AFA Local 94 eNews

AFA Detroit Local Executive Council 94

Meeting Reminder and IQ Update

pssssst!! HEY!!

WANT THE LATEST ON RICHARD

AT THE STOCKHOLDER'S MEETING?

Come on down to the DTW Union Office

Friday, June 26 ~ 1100 – 1500

for an

Informal Open House and Q and A

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BURNING QUESTIONS? GET THE SCOOP!

~ RUMOR CONTROL ~ ch-ch-ch-CHANGES ~

~ ELECTION ~ FURLOUGHS ~ SENIORITY ~ TRAINING ~

~ TALES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL ~

GRAB A UNION PIN, BAG TAG, PURPLE RIBBON AND MORE

GET THE INFO MANAGEMENT BANNED FROM YOUR UNION BULLETIN BOARD?FIND OUT HOW YOU CAN HELP

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The Union offices are located on the lower level of the A concourse—the end with Quiznos and Hungry Howie's. Turn right at the corner just past gate 10. Take the elevator by the restrooms down to the apron level, and follow the signs.

IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ IQ

IQ UPDATE

The following incidental information has been gathered from various IQ participants and is accurate as of this writing. While not a comprehensive list, we will continue to pass on supplemental housekeeping tidbits, as additional reports come in. We encourage you to share your own IQ experience with us—the good, the bad, the curious. In particular, we need to hear if Flight Attendants are still getting bumped from oversold flights to or from training. For complete information specific to your training date and section, check your company e-mail for updated instructions.

It is true that a few Flight Attendants were bumped from their positive space flights from DTW to ATL IQ, and in some instances had to reschedule training completely. We have been advised that Delta pre-assigns only 70% of their seats, leaving the remainder for the airport assignment before departure. Flights are frequently oversold, and apparently not all pre-merger Delta agents recognize the same “positive space” employee travel protocol for company-paid, FAA-mandated training. The company assures us they are working to facilitate a smoother operation and, we hope, less of the frustration and ill-will that occurred when their error spoiled travel plans for recent attendees. Apologies may be fine the first time, but a proactive approach is required to correct the problem on the front end.

The company must downsize its over-sales “pad” on training travel days to accommodate the influx of IQ trainees. Additionally, we expect frontline Delta agents to receive consistent communication for correct handling of positive space tickets. We also recommend they publish an informational memo for Flight Attendants to show at the gate, in the event there is a misunderstanding about mandatory travel. Again, please keep us in the loop with your experiences, so we can assure these problems get corrected. In the meantime, we suggest a few basic rules of thumb.

Even though there is a “training pattern” with round-trip flights on your line, this is just a dummy flight. Make your positive space reservation as early as possible, and get an advance seat assignment both ways, if you can. Make note of both your Delta and Northwest record locators for future reference. If possible, check in online or at an airport kiosk, and print your boarding pass as close to the 24 hour advance window as you can. There is a check-in kiosk in the lobby of the Training Center on Days 2 and 3, but it occasionally doesn’t recognize either record locator. If it is unable to locate your PNR through the various means suggested, call Training Scheduling during business hours at (866) 612-0001 opt.1, opt 5.

IQ participants are being housed at one of three different hotels near the Delta Campus—the Westin, Marriot and Hyatt Place South. Although it hasn’t been widely publicized, all three hotels currently provide free in-room internet access and will clear daily internet access fees from the incidental room charges when you check out. All three hotels provide in-room coffee. Additionally, the Hyatt offers a complimentary continental breakfast from 6:00 – 9:30 a.m. on weekdays and 6:30 – 10:00 a.m. on weekends.

The only company-provided meal, such as it is, is on Day One. Participants are offered an EATS snack box (cheese, crackers, cookies, etc.) with bottled water. Twix bars and coffee are provided during breaks. Fresh EATS snacks (fruit and cheese, pita sandwich, or boxed salad) are available to those who stay for the optional cocktail hour Meet-n-Greet after class is dismissed, approximately 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. After the first day, participants are responsible for their own meals and beverages. A basic cafeteria is available on the entry level of the Training Center, where you spend Days 2 and 3. A new cafeteria two buildings away offers a wider variety of fresh, made-to-order menu items and Starbucks, in addition to standard cafeteria fare. Unfortunately, some the most celebrated menu items were not made with a Flight Attendant budget in mind. Roughly a ten minute walk from the Training Center, ask an instructor for specific directions that would not translate well into this hotline.

Bring paper and pen to take notes, as none is provided.

Bring a sweater or light jacket for inconsistent air conditioning and varying room temperatures.

Remember, Integration and Aircraft Qualification Training is an excellent opportunity to display “Northwestern Hospitality” to our new colleagues and training facilitators. Proudly wear your union pin as a symbol of unity and respect. Choose a union-related security code word. Relax and laugh a little. Enjoy the inescapable opportunity to learn about our new employer’s history, culture and ubiquitous branding—with trivia points for prizes if you remember it later. Take time to meet the combined carrier’s corporate leaders for yourself, chat a bit, and ask questions. They may refill your wine glass and answer with pre-filtered sound bites and forward-looking enthusiasm. Your union pin will tell them politely you’re not biting without representation, and you look forward to having a contract.