AFA Detroit Local Executive Council 94 eNews 

July 21, 2008

SCHEDULING AND RESERVE TOWN HALL MEETING – TOMORROW!   

 

Last call for tomorrow’s AFA-initiated Scheduling and Reserve Town Hall Meeting! Please join us for this informative educational forum and question/answer session with AFA MEC Scheduling and Reserve Chairs along with management on Tuesday, July 22.   AFA Local 94 has invited Director of Scheduling, Brian Moreau, for a return visit to share contract implementation changes, PBS updates and everything you wanted to know about Reserve and/or Scheduling but were afraid to ask.   

 

The Town Hall Meeting is being hosted in collaboration with Detroit Inflight in the DTW CBT Lab, just beyond the briefing rooms in the Inflight Offices.  If you missed last month's meeting or have additional questions, please take advantage of this special opportunity for in depth explanations of scheduling and contract issues.  There will be three sessions, each with a slightly different emphasis: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Open Q and A, 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Open Q and A, and 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Reserve issues, including SLIC/PBS questions. 

 

A TASTE OF DELTA’S NON-UNION CULTURE

 

From the Delta HR Handbook – Administrative Action Guidelines, June 12, 2008:              

 

"[DELTA] DISCIPLINARY PROBATION

An employee is placed on formal disciplinary probation and issued a disciplinary probation letter if she/he fails to demonstrate sustained improvement after the issuance of a warning letter or commits an infraction serious enough to warrant a higher level of discipline... The probationary period is a minimum of six months, and the probation status will only be removed if the employee is performing satisfactorily in all aspects of performance and is otherwise in compliance with all company policies... A disciplinary probation letter is kept in the personnel file for the duration of the employee’s career. 

 

These stipulations apply during the [disciplinary] probation period: 

 * Ineligible for salary increases  

 * Incentive-based compensation will be withheld until removal from probation 

 * Ineligible for educational assistance 

 * Ineligible for extended leave of absence..."

ABOUT THOSE SLIP LEAVES...

A total of 379 SLIP leaves were awarded to DTW Flight Attendants on Wednesday, July 16.  The following is a seniority breakdown of DTW SLIP awards, according to leave length:

3 ½ Month: Total – 67  

High Seniority – 233   Low Seniority – 7781   Mid-point – 4333

6 Month:  Total – 81  

High Seniority – 371   Low Seniority – 8035   Mid-point – 4474

9 Month:  Total – 231  

High Seniority – 398   Low Seniority – 8081   Mid-point – 5027

As a reminder, if there are changes to your contact information that become effective during your SLIP leave (new phone, temporary address, etc.), update your contact information with AFA-CWA and with Northwest Airlines as soon as possible. Click http://nwaafa.org/onlineforms/contactinfo/  or go to the MEC website at http://www.nwaafa.org and click the “Update Your Contact Information” link.   

Keep up with the latest while you are out!  The Contact Info link on the NWAAFA website will now ensure you continue to receive the MEC e-mail hotlines as well as various publications and mailings from AFA-CWA International.  It is recommended that everyone sign up for both the MEC national hotline, which generally covers news and information affecting all Flight Attendants throughout the NWA-AFA system and their base hotline, such as this Local 94 e-news, for base-specific issues.   

WALK ON BY

Summer Reliability Plan Disqualifying Codes Our MEC Scheduling Committee would like to clarify one of the Summer Reliability Plan disqualifying codes: YW, or "You Walk" does not refer to flight attendants who exercise their contractual right to be replaced when faced with exceeding on-duty limitations as listed in Section 5 (Hours of Service).

ON-SITE NGP SUPPLEMENTAL BENEFIT ENROLLMENT 

 

Benefit counselors offering on-site enrollment in a new supplemental insurance program for NWA AFA members will continue to be available at the Inflight check-in area through Wednesday, July 23.  Accident, Critical Illness and Universal Life programs are available through the convenience of payroll deduction and are portable should you leave Northwest Airlines for any reason.  Coverage is available on a guaranteed issue basis for members (no health/underwriting questions).

 

These plans are offered by National Group Protection (NGP).  NGP is a union shop and has been a leader in the design and implementation of union-sponsored benefit plans for over 30 years.

 

In order to enroll, you must see a representative in person during the enrollment period.  If you have questions, please contact National Group Protection at 1-800-344-9016.

 

FRIENDS OF JACOB FISHER 

 

Friends of Flight Attendant Jacob Fisher are looking for volunteers to assist with a fundraiser to assist with his kidney transplant expenses.  On Wednesday, August 13, DTW Inflight will help raise money through the sale of chili dogs, veggie wraps, fresh fruit, baked goods, a drawing and raffle.  Volunteers can assist in many ways, such as donating candy, chocolates and liquor from around the world for raffle gift baskets, helping with food on August 13th and 50/50 ticket sales.  If you are willing to help, please contact DTW Flight Attendant Desiree Lowery at desiree.lowery@nwa.com or leave a note in her mailbox.

ADDITIONAL PRESCRIPTION DISCOUNTS

Recently, we began sharing information about generic prescription discounts available at local retailers and grocery stores, with input and cost-saving tips shared by fellow members.  The list of affordable prescriptions that can potentially save you hundreds—even thousands—of dollars per year has grown to include Kroger, Target, Meijer, and Walgreen’s Pharmacies. 


Kroger Pharmacies and Target both offer $4 generic prescriptions for a 30-day supply and $10 generic prescriptions for a 90-day supply. Hundreds of common generic medications are available at these rates. Additionally, Meijer Pharmacy now provides seven commonly prescribed antibiotics, as well as five different brands of pre-natal vitamins for free.  Walgreens Pharmacy offers a Prescription Savings Club for a small annual fee, but it extends a larger list of over 400 generic medications available for $12.99 for a three-month supply.

Stores can provide a list of qualifying medications for you or they are available online.

Kroger Pharmacy:

http://www.kroger.com/generic/

 

Target Pharmacy:

http://sites.target.com/site/en/health/page.jsp?contentId=PRD03-004319

 

Meijer Pharmacy:

http://www.meijer.com/content/content_leftnav_manual.jsp?pageName=free_antibiotics

 

Walgreens Pharmacy:

http://www.walgreens.com/wcard

 

Ask your doctor whether s/he recommends a generic alternative to your current or future medication(s) and check out Kroger, Target, Meijer, Walgreens or other retail pharmacies that now provide this discount service.

If you know of other participating retailers or have helpful money-saving tips to share with your co-workers, please contact LEC94@nwaafa.org for publication in a future hotline.

 

LOCAL 94 TELEPHONE DIRECTORY

 

The AFA Local 94 office phone system was recently fine-tuned with slightly different menu options and new single-digit extensions.  Please be aware that just because the automated attendant feature initially answers your call, it does not mean the office is closed.  The auto-attendant sorts calls to the proper party and/or directs them to a general office extension, when necessary. Most extensions have changed as reflected in the following chart:

 

 

 

  

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Your Detroit Local Executive Council

 

Wear your Union Pin!  FLY SAFE, AND FLY THE CONTRACT!