Welcome to the AFA Council 99 Website For Northwest Airlines Flight Attendants Based in HNL

 

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  06/30/09

                  Association of Flight Attendants - CWA    

                                                               HNL Council 99

                                 Martin Luther King Jr:    "In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, as 'right-to-work.' It provides no 'rights' and no 'works.' Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining... We demand this fraud be stopped."

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AFA-CWA LOOKS FORWARD TO PASSAGE OF FAA REAUTHORIZATION
Bill Includes Key Provisions for Flight Attendants Including Cell Phone Ban
 
Washington, DC – The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) commended the U.S. House of Representatives today on bringing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill (H.R. 915) to the floor for a vote and anticipates its passage later this evening. The bill, which appropriates funding to the FAA for vast improvements, includes important enhancements directly related to the flight attendant profession.
 
“Flight attendants across the country support this FAA Reauthorization bill in order to advance our profession,” said Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. “Within this bill are workplace safety and health protections for flight attendants that have been ignored for far too long.”
 
One provision included in H.R. 915 continues the current Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) ban on inflight cell phone use.
 
“We applaud Representative Peter DeFazio for including this important provision in the bill and are grateful for his continued dedication to protecting and preserving the interests of flight attendants and airline passengers. Cell phone use on aircraft is not a necessity. In far too many operational scenarios, cell phone use could be far worse than a mere nuisance: It could have catastrophic effects on aviation safety and security,” added Friend.
 
Other measures included in the FAA Reauthorization include funding for a flight attendant fatigue study; the inclusion of OSHA workplace safety and health protections; notification of pesticide application on flights; cabin air quality provisions that would initiate development of air quality sensors and filtration; a "Return to the Cabin" program that will allow flight attendants an opportunity for rehabilitation after testing positive for drug or alcohol abuse; temperature standards for aircraft; further definition of provisions restricting foreign control of U.S. airlines; and a ban on smoking onboard charter flights.
 

ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS-CWA TESTIFIES ON EMERGENCY PLANNING AFTER RECENT FLU OUTBREAK
 
Washington, DC – The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) today testified on Capitol Hill regarding concerns that arose after a recent public health emergency and the summer travel outlook for this year.  The U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Aviation conducted the hearing which focused on aviation consumer issues and emergency contingency planning during public health emergencies.
 
“We strongly believe that we must be given the tools and ability to play our part in slowing or preventing the spread of a potentially fatal disease outbreak,” testified Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. “As workers in a high risk environment we are entitled to protections in our work place, yet for far too long the Federal Aviation Administration has failed to protect those that work onboard the aircraft and continued to deny flight attendants common OSHA protections. As the front line employees in this industry, flight attendants have a unique day-to-day understanding of steps that can be taken to reduce the risks associated with a public health emergency in order to make the travel experience better.”
 
After the recent health emergency surrounding the spread of the H1N1 virus, AFA-CWA requested that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issue an emergency order to all U.S. carriers requiring them to take specific steps to help flight attendants not only protect themselves from exposure, but also to minimize the possibility of inadvertently spreading disease during an outbreak.
 
AFA-CWA asked that the FAA direct airlines to follow three important steps: require that all aircraft be supplied with breathing masks and non-latex gloves at least on flights to, from, and within at-risk areas; that airlines allow flight attendants with flu-like symptoms to call in sick free from discipline; and allow pregnant or immune system compromised flight attendants the ability to change their scheduled trips if they involve flights to areas of the disease outbreak. Unfortunately, the FAA did not issue an emergency order and according to a recent survey, a majority of AFA-CWA carriers took little action on AFA-CWA’s recommended plan.
 
“Many airline management teams still hold the outdated view that flight attendants are primarily a marketing tool rather then our federally mandated role as inflight safety and security professionals. Management appears less concerned with minimizing the risk of exposure to potentially dangerous illnesses than in minimizing the perception and appearance of a possible threat to health,” added Friend.
 

DAL ALPA MEC SUPPORTS DAL FLIGHT ATTENDANTS' UNION ORGANIZING CAMPAIGN

WHEREAS ALPA pilots have demonstrated a longstanding support of unionized airline employees, and      

 

WHEREAS the strong professional relationship between all members of a flight crew is based upon mutual respect and a history of cooperation, and     

 

WHEREAS all flight crewmembers have many common issues and needs in the performance of their duties and representation of their interests, and     

 

WHEREAS the Railway Labor Act, Section 152, delineates that:

“Employees shall have the right to organize and bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing.  The majority of any craft or class of employees shall have the right to determine who shall be the representative of the craft or class for the purposes of this chapter.  No carrier, its officers, or agents shall deny or in any way question the right of its employees to join, organize, or assist in organizing the labor organization of their choice, and it shall be unlawful for any carrier to interfere in any way with the organization of its employees, ... or to influence or coerce employees in an effort to induce them to join or remain or not to join or remain members of any labor organization.”

 

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the DAL MEC fully supports the DAL Flight Attendants in their right to organize and select representation of their own choosing.    

 

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED the DAL MEC is committed to the ideals that Delta Air Lines employees can be both pro-union and pro-Delta.

CWA Succeeds in Pushing for Quick Nomination to National Mediation Board

In what is being hailed as a positive development for labor relations, President Obama has named Linda A. Puchala as commissioner on the National Mediation Board (NMB). The move comes after U.S. Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, joined by more than 80 other members of Congress, sent a request to the White House seeking a swift appointment to the three-member board, which plays a key role in overseeing the rights of airline and railway workers. And the appointment comes after one dozen Northwest Airlines flight attendants visited more than 100 House and Senate offices to educate members of Congress on the importance of the NMB position. This appointment is of crucial importance to CWA because it will affect 9,000 flight attendants and AFA-CWA members formerly employed by Northwest Airlines who now work for Delta. It also could affect other Delta flight attendants who are not currently union members but are seeking representation.

The appointment drew quick praise from Association of Flight Attendants-CWA President Patricia Friend. “Linda Puchala’s experience within the agency will ensure a smooth transition to a new Board,” Friend said. “Her commitment to workers’ rights and to the collective bargaining process will help restore the integrity of this vital federal agency. For years, the NMB has operated under arcane and unreasonable rules that make it difficult for workers to organize. We look forward to working with Ms. Puchala to ensure that the NMB adheres to its mission of protecting employees’ right to organize without interference or influence from the employers and their multi-million dollar anti-worker campaigns.”

Puchala – who will replace Read Van de Water, a former Northwest Airlines lobbyist -- is currently a senior mediator with the National Mediation Board and oversees the Alternate Dispute Resolution program for the Board. Since joining the NMB, she has worked with employees and employers in both the airline and rail industries. She has over 30 years experience in labor relations which includes serving as the President of the Association of Flight Attendants from 1979 to 1986.

 

ASSOCIATION OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS-CWA APPLAUDS NATIONAL MEDIATION BOARD APPOINTMENT

Washington, DC - The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) congratulated the Obama Administration today for their appointment of Linda Puchala to the National Mediation Board (NMB). When confirmed, Puchala will replace a current board member who was a hold-over appointment from the Bush Administration since July 2006. 

“We are very pleased with White House’s choice and believe Linda’s consensus-building skills and commitment to the collective bargaining process will be a valuable addition to the agency which is so critical to labor relations in the aviation and railway industries,”¯ stated Patricia Friend, AFA-CWA International President. “There are difficult issues in front of us in both industries so we urge the Senate to move promptly to confirm Ms. Puchala so that we can look to a Board functioning in every respect for guidance and assistance.” 

The National Mediation Board is the federal agency charged with overseeing collective bargaining and representation under the Railway Labor Act, which was enacted to protect workers’ rights to organize unions and engage in free and fair collective bargaining in the aviation and rail industries. The NMB consists of three members appointed by the President of the United States, two of whom are appointed from the party of the President. Over the past eight years, the NMB has repeatedly failed to fulfill its mission to promote collective bargaining and to provide and protect the rights of workers who seek to join a union. Recognizing this failure, earlier this year Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), joined by 80 Congressional leaders, sent a request to the White House seeking a swift appointment of a fair-minded replacement to this federal agency so important to our transportation systems. 

“Linda Puchala’s experience within the agency will ensure a smooth transition to a new Board. Her commitment to workers’ rights and to the collective bargaining process will help to restore the integrity of this vital federal agency. For years, the NMB has operated under arcane and unreasonable rules that make it difficult for workers to organize. We look forward to working with Ms. Puchala to ensure that the National Mediation Board adheres to its mission of protecting employees’ right to organize without interference or influence from the employers and their multi-million dollar anti-worker campaigns.” 

Puchala is currently a senior mediator with the National Mediation Board and oversees the Alternate Dispute Resolution program for the Board.

Since joining the NMB, she has worked with employees and employers in both the airline and rail industries. She has over 30 years experience in labor relations which includes serving as the President of the Association of Flight Attendants from 1979 to 1986.

 

12 FEBRUARY 2009 

SENIORITY LIST MEANINGLESS WITHOUT A CONTRACT


We recently received the recommendation put out by the Delta seniority integration committee.  While the information seems stirring, any talks of merging our respective lists are premature.  Delta executives are trying to call the game in the first quarter and that’s just not right.  Instead, we need to focus on the “end game” of having a union vote and a contract.  

Do not be lulled into a false sense of security as Delta executives continue to try to confuse and divide us and take away our right to an industry leading agreement for all flight attendants at the world’s largest carrier. Remember that the recommendation published this week by the Delta management sponsored committee and the Delta seniority list can be changed at any time without a contract.

A seniority list, in and of itself, is meaningless absent the protections of our agreement.  The word “seniority” is written in our contract more than 350 times and involves many crucial provisions and sections of our collective bargaining agreement.  While seniority is certainly the bedrock of our contract, it is just one of the many important issues that concern us – from our pay and benefits, to the scope of our work, and protections against outsourcing our jobs.

Though the Delta committee seems to agree with our longstanding AFA policy of “date-of-hire”, any talks of agreeing on a merged seniority list are simply not timely.  Several steps need to occur prior to merging our seniority lists including:

  - A vote for AFA representation in which all flight attendants will have the opportunity to vote
  - Surveying all flight attendants to determine our preferred priorities for negotiations
  - Negotiate an industry leading contract at the world's largest carrier
  - All flight attendants will then have the opportunity vote on a negotiated agreement with Delta Air Lines.

Our timeline should flow like the pilots, and we deserve as much.  Together at Northwest and Delta they first negotiated and voted on a contract, and then merged their seniority lists.


Crewmembers at Northwest and Delta will not fly together until a single operating certificate is given by the FAA.  We have a long way to go to get to that status.   A rush to integrate seniority, before voting for representation and a contract, is like leaving the Superbowl before halftime.


As always, we welcome your feedback.   Let us know if you have any questions and also give us the feedback you are hearing on the line.

 

NMB Finding for Single Carrier Status

The NMB found that for purposes of representation, the merger of Northwest and Delta has created a single transportation system with respect to the pilots, flight dispatchers and meteorologists.

The NMB rejected Delta’s argument that a single carrier finding also triggers a representation dispute for the other work groups who did not file applications, such as AFA, the IAM and AMFA.

In so ruling, the NMB affirmed AFA’s position that a representation election can only be initiated by an employee or a Union.  AFA will file for a single carrier determination when the respective flight attendant work groups have been fully merged.
Full Findings Here in PDF


 

 

    Check the Traffic Cams on your route.

 

 

In a vicious anti-union video distributed by Delta Air Lines last year, Mr. Bastian stated, "If someone came in and was able to convince me that AFA actually allowed us to serve our customers better, I'd say vote for a union, but I don't believe that to be the case." Well, the 2009 Airline Quality Ratings for 2009/2008 performance were announced in April and the highly unionized Northwest ranked 4th in overall quality, with Delta coming in at 12th with the worst performance of any major carrier, and just above the regional carriers. For the record, 4 AFA represented carriers were in the top 5 positions in the survey, demonstrating that representation is a benefit to customer service in the airline industry and not a hindrance.

Click Here to see Video

Airline Quality Rating Scores

 
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
 
NWA
4th
4th
5th
7th
7th
6th
Union
DELTA
12th
10th
12th
12th
11th
12th
Non Union

World Class Airline

 Legally Binding

 Opportunity

 

WEAR YOUR UNION PIN AND NEW UNIFORM WITH PRIDE

Our uniforms and our executive leadership may change, but our legally binding contract is in place.  Wear your new uniforms and your union pin together with pride. 

On March 30, 2009, pre-merger Northwest flight attendants donned their new Delta Airlines uniforms and their union pins.  This not only marked an historic moment in our professional careers, we also set a milestone as the first group of flight attendants in Delta uniforms with union representation and a legally binding contract.  When flight attendants adorn their new uniform lapel with an AFA union pin, it sends a clear message that we are proud to be an integral part of a premier global airline and we are committed to the success of the New Delta.


The union insignia may be worn on the uniform as stated in Section 19.K.1. of our Flight Attendant Agreement.  So please wear your union pin with pride, together with your new uniform, as we work together to achieve job security and industry-leading wages and benefits.

 

Wilson Center Poll Results:  AFA-CWA recently conducted a scientific polling of the Northwest and Delta flight attendant group to determine our priorities as we move toward continued representation.   The results of the polling were very positive.  The group overwhelmingly believes that the ‘new’ Delta is the premier global airline and should provide the employees with the premier global contract.  The majority of our flight attendants polled believe that Delta management is receiving premium pay, bonuses, and stock options and believe we as employees are entitled to the same. We all know that the only way to achieve this is through negotiating with a UNIFIED voice and put in place a legally binding contract.

 

 Elimination of the 2 ½ to 8 Hour Call Management recently rescinded the 2 ½ to 8 hour call.  We were excited to see this improvement but disappointed that they were not willing to put this in writing and change the language of our agreement.  You should be aware that they can change it back at any time. AFA wants to make it clear that we support anything that makes our jobs better, easier and more secure.  Our union is an equal partner with management when negotiating changes to our contract.  Our position on the proposed change is that we want to support this, but that it must be put into writing along with protections for possible no-shows that occur because of this change.

 

Delta AFA - Opportunity. Unity. Respect

Click on the image for the latest Campaign Newsletter and read what a Delta Flight Attendant has to say about Delta Health Benefits, Outsourcing, Delta's CBS vs. NWA's PBS, A-Days and 4:45 "averaging".

Download, print and carry it with you.

 

Satellite Base Info

Satellite Base Informational Meeting Reports:

NYC January 5th

LAX January 6th

ATL January 9th

HNL January 24th

NRT January 27th *10AM Meeting

 

 

Stay In Touch

Sign up to receive regular email updates from the MEC. You can also sign up to receive email updates from your Local Council.

                                      

If you are on a LOA (Leave of Absence) or taking time off for any length of time be sure to keep in touch. While the NMB has not yet determined when a vote for representation will take place, it could happen while you are away. Current NMB rules considers all eligible voters as NO votes until you actually vote for Union representation. If you do not vote it will be counted as a NO vote.

 

 

 

Good To Know

Medical Plans Comparison Highlights

2009 Medical Comparison - updated

NWA Pension Plan - What Happens in a Merger?

 

LTD and Hawaii TDI are not tied to work related injuries or illness. Know your entitlements. When filing a LTD claim you do not need to go through NWA. File your claim directly with CIGNA. Click on the LTD and HI TDI sidebar links for more information.

You have a contractual right to Union Representation anytime you are required to meet with a manager. If you get a "see me note" contact your Union Rep as soon as possible. Let your manager know you have received your notice and inform them you will be contacting your rep.

After a critical airline incident or accident, crew members may go though a wide range of responses. Such reactions can be experienced not only by the crew members who were involved the event, but also by those who witnessed or heard about it, or were involved with those immediately affected.

If you or someone you know would like to confidentially share your feelings or reactions to the news of US Airways Flight 1549, please give your AFA EAP committee representatives a call.

You can locate contact information at:

www.nwaafa.org

www.afanet.org

or call 1-800-424-2406.

 

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

MOVE YOUR CURSOR OVER IMAGES AND LINKS THEN CLICK TO ACCESS

 

 

 

    

       Scheduling Reminders

 

LOD Pattern Watch. Per Letter 16 of our contract a LOD pattern that has not been awarded or assigned under subparagraph 4.h of Letter 16, shall be awarded or assigned during SLAP immediately preceding the date of pattern departure. If the pattern cannot be filled by a LOD flight attendant, the pattern shall be converted to a regular flight attendant pattern and such pattern shall be awarded or assigned to a regular flight attendant. They have been deleting the LOD pattern and assigning the new pattern after SLAP to on-call reserves, taking away any chance to use the pattern to adjust one’s schedule and/or pick up the pattern as an increase or an RIA. Crew Scheduling has been “reminded” on more than one occasion of their failure to follow the CBA. Please continue to document any infraction and report it to your LEC. See page A.36 of the contract for more details on open LOD pattern assignments.

Pattern Guarantee. Once your Pattern Guarantee for a given month has been reduced, subsequent increases in your credit hours shall NOT result in an increase of your pattern guarantee. If possible, make your upward adjustments prior to dropping or trading for less time.

Time Available. All patterns that are assigned by Crew Scheduling and which are not a result of a CENTRY request by you shall be scheduled to operate wholly within the day(s) of your Time Available obligation, unless otherwise approved by you. Such approval may be submitted in advance through CENTRY or at the time of contact by Crew Scheduling.

Know the trip you are being assigned before accepting the trip. Scheduling considers your acceptance of the trip as approval to fly outside your time available obligation.

Time Available and Pattern Guarantee. If you put in a CENTRY request to increase your credit value while you are on Time Available this increase will offset your guarantee. Your request will be worked at a higher category. Once you have satisfied your Time Available obligation and you see the code BT on your line, any increase thereafter will not offset your guarantee.

 

 

 
 
 

Pau Hana

Photo Album

 

                          Miscellaneous

HNL off duty. Send Photos to LEC99@nwaafa.org

 

 

   HONOLULU WEB CAMS

See LIVE Video of:

 

 

   The Tale of the Tail

Ship 6622 used to make the commemorative "Tail" piece sent to all Pre-merger NWA employees. Click the image to enlarge.

            

 

                    

 

This site was last updated 06/30/09