Delta AFA Flight Attendant Hotline 4/9/2007

Today is Monday, April 9th and this is an updated hotline message for all Delta Air Lines flight attendants. SAS based flight attendant and AFA supporter, Mark Stell reporting...

Delta AFA Volunteers Continue their Outreach!

Delta AFA activists, committed to our representational goals, continued outreach efforts this last week. If you checked the 'help' box on your last union card then you should be receiving a call from your local Regional Chair or a Phone Mobilizer in your area. If you don’t receive a call then it’s because we’re still working to fill these positions in your area - so, please call us! You can reach our campaign at 1-800-424-2401, Ext. 591 or at deltaorganizing@deltaafa.org. The strategy of this campaign is very simple: The sooner we get hundreds of Delta Flight Attendants to do just a little the sooner we’ll get to an election. And that election will only occur when we’re ready to WIN that election!

Clearing Up Confusion: Most Common Questions:

This last week your Delta AFA organizers received several emails and suggestions on how we can better communicate the goals and strategies of the campaign. Here are some questions and answers in response to these suggestions;

Q1: Why do I have to keep signing union cards?

A: The National Mediation Board (NMB) sets the requirements for holding representational elections in the airline industry. The current rules state that signing a card, authorizing AFA to conduct an election, is valid for one year. In order to call an election we must have 35% of the Delta Flight Attendants sign these cards, but we will not call an election without a substantially greater number than this.

Q2: How many cards do we have now?

A: That number varies because new cards come in every day -- and old cards expire every day. Please remember this is not a card counting game. Our decision to hold an election is based on activism and support: When we have enough Delta Flight Attendants committed to representation, who are actively promoting the union on every trip, then we will call for an election and WIN the election!

Q3: Why does the union card ask for my home email address? I'm not sure I want to get all those emails.

A: Yes, the “electronic age” is as much a curse as it is a blessing. But on the “blessing” side, we ask for your email address to keep you engaged and informed about the campaign. Our continued goal is to produce effective, brief and informative communication -- but we try to limit our emails to 2 or 3 a week, which includes this hotline message. This campaign is a “grassroots” effort led by your Delta colleagues. While we make every effort to temper our zeal, please know our communication goals are always heartfelt and earnest.

Q4: What exactly are the communication options in this campaign?

A: Boy, I’m so glad you asked. We have such a variety of communication tools which include;

Home Email: This is the most effective, universal and easy way for you to be a part of the campaign. Singing a union card is imperative, but being a part of the campaign and educated on the issues will make an election happen much sooner.

www.DeltaAFA.org: This is our official campaign website supported by AFA. It’s a valuable resource of information and should be high on your “Favorites” list.

www.ItsTimeDelta.org: This is an exclusive website run by and for Delta Flight Attendants. There is a Crew Lounge 'discussion forum' on the site and you can post your opinions and thoughts on the issues or simply read those of our flying partners.

JoinTogether: This is a legacy communication vehicle from our first union campaign. It is a “listserv” and you can subscribe to it by sending an email to: jointogether@deltaafa.org

www.afanet.org: This is AFA’s national website. It details all the work that AFA does to improve the working conditions for flight attendants throughout the industry. There are various links from this site to the individual AFA councils where the local representation of AFA flight attendants takes place.

As you can see, the communication opportunities are numerous and being a part of any one of them will help this campaign meet it representational goals.

“Let’s Really Make Delta My Delta” -- A new slogan?

We received an excellent suggestion from a Delta flight attendant this past week promoting the use of a new slogan: “Let’s Really Make Delta My Delta!” Here’s the concept: By working together we can help Delta be more efficient, accountable and honest. When we have the power and authority to bargain and negotiate then we can take ownership of Delta’s future. We all know flight attendants' voices are crucial to an airline’s success and it’s time that our voice truly means something.

That’s it for this week’s message. Please continue your campaign efforts; the momentum is building faster every day! This message will be updated next week. In the meantime, take care of each other 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#