Delta AFA Flight Attendant Hotline 1/29/2007

Today is Monday, January 29th and this is an updated hotline message for all Delta Air Lines flight attendants. Northwest flight attendant and AFA organizer, Danny Campbell reporting...

Some NEW Approaches to a Seasoned Campaign Effort

Last month I began working with many Delta Flight Attendants on your campaign to join the Association of Flight Attendants. As a long-term Union leader, I've had the privilege of leading many successful mobilization campaigns with my flying partners at Northwest. These mobilization campaigns have increased our strength in negotiations, on Capitol Hill and most recently in our effort to join AFA-CWA. It's not always easy work -- but the results are worth the effort.

The constant element in all successful campaigns is Flight Attendant involvement and activism at all levels. Without exception, my experience has been this; when Flight Attendants stand together and participate, there is no stronger labor group in the world. Already, my experience tells me that Delta Flight Attendants are no exception -- in fact you have some of the finest activists I've seen.

While you have many natural leaders among you, I recognize some unique obstacles to your campaign. Most notable, is a tendency to allow your last attempt to join AFA dictate your decision to try again. Believe it or not, I can relate! Many of us at Northwest faced the same psychological barrier last year when we set out to join AFA. You see, many of us worked hard in 1992 on a campaign that ultimately didn't succeed. The reward for trying again, however, was certainly worth it. Today, I encourage all activists from the last campaign and new activists to join in. There are many new strategies and many new leaders now and I believe you will succeed this time with a few additional activists in key locations.

If you are a former activist waiting to see momentum before joining, I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you. I would like to hear your view of the former campaign and even share with you how we applied our earlier lessons to last year's winning effort. You may reach me via email at dcampbell@afanet.org or you can call me at 248-232-2985.

It's Time -- Delta Flight Attendants Take Control of Their Future

In helping develop some new strategies in the Delta campaign, I have listened carefully to Delta Flight Attendants -- hoping to clearly define what the campaign is truly about. I would like to address the three (3) primary goals and expectations I hear most often:

1. Delta Flight Attendants Seek Merger Protection

While executives continue to make false assertions that your jobs and seniority are protected in a merger, it is important your peers know how empty their statements are. There's no substitute for the protection guaranteed by the AFA Merger Policy or those specifically written into a Flight Attendant contract. A labor contract is enforceable -- they require a legal 'duty' in order to be re-negotiated. Management promises are hollow and can easily be leveraged away during a merger transaction. Without real protection, Delta Flight Attendants are vulnerable in a hostile takeover. Workers who are not subject to the legal negotiations process are far more attractive to a would-be buyer. In fact, there is a certain irony in the Keep Delta My Delta campaign when you consider that management's hostility against your right to Union representation is simultaneously serving as an added incentive for a hostile bid. If management truly wanted to avoid this, wouldn't securing a Flight Attendant contract with protections for it's Flight Attendants further their campaign ?

2. Delta Flight Attendants Seek the Restoration of their Pay and Working Conditions

Like all Flight Attendants who have suffered through the bankruptcy process, Delta Flight Attendants are focused on restoring losses in pay and working conditions. By joining AFA, you will be well-positioned for the restoration of these losses. AFA employs a talented staff of professional negotiators -- their expertise in post-bankruptcy bargaining is second-to-none. Contrary to management's 'third party' rhetoric, AFA's collective bargaining staff will not 'make decisions' for Delta Flight Attendants. Rather, AFA's professional staff will provide training, advice and support to your elected Delta Flight Attendant leaders. Ultimately, important decisions are made by YOU (the Delta Flight Attendants) through your democratic election of leaders and by voting on whether you ratify proposed contracts.

3. Delta Flight Attendants Seek a Long-term, Professional Voice

The first day I began assisting on your campaign, I asked a Flight Attendant this question; " What's the primary reason you want to join AFA ?" Her response was brilliant: She said, " For too long, we've sat at the 'kid's table' and we've been served by the rich, corporate executives running our airline. It's time we join the 'grown-ups' and take our rightful seat."

There should be no doubt in the mind of any Flight Attendant who has lived through the bankruptcy process that we have earned the right to participate in decision-making at our airlines. The effects of the past years have had a profound impact on our families and on our profession. Our wages have been slashed, pensions frozen, insurance premiums increased and drastic changes have been made to our working conditions. These changes have taken us away from our families for longer period of time and on many occassions have affected our health and well-being. In short, we have paid our admission ticket to the corporate conference table.

We deserve a voice in the long-term security of our airlines. We earned the right to have a voice in the future decisions which will shape our career. But, the choice is ours - will we let the opportunity pass us by? Or, will we accept it by exercising our voice. Today, I invite you to join the largest Flight Attendant Union in the world, AFA-CWA. Join us - and help make that voice heard. Send in your AFA authorization card today and consider offering your talent to the campaign. Also, register and visit the Crew Lounge discussion forum at www.ItsTimeDelta.net .

In closing, I look forward to the day Delta Flight Attendants join their 55,000 brothers and sisters -- and I can warmly say; "Welcome Home"!

This concludes the hotline message. This message will be updated next week or sooner if necessary. Until then, take care of each other out there on the line.

-- To Listen To The Hotline, Call 1-800-424-2401, Press 1 Then 720 # --

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#