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An Open Letter from the Delta/AFA Steering Committee...(we encourage you to print this and share with others)
March 8, 2007 Dear Delta Flying Partners: We write in response to the recent communication posted on executive managements' new anti-union website which we were all subjected to this week when we entered the Delta.net systems. Since it wasn't signed by a Delta executive, we presume it was written by the multi-million dollar anti-union firm hired to derail Delta flight attendants from securing a legal and professional voice. This is our official response to the issues contained in the communication: Anti-Union Firm: Will AFA apologize to flight attendants whose names they used without their permission or knowledge to make the union's support look bigger than it is? Delta AFA Steering Committee: We extend a heartfelt apology to the few flight attendants whose names were mistakenly submitted to us. To be clear, names for the sign-on letter to Paulette were solicited by Delta flight attendants and were submitted to us by Delta flight attendants . AFA staff did not solicit or place names on the letter. The names submitted by mistake were each done so by the same flight attendant and we hope it was an honest error on his part. On a positive note, many more flight attendants asked to be placed on the letter after it was sent -- we're sorry we couldn't include them all and hope you realize how busy we are in our new 'flying world'. Was attaching the flight attendant's names on its letter just a sloppy mistake or intentional? Delta AFA Steering Committee: While answered above, let's be frank here: this is clearly an attempt to divert our attention from the important issues in the original letter. Our letter requested a copy of our seniority list , asked executives to cease their anti-flight attendant campaign and addressed several matters concerning job protection and the restoration of our wages and working conditions. These are the issues that matter and we intend to stay focused on. While executives request an apology for the three flight attendants, when will they apologize for cutting our pay, reducing our benefits and forcing us to work longer hours than our counterparts in the industry? Who is holding them accountable for the errors or blunders that landed our airline in bankruptcy? Why does the AFA restrict its members from speaking in opposition to the union, and why aren't opposing views posted on their Delta organizing Web site? Delta AFA Steering Committee: We support AFA because we support free speech - - this is why we opened an internet discussion forum at www.ItsTimeDelta.net for all Delta flight attendants to speak freely about our careers. More than 200 of our peers are already registered on the site and more join every week. Unlike executive management-funded forums, this website belongs to Delta flight attendants and respects all opinions. Delta flight attendants who currently oppose joining AFA are welcome to join because we believe free speech is an essential part of education and can only lead to securing a better future together. Likewise, we have asked Delta executives to post this letter on their new anti-union site. We shall see if they too stand for free speech. Is this an example of why groups of flight attendants at other AFA carriers openly express their dissatisfaction with AFA and/or worked to get rid of AFA? Delta AFA Steering Committee: This is another ploy to distort the real issues. Because it only takes 50% (plus one) signatures to prompt a change in their union, nobody can speak on behalf of an entire AFA represented flight attendant group. The flight attendants at AFA carriers have a long history of sticking by their union - and if the majority were unhappy, surely they would have left. In contrast, NWA flight attendants changed unions twice in the past decade -- choosing to find a home in AFA when times were the worst. The democratic process and the majority will of AFA members speaks volumes to whether they are happy with the world's largest flight attendant union. Please explain why flight attendants at US Airways and other AFA carriers are unhappy with AFA service and delivery, and how AFA will deliver on promises to Delta flight attendants when it hasn't at NWA, US Airways and other carriers? Delta AFA Steering Committee: Recent AFA leaders at Northwest and United sent letters to Grinstein correcting him on events he falsely implied were the result of AFA. We encourage you to read these letters on www.DeltaAFA.org under Tools for Activists. AFA hasn't made 'promises' beyond the fact that we will be in a far stronger position to restore wages and working conditions and obtain real job protections by securing a legal contract. As Delta flight attendants, that's a promise we all should commit to accomplish together. Finally, if flight attendants at other carriers are dissatisfied, it is with airline executives who have used the bankruptcy law to force massive cuts to pay, benefits and workrules. They're dissatisfied with executives who took enormous bonuses and stock payouts while slashing pensions and destroying jobs. That's why AFA led the effort in opposing management bonuses and obscene stock payouts. That's why AFA led the way in bargaining to limit the impact of bankruptcy concessions. And, that is why AFA will lead the effort to rebuild pay and benefits as we emerge from this wave of bankruptcies . Once again, we extend our apology to the flight attendants whose names were wrongly submitted to our campaign letter. Moreover, we hope you resist the anti-union firm's effort to shift the focus of our campaign. Remember; we want to join AFA to secure a professional contract - one that contains real job security as well as the restoration of our wages and working conditions. Because these are the real issues , our campaign has gained momentum -- even in the face of managements' promise to restore small portions of our losses. We're proud to be part of this campaign and invite you to join. Thank you! In the spirit of unity, Delta AFA National Steering Committee
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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# |