Negotiations Committee
Janette Rook, jrook@nwaafa.org2 Open Positions - Joint NWA & DAL AFA Negotiations Committee
Negotiations News
» Negotiations Committee Opening
22 October 2010 - Committees are established to assist the MEC in conducting its business, working as advocates for the membership and serving as liaison between the MEC, membership, and the Company. Member-driven and primarily voluntary in nature, AFA Committees are a vital asset to our workgroup. They offer a means for everyone to get involved in their union by coordinating individual strengths, training, passion, and experience into collective support for our colleagues and to advance our profession.
In order to support our Joint Contract Negotiations with Delta Air Lines after winning representation, the PMNW MEC seeks to fill two positions on its Negotiations Committee. Per the AFA Constitution and Bylaws, the MEC President serves as Chair of the Negotiations Committee along with two members appointed by the nine Local Presidents. The Negotiations Committee works closely with AFA Legal Staff and Professional AFA Negotiators throughout the process.
Our Pre-Merger Delta colleagues will have an appointed interim MEC that will select their own two members of the Negotiations Committee. Together with their MEC President, the two groups will form the Joint Negotiations Committee. A detailed flowchart of post-election procedures is available HERE. Interested members in good standing should submit their resumé and letter of interest to the MEC by December 3rd, 2010. Send letters to:
NWA-AFA Master Executive Council,
ATTN: Karen Chapdelaine, MEC Office Manager
8011 34th Avenue South, Suite 220
Bloomington MN 55425
or - email to: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Interested Flight Attendants may wish to review the AFA merger policies and general negotiations committee policy. As partners in a legally binding contract, negotiations do not necessarily stop when an agreement is ratified. Just like the DL pilots have experienced since signing their Agreement after a few months of negotiations, several items that affect our group will arise throughout the life of the contract. The MEC may use the Negotiations Committee to work with the company on a Letter of Agreement that may amend or incorporate new provisions into our contract. An example of this kind of labor-management collaboration is the signing of the AF/KL/DL Joint Venture Protocol in June 2010.
NWA-AFA Committees represent the MEC and will support MEC positions when interacting with the Company and Flight Attendants. They carry out the responsibilities of their Committee and shall support and adhere to the AFA-CWA Constitution and Bylaws, as well as the NWA-AFA MEC Policy Manual.
Posted by jrook on 10/22 at 09:04 AM» 2010 AFA LOA Proposals
August 2010 - A collective bargaining agreement is a living, breathing document. It can and often does evolve following ratification. Last year before most of the last vestiges of Northwest management disappeared, your MEC was able to continue that important part of improving our contract by negotiating three new LOAs (Split Lines, Base Transfers, AMC/CRAF flying). These were distributed to all flight attendant mailboxes for insertion into contracts in December 2009. This year should be no different, and as always, we will continue to do all we can to improve our contractual provisions. This year we have proposed four new LOAs. The latest was sent to the company on August 18th, continuing our efforts to resolve merger-related issues, as well as under-staffing. In case you’ve missed them, the AFA proposals so far for 2010 were/are:
1. Aircraft Families - Proposed 07APR10
2. Ext Duty Crew Complement - 07MAY10
3. Crew Rest Facilities - Proposed 18JUN10
4. One Way Trade Cap Removal - Proposed 18AUG10
» AFA Files for Section 6 With NMB
30 April 2010 - AFA’s comments to NMB regarding Section 6 re-opener HERE.
14 April 2010 - Read complete NMB filing for Section 6 re-opener over extended duty staffing on new aircraft here: NMB Case # CA-6967 - Delta Air Lines & AFA-CWA
» Section 6 Notice to Delta - Extended Duty Staffing
April 2010 - AFA To File For Mediation Pursuant to Section 6 of the Railway Labor Act Over Issue of Extended Duty Staffing
After the Company’s refusal to bargain over extended duty staffing as required pursuant to our CBA Section 5 - Hours of Service and Section 6, Title I of the Railway Labor Act, AFA will request the assistance of the National Mediation Board (NMB). The NMB has the authority to investigate the dispute and to require the parties to meet under Section 6, and this particular topic (extended duty staffing) has a RLA Section 6 re-opener attached to it. Management plans for extended duty flights on the 767 and 777. A Section 6 notice on this topic was sent to our CEO Richard Anderson this week. Read the notice to Delta HERE.
» AFA Welcomes SuzAnne Balzer!
For more information about the latest member of AFA International’s negotiations team, please click HERE.
Posted by jrook on 01/28 at 08:55 PM» Split Lines - Now January 2010 Launch
SPLIT LINES - FOR RESERVES AND REGULAR LINEHOLDERS
Due to all the merger related programming, the company was unable to complete all the Split Line programming that is necessary for a November launch of the new Split Line Program. That means the program is now scheduled to launch in January, since we don’t want to make the December bidding any more complicated or stressful than it already can be for all of us. In the meantime, please read over Letter of Agreement 41 for details about this new program. I’ve spoken to a lot of Reserves while commuting to the MEC office in MSP and many don’t yet realize that both Regular and Reserve lineholders will be eligible to bid for this new program. LOA 41can be found on the Negotiations Committee page or click here: http://www.nwaafa.org/docs/contract/LOA_41_Split_Line_Program03SEP09.pdf. - MEC President Janette Rook
» September 4, 2009 Negotiations Update - New LOAs
We are pleased to announce we have reached agreement with the Company over three new Letters of Agreement to add to our collective bargaining agreement. The most notable of the three being LOA 41 - Split Line Program. We also came to agreement on LOA 40 - AMC/CRAF Flying, which updates and combines two 2003 IBT “Yellow Book” LOAs regarding military charter flying. The third is LOA 39 - Base Transfers, which makes a procedural correction to align contractual Base Transfer bid deadlines with PBS bid deadlines. Please click on the above links or visit our MEC website for the complete Letters of Agreement. Hard copies will also be distributed to all flight attendants in the near future.
Split Line Program - Letter of Agreement 41
During the negotiations for our current contract, management and your Negotiating Committee agreed to continue talks with the aim of creating a Split Line Flying Program. The original concept was to create more low lines for junior flight attendants while offering greater flexibility. However, as staffing conditions and the economic climate changed, the focus evolved into not only securing more schedule flexibility, but attempting to save the jobs of our most junior members.
Our original proposals had flight attendants pairing up and splitting one line. With the advent of PBS, that was no longer necessary and now flight attendants - both reserves and line holders - in the program will be able to “split a line” with PBS. This improvement will simplify the process and broaden access for our group.
Split Line Flying will only be offered at bases with a staffing overage and will of course be awarded in seniority order. The program is strictly voluntary and will be offered in conjunction with SLIP and CCL leaves. The lock-in terms will vary depending upon need, but will be in increments of 1-month, 3-months, and 6-months. The program is expected to begin for the November 2009 flying month, and we have asked for it to begin in 1-month increments, to allow a testing and trial period for all parties.
A Split Line participant will be credited and pre-blocked with a “blind credit” equaling half of the month’s EBLA, and will bid and be awarded the rest of a line of flying. Reserves will be pre-blocked with a “blind credit” of 40 hours and will bid and be awarded 9 days of reserve availability. All bidding and awarding of lines will be in accordance with the participant’s seniority. All line adjustment provisions of the contract still apply and participants may adjust their lines in any way provided for in our Agreement.
Flight Attendants holding a Split Line will pay 50% of the Company’s portion of our health and dental insurance premiums, and if they fly fewer than 70 credited hours, will have vacation and sick leave accruals prorated in accordance with Section 10.A.3. of our Agreement. Pattern guarantees apply to all lineholders, and reserves will be pay guaranteed to 40 hours.
Your MEC and Negotiating Committee are very pleased that this program offering increased flexibility for Northwest Flight Attendants is finally in place. It is just another tool we have negotiated with management, which allows us greater control over our work life and increases our schedule options. More importantly, it has potential to save some of our colleagues from furlough and protect flight attendant jobs. Enjoy your new scheduling opportunity and remember that without a Union, it would not be in place.
Please stay tuned to the MEC Hotline and company email for more information about these LOAs, including more detailed information about the new Split Line Program.
In Unity For a Better Future,
Janette Rook, MEC President
James Yung, Negotiating Committee
Bruce Retrum, Negotiating Committee
Lovey Offerle, Negotiating Committee
Paula Mastrangelo, AFA Staff Negotiator
» How Would Negotiations Work At Delta?
If we vote for a union, NWA flight attendants will open our contract negotiations early and DAL flight attendants will negotiate with us for a joint contract. Click HERE for a summary of what will happen in joint negotiations, should we vote for union representation at Delta Air Lines.
Posted by jrook on 08/21 at 10:53 AM» Split Line Negotiations Update - August 21, 2009
AFA Split Line negotiations with Northwest representatives ended and the proposed LOA was then presented by Northwest representatives to Delta. We understand that Delta Legal and executives have been examining the proposed Letter of Agreement for the last few weeks, and will have the final say on the company’s end. For AFA’s part, we feel we have done everything we can to reach an agreement on the implementation of a Split Line Program for flight attendants. We feel this program would be a nice option for our members, and possibly reduce or eliminate the need for any involuntary furloughs of our junior members in the coming months. We anticipate a response from Delta executives in the near future. Please stay tuned to the hotline for the latest information. – MEC President Janette Rook
Posted by jrook on 08/21 at 10:51 AM» Negotiations Committee Update - May 8, 2009
Your Negotiating Committee met with the Company on May 8, 2009 to continue the job of contract interpretation and discuss upcoming training and other changes that will impact our work life.
IQ/ AQ Training is happening. The Company does have the right to assign your training month because the training is longer than 2 days (11.C.1.d.(1) of our Contract). The order in which the training must be done is a sequential planning issue - IQ training first, allow 60 day CBT window pre-AQ, then AQ training and then synch up with your HOT training month. Our MEC Air Safety Committee Chair and SEA FA Jeanne Elliott and Vice Chair and LAX FA Gary Helton, will attend a dry run of the IQ training so we will have more information soon. Flight attendants will be participating in time trials per our contract language in May for the CBT portion of AQ - the Company expects it to take about 4 hours (1 hour per new aircraft.) Once awarded a training date, you may attempt to change your date to an earlier date if a vacancy is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. You should call or email the training department to accomplish a trade. The company has responded that hotels will only be provided for those who must attend training away from base. You can bid for vacation and training on the same day, but cannot be forced to do so. Delta FAs are only required to attend one 3 day training event - AQ. According to the company, that allows for a bit more flexibility for bidding and trading for Delta FAs. On the other hand Delta training pay is $12 per hour, while we will be paid 4:15 per day - view training pay comparison HERE.
OPR: will begin June 1 in conjunction with the suspension of the 2:30 call-in. After the June bidding is completed, a detailed memo will be given to Reserve Flight Attendants and will be posted on the ATLAS homepage. It will outline provisions for preferencing OPR days and other important information. It was obvious from our discussion with the Company that the program is still evolving and we will continue our conversations to make sure it is as Flight-Attendant-friendly as possible. Please view a reference sheet for OPR HERE. According to the Company, they now expect to utilize OPR in all bases and there will be a quiet room and beepers available at all locations for roll out of the program.
2:30-8 Hour Call: will be suspended effective June 1. This will be a big change for all of us and we will be closely monitoring how our members adapt to the new situation. We presented an LOA with the Company that would, when signed, reflect the change in our contract language for this item. Should this change result in any dependability issues during the transition, we urge you to contact your local AFA office for representation.
Split Line Program: We are negotiating the details of a Split Line Program with the Company, and both parties are aiming for a September 1 implementation date. We are working diligently to expand the functionality and the options available to Flight Attendants, in order to encourage the greatest participation. The Split Line Program could add flexibility for all flight attendants, as well as reduce staffing overages that could result in furloughs.
CRAF Flying: We updated the CRAF/ AMC Letter of Agreement to reflect the current scheduling practices and pay incentive rates. Additionally, the staging base for the charters will be moving from Amsterdam to Hahn Air Force Base in Frankfurt, Germany. We were informed that the hotel for this flying will be a 4 star Dorint brand property.
Filling of Vacancies: We effected an LOA with the Company to change the award date for Letters of Preference and Mutual Letters of Preference to the 7th of the month. This change makes sense in our PBS environment and will give a Flight Attendant awarded a vacancy sufficient time to bid at his/her new base.
Your Negotiations Committee will continue to meet with the Company to refine our Agreement and to adapt new concepts in ways that benefit us all as Flight Attendants.
Fly Safe and Fly your Contract.
In Solidarity,
Your Negotiating Committee:
James Yung .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Bruce Retrum .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Lovey Offerle .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Janette Rook .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Posted by jrook on 05/11 at 02:20 PM
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