EAP COLLABORATES IN RELIEF EFFORTS 

Recently AFA-CWA flight attendants assisted in the Samoan Relief efforts. This is a great example of how EAP and flight attendant volunteers from many airlines can work together to make a difference. Northwest Airlines Honolulu based flight attendant and EAP rep Jeff Day was singled out as being an individual who “sprang into action.” To see the letter from our colleagues at Hawaiian Airlines by click HERE .

AFA MEETS WITH DL/NW FOR OPS BRIEFING

This week your AFA representatives met with Delta and Northwest executives, to go over the documents and details provided as part of our ongoing Section 1 Information Requests.  Information and operational data has been requested by AFA to ensure the company's compliance with Section 1 of the Northwest Flight Attendant Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).  

Such topics as: the progress of the company toward the FAA Single Operating Certificate, pilot training and integration, flight attendant headcount and block hours for the year, joint venture and code share briefings on current and proposed agreements, fleet plans, hub updates, and much more were covered. 

As the merger progresses we'll continue to develop a professional working relationship with our counterparts in management, and also strive to achieve our ultimate goal of attaining a legally binding "seat at the table" for our work group with Delta Air Lines.  If Northwest and Delta flight attendants so choose to keep union representation at Delta, we will be ready to move forward quickly with our flight attendant colleagues at Delta to together negotiate a new joint agreement with our management team.

- Submitted by MEC President Janette Rook

LET'S TELL THE STAR TRIBUNE AND RICHARD ANDERSON HOW FLIGHT ATTENDANTS FEEL

LOA 35 ARBITRATION UPDATE                 

The AFA was recently notified by Arbitrator Dana Eischen that he planned on issuing his decision in this matter sometime in “early November”. In an earlier communication with the AFA, Arbitrator Eischen had said he planned on issuing his decision sometime in “mid-October”. Delays of this nature are not uncommon, especially given the complexity of the evidence and the arguments in this case. If we receive any further updates from Arbitrator Eischen regarding a change in the timeline for issuing his decision, we will communicate those to you when we receive them.

- Submitted by MEC Grievance Chair Greg Riffle 

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT UPDATE 

The MEC Member Engagement Committee has been very busy working with the campaign to maintain representation at the New Delta Air Lines.  You can find us along with other activists in the New York and Atlanta crew lounges talking to our NW and DL colleagues about the benefits of working with a legally binding contract. 

We’d like to ask you all to get involved and help others stay informed about NWA-AFA and DeltaAFA news! 

• Click on the “printable version” link at the top to take this and future hotlines with you on trips to share with your flying partners.   

• Use the Twitter link at the top of the hotline to sign up for breaking news alerts from the MEC.  Be the first to know about breaking union and election news by taking advantage of this new communication tool.

• Visit the NWA AFA MEC website and stop back frequently!  The site is full of useful information on 2010 benefit selection, the merger, and links to all the MEC Committee pages. 

Finally, I would also like to encourage you to be participate in the new hotline feature: “View From the Jump Seat.”  This week’s letter is very inspiring and promotes solidarity and involvement in our future. We look forward to hearing your views!  Stay involved stay informed and stay active! 

- Submitted by  MEC Member Engagement Chair Angela Brewer

PREVENTIVE MEASURES . . . SEASONAL FLU AND H1N1 VIRUS 

Preventive guidance for seasonal flu and, in particular, the H1N1 virus is currently posted on NWA AFA's website and ASHS webpage http://www.nwaafa.org/safety/.  This information has been provided by Sandy Taylor, RN with DL's Air Crew & Passenger Health Services (ACPHS), and also available online at DeltaNet.com.

It is noted that taking Tamiflu or Relenza as a preventative medication is not advised.  Pregnant and/or immuno-compromised Flight Attendants should take special care when dealing with H1N1 and seek specific guidance from their personal physician. 

Your MEC ASHS Committee also recommends the following:  frequent hand washing, use of sanitizer gel and pick-up gloves in ALL cabins of the aircraft during this pandemic.  Each base has been provided with a supply of gloves, masks, packets of sanitizer gel pads with 60%+ alcohol - and even DEET (if you travel to Vietnam) for the prevention of Dengue Fever.  These should be available upon request at your base check-in counter. 

Your MEC ASHS Committee representatives are available if you have questions or concerns regarding the suggested guidance.  The AFA International ASHS office also has well-informed staff members, in addition to helpful guidance posted on AFA's website along with links to the CDC at www.afanet.org.

 Finally, please complete an automated Inflight Incident Report when required - and also copy in safety@nwaafa.org .  Take preventive measures at this critical time and stay healthy!

- Submitted by MEC Air Safety, Health and Security Committee 

AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM EAP

EAP urges all members to look into the Union Privilege (UP) program to compare and decide if any of the benefits offered might fit your situation.  UP is an organization that provides consumer benefits to union members.  Kevin Creighan, IAFA Sec/Treasurer, reports that:  “ the products/services offered through Union Privilege were of superior quality, lower price, and additional benefit [when reviewed against similar products].”

With so many union members facing financial hardship, Union Plus is launching a program of new and enhanced offers to assist eligible union members. Some specific benefits include mortgage insurance, grants for hospital care, college expenses and job loss, and waivers of certain fees for financial counseling.

Take a minute to visit www.unionprivilege.org to find out more about the full range of benefits offered, and what is needed to qualify for them.     

- Submitted by MEC EAP Chairperson, Rosemary Miller

OPERATION DONATION AFA-CWA AND IAM WORKING TOGETHER

Operation Donation is in full swing this weekend. AFA and IAM are working together in a 48 hour round the clock donation drive at Building C in MSP. At Thursday’s kick off local leaders including Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson, St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman, Red Cross CEO Geoff Kaufman (pictured at right) and many others addressed the volunteers.

We will continue to collect gently used winter coats and clothes, as well as non-perishable foods, and toys at Building C employee parking lot until noon on Saturday October 24^th.  We have also set up an account at Wings Financial. If you would like to make a financial contribution the account number is #0100050798 and you can mail it to:

Wings FCU
14985 Glazier Ave. Suite 100
Apple Valley, MN 55124  Attention “Operation Donation” 

A VIEW FROM THE JUMPSEAT 

We receive a lot of interesting and insightful messages from fellow flight attendants, and we would like to share them with all of you.  In that spirit, we introduce a new piece to the hotline - A View From the Jumpseat.  Please join us in thanking our founding flight attendant contributor, MEM/ATL FA Kathy Swarts, who shared her eloquent letter about the importance of representation in our future.  If you'd like to share your thoughts about relevant topics for flight attendants, we invite you to send in a one page piece to communications@nwaafa.org.  Click on the icon to read Kathy’s letter.

 
NEW  SECTION ON THE WEB SITE!