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Coming Home to Terminal 5 – Moving Day is June 30

July 4 – LAX Inflight Services moved to Terminal 5 on June 30. All flights will arrive and depart from Terminal 5 (NOTE: flights 1 & 2 to/from Narita will use gate 68B at Terminal 6). If you haven't had a chance to visit Terminal 5, please allow extra time when checking in so that you can familiarize yourself with our new "home." As required in our contract, President Les Meeks is coordinating the relocation of our AFA bulletin board, mailbox and campaign/contract information with In-Flight Services Director Bobbie Bell. The board will be moved to the hallway immediately to the right of the check-in desk. Please take a look at the board for current issues and meeting notices!

SLIPs Beginning Sep 1 – Bidding Closes 1400 PDT Jul 16

June 22 – To offset the need for involuntary furloughs, SLIP leaves have been announced systemwide. The expected number of leaves has not been determined, but leaves will be awarded based on need at each domicile. Nine-, six- and three-month leaves will be awarded in seniority order. Bidding will close on July 16 at 1400 PDT, with awards announced July 17 at 1500 PDT.

Delta Announces Further Fall Capacity Cuts

June 11 – Speaking in front of investors today, Delta CEO Richard Anderson announced further capacity reductions in both international and domestic flying planned for September. The internal memo sent to employees after the investor conference can be read here.

MEC President Janette Rook was briefed on expected ramifications for the flight attendant group, including but not limited to CCLs, SLIPs and negotiation of Split Lines. Our MEC will exercise all available options in our contract to prevent displacement and furloughs. The MEC will continue meeting with company officials and update the membership as more information becomes available.

Merger Mixer Announced: Laguna Hills – July 30

Council 98 will return to Orange County for another "Merger Mixer" in July. Please join us on July 30 from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The mixer will be generously hosted by a Northwest flight attendant, a commuter and member in good standing of DTW Council 94.

Please bring an appetizer or sweet that will serve six guests.

We have invited Daniel Grey, MEC Vice President, to present the membership and our Delta friends with information about our ongoing contract negotiations and current MEC activities.

We have also asked our MEC Member Engagement Committee and Delta and Northwest flight attendants on the Campaign Coordinating Committee to update us on our campaign for fairness and respect at "new Delta."

We look forward to seeing you and our local Delta colleagues in Laguna Hills!

DETAILS AND DIRECTIONS
WHAT:     Merger Mixer in LAGUNA HILLS
WHEN:     Thursday, July 30, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
WHERE:   22306 Caminito Tecate,
                Laguna Hills, CA 92653
CLICK HERE or MAP ABOVE for MAPQUEST PAGE
WHO:     Flight Attendants interested in preserving our collective bargaining rights and our legally binding contract – and enjoying food and drinks with friends!

Questions? Want to RSVP? Please contact Les Meeks at (213) 453-3688 (lmeeks@nwaafa.org); Elisabeth Joyce at (949) 374-8675 (ejoyce@nwaafa.org); Mike Makaron at NWDALMIXERRSVP@aol.com; or simply reply to this email.

Support Staffer Soodi Gharagozli Passes Away

June 2 – It is with great sadness that Council 98 announces the passing of our friend Soodi Gharagozli. Soodi lost her battle with pancreatic cancer on Sunday, May 31. Join us in offering condolences to Soodi's family at the following address:

Gharagozli Family
28229 Fox Lane Dr.
Canyon Country, CA 91351

MEC Meets in Atlanta; Elects Local 94 Council Representative Daniel Grey Vice President

May 13 – Our Master Executive Council traveled to Atlanta this week to conduct regular business and further integrate Council 90 (ATL) officers and members into our union family. While there, the MEC elected a new Vice President to serve with MEC President Janette Rook and Secretary-Treasurer Lynn Bible.

Daniel Grey, current Local 94 (DTW) Council Representative and former MEC Scheduling Chair, will serve out the current term of office, which expires in June 2010. Daniel's involvement in our union is widely respected, given his record of uncompromising representation of AFA members in everything from manager meetings to the defense of contractual scheduling rules. Daniel will continue to be an asset to our union and a great resource for members and officers alike.

Contact Daniel at dgrey@nwaafa.org or 952-241-4102.

Swine Flu Info</ifram

H1N1 VIRUS (SWINE FLU) INFORMATION

Click the photo

for more about
pigs at the trough!

June 11 – (The Associated Press) “The World Health Organization (WHO) 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 drugmakers to speed up production of a swine flu vaccine and prompt governments to devote more money toward efforts to contain the virus.”
There will be a Live webcast of the WHO press conference at Noon EDT June 11, presumably to announce the change in pandemic status. 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.

June 8 – The following information from AFA International reflects the latest information from the WHO and CDC as it relates to the H1N1 influenza virus.

The WHO today issued Influenza A(H1N1) - update 45 ( http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_06_08/en/index.html ): “As of 06:00 GMT, 8 June 2009, 73 countries have officially reported 25,288 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection, including 139 deaths.” Last week, on June 5, 2009, the U.S. CDC issued new Interim Guidance for Airlines Regarding Flight Crews Arriving from Domestic and International Areas Affected by Swine Influenza ( http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance/air-crew-dom-intl.htm ). This guidance offers several useful recommendations for dealing with potentially infected passengers and should be shared with your carrier’s inflight operations and medical departments. For example, ”[c]rew members should wear impermeable, disposable gloves onboard aircraft if they need to have direct contact with potentially contaminated surfaces such as airplane seats, tray tables, and lavatories used by ill passengers;” when “having close contact with an ill person [crew members] should keep their interactions with the ill person as brief as possible and may choose to wear a facemask or a N95 respirator on a voluntary basis;” and “flight deck crew should ensure that the aircraft air conditioning/ventilation system stays on until all passengers and crew have disembarked in order to maximize continued removal of virus particles from the cabin air.”

May 2 – AFA EAP issues handout on dealing with potential stresses, fears of H1N1 virus at work.
Please visit the EAP Committee page for more.

April 30 – Janette Rook formally requests Northwest/Delta implement protective measures for flight attendants that will prevent spread of H1N1 virus, including permission to wear face masks and mandating increased cabin air circulation. Read MEC President's letter to Julie Showers here.

April 30 – Japan public health officials, concerned that a Northwest Airlines flight #1 passenger may have "type A" flu strain, have now confirmed after quarantine and testing that her illness is not H1N1. (Read story here.)

April 29 – World Health Organization raises the current alert level on H1N1 virus from Phase 4 to Phase 5, a step never before taken by the agency. A Phase 6 alert would indicate a pandemic.

Visit our Air Safety, Health and Security page for more.

Westlake Village Merger Mixer a Huge Success

May 7 – Flight attendants and AFA-CWA activists attended a merger mixer in Westlake Village where invited guests from AFA International discussed benefit differences at Delta and Northwest as well as the progress of our organizing campaign.

AFA Senior Benefits Attorney Mary Lou Savage traveled from D.C. with AFA International Vice President Veda Shook (who picked up a turn at her own Alaska Airlines while out in California!) to answer questions from attendees and encourage us to participate in the campaign as Visibility and Phone Info Reps.

Also on hand were volunteers from CWA, Northwest, United, Delta and our MEC Member Engagement Chair, Angie Wood, who all took a break from phone banking at the CWA District 9 headquarters in Santa Fe Springs to join us at the mixer. Angie and Regional Campaign Coordinator Toni Weinfurtner gave an update on the overwhelming support we're receiving from California flight attendants at DL and NW.

Great thanks to our host Patty Pomeroy for offering her lovely home for this event, and to Andrew Southerland, Barbara O'Donnell, Rona Johnston, Ramona Ketcham, Ana Rasmussen, Maureen Vieck, Debra Main and SFO Council 97's Neil Cabael for chipping in with treats. If you'd like to volunteer to host a future merger mixer in your neighborhood, contact a local officer using the information on our "LEC 98 Contacts" page at left.

In photo, left to right: Toni Weinfurtner (DAL), Janine Munson (CWA), Shriver Lenox (UAL), Debra Main (NWA), John Dugan (CWA), Veda Shook (ALA), Kaki Androsiuk (NWA C98 VP). Click on the "Photo/Video Gallery" page to see more.

Helpful On-Premise Reserve Tips from
MEC RSV Committee

May 1 – MEC Reserve Chair Karen Jay developed a one-page primer in advance of the June 1 start date for On-Premise Reserve duty. Please print several copies to distribute to your flying partners. Questions? Contact Karen at kjay@nwaafa.org.

Letters of Agreement Regarding OPR, 2.5-8 Hour Call
Nearing Completion

April 23 – The MEC Negotiations Committee has been busily clarifying language that will amend our current Reserve system and eliminate the 2.5 to 8 hour call beginning June 1. When Letters of Agreement for these items are complete, our union will "sign off" on the amended language and provide online updates to our CBA which can be printed and inserted into your current copy of our contract.

Contrary to the self-congratulatory tone of Ms. Showers' and Ms. Smith's letter announcing these upcoming changes, our union was and remains an equal, active partner in negotiating any amendment to our ratified agreement. Future "opportunities" Smith 'n' Showers attempt to mandate during integration will be pursued by our Negotiations Committee and similarly authorized by our elected MEC before any modifications to our contract are allowed.

Integrated Pass Policies Announced

April 22 – Beginning June 23, Delta and Northwest pass policies will be integrated, offering current Northwest flight attendant families (and friends) greater leverage when using non-rev travel benefits.

Among the improvements: family members of the furry variety will not be charged for travel on passenger flights; companion pass travelers are not required to travel with, meet for onward travel, or travel to the home of the employee; management employees will no longer have super-seniority over non-management employees; opposite sex domestic partners of both active employees and retirees will be recognized as eligible for pass travel.

These and other pass policy changes may be viewed on RADAR and DeltaNET.

MEC Elects Janette Rook President

April 17 – The Northwest AFA-CWA MEC has elected Janette Rook to the office of MEC President. Janette brings with her years of dedicated service to our union and valuable experience as both Local Council Representative in Detroit and current MEC Vice President.

Janette has vowed to "uphold our current contract to the fullest, ensure that we retain union representation at the new Delta, and then seize the opportunity to negotiate an industry leading contract for all members."

We look forward to Janette's ongoing service to our membership and her progressive attitude toward our future at the world's largest airline. An election to fill the vacant office of MEC Vice President will be held on May 13, during an MEC meeting in Atlanta – our first in Delta's hometown. Interested candidates should send a résumé and letter of interest to kchapdelaine@nwaafa.org.

International Secretary-Treasurer Appoints
Interim Officers to Atlanta Local 90

April 15 – The AFA Board of Directors approved a new Local Council in Atlanta with the opening of a Northwest satellite base. As allowed in the AFA Constitution and Bylaws, the International Secretary-Treasurer, Kevin Creighan, has appointed three interim officers until an election can be held.

Council 98 welcomes Interim President David Carter, Vice President Jacklyn Richards and Secretary Hugh (Alex) Adair to their new positions at Council 90 – ATL. Even though flight attendants will have no Northwest managers equipped to answer questions at their new temporary "home" in Atlanta, there will be immediate representation from AFA union officers at the satellite base.

MEC President Kevin Griffin to Step Down April 17;
Election Scheduled for Seamless Transition

April 5 – Citing family and medical reasons, MEC President Kevin Griffin has announced his resignation, effective April 17.

Members of Council 98 owe Kevin deep gratitude for continuing to negotiate contract improvements with a company so committed to eliminating our collective bargaining rights. We thank Kevin for his devoted service as President since June 2007 and wish him well in his future endeavors.

In order to facilitate a seamless transition to new leadership, the MEC will conduct a special election to seat our next President. If you are interested in being considered, please send a letter of interest with a résumé to Karen Chapdelaine, Association of Flight Attendants, Master Executive Council, 8011 34th Avenue South, Suite 220, Bloomington, MN 55425, or email to kchapdelaine@nwaafa.org. The deadline for all submissions is April 17, 2009.

Delta ALPA Resolves to Support Flight Attendant Representation

ALPA has a long, proud history of supporting other unionized groups at carriers worldwide. Thanks to coalition-building by AFA Councils – especially those in DTW and MEM – this resolution was passed unanimously by all DL ALPA Local leadership in support of our desire to protect the combined group of DL and NW flight attendants at the new Delta through AFA representation.

We thank ALPA for its support during our fight to remain unionized at Delta, and for its continued partnership in our future at the world's largest airline.

Company Announces SLIP Awards for 2009

Special Leave Incentive Program (SLIP) leaves have been awarded to 619 flight attendants. Los Angeles flight attendants received 41 awards of 12, 9 and 6 months duration, subject to company need.

SLIP participants may apply for CA State Unemployment Insurance Benefits during leave. Company-subsidized medical/dental/life and Long-Term Disability (LTD) benefits are available if COBRA paperwork is completed. Pass travel allowed on NW, Compass, Mesaba, Pinnacle, Delta; no jumpseat travel or off-line benefits.

These leaves were offered in lieu of junior employees being subject to layoff. Company memos indicate these leaves will satisfy over-staffing concerns through the summer of 2009, with ongoing reassessments expected until the end of the year.

We thank our SLIP leave participants for their help in preventing furloughs.

MEC Elects Council 98 Member
Lynn Bible Secretary-Treasurer

Our elected Presidents from each Local Council have elected Lynn Bible to the position of MEC Secretary-Treasurer. Lynn has a strong background in business and finance: a B.A. in Accounting and a Business & Management degree. We are excited to have one of our own LAX members elected to such an important position.

Congratulations Lynn!

lbible@nwaafa.org

Thanks For Being There!

In San Diego, left to right: Corinne McColl (NW-NYC); Samantha Maglio (NW-MSP); Cheryl Broadhead (DL-Retired); our hostess Mary Ann Ehman (NW-LAX); Mary Lou Savage (AFA Sr. Benefits Atty.); Emmy Croskery (DL-NYC); Lynn Miller-Wuatelet (NW-LAX); Kimberly Moller (NW-LAX); Teri Lacy (NW-LAX); Betsy Kline (NW-LAX); Jeannie Holmes (NW-LAX); Toni Weinfurtner (DL-SAS/CA State Chair); Les Meeks (NW-LAX/Council 98 President); Michelle Weimann (NW-LAX); Vicki Bateman (NW-NYC); Donna Kane (NW-LAX); Elisabeth Joyce (NW-LAX/Council 98 Secretary)

Great Turnout at our Merger Mixers

Council 98 had three meetings in March. Mary Lou Savage, AFA Senior Benefits Attorney, presented attendees with detailed information about the differences in health and retirement benefits at Delta and Northwest. We all saw in black and white what we could lose if Delta management is allowed to unilaterally decide our health, pension and retirement "benefits" instead of negotiating future benefits with our democratically elected union.

More photos coming soon! To host a mixer in your area, please contact your Local Council officers.

Fun Merger Mixer in LONG BEACH!

Clickon the "Photo Gallery" link at left for pictures.

Required Reading for Northwest, Delta Flight Attendants

A New York Times article dated December 20, 2008 (In Need of Cash, More Companies Cut 401(k) Match) describes how corporations are reducing or eliminating their 401(k) matching contributions for workers, blaming the global economic crisis.

What Would Richard Do? What do you think Richard Anderson would do to the Delta flight attendants' match if he were not facing a union representation election in the coming months? Because AFA-CWA is organizing Delta, Richard's hands are tied: touch the match and risk Delta flight attendants voting for representation. You can bet that if AFA-CWA was not currently in the mix, that benefit would disappear for our colleagues at Delta in a heartbeat.

Without a union and contract, executives can solely determine 401(k) and pension plan construction, leaving employees little hope for financial security in the future.

With a legally binding contract negotiated by the strongest flight attendant union in the world, our Northwest 401(k) contributions are protected from management's whims and economic downturns.

Why Rush Our Representation Election?

While "Joanne & Julie" continue their world tour and issue daily changes to our work lives, our AFA-CWA contract continues to be in full force and effect. However, Delta would like the estimated timeline for a representation election between AFA-CWA flight attendants at Northwest and non-union Delta flight attendants to accelerate.

AFA-CWA will call for its own election in due time.

It is important that we all remain engaged and informed during an intentional "information overload" from Delta and Northwest management, meant to create confusion, misinformation and doubt about the tangible benefits of union representation. Please visit deltaafa.org or nwaafa.org for frequent representation election updates and to volunteer as a Phone or Visibility Info Rep in our joint campaign for fairness and respect in the workplace.

Wrong From Richard: Anderson Denies 2009 Pay Raise
to Most Union Employees

New Delta, Same Old Song and Dance

November 7, 2008 – Delta CEO Richard Anderson stayed true to his divide-and-conquer roots when he announced this week that "there will be a pay increase for all nonpilot work groups at Delta beginning Jan. 1. . . if you are already covered by a collective bargaining agreement, we are not allowed to apply our pay policies until representation issues are resolved. So in the mean time you will continue to have the pay provided for in those agreements."

Richard has apparently forgotten about the many Letters of Agreement signed on Delta property between ALPA and management over the years, a collective bargaining process providing the employer and the union a way to negotiate improvements and amend workrules during the life of a contract.

Our MEC remains more than willing to negotiate with Anderson and Northwest CEO Ed Bastian or their designees on increasing flight attendant pay prior to a successful representation election of the combined workforce. Northwest flight attendants deserve the same benefits in consolidation as our counterparts at Delta and nothing in our collective bargaining agreement forbids such equal treatment. Practicing workplace justice would truly be "Right from Richard."