MEC Hotline Message
Recording: 1-888-3-NWA-AFA
Hotline 07-03-09
NWA-AFA MEC Weekly Hotline Message July 03, 2009
MEC HOTLINE: (888) 3-NWA-AFA or http://www.nwaafa.org
PURPLE RIBBON CAMPAIGN: Pro-Delta, Pro-AFA http://www.deltaafa.org
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY! Your MEC wishes each and everyone a very happy and safe Independence Day.
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION SAFA POSITIONS
NW/DL company representatives have contacted AFA to request a super-contractual Special Assignment Flight Attendant position for Breast Cancer Research Foundation “stores” that will be opened throughout the NW/DL system later this year. We are pleased to announce that AFA has approved this new SAFA position for pre-merger Northwest bases, with the sole request that the Company give priority to breast cancer survivor applicants. We feel our flight attendant survivors bring personal meaning to this effort and it would be our hope that our survivors can fill many or all of these BCRF SAFA positions. Per our contract, Section 20 Seniority (20.D.3.), SAFA positions are limited to those positions outlined in the contract, except when approved in writing by the NWA AFA MEC President.
OUR EFFORTS TO ADDRESS ON PREMISE RESERVE CONCERNS
MEC President Janette Rook, Vice President Daniel Grey and MEC Grievance Committee Chair Greg Riffle met with the Scheduling Department this week to review member feedback and discuss improvements, following the June 1 start of On Premise Reserve (OPR) for pre-merger Northwest flight attendants.
OPR was implemented in conjunction with the elimination of the 2.5 to 8 hour call. Below is a progress report of the OPR system and efforts to improve Reserve satisfaction with the program, based on our meeting on Monday:
A substantial reduction of OPR patterns has been realized going forward. Most bases are down to 1 OPR flight attendant per time slot. Larger bases like DTW, MEM and MSP have between 3-8 times slots, while all other bases currently have a maximum of 3 OPR slots per day. Please visit the Reserve Committee page for past and current OPR Planned Start Times/Patterns. OPR start times and number of patterns can change based upon operational needs.
The MEM 1800-0000 OPR shift was eliminated due to your feedback regarding safety concerns. The last OPR for MEM will now end at 2200 when airport operations and the B concourse close.
A future programming change is almost complete, that will allow a shift preference for flight attendants forced to serve OPR. This will NOT be
counted as a preferenced OPR and therefore counts towards the maximum of 3 forced OPR patterns allowed per month.
There was a commitment from the Company to address OPR lounge issues. One ongoing member and AFA issue involves OPR lounges that are shared with an already existing flight attendant quiet room. MSP and DTW are scheduled for crew lounge renovations beginning late summer in MSP; some bases are integrating with larger DL IFS lounges which may help provide a dedicated OPR lounge, however we are committed to addressing this issue as quickly as possible for our members.
The contractually required pagers or mobile phones are not working in some areas. Some stations issue pagers that do not receive a signal in the IFS lounge, but do work in all other airport areas. New pagers are being shipped at time of writing. Please note: flight attendants are not required to remain in the check in area while on OPR.
The company reiterated their goal to make OPR productive and more attractive for Reserves.
AFA will continue to monitor OPR usage in all bases to ensure contractual compliance. Please continue to report all OPR issues to your Local Executive Council Officers. For complete contractual reference and OPR guidelines, click on the Reserve page of the NWA-AFA website at http://www.nwaafa.org/committees/reserve/. Submitted by Daniel Grey MEC Vice President
GRIEVANCE ARBITRATION & MEDIATION UPDATE On Wednesday our attorney, Peter Swanson and I met with the company to mediate 6 grievances and to discuss several open issues. Present for the company were Susan Kramer and SuzAanne Balzer. Arbitrator Josh Javits mediated.
We had some success with the mediation including:
- an increase of nearly four hours to a Minneapolis Flight Attendant for improper Reserve assignment.
- a clarification of Stop-to-Stop pay and the company’s commitment to investigate and make sure the crew was paid properly
- a Level 2 reduction to a Level 1, with time served
- a reconsideration of a discharge for a positive random alcohol test.
- the removal of a Coaching for a alleged late check-in call.
- a reduction of a Level 1 to a Coaching after 6 months of active service, with time served
- complete removal of a Level 1 and reinstatement to the Purser program
The Company would not move on the other discharge case involving work performance and customer complaint letters. This termination will go to a final review next week along with one other termination case.
We also set some arbitration cases on the calendar. We are tentatively planning to mediate the NBA charter case on August 4, 5 or 6th, pending availability of the Arbitrator Javits. On August 18 we are going to arbitrate a random positive alcohol test that was fraught with procedural problems. This will be before Arbitrator LaRocco. On September 2nd and 3rd we intend to arbitrate the vest grievance (the company’s refusal to provide one to flight attendants yet required that or a jacket or a dress to be worn while working BE) This case may possibly be combined with other uniform grievances. This arbitration will be in front of Arbitrator Eishen.
We also addressed several open issues which will be discussed under a separate cover. Thank you to all the members and Local Council Reps who provided the necessary documentation that we needed to present your grievances. Submitted by Patricia Reller MEC Grievance Vice Chair
FLYING THROUGH SECURITY - CREWPASS Sound like something you may only dream of? With strong advocacy by your Union and the Congressionally-approved legislation, “Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007”, this may be a reality before too long. Known as the Flight Crew Personnel Advanced Screening System, CrewPASS would essentially allow crewmembers to bypass long security lines and proceed to their aircraft with no hassles.
CrewPASS includes biometric technology to identify a crewmember and has been in its testing phase at selected U.S. airports - however, with only pilots participating. The initial testing has been very well received and is now ready for Flight Attendant participation. Your MEC, along with the Air Safety, Health & Security and the Government Affairs Committees, have made a formal request to DL’s Safety and Security leadership to participate in the second phase of CrewPASS testing by providing their support for the inclusion of Flight Attendants. To read the letter sent to DL, please visit: http://www.nwaafa.org/committees/govaffairs/ and click on the CrewPASS link to the right. Submitted by MEC Air Safety, Health and Security Chair Jeanne Elliott and MEC Government Affairs Chair Albert Garcia
STOP THE CARRY-ON BAGGAGE MADNESS! Are you frustrated by all the carry-on bags that your customers bring onboard, particularly since the new bag fees went into effect? Undue delays and confrontations seem to be the order of the day. Good news! You CAN do something about it. U.S. Representative Dan Lipinski (D-IL) is taking on this issue and needs our help convincing the traveling public and Congress that we need to pass legislation restricting carry-on bags and enforcing size limits. A form letter has been prepared for you http://nwaafa.org/docs/Carry_on.pdf, to write to your Representative.
Also, AFA’s e-Activist just sent out is asking for your help in contacting your Congressional representatives to solicit their support of Rep. Lipinski’s proposed legislation, “Securing Cabin Baggage Act” (H.R. 2870). All it takes is a couple of clicks to send this important message to Congress, so please take the time and respond to this call for action. Your voice is needed now as we continue to advocate for needed change! Submitted by MEC Air Safety, Health and Security Chair Jeanne Elliott and MEC Government Affairs Chair Albert Garcia
MEC GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE UPDATE
HOTEL ISSUES
In some areas, the MEC Hotel Committee is experiencing a lack of cooperation on the part of Delta, concerning hotel selection. The company has moved forward in vendor negotiations with the Hyatt Place Hotel in Denver. We feel this property does not meet the standards outlined in our agreement (Section 4 Expenses).
Our contract calls for lodging facilities to have “a full service restaurant on or within one (1) block of the hotel property.” In hotel business vernacular, “full service” restaurant means that the restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and has an extensive menu with a wide variety of dining options, including room service.
This hotel has an extremely limited number of for sale items and is not open during all meal hours. Furthermore, the Hotel Committee on-site inspection indicates that there is no full service restaurant within one city block of the property. We believe this also violates our contract language.
Unfortunately, Delta continues to explore hotels that do not meet the standards negotiated in our legally binding contract. Please submit your concerns to the AFA Hotel Committee using this electronic Hotel Report Form. We will continue to monitor hotel selections and grieve violations of our contract.
UNIFORM ISSUES
The five uniform grievances that our union has filed have all been denied by the company. Those grievances were:
1. no red dress for females over size 18
2. slacks must be worn with orthopedic shoes
3. no summer shirt option for men and women
4. vest and tie are showing early wear due to inferior material selection
5. vest as an outer garment for Business Elite (BE)
In the denial of the dress grievance, the company maintains that this is not discrimination in a legal sense, and that they can determine who can wear the red dress by limiting the sizes. In their opinion this is company uniform policy.
Even though there is substantial past practice to the contrary, the company maintains that the mandatory wearing of slacks with orthopedic shoes is also company uniform policy and within its rights to mandate. Additionally, the company believes that requiring a flight attendant to carry the doctor’s note is not a violation of the agreement even though the contract does not require it.
Our contract calls for a separate summer shirt/blouse option for pre-merger Northwest flight attendants. In its response to this grievance, the company asserts that flight attendants can wear short sleeved white shirts/blouses in lieu of the specific summer shirt/blouse.
The vest and tie are disintegrating at an accelerated rate and flight attendants must submit them for possible company paid replacement. The company will not address this in a grievance. Meanwhile, if you send your vest in for a replacement and work BE class, the Company requires you to wear your jacket (or dress) until your vest is returned. This is not only uncomfortable; it is unreasonable in the summer months particularly.
There is substantial past practice for the company to provide the outer garment that is required when working in BE class. We feel that the same practice should be applied to the vest. The company denied this grievance as well and stated that these uniform standards are governed by company policy and as such they do not have to provide a vest.
All these grievances have been advanced to the System Board of Adjustment, following appeal by our union. Currently the company is unwilling to further discuss the vest issue in mediation. The next step is mediation for the four other grievances. We will keep you posted on the progress of these grievances. Submitted by MEC Grievance Committee Vice Chair Patricia Reller
NEW PROCEDURE FOR COMPANY BUSINESS FORMS
There has been a change in the way we complete Company Business Expenses (such as passport renewal reimbursement, uniform alterations, etc). In the past we had submitted these on a paper form. We will now be going “paperless” so any Business Expense forms must be submitted via http://dlnet.delta.com/ on a system called DEERS. You will need a special password in order to submit your expenses. To do this log on to Deltanet, then go to DEERS and register for a password, they will email you the password to your company email. Once you receive this password you must then go back into DEERS and follow instructions
Hotline 06-26-09
SPECIAL LEAVE INCENTIVE PROGRAM (SLIP) BIDDING NOW OPEN
When our union first learned of planned reductions in flying last fall, MEC officers approached the company with a recommendation that it offer Special Leave Incentive Program (SLIP) leaves to flight attendants – as it had to other work groups – in lieu of potential involuntary furloughs.
By offering SLIP opportunities to pre-merger Northwest flight attendants, the company has realized the cost savings necessary to weather its current operational challenges, while our union has been able to protect the jobs of our most vulnerable junior members.
Another round of SLIP leaves is now being offered beginning September 1, 2009, of 9-, 6- and 3-months’ duration, up to the number determined necessary by the company at each base. Bidding for SLIPs closes July 16 at 1700 EDT and awards will be posted July 17 at 1800 EDT.
SLIP participants retain seniority, may continue company-subsidized insurance coverage, have pass travel benefits, and will accrue sick and vacation hours while on leave. They may also apply for unemployment insurance from the state in which they are based, which will not be contested by Northwest.
We encourage you to explore the possibility of applying for this extended leave in lieu of furlough of junior flight attendants. More information is available on ATLAS under What’s New; questions may be addressed to .
IF WE UNITE WE CAN CHANGE THIS NATION
Delegates from the Association of Flight Attendants and other CWA affiliated unions had a terrific send-off at the CWA Convention and Legislative-Political Conference this week from Vice President Joe Biden, Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis.
Vice President Biden reminded us that if we unite we can change this nation. He said the Obama administration is committed to giving workers the bargaining power we need to rebuild the middle class. The idea “is not anti-business. It isn’t anti-corporate. It isn’t anti-anything,” Biden said. “It’s pro making sure that people who have a stake in the game and a contribution to make are able to sit at the table. You can’t do that if you can’t get organized. We need to restore some balance to this system.”
Senator Harkin shared a well-known saying from the halls of Congress, “If you aren’t at the bargaining table, you’re on the menu,” and Secretary Solis assured us that after eight years, the Department of Labor is finally “back in the enforcement business.”
Our fellow flight attendant and Pro-Delta, Pro-AFA campaign leader Linda Sorenson (Delta – 41 years) was on stage with Mr. Biden and delivered a moving address to convention delegates. She shared her personal experiences over the years at Delta, including the trials of union elections held under the previous National Mediation Board and being up against strong union busting campaigns at Delta Air Lines. She eloquently shared her belief that at long last pre-merger Delta and Northwest flight attendants expect to have a fair and free representation election this year at Delta. Linda brought delegates to their feet in applause several times.
Later, NWA AFA Local 91 President Josh Zivick and Local 92 President Bob Cannatelli reported from a sea of CWA members at the rally in front of the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, where more than 10,000 union members and activists came together to tell Congress that it’s time for real health care reform NOW.
Convention delegates voted to explore new ways to work together and to support each other for a united labor movement. 2009 is shaping up to be a tremendous year for workers – united we stand, divided we fall.
––Submitted by MEC President
AFA, APFA JOIN FORCES, PUSH CONGRESS, WHITE HOUSE AND DOT TO REVIEW EFFECTS OF DEREGULATION
In a joint letter to members of Congress, AFA International President Pat Friend and American Airlines’ Association of Professional Flight Attendants (APFA) President Laura Glading urged elected officials to “support a full review of deregulation” of the airline industry and its effects on consumers and employees since 1978.
Included with the letter was a copy of Flying Blind: Airline Deregulation Reconsidered, a report by D&n#275;mos, a non-partisan public policy research and advocacy organization. AFA and APFA agree with the report’s findings that the hyper-competition and price-gouging that lead to “low airfares are as much a problem as an achievement if they leave an industry without the resources to maintain service standards and make crucial investments in equipment, technology, and human capital.”
AFA and APFA are working together on Capitol Hill to improve the lives of flight attendants worldwide through lobbying efforts that bring attention to our profession. We believe it is critical that Congress, the Department of Transportation and the Obama administration earnestly review the effects of deregulation and explore creative solutions that will bring stability to the airline industry and to its thousands of dedicated frontline safety professionals.
––Submitted by MEC Government Affairs Committee Chair
OH, MY ACHING BACK!
Your feedback and FACC reports are being heard loud and clear! As a result of last week’s teleconference with Delta onboard service leadership, AFA has learned that specific observation flights will be conducted during the week of June 29th in an effort to see ‘first hand’ the difficulties being experienced daily.
Following the observations, AFA leaders will meet with the company on the results and necessary adjustments to the service being considered. Please continue to document your concerns/problems with the new BE service via the Fast Form/FACC found on the ATLAS site. Your feedback is absolutely essential in our efforts to promote change, so please take the time to report your experience. We will continue to keep you updated on the progress of anticipated changes.
––Submitted by MEC Air Safety, Health and Security Committee Chair
KNOW YOUR HIPAA AND FMLA RIGHTS
As reported in a previous hotline message, Delta Air Lines outsources FMLA administration to Sedgwick Claims Management Services. Before a flight attendant is approved for FMLA, a Sedgwick representative may ask seemingly intrusive questions, most of which are actually permitted under federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules.
AFA’s Legal Department has prepared this document to help you understand your rights and responsibilities under HIPAA and FMLA. FMLA is only granted Northwest flight attendants because we negotiated these benefits in our contract – we would be ineligible under current federal law due to our “part-time” employment status! Please print several copies for your flying partners and don’t hesitate to contact local union officers with questions.
HOTEL COMMITTEE SITE INSPECTIONS: How Are Our Layover Hotels Selected?
Our MEC Hotel Committee has been working hard to secure accommodations at hotels worldwide that meet the current standards negotiated in our contract. Read the latest report – including upcoming changes to current layovers – to see just what it takes for a hotel to check out so we can check in with confidence.
––Submitted by MEC Hotel Committee Chair
PRINCIPLES OF JUST CAUSE
We have all heard the term “just cause,” but have you ever stopped to think what “just cause” really means – and how valuable it could be when facing any sort of disciplinary action? Here are some formal guidelines that ensure the fairest possible outcomes:
- Did management give notice of the rule?
- Was the rule reasonable?
- Did management investigate fairly?
- Did the investigation prove the charge?
- Did management treat everyone the same?
- Did the punishment fit the crime?
Without these standards and contract language to protect us (Section 27.B. – Discipline and Discharge Grievances; Section 21.B. – Performance Development), there would be a lot of room for misinterpretation, favoritism and injustice.
If you are ever called into the office, you can rest assured that you do not have to go alone. Our contract allows for a union representative to be there with you (Section 21.F. – Right to Union Representation). Without a union, Delta flight attendants must face these situations on their own.
So, while we hope disciplinary action never happens to anyone, if it should, remember at Northwest Airlines we have a legal, binding contract; we know that in order to be disciplined there must be “just cause.” Unfortunately, at Delta, because flight attendants lack these protections, they can be disciplined – and even terminated – “just because.”
––Submitted by MEC Communications Committee Chair
SUMMER EDITION OF MEC NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE ONLINE
The MEC newsletter, all call, should be in your home mailbox. If you haven’t received the “snail mail” version yet, it is also available online in both web view and a printable version. We hope you enjoy reading it and welcome your comments and suggestions: .
Hotline 06-19 09
AMBASSADORS OF AFA In a recent Hotline message we reminded you of our contractual right to wear our AFA union pin ( http://www.nwaafa.org/contract/section19/) and we encourage you to do so anytime you are on Company property (NW or DL). Your union insignia shows solidarity. It makes a strong statement that you support your union, your right to collective bargaining and a voice in your future.
Wearing the AFA pin does more than just show solidarity, it also sends another message to others, including Delta flight attendants, many of whom have never been in a union and have a great many misconceptions about our union. This little pin provides a big opportunity to make a clear statement that we believe flight attendants deserve the many benefits and protections that AFA offers us. It also gives us the chance to make a more subtle statement through our behavior, actions and reactions.
In a sense wearing our union pin makes us ambassadors of our union. Since most of our Delta counterparts have limited, if any, union experience this is an excellent way to show, by example, the positive side of our union. When we wear our pin we are representing our union and we want to show it in its best light. Arguing, criticizing, or blatantly trying to force someone to believe in or accept an idea is generally ineffective. People respond much more favorably when they are allowed to form their own opinion based on their own experiences. The more positive experiences and associations they have with AFA, the more likely they are to be open minded, unafraid, and ultimately willing to accept its presence.
Delta has spent a lot of time and money misinforming their flight attendants and denigrating our union. We can counteract a lot of this negativity with genuine, positive encounters- so let’s wear our pins with pride and keep it positive. - Submitted by Rene Foss MEC Communications Chair
MASTER EXECUTIVE COUNCIL OPERATIONS BRIEFING
Your Master Executive Council (Local Presidents), MEC Officers, and representatives from AFA Legal assembled on Tuesday to receive a thorough operations briefing from the Company. Information regarding joint ventures, code shares, and marketing agreements were provided to AFA so that we may monitor compliance with Section 1 of our contract. Topics that were discussed included progress reports on various aspects of our ongoing merger, company financial and operations data, capacity reduction background, cross fleeting updates, progress of re-branding, a cargo update, FAA training approval status,
fuel hedging, the joint venture with Air France KLM group, forecasting for hubs, and other pertinent data regarding our merger and the business plan for the merged Delta.
Your MEC will continue to meet with the Company for operations briefings as frequently as possible. If you have any specific questions regarding the briefing, you can contact your Local President. We will continue to meet with NW & DL company representatives regarding ongoing flight attendant concerns including: issues with OPR, new FMLA processing, BE service, training, etc. Contractual and disciplinary grievance mediation and arbitration will continue as normal.
We are committed to working with NW/DL management to preserve as many jobs as we can, despite the recently announced capacity reductions. We will do that by regularly meeting with the Company to discuss and agree upon as many voluntary options as possible - including ongoing negotiations for the proposed Split Line Program. We’re working hard to make sure comprehensive representation continues for Northwest flight attendants, even while we coordinate with our NW & DL flight attendant campaign leaders to preserve our legal contract and right to union representation going forward at Delta.—MEC President Janette Rook
ON PREMISE RESERVE AFA will meet with the Company on June 29th with the plan to resolve as many of the outstanding issues with On Premise Reserve as possible. Please continue to report any suggestions to improve the program or suspected violations of OPR provisions of the contract to your Local AFA representatives. We need Reserve input, to adequately address as many issues as possible.
ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS-CWA SUPPORTS CARRY-ON LIMITATION BILL The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) today announced support for a bill introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL) that seeks to set one enforceable standard for all bags carried onboard U.S. commercial aircraft. The Securing Carry-On Baggage Act, H.R. 2870, would create a universal size requirement for carry-on bags instead of allowing each carrier to determine its own size requirements. The bill also requires that restrictions be enforced at screening locations through use of a template.
Current standards for carry-on baggage were established more than a decade ago when passengers brought far fewer items on board with them. Checked baggage fees, implemented by airline management recently, have drastically increased the amount of luggage being brought into the aircraft cabin. The revised guidelines will expedite the security screening and boarding processes
and ultimately result in fewer delays.
THE BUSINESS ELITE EXPERIENCE MEC Air Safety, Health and Security (ASHS) Chairperson Jeanne Elliott and MEC Vice President Daniel Grey met via telephone this week with Delta onboard service executives to discuss the recent implementation of the Business Elite service on international flights. While the overall food quality and choices have been well received, the delivery and logistics of the service are earning a less enthusiastic response.
Excessive aisle time, lack of storage space, and catering/galley packing inconsistencies were all discussed at length. According to Delta, the pre-merger Northwest BE service of today is an “interim” product that will evolve as a final service standard is developed. The company was open to our feedback - positive and constructive - and committed to taking an observation flight on a NW A330 TPAC flight in the coming weeks. Data from the company’s audit will be shared with your MEC ASHS Committee in another joint conference call the second week of July.
Please continue to document and report your experience with the new BE service via the FACC on the ATLAS site. Report any safety concerns to the ASHS Committee at . We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates from our discussions with the company. - Submitted by Daniel Grey, MEC Vice President
A CALL TO ACTION - BAN IN-FLIGHT CELL PHONE USEAGE To ensure that a ban on cell phone usage is included in the FAA Reauthorization Legislation we need AFA-CWA members to help us. Please contact your elected leaders and tell them to support this legislation . Cell phone usage in the cabin will create a new security risk which compromises our job of safely executing an emergency evacuation and ability to maintain order in the cabin amongst noise and tension. Please help by taking a moment and Click http://www.unionvoice.org/flightattendant/notice-description.tcl?newsletter_id=26322607 to send a message to your senator mandating them to pass a cell phone ban.
AIR SPEED SENSORS BEING REPLACED In light of the tragic Air France accident, many questions have arisen regarding the air speed sensors on the DL Airbus fleet. As noted in the June 11th ‘Delta Daily’, the company has upgraded the air speed sensors to the new Pitot tubes
on 126 of its 158 Airbus aircraft, as recommended by the manufacturer. Pilots have also been reminded about back-up procedures should they receive questionable readings before all changeovers have been completed. It is noted that Airbus planes account for about 15% of DL’s entire fleet.The upgrade mentioned is not required by the FAA at this time. - Submitted by Jeanne Elliott, MEC Air Safety, Health and Security Chair
A/C 3312 CREW REST MODULE BACK IN SERVICE NWA AFA has just been advised that A/C 3312’s crew rest module is finally back in service after weeks of evaluation by the manufacturer due to reported odors/ fumes. All fabrics and carpeting within the module have been totally replaced. A more detailed update from Engineering is pending regarding the exact cause of the problems, in addition to the status of A/C 3319’s module. We will
continue to provide further information when it becomes available.—Submitted by Jeanne Elliott MEC Air Safety, Health and Security Chair
DELTA AIR LINES ANNUAL STOCKHOLDER MEETING Delta’s annual stockholder meeting will be held June 22, 2009 at 8:00 AM EDT in New York City. If you currently hold Delta stock, you not only have the right to vote your shares, but also attend the meeting and ask questions of our BOD members and executives in attendance. The AXA Equitable Center is located at 787 Seventh Avenue in New York, New York.
Go to DeltaNet to review information that pertains to voting your shares and/or attending the meeting, as well as the 2008 Annual Report and 2009 Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement reveals details of executive compensation packages, among other information. At the meeting, stockholders will vote on the following matters:
- the election of the directors for the next year - the ratification of the appointment of Ernst and Young LLP as auditors for 2009 - one stockholder proposal (if the proposal is properly presented at the meeting) - any other business that may properly come before the meeting.
Hotline 06-12-09
NWA-AFA MEC Weekly Hotline Message June 12, 2009
MEC HOTLINE: (888) 3-NWA-AFA or http://www.nwaafa.org
PURPLE RIBBON CAMPAIGN: Pro-Delta, Pro-AFA http://www.deltaafa.org
SUMMER 2009 NWA AFA MEC NEWSLETTER “ALL CALL” Watch out in your mailbox for your copy of the latest edition of the nwa-afa all call MEC Newsletter. Past editions of the nwa-afa all call are also archived at http://www.nwaafa.org on the Print Resources & on the Communications Committee page. The MEC would like to express our warm thanks to all pre-merger NW & DL flight attendants, AFA officers and committee members who contributed to this publication. We welcome your feedback and suggestions for upcoming newsletters at .
FMLA PROCESSING CONCERNS - SEDGWICK CLAIM MANAGEMENT Some pre-merger Northwest flight attendants have been reporting concerns to AFA regarding the new Family Medical Leave application processing through Delta’s outsourced Sedgwick Claims Management Services. Please contact your Local AFA Council Representatives with the name of the person you spoke with, time, date, and the nature of the concern. The FML process has changed dramatically, and we want to do everything we can to ensure that “change” does not mean a deterioration in services, in regards to our legal and contractual FML rights.
AFA SWINE FLU UPDATE We have posted another update regarding Influenza A(H1N1) to our Air Safety, Health and Security Department website, http://ashsd.afacwa.org/index.cfm
The WHO will today declare a shift in the Pandemic Warning Level to Phase 6. Below is the text of the WHO update, with a link to the live Web press conference. Also, the CDC is holding a press conference after the WHO, presumably to outline U.S. steps in response to the WHO action; you may want to tune into that event.
(June 11, 2009 update) The Associated Press this morning is reporting that the “World Health Organization told its member nations it was declaring a swine flu pandemic Thursday- the first global flu epidemic in 41 years - as infections climbed in the United States, Europe, Australia, South America and elsewhere. In a statement sent to member countries, WHO said it decided to raise the pandemic warning level from phase 5 to 6 its highest alert after holding an emergency meeting on swine flu with its experts. The long-awaited pandemic decision is scientific confirmation that a new flu virus has emerged and is quickly circling the globe. It will trigger drug makers to speed up production of a swine flu
vaccine and prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.” What a shift to Phase 6 of the pandemic warning level will mean to Flight Attendants is unclear at this time, but stay tuned for further updates as the situation unfolds.
LESSONS LEARNED FROM A QUARANTINED FLIGHT ATTENDANT Based on communications with the DTW flight attendants recently quarantined in Japan (due to possible exposure to the H1N1 flu virus) and on observation of the events as they were unfolding, EAP gleaned several insights that may be helpful for anyone facing this situation in the future.
1. If you ever find yourself in this situation, be prepared to possibly experience shock, denial, and/or confusion. This may impair your ability to “think” or negotiate for yourself.
2. Sleeping and eating needs will become primary. In a stress situation, these requirements must be met; your coping skills diminish with fatigue and hunger. Try to explicitly ask for what you need. Recognize that you may need to specifically ask what options are available and/or permitted.
3. Ask for ready contact (same area/time zone) with someone whose first language and culture are similar to yours. This will provide tremendous comfort and reduce miscommunication. If at all possible, ask for FA peer contact. If you are feeling vulnerable and depressed, you may be reluctant to share with someone who is in authority over you, like health officials.
4. Ask that any pertinent information regarding pay status, travel arrangements and scheduling codes be relayed as soon as possible. This will alleviate needless fretting.
5. Check to see that any materials offered to offset boredom (computers, DVD’s, phones, etc) are in proper working order and user friendly, and workable in your own language!
6. Do not assume anything! Be specific in your requests about clothing, hygiene needs, medicines, etc. Convey your need to get and receive information from home and family.
While the hope is that none of us will ever have to be in this situation, acknowledging and attending to these needs will be greatly therapeutic to anyone who must endure this kind of isolations. Submitted by Rosemary Peek DTW LEC EAP Chair
THE NEW BUSINESS ELITE SERVICE Effective June 1st, Northwest Airlines implemented the new Business Elite service products, along with new equipment and menu on all international flights, to harmonize the onboard experience of Delta Air Lines. As with any change of this magnitude, we anticipate some elements of the service to be difficult and challenging.
Although the primary interest of the MEC Purser Committee is contractual issues impacting PQs and not service-related, your MEC Purser Committee strongly recommends that FAs and PQs contact the FACC (or submit a FAST report) with both positive and negative comments regarding the new BE service. Ultimately, change is driven by the number of reports submitted to FACC.
As a reminder to all FAs, the required crew rest for all international flights in excess of 7 hours is a negotiated article under the current AFA Collective Bargaining Agreement and must not be compromised regardless of the amount of time necessary to complete the new BE service. In the event the required contractual break is not provided on your flight, please contact
with detailed information including: the total customer count (both BE and main cabin), length of service time, flight time, how many FAs in BE. It is the commitment of the MEC PQ Committee to keep record of all crew rest violations. Submitted by Kim Cook, NWA AFA MEC Purser Committee Chair
ON PREMISE RESERVE ISSUES Please continue to contact your Local Council Representatives with any safety or contractual concerns about our new On Premise Reserve system. Contract language governing OPR is found in Section 7 Reserve. AFA has been in contact with the Company over the condition and location of some of the OPR “quiet areas”, offered some suggested tweaks in Reserve Preferencing, as well as discussing some health and safety issues with current OPR operations. The Company has expressed a willingness to meet in June to review OPR operations data and work towards improving the Reserve experience in this area.
SHORT CREW GRIEVANCE FILED The recently announced “harmonization” of service between the Delta and Northwest international Business Class and Business Elite product was implemented on June 1st. The end result of this “harmonization”, according to many Northwest flight attendants and former coach Yogi Berra of the New York Yankees, is the feeling of “deja-vu all over again”.
We have apparently returned to the era of Hot Oshis, Hot Nuts, Hot Soup, and Hand Dish-up of Hot Entrees. At the time that NWA offered these enhancements “back in the day” they were well-received by our customers, and perhaps a little
less so by our flight attendants. However, not being able to complete the enhanced service was not an issue because staffing levels were adjusted in order to properly deliver the service.
Now, it seems, we’ve returned to the service which was offered “back in the day” but, it’s supposed to be delivered with today’s post-bankruptcy skeleton crews. According to reports being received by the Union, the two don’t seem to be meshing very well, even to the extent that some crews report being unable to take their contractual crew rest breaks. As a result, NYC AFA Council 91 President Josh Zivick has filed an “et al” grievance charging the Company with ignoring our short crew language by substantially altering the service guidelines for Business Elite service without altering the staffing levels. The Company did not consult with or confer with the Union prior to implementing the substantial changes to its “Business Elite” service, and has not been responsive to concerns being expressed about the ability to deliver the service with current staffing levels.
A lot of ink has been devoted to the concept of taking the ‘best practices” of both NWA and DL in order to form “One Great Airline”. If the so-called “harmonization” of the international service represents that concept in practice, one truly has to wonder what the future holds for all of us at “One Great Airline”. Fasten your seat belts! Submitted by Greg Riffle MEC Grievance Chair
I’M ON A LEAVE, AM I ELIGIBLE TO VOTE? YES! There have been many questions regarding voting eligibility in our upcoming representational election. NW & DL Flight Attendants on the following types leaves: PLOC, CCL, SLIP, Medical, Maternity, Military or Active Retention (without disciplinary authority) ARE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE!
Another important point to remember when it is time to vote is that the National Mediation Board (NMB) will mail the voting instructions to the address that is on file with the Company (the address that is on your pay stub). If you wish to have your voting instructions mailed to any other address, you must update you record with the Company and with AFA-CWA. You can update your address with the Company via ATLAS and also update your address with the union http://www.nwaafa.org/onlineforms/contactinfo/
If you know any flight attendants on any type of leave, please share this information with them. If you have questions regarding eligibility or updating your address information, please contact your local AFA office. Submitted by Rene Foss MEC Communications Chair
SENIORITY LIST RUN ERROR A new seniority list was run by the Company in error on Wednesday. The company backed it out and will re-run and publish our new list on June 30 as originally planned. Our contract provides for a new seniority list to be run and posted no later than July 31 and January 31 every year http://nwaafa.org/contract/section20/ and then the Company and our Union jointly address seniority list challenges brought forward by flight attendants. The next contractual 60-day seniority list challenge period will start on June 30 (when the list is published.) At that time the Company contact for challenges will be sent out in the AFA MEC Hotline and Company email.
A FURTHER REDUCTION IN FLYING (REPEAT FROM 6/11 MESSAGE) AFA was briefed by the Company regarding the announcement of a further planned 5% reduction in flying. The information given to your MEC President has been provided to all elected AFA officers system wide. An announcement was also made in an internal memo to all employees at both Delta and Northwest and to the public. Details of the reduction plans can be found in the internal memo sent in Company email and posted on ATLAS and DeltaNet.
Your AFA representatives will continue to work with the Company, to do everything in our power to eliminate the need for any involuntary furloughs or transfers. SLIP leaves, Company Convenience Leaves, and Split Line (shared line program) negotiations will continue - all toward the goal of protecting flight attendant jobs. A new Early Out program is not anticipated, but all ideas are on the table to prevent layoffs at this time.
ACCESS TO IQ TRAINING RESOURCESI n reference to the special ‘Hotline” of last Friday, the Integration Qualification training references noted are now posted on our website http://www.nwaafa.org/safety/airsafety. In response to our request for these valuable resources to be made available via ATLAS, the company has advised that they will be posting them as well. Let us hear form you if there are further questions on IQ or upcoming AQ Training. Submitted by Air Safety Health and Security Chair Jeanne Elliott
AIRLINES SEE GAINS Airlines see gains on on-time performance, other measures in April
Airline performance improved across the board in April, according to figures from the U.S. Department of Transportation. Compared with the same month last year, the 19 largest carriers in the U.S. posted better numbers for on-time arrivals, cancellations, mishandled bags and customer complaints. More than
79% of flights arrived on time in April 2009, up from 77.7% in April 2008. USA TODAY (6/9) Forbes/The Associated Press (6/9) ,MarketWatch (6/9) , The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires (6/9).
US AIRWAYS CEO CALLS FOR MORE CONSOLIDATION The CEO of US Airways says the industry needs more large-scale mergers before it can achieve consistent profitability. Speaking at the US Airways annual shareholder meeting, Doug Parker cited the recent merger of Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines as a model for the industry. For more info visit:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-us-airlines-us-airways-annual-meeting,0,5472975.story
http://www.thestreet.com/story/10511980/1/us-airways-calls-for-consolidation.html?cm_ven=GOOGLEFI
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/homepage/20090610_Shareholders_vote_to_double_US_Airways_shares.html
RELATED NEWS ATRICLESFLIGHT ATTENDANT VINDICATED
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09161/976287-57.stm