The Northwest-Delta merger is just that, a MERGER and not an acquisition.  The transaction combines the value of each holding corporation, NWA, Inc., and Delta Holding.  No monetary transaction takes place. 

One of the holding corporations has to use the term acquisition for purposes of accounting.  For example, in the America West/USAirways merger, America West used the term acquisition because it retained management control of the combined carrier.  In quarterly filings, America West Holdings reported that it was the acquiring entity for accounting purposes only. 

You will continue to see the acquisition term used by Delta.  While it may serve Delta management in their divisive anti-AFA campaign, the bottom line is that the proposed combination of DL and NW is a MERGER. 

LEC94 President Diana Mitcham and DTW Director of Inflight Britt Reller will be inspecting the DTW employee bus on Thursday, May 22.  You may know that MSP recently purchased new employee buses after receiving feedback from crew about the dangerous height of the bus steps.  Negotiating our bus steps in DTW with heavy bags is nothing short of treacherous, particularly when any adverse weather conditions are added to the mix.   AFA and Northwest will follow through with Metro Cars (operator of DTW crew bus) and give recommendations for improving the current situation.   Please submit your feedback to lec94@nwaafa.org.  

On May 14, the House Education and Labor Committee met to consider HR 2744, our FMLA for flight attendants legislation.  There was a short discussion of the bill where a number of Representatives expressed their strong support for the bill.  We are pleased to report that HR 2744 was approved by a unanimous bipartisan vote of 43-0!  AFA-CWA Government Affairs believes the bill will gain final House approval in the coming weeks. 

Once the House completes the approval process, the bill goes to the US Senate.  AFA remains hopeful that our voices will be heard as decisively on the Senate side as they were in the House.  The Department of Labor, however, is trying to stir up opposition to the bill on the fact that it would cover 100% of all flight attendants on reserve status.  They believe reserves who sit on call are not actually working and therefore this time should not count towards FMLA qualification. 

Please help us keep the momentum up on this most important piece of legislation!  Visit www.senate.gov and www.house.gov to find your representatives.  Make a call to their office and urge them to support HR2744 (house) and S2050 (Senate).  Please click the attached file for a suggested script to use when phoning your representatives.  Stay up to date on FMLA and more by visiting the Government Affairs page of www.nwaafa.org.  

We recently reported that AFA has seen an alarming spike in flight attendants turning in their colleagues to management.  Your Local Executive Council encourages you to make the EAP your first call when dealing with problems of a Professional Standards nature.  The AFA Employee Assistance Program  comprises three support programs:  Professional standards, Critical Incident Stress Management, and the Chemical Abuse Program. 

The EAP is available to you 24 hours a day, every day of the year.   If you believe you need help, you are encouraged to use EAP's confidential services. 

The EAP coordinates with the company in situations of an urgent nature.  While management involvement in cases of infractions to the drug/alcohol policy may result in serious discipline up to termination,  we remind you of the Disclosure Policy for confronting imminent violations to the policy:  Identification by self or other FA to management as potentially impaired by use of drug and/or alcohol will NOT result in discipline or discharge IF:

• Identification is made prior to FA boarding aircraft with passengers orPrior to local passenger boarding aircraft on first flight of on-duty period AND
• FA does not thereafter perform any duties. 

The FA identified must agree, in writing, to seek evaluation for chemical dependency, complete any necessary rehabilitation treatment, and comply with all conditions for return to service established by the Company.  *Disclosure policy available to all FAs with the exception of those chosen for random DOT testing or reasonable suspicion testing.*  (FA Manual 120.4.27)

Your Local 94 officers urge the use of EAP services in hope that flight attendants will get the help they need before the Disclosure Policy becomes necessary. Please share this information with your friends and flying partners and always encourage the first call to be to the EAP.  Visit www.afanet.org  to find your EAP representatives, or call 800.424.2406. 

In addition to the regular June Council Meeting, LEC 94 will host a morning OJI & Long Term Disability forum.  Please join us Wednesday, June 11 from 1100-1300 for a presentation by the Miller-Cohen law firm of Detroit. 

The Local Council Meeting will begin at 1300 in the LEC94 offices under gate A8.