AFA-CWA DTW eNEWS - March 14, 2008

Contractual Profit Sharing Payout - March 19th

Contractual Profit Sharing (LOA 7 of the CBA) is based on the Company's pre-tax margin ($764 million for the 2007 plan year.) Distribution is to NWA employees represented by a union that has agreed to participation, and is dependent upon annual base salary (Box 1 of W-2.)  For more information, please review Letter of Agreement 7 for details or consult LEC 94 Officers.  Example: $35,000 base salary will yield a Profit Sharing Payout of approximately $ 1,100 before tax withholding.

"Performance Incentive" will also be paid out on March 19th (quarterly payment.)  This incentive is not contractual and may be researched further on RADAR or with NWA.  Example: $35,000 base salary will yield a payout approximately $110

CAUTION: Be aware that emails sent via the company Outlook Web Access Email (as with the old Centry email system) can and have been monitored, logged, and used in company investigations.  It is advisable to avoid using your NWA OWA email address (firstname.lastname@nwa.com) for anything personal or for any union business.  Additionally, Crew Scheduling may attempt to notify flight attendants of schedule changes via OWA Email.  By opening OWA emails, schedule change notifications may occur.  Flight attendants may prefer to open emails when on duty, or when prepared to go to work.

NWA representatives have expressed that approximately 75% of employees respond positively to the NWE training.  Based upon overwhelming continuing negative feedback to LEC 94, this program in its current form has failed to help us all board the "Change Train" and pack our old "Baggage" away.  Still the program continues, unchanged.  Please take the time to submit feedback to NWA following the Northwest Experience Training. 

CBA Section 28 P: "Once every quarter, the Company shall schedule a meeting with the Union to review grievances pending at the System Board level in an effort to resolve as many cases as possible prior to a System Board of Adjustment hearing. Both the Company and the Union shall be represented at these quarterly grievance reviews by individuals with full authority to approve binding settlement agreements on behalf of the grievants and the Company..."

Local 94 has 29 grievances that are pending at the System Board level that will be presented at this QGR.  President Diana Mitcham, LCR Jeff Martoia, and LCR Janette Rook will present these cases for LEC 94.  There will be an internal day of preparation on March 17th with the MEC Grievance Committee Chairs Kathy Sandvik and Greg Riffle.

April 16th Local Council Meeting Guest Speaker

LEC 94 announces Guest Speaker AFA-CWA Senior Benefits Attorney Mary Lou Savage for the April 16th Council 94 Meeting.  Ms. Savage will have more information about the audit of our Cigna Long Term Disability plan.  The audit was requested by and presented to our MEC last month.  She will address questions regarding all areas of benefits, including Long Term Disability, Pensions in merger scenarios, etc.) Please bid accordingly and plan to attend.

AFA Committees actively seek to improve our work environment and support our members.  Many committees are backed up by provisions in our CBA.  Our Grievance Committee enforces our contract by fighting contractual violations all the way to arbitration. Communications is the driving force behind the union's message. Member Engagement/IMPACT galvanizes into action when information needs to be disseminated quickly and member action is needed on a grass roots level.  The Air Safety Committee monitors safety and security incidents that happen at NWA and they are actively involved with the Government Affairs Committee in Washington DC to legislate changes to improve flight attendants' lives, by law.  The EAP Committee refers flight attendants to counseling,  handles interpersonal conflicts between flight attendants, and refers to many resources available from the union and elsewhere.  The Scheduling Committee and Reserve Committee monitor ongoing scheduling trends and problems and meet with NWA twice per year on these issues. 

All of these committees, including Negotiations, Occupational Benefits, Hotel, Information Systems, Purser, SAFA, and Insurance/Retirement Committees are an invaluable part our union.  They are full of inspiring flight attendant volunteers who strengthen our career and improve our work lives.  If you are interested in volunteering, please contact the LEC 94 office.

Upcoming Local and National Union Events

• Quarterly Grievance Review in Minneapolis: March 18 - 20th
• CWA Legislative Conference in Washington DC: April 6th - 9th    
• Local 94 Council Meeting: April 16th
• Contract Training : April 23rd
• Special Local 94 Council Meeting for AFA BOD: May 14th
• CWA Convention: June 23-25th
• AFA Board of Directors Meeting held in MKE: July 8th -10th