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February 25, 2007 Mr. Gerald Grinstein, CEO Re: Your Recent Remarks Concerning AFA and NWA Flight Attendants Dear Mr. Grinstein: We write to challenge remarks you made against AFA – relative to the bankruptcy challenges NWA flight attendants have endured. As the AFA MEC officers during the interim period following our election of AFA, we view your statements as either manipulative or uninformed. Specifically, we refer to your statements “When you examine [AFA’s record at NWA] you find that AFA is more for show than quality representation” and; “...look at what the AFA accomplished for people at United, US Airways and Northwest”. NWA flight attendants are currently working under imposed rules which are part of a tentative contract agreement our former union (“PFAA”) negotiated with NWA. To be clear – NWA flight attendants are not yet working under an “AFA” negotiated contract. We don’t blame AFA for these conditions, nor do we blame AFA for the adverse legal decision which allowed these terms to be imposed – both occurred before AFA was elected. While it may suit an anti-union campaign, it is preposterous to assign blame to AFA. For the record, our current conditions are those reached by PFAA on March 1st 2006 (which were later rejected in a vote of our flight attendants on June 6th). On June 29th, PFAA then lost an important court battle – granting NWA the ability to impose the March 1st deal. Not until July 6th, 2006 did the NMB certify AFA-CWA as our union – four (4) months after PFAA’s tentative agreement. Immediately upon AFA’s election, we went to the negotiations table in an attempt to reach a better agreement. In the short 10 day window the court allowed, AFA’s collective bargaining staff, lawyers and economist assisted our NWA flight attendant committee in a lightning round of negotiations. Even though the court had set nearly impossible parameters (i.e., the same concession amount of 195 million and five (5) year duration), AFA helped us reach an improved agreement which would have included 14 million less out of the pockets of flight attendants. This was only possible because of AFA’s superior expertise in the valuation of flight attendant proposals. What occurred next completely discredits your false statement that by joining AFA, “you pay someone to make decisions for you”: When considering whether to accept the slightly better agreement, or to take a gamble and continue a campaign for a better agreement, we rejected the second deal by a vote of 55% to 45%. By doing so, we drew a line in the sand – proclaiming that the court-imposed parameters (5 years and $195 million) were still more than we would accept. AFA staff and lawyers did not make this decision for us – we, the flight attendants made it for ourselves. Some union members may not have made this tough choice – in fact, most have not. Our flight attendants voted NO -- knowing the potential obstacles (having the prior agreement imposed, a prolonged court battle and a dispute over any equity claim). However, the clear point here is that NWA ‘flight attendants’ defined this path – not some ‘third party’. Today, we continue a campaign for a better contract. Because NWA has reported a pre-tax profit of $301 million for 2006, AFA lawyers have filed another motion in the bankruptcy court – seeking relief from the 1113 order. On February 2, our negotiators made a proposal to NWA valued at roughly $156.5 million, nearly $40 million less than the 1113 order calls for but still enough to allow the company to be profitable. Whether we reach an improved agreement remains to be seen. But again, history will accurately attribute our decision as our democratic voice – not some ‘outside’ force as you’d have the Delta flight attendants believe. While it’s unfortunate it took us seven (7) months to file for our election to join AFA, we knew AFA was powerless to stop the collective bargaining and legal events prior to their certification. One forum AFA could help was government affairs – and they did. Upon entering bankruptcy, NWA executives began an aggressive campaign to outsource 75 % of our international positions to low-cost foreign workers. Thanks to AFA’s strong voice on Capitol Hill and smart lobbying effort on our behalf, executives failed in that attempt. AFA was there 100% in the effort to retain our jobs and they understood that while we could grow out of PFAA’s paycuts or negotiate back some bankruptcy losses, losing any portion of our seniority list would have a devastating impact on our future – and the future of our profession. With the potential for future consolidation in our industry, this must also be a critical concern of Delta flight attendants. The recent USAirways’ bid for Delta illustrates how important it will some day be for Delta flight attendants to secure ‘contractual’ labor and seniority protections. Finally, we want to point out that as much as we oppose the current conditions we are working under at NWA, the unilateral changes in pay and workrules Delta has imposed against its own flight attendants are even more unreasonable. While it is all too easy to cherry pick and compare longevity rates of pay, flight attendants truly understand the value of duty rigs, scheduling practices and other premiums which are essential to our ability to balance our personal and professional lives. AFA has given us a strong voice in promoting these values. We hope this clarifies the facts regarding our status as AFA members. We also hope you will find it in your heart to honor the right of your flight attendants to make their decision to join AFA without the typical deceptive ‘anti-union’ campaigns - which place aviation workers in a vulnerable position in our industry. With all the sacrifices Delta flight attendants have already made, they have earned that respect – the right to be told the truth.
Sincerely, Former MEC Officers – NWA/AFA s/ s/ s/ |
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# |