03SEP10

Representation Election Date Set

AFA received word from the National Mediation Board today outlining the representational election timeline. The notice and sample instructions will be sent out on 22SEP10 with the voting instructions being sent out on 29SEP10. The voting period will take place from 29SEP10 through 03NOV10.
The tally of votes will take place at the NMB’s offices on 03NOV10 at 1400 ET. If you have any questions about this information, feel free to reach out to any council 92 officer.

19AUG10

AFA files lawsuit to compel Delta to comply with the RLA

It has been a challenging few years since Northwest Airlines filed for bankruptcy for the first time in its history - "coincidentally" on the same day as Delta Air Lines and in the same court. We've been through an awful lot, but due to our tenacity, hard work and sacrifice, we have protected all of our jobs and brought our company through bankruptcy. Now we're doing everything we can to ensure our merger is successful in spite of the many hurdles we have increasingly had to face.

Your Master Executive Council would like you to know that we've heard our fellow members' outrage loud and clear. We've all given far more than our fair share, even as we watched our pilots negotiate a new industry leading contract and our executives snap back to pre-bankruptcy compensation. Even though we've shouldered the lion's share of the concessions since bankruptcy, management now imposes additional cuts through their unwillingness to abide by our legally binding contract. That is not acceptable, nor is it the right thing to do. We are Delta and we have made our company strong again. We deserve better than this.

It is our solemn responsibility to uphold and defend our contract and we will use any means necessary to do so. To that end, today we filed a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines in the United States District Court in Washington, DC. This case arises from Delta Air Lines numerous and intensifying violations of the collective bargaining rights of 7,168 pre-merger Northwest Airlines flight attendants.

Delta management has been unwilling to resolve disputes with us despite its statutory obligations to do so, pending completion of the election process. Currently, Delta routinely violates our contract in ways both big and small: refusing to negotiate over numerous issues, refusing to arbitrate the LOA 35 #2 "Me Too" grievance, imposing inferior Delta scheduling policies on our members, refusing to work together to resolve serious health & safety issues, not notifying flight attendants of schedule and hotel changes, disciplining a union leader for simply submitting honest feedback about this summer service and scheduling fiasco, and much more.

After this pressure cooker of a summer, which was designed and executed solely by our new corporate leadership team, our members and leaders have reached the boiling point. We are all flight attendants; we hear you and we have acted on it.

In our complaint, AFA requests injunctive relief compelling Delta to abide by the requirements of the Railway Labor Act, as well as monetary relief and punitive damages. To read the entire complaint, click HERE.

In unity for a better future,

Janette Rook
DTW Flight Attendant &
NWA AFA MEC President

via nwaafa.org

17AUG10

DAL/NWA Flight Attendants To Participate In Historic, Democratic Election

The National Mediation Board (NMB) today granted the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA's (AFA-CWA) recent request to declare that the Delta/Northwest merger has created a single transportation system. As a result, a representation election has been triggered and, for the first time, the over 20,000 flight attendants at the merged carrier will have the opportunity to vote for AFA-CWA representation under new, more democratic rules.

"Finally our voice will be heard and fully respected under strong democratic procedures, the same way that other elections are decided in our country," said AFA-CWA activist Toni Weinfurtner. "We are excited for the opportunity to negotiate an industry-leading contract and continue to work alongside management in building a world class airline. Delta and Northwest flight attendants have waited a long time for this day and are eager to move forward."

Now that the NMB has declared that Delta Air Lines is a single transportation system, AFA-CWA has 14 days to provide evidence that there is enough interest to warrant an election. Proof of interest is demonstrated by a combination of AFA-CWA's pre-merger Northwest membership plus signed authorization cards from pre-merger Delta employees totaling at least 35 percent of all eligible flight attendants. After the NMB determines that there is enough interest for an election, a voting schedule will be set.

via afanet.org

16AUG10

LEC VP Special Election Nomination Results

The nominations for LEC 92 VP (special election) are in: with 30 nominations received 20 were for Dustin Dudley, 2 for Bob Cannatelli and 8 single nominations for other nominees. As Dustin is the only nominee to have signed a commitment to serve and receive enough nominations, he will be the only name to appear on the ballot which will be mailed 20AUG10. Ballots close and must be post marked by 10SEP10.

01JUL10

AFA-CWA Files for First Flight Attendant Election
under Democratic Voting Procedures

The July 4th holiday has special meaning for Delta flight attendants, who moved closer to a vote for representation under new, more democratic rules today with a filing by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) with the National Mediation Board (NMB). AFA-CWA asked the NMB to declare that the Delta/Northwest merger has created a single transportation system, triggering a representation election. Northwest Airlines flight attendants are currently represented by AFA-CWA, while Delta flight attendants are not represented.
 
 A U.S. District Court on June 25 rejected challenges to the new rules by the Air Transport Association (ATA) and Delta Air Lines, the only major airline carrier to join the lawsuit. Delta executives have stated that they are ready to move forward with union elections and AFA-CWA urged them to live up to their word. Under the new rules, the majority of voters will decide the representation issue instead of having "no" votes assigned to people who do not vote.
 
 "Democracy has prevailed," said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. "For the first time, flight attendants will truly have their voices heard and their votes counted. For far too long, union elections in our industry have been overshadowed by management interference and voter suppression. Those days are over and we enter a new era. From this point on, union elections will be held to the same ideals and principles that our country was founded upon."
 
 Once the NMB declares that the merged airlines are operating as a single carrier, which is already the case for Delta's pilots, an election date will be set to determine if AFA-CWA will be the flight attendants' exclusive bargaining agent. With nearly 21,000 flight attendants, the election will be among the largest ever conducted by the NMB, the federal agency charged with overseeing union elections and the collective bargaining process in the airline industry.
 
 "Delta and Northwest flight attendants have waited a long time for this day and are eager to move forward in creating a world-class contract at the world's largest carrier," added Friend.

via afanet.org

01JUL10

New LEC officer term begins

Today the following officers begin their term:

Jacob Easter - President

Dustin Dudley - Vice-President/Secretary

David Thompson - Council Rep

Please visit the officer page to make note of the new officers and their contact information.

12JUN10

LEC Council 92 BBQ - Save the Date!

Thursday, July 22nd we we will be hosting a BBQ for all Boston NWA and DAL flight attendants. Come meet your new local officers and hear what’s going on with the upcoming election. Standard BBQ fare will be served. Feel free (but not obligated) to bring your favorite dish! Location TBD.

01JUN10

NWA SUMMER RESERVE S.O.S

(Summer Reserve and Scheduling Outreach and Support)

Ah, sweet summertime...carefree days by the lake, bare toes poring through sun-heated sand, an occasional trace of barbeque wafting through the gentle breeze, and. . . WHAT?!? Scheduling wants me to go WHERE?!? WHEN?!? But I’m not even on call and wait, I don’t think I’m even legal! H E L P !!

NWA Summer Reserve S.O.S. to the rescue!

With the sheer volume of special memos, special videos, and special phone calls about Summer Flying, you’ve got to figure something is, well...special. New aircraft, new service, new boarding times, new revisions, and oh yes, lots and lots of flying. Unlike other more veiled communiqués, the company has not sugar-coated their plans for aggressively productive flight schedules the summer, with more hard-fly hours away from home crammed into your month than you ever dreamed possible. We already know CCLs are on hold, pattern drops and reserve releases practically nil, and EBLAs will be pushing new heights. It has even been suggested that downline rescheduling and working into days off could become the norm. Say WHAT?!?

What does it all mean in real life? We’re not waiting to find out the hard way.

NWA Summer Reserve S.O.S. to the rescue!

Your NWA-AFA MEC is pleased to introduce the NWA Summer Reserve and Scheduling Outreach and Support—or Reserve S.O.S., for short. You’ll hear more about this program in the coming days, including a mailer to your home with additional info, contact resources, contract tips and more.

For now, this is what you need to know. Your NWA-AFA MEC has been brainstorming for the best way to meet this summer’s unique scheduling variables and unknowns head on, with extra support for our Reserves. For the next few months, NWA-AFA officers will be teaming up to provide special 24/7 Reserve and Scheduling support on a dedicated phone line to address your on-the-spot Scheduling, Rescheduling and Reserve questions.

Program this number into your phone: 888.3.NWA.AFA, option 2. (That’s 888.369.2232) or summer@nwaafa.org for less time-sensitive issues.

As always, contact your Local Council Officers first for all scheduling, discipline, contract, grievance and rumor control issues. (Their numbers should already be in your phone!) But we recognize scheduling emergencies come in all sizes and shapes, and never when it’s convenient.

“Can they do that?” “Do I have to do this?” Sometimes you just can’t wait for an answer. The NWA Summer Reserve S.O.S. is your supplemental 24/7 scheduling support to tackle this summer’s unique challenges, together. Keep your contract close and an ally on speed-dial at 888.3.NWA.AFA, option 2.

Now, did you remember to GDO your day off tomorrow? Good. It’s after 3:00 p.m. Let’s head on back to the lake!

via nwaafa.org

20MAY10

Frontier Airlines Flight Attendants Join AFA-CWA
 
Washington, DC – A strong majority of flight attendants at Frontier Airlines today voted to join the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA). The election vote, conducted by the National Mediation Board (NMB), showed that 456 out of 879 flight attendants voted for AFA-CWA representation. Frontier Airlines is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Republic Airways Holdings, Inc.

“Frontier flight attendants look forward to negotiating a contract that will protect our interests and address our issues,” said Erika Schweitzer, appointed transitional AFA-CWA Frontier President. “As AFA-CWA members, we will finally have a legally recognized voice to negotiate with management and gain protections that are specific to the needs of Frontier flight attendants.”
 
In September 2009, a large group of Frontier flight attendants filed enough signatures necessary for the NMB to call for AFA-CWA representation election.  After the NMB declared that Frontier was not part of a single transportation system with Republic, Shuttle America, Chautauqua, and Midwest, an election was scheduled. Frontier Airlines is the third flight attendant group to elect AFA-CWA as their bargaining representative in the past year.

“We welcome our new sisters and brothers at Frontier to the world’s largest flight attendant union. Frontier flight attendants have a unique and proud history and with AFA-CWA representation, they will now begin to shape their future through a legally binding contract,” said AFA-CWA International President Patricia Friend.

Frontier flight attendants based in Denver, CO and Milwaukee, WI. 

via afanet.org

10MAY10

Historic Policy Change Brings Democracy to Union Elections
 
National Mediation Board to End Archaic Voting Procedures

Washington, DC - The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) International President Patricia Friend issued the following statement today after the National Meditation Board (NMB) announced new voting procedures. Under the new guidelines, the majority of workers who actually vote in union elections will decide the election and the NMB will stop assigning "no" votes to workers who do not participate in the election.

"Today, we gladly usher in a new era of democracy. For far too long, flight attendants and other aviation and railway employees have faced significant obstacles in their quest for collective bargaining rights. Outdated and unreliable voting procedures have fostered a unique culture of voter suppression as companies understand that impeding union organizing merely requires preventing employees from voting. Employers and their outside union busting companies engaged in the most undemocratic of practices by openly encouraging workers to destroy ballots and to not vote. Those days are now over.

"Throughout this country, from school boards to the United States Congress, a majority of those casting ballots determine election outcomes. And for the first time in recent history, elections conducted by the NMB will be held to the standards and principles that our country was founded upon.

"Flight attendants still lack many of the basic worker protections provided to most Americans under federal laws, and that makes a union contract a necessity. AFA-CWA works every day to fill those gaps in labor laws through collective bargaining and unionism. Our collective bargaining agreements have done what labor laws have not for our profession - they have created decent standards for flight attendant pay, health care coverage, rest and work rules, and provided job security. The progress we achieved together forged a career out of what was once considered a short term job.

"We applaud the NMB for taking this historic and courageous step to bring democracy to union elections. By allowing workers to have a voice in these elections, whether it be yes or no, will only bring benefits to all parties. We look to airline management and their third party supporters to respect their employees' voices and the concept that guides our country every day, and not to bog down this significant achievement in legal appeals."

via afanet.org

21APR10

In memory

It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I write to you the passing of Boston flight attendant, Donna Russell. Donna passed away on Monday morning, April 19 after a lengthy illness. Please keep Donna and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

Funeral services will be held at McDonald Funeral Home, 809 Main Street (Rt.18 opp. South Shore Hospital) in South Weymouth. Services begin Thursday at 9:00 A.M. followed by a Funeral Mass in the St. Albert the Great Church, Weymouth at 10:00 A.M. Relatives and friends invited. Visiting hours Wednesday 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Donations in Donna’s memory may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Flight attendants are encouraged to wear uniforms to the services with optional BCRF pink items if you have them.

19APR10

LEC 92 Officer Election Results

The following flight attendants were elected to the term of office beginning July 1, 2010:

LEC President
Jacob Easter

LEC Vice-President
TBD

LEC Secretary
Dustin Dudley

LEC Council Rep
David Thompson

04APR10

The Importance of Scope

Scope is the most important part of the pre-merger Northwest flight attendants’ contract, worth $60 million, but Delta Air Lines is violating this provision in a contract it’s legally bound to honor. In the latest Delta AFA video, AFA’s General Counsel Ed Gilmartin explains the importance of Scope and why the union has filed a grievance to enforce the contract.

To view the video, click HERE, or click the image to the right.

17MAR10

Joint LEC 92/LEC 27/LEC 69 Membership Meeting

Tuesday, April 20th

1:00pm-4:00pm

Boston Logan Hilton Meeting Room

Boston United, Northwest, and US Airways AFA councils will hold a joint meeting on April 20th. Topics to be discussed will include local issues, Board of Directors Agenda items, and a question and answer session.

28FEB10

LEC 92 Officer Nominations Complete

The Nomination Process is complete.
The following flight attendants will appear on the election ballot. However those marked with an (*) must complete a Commitment to Serve form as soon as possible however no later than March 8, 2010 for their name to appear on the ballot.

LEC President

Bob Cannatelli

Jacob Easter

LEC Vice-President

(none)

LEC Secretary

Dustin Dudley

Council Representatives

David Thompson

Ann Mastalerz*

14FEB10

LEC 92 Nomination Process Extended

Nominations for officer elections will now end on Feb. 26th.  All ballots must be postmarked by this date. This is a 10 day extension due to ballot delays caused by the recent snow storms in the Washington, DC area.  If you still have not received your ballot in the mail, call your LEC 92 Officers immediately to obtain a duplicate ballot.  For balloting procedures please visit: http://www.afanet.org/elections

14FEB10

XFA (jumpseat) Clarification

The 10 1/2 day XFA listing process for PMNW flights is still in effect.  This is a contractual benefit.  If you experience difficulties while trying to jumpseat please let your AFA Officers know immediately.  Also note, there is no longer a separate jumpseat form needed.

The "first-come-first-served"  walk-up procedure is for PMDL flights only or when there is nobody listed on PMNW flights.

Also, effective immediately, on PMNW flights, the Delta policy regarding XFA travel on weight restricted flights is being adopted.

Delta's policy states that FA's with a jumpseat listing are not to be removed from, or denied use of the jumpseat due to weight and balance issues or any payload/revenue optimization programs.

Please note that this only applies to FA's with a prior jumpseat listing.  This policy does not apply to "walk-up" jumpseat requests.

14FEB10

BOS Scheduling Input Needed

  

Our first scheduling meeting of 2010 with AFA and the company will be held in MSP on 23FEB10.  Vice President and Scheduling Chair, Jacob Easter will be attending this meeting to represent the BOS base.  This will be the first meeting that we will have to discuss 'cross staffing' and upcoming flying changes for Spring/Summer- 2010.  If you have any specific issues that you would like to be brought to the meeting, please e-mail Jacob at jeaster@nwaafa.org

08JAN10

UPDATE: Note date change for Membership Meeting

LEC 92 Membership Meeting

February 2nd

12:00pm-3:00pm

Massport Media Room Between Terminal C and B

The 37th Annual AFA-CWA Board of Directors (BOD) meeting will be held April 27 - 29, 2010. The AFA BOD is comprised of each Local Executive Council (LEC) President from all 22 AFA represented airlines. The BOD meets every year to approve the fiscal budget and consider amendments of our Constitution and Bylaws (C&B). If you would like to learn more about our C&B or suggest making changes to it, we ask that you join us at this meeting.

Any proposed changes by members will be debated as Advance Agenda Items by the Northwest Master Executive Council (MEC), comprised of the 10 NWA LEC presidents, at the next NWA MEC meeting on February 10 - 11 in MSP. Any Advance Agenda Items approved by the NWA MEC will then be submitted for discussion and action by the entire AFA-CWA BOD. Even if the NWA MEC decides to not move an agenda item as a unit, any LEC President can present an agenda item to the BOD. This is how YOU shape our union.

06JAN10

LEC 92 Officer Election Cycle Begins January 26, 2010

Hello LEC 92 Members,

The nomination process for officer elections begins soon! On January 26, 2010, nomination ballots will be mailed to your home. The nomination process will end on February 16th. All nomination ballots need to be post marked by that date. The count will take place on February 26th. Attached to this email you will find instructions to assist you in the nomination process.

The current term of office runs through June 30, 2010. The election process will begin approximately 120 days before the end of the term.

The current LEC Officers are:

LEC President:

Robert Cannatelli

LEC Vice President:

Jacob Easter

LEC Secretary:

Jacob Easter

LEC Council Representative:

David Thompson,

If you have any questions please contact your LEC Officers or visit: http://www.afanet.org/elections.

18NOV09

COMPASS AIRLINES FLIGHT ATTENDANTS JOIN AFA-CWA

Washington, DC - A strong majority of flight attendants at Compass Airlines today voted to join the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA). The election vote, conducted by the National Mediation Board (NMB), showed that 194 flight attendants voted for AFA-CWA representation. Compass Airlines was formed in 2007 as a Northwest Airlink partner and now is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Delta Air Lines.

"Compass flight attendants look forward to negotiating a contract that will provide security, as well as advance our careers. As AFA-CWA members, we will have a voice at the bargaining table and work alongside management in creating a leading regional airline contract that recognizes our role as safety professionals," said Catriona Bagley, appointed transitional AFA-CWA Compass President.

This is the fourth flight attendant group to elect AFA-CWA as their bargaining representative this year. AFA-CWA filed a petition for election in September after a strong majority of the over 300 Compass flight attendants signed cards authorizing an election.

"Compass flight attendants recognize the benefits of a legally binding contract and the opportunity to advance their career through AFA-CWA representation," said AFA-CWA International President Patricia Friend. "Compass flight attendants joined together to achieve their goal. They spoke in favor of having a voice in their workplace and today management heard their message loud and clear."

For over 60 years, the Association of Flight Attendants has been serving as the voice for flight attendants in the workplace, in the aviation industry, in the media and on Capitol Hill. More than 50,000 flight attendants at 20 airlines come together to form AFA-CWA, the world?s largest flight attendant union. AFA is part of the 700,000-member strong Communications Workers of America (CWA), AFL-CIO. Visit us at www.afanet.org .

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webmaster Dustin Dudley