Our next Local 94 Council Meeting will be held this Wednesday, April 16, 2007, at 1:00 p.m.  An agenda outline for the meeting, which will include important updates locally and system-wide (grievance reviews, discussion of current events, recommendations for purging your corporate employment file, feedback on the new cart service, PBS bidding and other issues and concerns most important to you on the line) is attached at the bottom of this hotline.  LEC 94 announces Guest Speaker AFA-CWA Senior Benefits Attorney Mary Lou Savage. 

On Tuesday, April 8, 2008, the single service Smartsnacks cart was launched in the domestic market.  This "enhanced" service combines the weight of a full beverage cart and for sale food items into one full-size cart, with one MC Flight Attendant responsible for each cart. Many of you have already contacted AFA with concerns about the safety of the new service, citing problems like the excessive weight of the cart, difficulty in maneuvering it and potential risk of OJIs.

To further evaluate this significant change to domestic service, our MEC ASHS Committee needs your feedback NOW!  Operate the cart as instructed in the new service guidelines (i.e., only one FA per cart); we will compile your input and deliver our recommendations to the Company.  Follow these two important steps:
 
1. Submit your concerns and opinions to Northwest Inflight Services via the Flight Attendant Communication Center:
1-866-612-0001 option 2;
In MSP, 612-726-6990;
IFCOMMS@nwa.com;
or on ATLAS
 
2.  Submit your concerns and opinions to the MEC ASHS Service Subcommittee Chair Chris Smith at:
serviceproblems@gmail.com or online via the Service Carts Feedback form, created especially for this purpose. 

PEER CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Recently, our office has received an alarming spike in reports of crew peer conflict issues where management has gotten involved.  In most cases, this "writing up" or "turning in" of fellow crewmembers is for a variety of subjectively perceived "offenses" that we, as frontline people-oriented safety professionals, should be equipped to handle without taking it to the next level. Many of these reports include calling for management intervention over service discrepancies, personality, style and attitude differences and alleged verbal slights.  AFA AND YOUR LOCAL 94 OFFICERS STRONGLY DISCOURAGE THIS DIVISIVE AND DESTRUCTIVE PRACTICE BY ALL PARTIES.

In the most fundamental sense, this behavior undermines CRM and essential onboard teamwork by destroying mutual trust and respect in the workplace.  Absent trust, our on-the-job atmosphere can become infected with suspicion, hostility and even fear of the very colleagues charged to save your life in an emergency.  On a practical level, these reports generally lead to management investigations with Q and As for all parties, discipline, and even termination.

In the near future, we will be sharing some Peer Conflict Resolution tools that recall the principles of mutual respect in the workplace, along with practical skills to meet on-the-job interpersonal demands.  This includes recognizing that tough times affect everyone differently.  The AFA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to assist with many individual issues, as well as crew conflict situations.  No one's job should be put at risk because they are having a bad day or because they didn't do a second beverage service.  Likewise, no one should wield the threat of management intervention, nor should they ever be so encouraged.

If an onboard conflict or scenario leaves you unsure of your options, contact the AFA EAP at (800) 424-2401.  Encourage your co-workers to do the same.  

Delta Flight Attendants vote in the representational election to join AFA, from April 23rd to May 28th.  If Delta Flight Attendants are represented by AFA in the event there is a merger, there will be no need for another representational election of the combined group.  Our contract will not be at risk and we may begin seeking improvements immediately in a combined agreement.  Support our colleagues at Delta in finally gaining a seat at the bargaining table and the protections of a negotiated contract. If you have time to volunteer with the Delta AFA Get-Out-The-Vote campaign, email flight attendant activists at: organize@unitedafa.org.