Delta AFA Flight Attendant Hotline 1/22/2007

Today is Monday, January 22nd, 2007 and this is an updated hotline message for all Delta flight attendants. ATL Flight Attendant and AFA supporter, Luanne Morrison reporting...

As we continue the campaign to gain a voice as AFA Flight Attendants, we have strived to create inspiring and motivating messages which will promote a strong union for Delta Flight Attendants. We have emphasized our need to have a professional working relationship with our management as well as a partnership with 55,000 AFA Flight Attendants in this country. A partnership that seeks to rebuild and improve the Flight Attendant profession.

Today's message will focus specifically on how a union can change our professional lives at Delta Air Lines. We hope all Delta Flight Attendants recognize that we are on the forefront of a groundbreaking opportunity -- and we hope you will carefully consider how important it is for us to join AFA.

We Should Join AFA For The Following Reasons:

1.) For 'REAL' Representation:

Even though management has told us that there is a group of Delta Flight Attendants who already represent us, we need to recognize that the "Employee Involvement Group" is hand- picked by management , c onducts projects selected by management and a dvocates policies and procedures written by management . While well-intentioned, these Flight Attendants lack any legally recognized power or authority to positively improve our worklives -- at least not to the degree that we deserve.

As AFA members, we would ELECT our representatives. We could hold them accountable to represent the issues we want addressed. We also have the opportunity to be involved ourselves. It will be ' OUR' union and we will ensure its success.

2.) For Legally Binding Work Rules, Benefits and Compsensation (a 'contract'):

Have you noticed how our work rules keep changing? The last time I logged onto Ecrew, the pop-up screen said:

"The calendar day in 7 requirement is being turned off for the February bid period. A new solution is currently under development."

While this requirement is tough on commuters (like myself) and was far from perfect, there are always two sides to every story. In other words, Delta's efforts to appease one group will almost certainly alienate another. The BIG question, however, is this: what work rule is next?

Once we have a legal voice at Delta, we will negotiate a contract with binding work rules we can count on. Management MUST comply with our written contract or they are subject to a grievance and/or arbitration process. Our written protections would look out for the majority of us -- while protecting the minority. Our contract would be well thought out and crafted by AFA's professional negotiators and lawyers working directly with our elected leaders. AFA contracts are among the best in the industry and are written to protect ALL Flight Attendants. Every Delta Flight Attendant will have the opportunity to vote on the contract before it is implemented. Once ratified, the language would be legally binding. No more here today, gone tomorrow.

3.) For Seniority/Job Protection and Fairness

Delta pilots have amazing negotiators and a very secure contract. In the event of a merger, their jobs and seniority are protected. Ours are not!

In their last negotiations, pilots contributed millions of dollars to ensure Delta's survival, but they had a voice in deciding how, where and when these concessions were to take place. To name just a few, they either retained or received: an equity agreement for the restoration of certain concessions, p ay for "minutes under", the ability to ride the Flight Attendant jumpseat and v arious crew rest improvements. What did we get for our concessions?

Delta Flight Attendants have made enormous contributions to ensure Delta's survival. But did we have a vote on how our pay, benefits and work rules would be cut? With a union, management is required to negotiate. Had we already been in AFA, we could have easily negotiated a "me too" clause which would have ensured we are paid for the same "actual" block time for a rotation that our pilots receive. Should we join AFA, we still have this opportunity in our first contract negotiations.

4.) For Maximizing Our Restoration of Wages and Working Conditions

There have been many rumors speculating on the possible restoration of our wages, benefits and working conditions after emerging from bankruptcy. From an "unfrozen" pension plan to profit sharing, it's finally looking like we might actually see some improvements. But don't expect Delta executives to ask you how you want those improvements to be implemented or to ensure we get the maximum returns we deserve. By joining AFA, we will have a legal seat at the table in how this is negotiated. There would be no guessing?no wondering...and no waiting for management to just hand us what they think is fair. We owe it to ourselves and to our families to be positioned in the strongest way to restore and improve our careers. Only by joining AFA can we accomplish this.

In closing, we would like to hear from you -- why do you want a union?

Please log onto www.ItsTimeDelta.net and join the discussions! Or email us at deltaorganizing@deltaafa.org and tell us what you think we should focus our attention on during this campaign. Let us know what you think are some creative strategies we can use to turn our flying partners into dedicated activists. While our campaign is growing -- we want more and more Flight Attendants to come and be a part of it with us!

This concludes the hotline message. This message will be updated next week or sooner if necessary. Until then, take care of each other and remember...it's time!

Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO
501 Third Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-434-1300

Delta AFA Hotline: 1-800 424-2401, press 1, then 720#