS JOIN AFA-CWA

Flight attendants at USA3000 Airlines became members of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) just a few days ago, after an overwhelming majority voted for union representation. This is the third election victory, as well as the second charter carrier, to elect AFA-CWA as their bargaining representative this year.  We congratulate them and hope to join them in this happy news in the near future when we vote. To read the whole press release, visit www.afanet.org.  

NOTE: Our own voting process is distinct from the one that happened at USA3000, mainly due to the “minor” complicating fact that we are involved in a merger.  Even under the previous anti-worker NMB, single carrier determinations that triggered union elections in mergers routinely took 4 months after all, our own pilot work group’s single carrier determination from the NMB took about 2 months and they already had a joint contract.   

MEC INSURANCE COMMITTEE CHAIR SOUGHT

For 2010, there will be many new options that could have a big impact on our benefits, which are currently a negotiated item in our Collective Bargaining Agreement. By now you should have received a packet in the mail from Delta Air Lines outlining some of the information. If you feel confused and a bit overwhelmed, you are not alone. There have been many calls to AFA with relevant and important questions. To that end  we would like to post the position of MEC Insurance Committee Chair, this committee would be dedicated to addressing these specific concerns and would help our collective group navigate through this decision making process. If you feel you would like to share your talents and skills, while helping other flight attendants, we want to hear from you. 

The MEC Insurance Chair should be knowledgeable in contractually provided insurance programs. This committee shall further be tasked with researching and recommending improvements in present programs through collective bargaining, legislation, and any other means. 

If you are interested in serving fellow members by volunteering for this position please contact MEC Office Manager Karen Chapdelaine with a Letter of Interest and Resume at mail to: kchapdelaine@nwaafa.org.  In the interim, MEC Secretary-Treasurer Lynn Bible lbible@nwaafa.org has graciously offered to fill the Chair position, to get the ball rolling.

PURSER AND LOD UPDATE

The Purser and LOD Programs were both created to enhance the level of customer service we provide to our passengers on international flights.  Last month, as the LOD Program celebrated its first birthday and customer feedback consistently showed positive reaction to this new addition to our service.  As Purser and LOD Committee Chairpersons, we would like to emphasize the valuable interaction between Purser and LOD flight attendants necessary to continue this quality of service. 

If you are the Purser on your flight, take advantage of and utilize the language skills of your LOD flight attendants as you deem necessary.  If you believe in-flight announcements in languages spoken by your LOD flight attendants enhance the service that you provide, you may request that they be made.  LOD flight attendants' linguistic skills are your tools to achieve a better quality of service. 

Also, while cabin positions are bid by seniority, make sure that at least 1 main cabin position (i.e. not galley position) is contractually allocated for at least 1 LOD flight attendant regardless of language.  This assures that passengers in all classes of service benefit from this new aspect of our service.  If you are the LOD flight attendant on your flight, begin by introducing yourself as the LOD flight attendant during crew briefings, and identifying the language(s) you speak.  This simple gesture allows all flight attendants, especially the Purser, an opportunity to acquaint themselves with your skills. On trans-Pacific flights, ask the Purser if announcements in your language (if different from the IFSRs) should be made.  In addition, remember that while your service position limits the amount of personal attention to the passengers in your service zone, you are the designated LOD flight attendant(s) of the entire flight.  Your role as cultural and language service provider encompasses the entire aircraft. - Submitted by Purser Committee Chair Kim Evasic and LOD Chair Jeffrey Ferrer

YOUR HIPAA & FMLA RIGHTS 

Complaints continue about inappropriate questioning from Sedgwick, the new company Delta outsourced our Family Medical Leave processing and other administrative functions to this summer.  Please consult the Q&A that AFA Legal prepared regarding your FMLA & HIPAA legal rights: http://www.nwaafa.org/docs/FMLA_NWA_AFA-1.pdf.  Don’t hesitate to contact your Local AFA representatives for further assistance. 

DELTA-AFA CAMPAIGN VIDEO REWIND

If you've missed any of the previous campaign videos, here's your chance to catch up.  Click the screen of the video you wish to view to be redirected to the clip on our YouTube channel.  After you're done, spread the message by sharing the clip.  Click "share" and select your preferred networking site -- such as Facebook or Twitter. 

To email a clip, copy and paste the URL into the body of an email and send it to your colleagues, friends and family.  Encourage them to do the same.  Be sure to rate and comment on all the clips.

Visit the Delta-AFA campaign:  Facebook  |  YouTube  |  Delta-AFA

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 and gatherings planned and posted at www.deltaafa.org as well. 

DON'T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR UNION PIN - AT WORK & TO TRAINING! 

Show your support for collective bargaining by wearing your union pin to work and all company events.  Together, we are AFA.  Click HERE or visit www.afanet.org for information about AFA-CWA union structure and the history of the AFA-CWA.  Dues & Member Information can be viewed HERE.