AFA-CWA Local 94 Detroit eNews

July 31, 2009

            SO, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Now that AFA-CWA has petitioned the National Mediation Board (NMB) for Single Transportation System status, the representational election timeline rests in their hands. We expect it will take four to six weeks for the NMB to render their STS determination, which effectively triggers authorization for the election.  They will request an eligibility list from Delta Air Lines and set the voting timetable.

Airline representational elections are conducted under the Railway labor Act.  When the election actually begins, voting instructions will be mailed from the National Mediation Board, not from AFA.  The entire process should be completed no later than Thanksgiving.  Rest assured, much more detailed explanations are on the way, and we’ll keep you in the loop when NMB decisions are rendered.  We will tell you exactly what to look for in the mail when the time comes.  There will be no shortage of assistance to help you with questions as they arise.   

Thank you for continued desire to know and share the facts with your co-workers on the line.  It is very encouraging to witness so much interest in the election process and impromptu peer-to-peer education.  This is the member-mobilized model of unionism in action!  On that note, additional volunteers to assist with the election campaign are encouraged to contact us now at lec94@nwaafa.org.

IAM DECLARES IT’S PARTY TIME!!

The Association of Flight Attendants – CWA and Local 94 – DTW has received a tremendous outpouring of support in our NMB filing to trigger the upcoming representational election.  One of our largest supporters is (literally) right next door: the IAM.  The International Association of Machinists will soon face their own election to retain union representation at Delta in the coming months.  IAM often works behind the scenes, assisting Local 94 with information to assist our members.  They have consistently shown up at our rallies and pickets with wishes of moral support...and now it’s our chance to return the favor and have a little fun in the process!

Detroit Air Transport Local Lodge 141 invites you to the

DETROIT UNITY PARTY

‘An evening of important information and fellowship’

Saturday, August 1, 2009

5:00 p.m. – Midnight

The Metropolitan Hotel

31500 Wick Road

Romulus, MI 48174

Free beer, wine and pizza, DJ and guest speakers, door prizes

 Hope to see you there!

AOA (RED BADGE) REMINDER

The next time you renew your AOA badge, remember the Credentials Office is (finally) moving from its dilapidated, old facility to the new North Terminal, effective August 10, 2009.  In preparation for the move, the office will be closed August 6^th and 7^th.  The new office is located on the Departure Level, just south of the last set of entry doors on the upper plaza.  The office is not accessible from inside the Terminal itself—look for the entry doors adjacent to the outdoor patio area.  Employees may use the Terminal-to-Terminal shuttle or park in the Blue Deck (pay) parking area.  Remember, there is no curbside parking and unattended vehicles will be ticketed and towed.

Detroit Metro Credentials Office: (734) 942-3606

Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Closed for lunch 11:30 – 12:30 daily

We have been asked to issue a brief security reminder about some of the privileges and responsibilities of AOA badge use.  Remember to challenge unbadged individuals in secure areas.  Badge-sharing, swiping your badge to allow someone else access and piggy-backing through security doors and “cheese graters” is never allowed.  Family members and children are not permitted to travel on AOA busses—unless, of course, they are properly badged airline employees themselves.  

A VESTED INTEREST IN PRACTICAL QUALITY 

Beginning on April 7—one week after the Richard Tyler Collection debuted on NWA metal—MEC Grievance Vice Chair Patti Reller filed the first of several uniform grievances.  To date, six remain open, with additional issues outstanding. Safety concerns include the lack of a clip-on tie and the dress without a pocket in which to stow our FAA-required cabin access key.

New complaints pour in daily about the (low) quality of our new uniforms, particularly its excessive and premature signs of wear: pilling, fraying, fuzzing, bleeding, ripping, unraveling, and popping or broken buttons.  Initially, we had hoped the company would follow contractual requirements to replace defective selections, as Flight Attendants returned inferior pieces by mail at management’s recommendation.  Recent responses to this action from Delta Air Lines and Lion Uniform Group seem to curtly indicate otherwise.  Go ahead.  Click the link.  It’s worth reading, if you haven’t seen it.

The response says, in part, “the vest is a delicate fabric requiring extreme care and caution when wearing...pilling and fraying is not considered a defect...we are unable to accommodate your request...we recommend carefully using a sweater pill and ball remover...please remember to follow the care instructions...”

Frankly, this letter manifests the attitude we’ve consistently encountered in our attempts to correct the most glaring uniform defects.  A Flight Attendant uniform should be able to withstand the rigors of a 16-hour duty day, but many are deteriorating in six weeks or less.  This is a uniform—not a fashion statement!  Sure, we’d all like to project professionalism with finesse.  Too bad Flight Attendants clad in Tyler’s “delicate fabric” do not have the luxury of exercising “extreme care and caution” while peddling an ever-expanding array of convenience store cuisine from overpacked, overweight service carts to hundreds of customers a day.  Snag.  Fray.  Rip.  Stain.

Please continue to share your uniform concerns with the MEC Grievance Committee at preller@nwaafa.org  and stay tuned for updates.

ONLINE SAFETY: COVER YOUR ACCESS

When you use a company or other public computer to log into Atlas, RADAR, Deltanet or any other secure company site, be certain you LOG OFF before closing the window.  While you may be used to simply closing a window to exit on your home computer, instances of Flight Attendant screens remaining logged in on Inflight computers continue to surface.

To protect your information and prevent accidental, unauthorized changes to your scheduling preferences, always log out of ATLAS before leaving the computer.  If you encounter a monitor whose user has clearly left the area, be certain to log off the prior user and close the window completely before starting again with a fresh, new screen.

SUPPORT INFLIGHT CELL PHONE BAN, LUGGAGE LIMITS AND FMLA FAIRNESS

            Card collecting contest begins...NOW!

As reported elsewhere, we have made great strides in our push to pass FAA Reauthorization legislation.  With YOUR continued efforts, Flight Attendants industry-wide may be able to reap the benefits of increased workplace safety provisions, health protections, and more--but we’re not there yet. 

A major safety piece—the ban on cell phone usage inflight—was not included in the Senate bill.  A strong and consistent message from the industry’s Inflight Safety Professionals (that’s YOU and ME) is necessary to return this important component to the bill.  As always, you are encouraged to write , e-mail , or call your Senators about this issue.  Even if you already wrote to the House of Representatives last time, your voice is still very much needed in the Senate! 

Please take a minute to write or e-mail your Representative to support carry-on baggage limitations.   

And, finally, thank you for your continuing efforts to correct FMLA law to include Flight Attendants and Pilots, as originally intended.

Local 94 has just received a supply of pre-addressed, almost ready-to-mail postcards that make it even easier to share your concern about Cell Phones Inflight and FMLA Fairness.  We will be receiving Luggage Limit postcards soon.  Stop by our office and grab a handful of cards to take with you on your next trip.  Simply fill in your name, your senator’s name, and pop in the mail...or return a whole batch to our office at your earliest opportunity.

How many cards can you get signed?  The Flight Attendant returning the most signed cell phone and FMLA cards to our office will receive honorable mention in an upcoming newsletter.  It’s really no contest; everyone’s a winner when we enact laws that protect our health and safety in the workplace!

DON'T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR UNION PIN - AT WORK AND TO TRAINING! 

 Local 94 DTW Office
Walk-in hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
734.532.8404   FAX 734.941.5447
Hotline ~ 888.3NWAAFA   www.nwaafa.org   www.lec94.org
 
President
Diana Mitcham
 dmitcham@nwaafa.org
734.532.8404 ext. 6

Local Council Representative
Jeff Martoia
 jmartoia@nwaafa.org
734.532-8404 ext. 4
 
NOTE: Occasionally, the office may be temporarily closed during walk-in hours to meet inbound flights or to represent Flight Attendants during manager meetings.  Please call 734.532.8404 or e-mail us at lec94@nwaafa.org and leave your name, employee number, contact information and the nature of your inquiry.  An automated attendant answers all calls 24/7 and routes callers to the proper party or directs them to a general office extension, when necessary.  We will return your call or e-mail as soon as possible.