An Airline Merger Madness...

2009-08-07T16:43:00.000-07:00

Where Your AFA Dues Money Goes........

Fighting For FAT Girls to Wear BIG Red Dresses!!

Enough already.

"...It's Not Over 'Til the Fat Girl Wears Red"

Seems AFA has once again demonstrated they have lost touch with reality. AFA officials have committed your, mine and our dollars to battle for a minority of disgruntled flight attendants for not being given the opportunity to wear Richard Tyler's and Delta Airlines' signature red dress. It seems the dress is not made in sizes larger than 18. I like fat girls too, but come on. Would you be caught dead in a red dress larger than size 18??
For most fashionistas.......NEVER

All of this, during the most contentious unionizing battle in labor history.

It would seem after losing numerous organizing battles at Delta Airlines, the one shot AFA has at winning this organizing campaign simply rides with the former Northwest flight attendants they currently represent. It would seem all guns would be drawn in this battle to organize and WIN the Delta vote during this single operating certificate decision to incorporate AFA to represent the new Delta flight attendants or leave them behind. Not so.

Rather than focus on the labor battle, AFA has instead chosen to spend valuable resources to argue the merits of fat girls wearing red dresses! That's right. No strategy, again. The media hysteria surrounding the red dress controversy has done little to win over the public. The frivilous complaint only demonstrates to our Delta colleagues the bloated and misguided leadership of the AFA organization. AFA once again loses credibility in the eyes of the public and even in the eyes of potential voters. It seems AFA even supplied a media spokesperson when the red dress fiasco broke but when AFA recently decided to file for an election, it was via a "press release" and "no comment available" from AFA.

What??

Once again it would appear AFA has lost its sense of direction. Rather than winning snap backs for its members or battling for more money in our pockets.....the priorities have once again been misplaced, misguided and misdirected.
You decide........

Has AFA's frivilous red dress grievance put money in your pocket?
Has AFA's misguided grievance won you any credibility?
Has AFA's misplaced grievance won the hearts and souls of our Delta colleagues?

I think not.

NEXT TIME: Your Dues At Work: Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves. Are "unelected by the membership" appointees Danny Campbell and Bruce Retrum each worth over $90,000??? Last year each earned over $90,000 (prior to Retrum's election to MSP LEC)..Imagine what his entitlement will become now! ....quite simply, highway robbery and NOT worth what our dues pay them. By the way, what has "negotiations" been doing exactly the past couple of years to justify the $90,000 salary?? (and remember these people are the same people who bitched about PFAA wages....which hardly compared to this AFA ripoff!)

2009-02-12T07:26:00.000-08:00

Delta Seniority Integration Committee Steal the AFA Thunder!

On February 11th, 2009 the Delta Integration Committee released a statement disclosing their unanimous vote regarding the integration of the Delta and Northwest flight attendants. The committee recommendation is an "In-Flight Date of Hire" merge. This truly is the only fair integration and is a win for all the flight attendants!

However, one can only imagine what is going on at AFA Headquarters with this announcement. The AFA union has successfully used their fear-mongering rhetoric since the merger announcement and just one of those "reasons" to keep AFA on the property was to protect the "date of hire" integration supported by AFA.

NOW WHAT??

Seems the merger committee has agreed to the DOH integration, and stolen away the AFA rumbling and fear-mongering thunder!

Despite AFA's refusal to meet with this committee at possibly a detriment to the membership.......this committee did the right thing!
Despite the AFA refusal to allow the flight attendants to get on with their lives and call for an election, the merger process goes forward
Despite the AFA refusal to even discuss integration until "they" think an election should be announced
Despite AFA refusal to talk but rather sue in court instead!
Despite the general membership seeking an expedited merger, including pay raises! AFA refuses to listen to the voice of the members
Sounds like its all about dues and winning an election. Clearly, the interests of the membership have been put aside all for the $$$$$$$$

Well, quite simply the Delta Integration Committee did their job, unlike the AFA. It would seem that maybe, just maybe, many of the AFA members might be thinking......Well, it looks like it will be DOH, so maybe one more reason to ignore the AFA fear mongering and scare tactics. And just one more reason why maybe the AFA war drum may not be in any one's best interest for our future........just a thought!

With all the fear mongering AFA thunder gone, the all powerful and mighty AFA is left with simply....a bunch of hot-air!

Here is a link to the most current "merged" lists. Spend a minute checking out this GREAT site, as well.....for all the latest flight attendant information.

http://www.fainformation.com/Assets/files/mergedlist.pdf

2008-11-21T11:36:00.000-08:00

' Twas the night before Christmas......

and the AFA Grinches are already at work!

The flight attendants have endured an abrasive and intense December bid month: the first Christmas holiday with the new PBS system, then "awarded bids" were retracted and now the AFA folks want to take advantage of the membership's dues money and even violate seniority issues for their own selfish benefit.

Now how is that, for a union working for YOU???

What better way to ensure the holiday off, than to "charge" the day to "union business"? YOUR DUES AT WORK!

Seems there is an abundance of important "union business" from December 22-26, 2008.

Local 97, SFO.....Seems the only AFA staffer who has a "UB" on their line is none other than former NWA AFA Vice President, Albert Garcia. SFO's own elected LEC officers have not taken advantage of holding the Christmas holiday off by "charging" the union, but Grinch Garcia, a committee chair has certainly taken advantage. Albert Garcia, with a system seniority date of 5462 probably would NOT have held the Christmas holiday off, but of course, as Chair of Government Affairs, he has important government affairs in Washington during the Congressional break . Yeah, right!

Local 98, LAX....Seems they too have a Grinch who stole Christmas! Local President Les Meeks has assigned himself "important" union business from December 22-26, 2008. And no doubt about it, in Los Angeles with a seniority number of 4175, Grinch Meeks probably would not have held those Christmas holidays off. Plan on working in the AFA office during those 5 days during Christmas??? NOT!

Local 94, DTW....Seems the Grinch has found his way to the motor city, as well!! President Diana Mitchum has charged a single "UB" on December 26, 2008 and Vice President John O'Donnell has important union business from December 13-30, 2008. In fairness, both were senior enough to have held the day off but why charge the day to your members? Golly, with all that important business during the holidays, if you need a DTW union rep, someone should be available to answer the phone in the DTW office on Christmas Day! Yeah, right!

Local 92, BOS......This is a curious case of necessity. Boston is the smallest base with 286 members and a big spender President, Robert Cannatelli. Seems with a base the size of Boston, what possibly could warrant the LEC President to "UB" December 1-21, 2008 and then "BD" the rest of the month of December??? "BD" signifies "Blocked days", think Grinch Cannatelli will be flying over Christmas?? This is one base to watch for: going "way over budget".......... a plump turkey, with your dues money. Gobble Gobble

And for all the remaining Locals.....Do NOT be surprised to find the Grinch has put 2 lumps of coal in your stocking, too!!

It now seems to be accepted practice for many of the AFA officials to "bid" a regular line and be awarded that line [when in fact they had no intention of flying any of the line!] so it will appear that they are flying a full line and then later they "FPL" each of the trips! That's right. "Flight pay loss" every trip they were awarded.....that is your dues money paying for their "FPL". Some AFA officials drop upwards of 110 hours to "FPL" each and every month, on your dime!

And these same Locals wonder why they are consistently over budget ..... reMEMber, ring a bell?

This practice should be stopped! Awarding trips to union officials who have no intention of flying (and intend to FPL the month, anyway) takes away trips from the pool which could be awarded to potential schedule holders, now forced to "reserve"!

NOTE: For all of those honest and hard working union officials who are working within a flawed system, this is not meant for you. "FPL" is a useful and effective tool taking care of union business however, it clearly allows for abuses and each LEC/MEC official should be held accountable!! If you are NOT doing union business on Christmas you should NOT be using "union business" on that day. Period.

Don't be surprised to see a schedule awarded to an AFA official and they never show up for a single trip! Unless, of course, Northwest offers a "summer reliability" bonus, then LEC Presidents are clammering to fly to be included in the bonus payment......

(A "bonus" payment of your dues money, which Mark Gehrt authorized, was just paid to AFA leaders who "could not fly" this summer during the Northwest Reliability Bonus....Who is Gehrt to authorize such payment? Is that not a decision that the entire MEC should approve???)

Be certain to ask your elected Local officers......How much "FPL" and when they took each loss. It is your money and you MUST demand they are accountable!

On the Master Executive Level, the membership might expect the MEC officers, Kevin Griffin, Janette Rook and Mark Gehrt to "UB" the entire month, as the AFA Constitution dictates. However, there are multiple other "unelected" AFA officials who appear to have hijacked the system and are certain to be home for the holidays (with an entire month of pay)!

Bet these unelected AFA folks won't be flying on Christmas Day.......

Neal McMahon (website guy) His schedule: Dec 1-21 of "UB" and Dec 22-30 "BD"

Greg Riffle (contract admin) His schedule: Dec 1-21 of "UB" and Dec 22-30 "BD"

Maureen Reiley (Delta organizer aka "Mollie Reiley") Dec 1-20 of "UB" and Dec 21-30 "BD"

Danny Campbell (Delta organizer aka "I am paid by CWA, not the members") Dec 1-20 of "UB" and Dec 21-30 "BD"

Jarrod Anderson (IMPACT) Dec 1-21 of "UB" and Dec 22-30 "BD"

Angela Wood (IMPACT) Dec 1-21 of "UB" and Dec 22-30 "BD"

And what is the significance of "BD"- Blocked Days? It appears it is a scheduling indicator blocking a flight attendant from actually flying. No extra days added onto a trip, "forced to fly" or holiday trick scheduling "gotcha'" phone calls for these folks. The "full time" union officials are credited 92 hours per month, which translates into a scheduling code of "union business" credited at 4:15 per day for 21 days, the remaining days of the month are then deemed "BD".

To all the flight attendants who "had" to fly this Christmas: keep your union officials honest and ask them if they actually worked a flight or took a "FPL" for "union business" on the holiday.

And most importantly: BE SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL!!

Watch out for those AFA Grinches!

Ding Dong, The Queen is Gone (well, not quite!)

2008-07-30T08:21:00.001-07:00

The AFA Reign of Terror Continues............

It's official. Queen Patricia Friend of AFA is retiring from United Airlines, beginning August 1, 2008. The reigning monarch of the long running AFA Clown show has finally decided to call it quits at United Airlines. Unfortunately for the membership, Queen Pat Friend did NOT see fit to resign her monarchy post as President of AFA at the same time.

Despicable Greedy Unethical Undemocratic and Typical AFA !!

She has no shame!

In her official announcement, The Queen Bee decided to take the "early out" at United Airlines after all she has "accumulated" just short of 42 years. Many of those years sitting atop the throne and "accumulating" seniority at United while draining the AFA coffers of hundreds of thousands of dollars $$$. What with a salary in excess of $105,000, the QUEEN HAS DONE WELL FOR HERSELF..........Get that, herself! While leaving the AFA membership in a dismal state with the majority of member flight attendants SYSTEMATICALLY LOSING INCOME or OUTRIGHT LOSING THEIR CAREERS.

WHAT HAS AFA DONE TO ASSIST??? ONLY CONCERN THEMSELVES WITH ORGANIZING CAMPAIGNS.....NOTHING MORE.

THANKS QUEEN PAT!!

One could surmise that Queenie saw the writing on the wall and the horrific doom and gloom future for the career flight attendant. An industry which has shown little improvement in the recent past.....Soaring fuel prices, an industry in turmoil and the antics of the AFA circus clowns!

A union which has failed miserably to see outside its own self-serving interests.

A union which has failed to improve the lives of its members.

A union which has failed to create a winning strategy for contract bargaining

A union which has failed to focus on its members, rather only the dues $$$$$

A union which has failed to be honest or have integrity

A union which has failed to halt the fear mongering and scare tactics

A union which has failed to listen to the membership

A union which has failed to rid itself of internal petty politics

A union which has failed to support democratic ideals with unwelcome appointments

A union which has failed to deliver, again and again.......

So the AFA membership is now stuck (into 2010) with an International President that is no longer a flight attendant!! Queen Bee Friend will continue siphoning off hundreds of thousands of $$$ dollars more from AFA during her tenure and not even be on a flight attendant seniority list; all the while collecting her airline retirement.

We can only imagine the princely sum AFA-CWA will begin paying out in retirement benefits to the Queen when her term ends in 2010. Curious to know exactly what President Friend will collect from your dues for her AFA tenure?? (Alongside her United pension too.) Ask your lecmec@nwaafa.org

Ask yourself.....And what exactly has Pat Friend done for you??

Like we said, Patricia Friend has done well for "herself". Ask the Aloha or ATA flight attendants how well Queen Friend & Company has done for them??? Ask those flight attendants working under pay concessions (the majority of AFA members) and those airlines facing further bankruptcies (hello, United)....How well has Pat Friend and her team done for them???

What is the term "a vacancy in office"?? (AFA Constitution Article IV, Sec G.1) One can ask, if an officer is no longer a flight attendant, how can one "fairly" represent the largest "flight attendant" union in the world? Would not it make ethical sense to relinquish the the top position when one decides to no longer participate in the profession??

What kind of public image does such failure to relinquish power display to the membership? What of the "transparency" within our union? The political and power hungry International Queen wants the best of both worlds! To accept a lucrative "buyout" from a major airline while continuing to siphon off a substantial salary from the beat up and bruised membership.....OUTRAGEOUS!

"Consistent with our Constitution and past practice I will serve out the remainder of my term" Defending such an unethical decision in the name of "past practice"? Is this not reminiscent of having International Officers not even being flight attendants but speaking on their behalf?? Is this not eerily reminiscent of former Teamster base representatives speaking on your behalf and not even being flight attendants!

So much for the AFA claim we are a "bottom up" organization. Quite the contrary. AFA leaders on the Local Level (LEC) are required to remain active flight attendants while Queen Pat's decision seems to insolate those at the top levels of AFA from the same requirements! That sounds like a "top down" organization, if ever there was one!! The membership is not fooled by your "past practice" rhetoric!

Let's see....2010. Isn't that the time about 14 different AFA Council's contracts are up? Hmmmm

Pat Friend, your failure to relinquish your AFA International Presidency in the face or your recent resignation at United Airlines, is NOT fair, honorable or even in the best interest of your membership!! With more than one half of your term remaining, an immediate election should be called: it's the right and ethical thing to do!

(Then again, ethical and AFA........quite the oxymoron!)

YET ANOTHER AFA CIRCUS SIDESHOW....

2008-07-08T11:12:00.000-07:00

The AFA Clown Antics Continue..

"Introducing in the center ring, your AFA-NWA merger committee leaders."

They've Gotta Be Clowning, Right??

Nope! Seriously, our future is in jeopardy with these Bozo's running the show!

Your Northwest Airlines MEC just announced the appointment of the new Merger Integration Committee and what a cast of clowns have we been dealt.

EVERY Northwest flight attendant should be outraged!!!

First up. Barbara Bozo Schlosser (MSP). No clowning, this Bozo was on the merger committee for Republic East/Hughes Airwest Merger when Republic Airlines "bought out" Hughes Airwest in 1980. You see, Bozo Schlosser was on the larger Republic East side and her proposal that "only my seniority counts" cost the Hughes Airwest flight attendants years of seniority on the combined list. Her proposal for rank and ratio cheated other of our colleagues out of their date-of-hire seniority. To this very day, there are flight attendants on the Northwest seniority list who lost their date of hire seniority, as a result of Bozo Barbara Schlosser's proposals!! And now your AFA MEC selected this Bozo to represent YOU on the Delta/Northwest merger committee. How could any reasonable AFA union official, who claims to endorse "date of hire", appoint a person who has previously proposed rank and ratio to represent the membership?? Now that Northwest Airlines is the "smaller" of the merging carriers, do we await the same fate Barbara Bozo Schlosser once endorsed......rank and ratio?? Does not this appointment of Bozo Schlosser strengthen the Delta Airlines case to rank and ratio the Northwest flight attendants?

What was good for Barbara Schlosser 30 years ago when Republic "bought out" Hughes Airwest; Delta Airlines can now say, that is what is good for the (larger) Delta group today when they "bought out" Northwest??

Shame on those elected AFA leaders for endorsing the Schlosser appointment; awarding the Bozo for "getting" rank and ratio for the Republic East flight attendants!! (at the expense of others, I might add)

Write your lecmec@nwaafa.org

Bring in the clowns. Next we have Ann Marie Mastalerz (BOS) aka Anna Banana Bandana. This is the same clueless piece of work who negotiated under the auspices of the IBT (Teamsters) and Billie Davenport. Remember the outrage, when these IBT negotiators sold the membership down the drain?? When Anna Banana Bandana was "booed" by the membership for attempting to sell a crappy contract to the membership? "This is the best we can do!" A contract that was overwhelmingly defeated 6,108 to 2,727!!

Was not this horrible representation the downfall of the IBT??....The loss of the NWA flight attendants and the largest one day membership loss in Teamster history.....over 10,000 members! AFA had attempted earlier to "raid" the Teamsters and lost-

And one for the labor movement history books:

a grassroots organization of NWA flight attendants had done the impossible: they had created their own union, PFAA, and defeated the Teamsters! This single feat will probably go down in the history books as the greatest accomplishment of any airline labor group! PFAA did, what AFA could'nt!!

Hey DELTA, maybe it's time to create your own union before the merger!! Then collectively we can oust AFA! Now that would be history making...........

Back to the two Bozos....

Now this "well respected" (according to Bruce Retrum, yeah take that one to the bank) IBT clown is going to represent you at the merger table??

According to the Associated Press article of August 30, 1999

"Ann MarieMastalerz, a flight attendant for 23 years, was in favor of the agreement".

Look at the seniority list, Anna Banana Bandana Mastalerz was hired January 2, 1990!!

How does that equate to 23 years way back in 1999? Jeesh, she can't even get her own seniority correct and she is appointed to our merger integration committee??? I guess she is hoping to count her years at Eastern Airlines, too.

Anna Bandana Mastalerz, will all my previous years as a server at the Airport Dippity Dew Drive-Thru count towards seniority too??? Afterall, I did serve Pepsi and I did work at the airport!!

Clearly, neither of these "political" appointments represent the interests of the membership. Let your lecmec@nwaafa.org know of your outrage!

These two appointments DO NOT represent the Northwest Flight Attendants!!

History Repeats Itself: AFA Gets Another Black Eye

2008-05-29T00:09:00.000-07:00

AFA DEFEATED, AGAIN................

Despite multiple attempts and literally millions $$$$$$ of CWA membership dollars, AFA was soundly defeated in their recent attempt at organizing the Delta Airlines flight attendants.

I have forgotten, is this the 3rd, 4th, or 5th attempt by AFA, in just as many years? Am I missing something, or is this another indication that AFA is not wanted at Delta? Hello.

Remember all the fan fare in February when AFA filed with the NMB on behalf of the Delta FA's?? Remember every code-a-phone and NWA-AFA piece of propaganda boasting of the filing with the NMB? Remember AFA wanted more than 50% the the Delta flight attendants signed, in the event of duplicate or invalid cards? Remember, the lengthy delay in filing with a campaign that started long ago, back in the summer 2007? Remember our "own" NWA-MEC putting important Northwest business on hold while focusing only on Delta organizing? Remember, CWA employee, "appointed" Delta organizer (and NWA FA) Danny Campbell and his "Part-Time" $50,000+ salary? Let's see, 13,786 ballots sent out and 5,306 returned (of which 5,253 were "For" AFA)......that is 38.10% "For" AFA; not quite the "almost 40%" claimed by AFA.

See the official NMB results here: http://www.nmb.gov/electionresults/delta-afa_052808.pdf

What happened to cause at least the other 12% (1,684) who signed, to change their minds???

Let's look at what happened between February 2008 (when AFA filed) and today????[We have received at least 50 e-mails addressing these issues from Delta FA's]

AFA Fear-Mongering Tactics..............Just Doesn't Work
AFA Distortions..............................Just Doesn't Work
AFA Scare Into Submission................Just Doesn't Work
AFA Half-Truths.............................Just Doesn't Work
AFA Focusing on Negatives................Just Doesn't Work
AFA Dividing Instead of Uniting...........Just Doesn't Work
AFA Propaganda Blitz, Phone Calls...... Just Doesn't Work
AFA "Losing Touch" With Members.......Just Doesn't Work
AFA Failure To Educate.....................Just Doesn't Work
AFA Only Concern; Dues Money............Just Doesn't Work
AFA Neglect Membership to Organize.....Just Doesn't Work
AFA Win At All Costs Mentality.............Just Doesn't Work

If all of this "Just Doesn't Work"; doesn't it make you wonder what else at AFA "Just Doesn't Work" ??????

Where was the fact-based, honest dialogue the Delta flight attendants were seeking? Where were the positive reinforcements necessary (a major paradigm shift-from non-union to union) that the Delta flight attendants were seeking? Rather than attempting to prove everything "union" or "AFA" was far superior; why not solicit what was better at Delta and truthfully share from both worlds??? Why has AFA continued to fail in delivering a positive, honest and truthful dialogue??

Lest we forget. How can we expect honesty, integrity and truthfulness from the very same AFA union that organized a "raid" on PFAA during bankruptcy; a most critical time, when we were fighting for our very survival??

Winning at all costs.

Speaks volumes, huh?

AFA, your membership demands more.

AFA couldn't organize the 46 flight attendants at Compass Airlines, how could one believe they could organize the 13,000 + at Delta??

Lessons learned?? Not likely; however, we'll all see in about 8-10 months.

In the 21st century, the aviation business isn't business as its always been; neither should truly democratic unions.

The Delta flight attendants have spoken; AFA can you hear their collective (over 60%) voice?

......the AFA silence is deafening

UPDATED UPDATED MAY 25, 2008 >>>Desperate Attempt by AFA to Alter NMB Voting Rules...

2008-04-14T16:28:00.001-07:00

AFA AND A SHAMEFUL BAG OF TRICKS......

Another AFA Attempt to Re-Write the Rules of Engagement! SEE LATEST UPDATE BELOW...........

A desperate attempt to "win" the Delta vote!

AFA attempts to Confuse and Muddle the Delta organizational election.

The sinister manipulators residing in the House of AFA are at it again! The despicable antics never cease to amaze the membership. It seems the Jokers in the AFA deck of cards are always attempting to hoodwink and hi jinx; in another greedy attempt to win more and more dues money to feed the money mongering AFA machine. So AFA-CWA can continue to pay "part-time" employees, like organizer Danny Campbell, over $50,000.

Get this........

As we are aware, the misguided direction of our own NWA MEC has not been the potential merger with Delta, improving our contract nor has it been the sole task of producing a copy of the contract for the members!! We have been complaining for months concerning our own MEC and their inaction, petty politics and the all around lame-duck administration. However, it appears the only focus of the AFA leadership has been the Delta organizing campaign. And only the Delta organizing campaign! More members equals more money $$$$$

In February, AFA finally gathered enough signatures at Delta Airlines to file with the NMB to conduct an organizational election. After countless millions $$ of dollars! An election timeline has been announced by the NMB and the election is now underway.

Now, AFA has asked the the NMB only count the ballots returned to the NMB and not the percentage of ballots mailed and returned. And they ask for this concession from the NMB after the election has been called.

What does this mean???

Well, AFA is concerned about the number of ballots which will be thrown in the trash and NOT returned with a check mark next to AFA representation!! Delta management and those opposing union representation at Delta have asked the flight attendants to throw away their ballots....therefore, not endorsing representation by AFA. (This has been the case in all the previous AFA representational elections) This change means, AFA is asking that the NMB never count those ballots and only count those returned by the flight attendants. This will result in an unfair and unjust alteration to the voting process hook-winking the Delta flight attendants into a union the majority may not want.

Here is an example:

According to current NMB rules, 50% + 1 ballot must be returned and checked for AFA representation. So, if 10,000 ballots are mailed from the NMB in order for AFA representation to take place on the Delta property, 5,000 + 1 ballots must be returned checked for AFA representation.

With the sinister ballot count changes AFA is requesting; if the same 10,000 ballots are mailed and the majority of Delta flight attendants toss the ballot in the trash and only 100 ballots are returned to NMB (99 for AFA and 1 NO AFA) AFA wants only those 100 ballots to count for the entire election and by a vote of 99 to 1, AFA would win. BUT WHAT ABOUT THE 9,900 BALLOTS THAT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS THREW AWAY???

AFA does not want those ballots to be counted, therefore the majority is represented by the single 100 ballots returned to NMB.

This is preposterous!!

It seems AFA has a fear of not winning another election!! They appear to be seeking desperate measures to ensure a victory and YOU should be appalled by the unethical antics.Lets hope the NMB disallows the request from AFA and continues the customary balloting process. And AFA claims Delta unduly influences AFA organization campaigns???

Remember: These same deceptive, cheating, sinister, money grubbing rascals are currently representing you!!! Makes you proud, huh??

UPDATE UPDATE........

The NMB decides against AFA; the voting rules remain as they have for decades!

Shameful shenanigans from the House of AFA, halted by the government!!! Read the NMB Decision here:

http://www.nmb.gov/representation/deter2008/35n035.pdf

AFA REMINDED OF UNFAIR INTERFERENCE IN DELTA VOTE:

"the Board strongly reminds the participants, as stated in the February 21, 2008 notice, that "the Board may consider hyperlinks to the voting website as possible evidence of election interference."

We've been saying it all along: AFA will stoop to any means to "WIN" and increase their money mongering dues collection! Read about their recent interference and misrepresentation in the Delta Campaign and the additional costs to American taxpayers to correct the situation. ALL MEMBERS SHOULD BE OUTRAGED.....

"To prevent voter confusion, the Board is sending under separate cover a notice to Delta Flight Attendants that the Board is requesting to be posted on Carrier bulletin boards. "

http://www.nmb.gov/representation/deter2008/35n042.pdf

Let The Association of Flight Attendants Know Your Outrage: E-Mail them, here...

pfriend@afanet.org

afatalk@afanet.org

" Liar! Liar! Pants Are On Fire..........."

2008-03-31T13:41:00.000-07:00

The deceptive shenanigans continue to eminate from the House of AFA!!

With the National Mediation Vote underway for the Delta flight attendants; the all out AFA fear mongering rhetoric, filled with exaggerations and deceptions, rages on. It has become blantly clear, that the money-grubbing AFA machine, will resort at any cost to "pursuade" the Delta flight attendants the necessity to join the AFA ranks.

The lies are getting HOT at AFA

It certainly has not taken the Northwest flight attendants very long to see the reality of AFA. That reality is a long history of deception and exaggeration to take credit for the achievements, while blaming all the failures on others. Here are just a couple of examples we have experienced in our short relationship with AFA

Just a short 10 months ago, with two TA rejections by the NWA flight attendants, the election count deadline of TA 3 was extended 3 hours! Think that was honest?

The past 10 months we have learned the Membership offices of AFA are a mess!! Have you been incorrectly billed? or threatened over AFA errors?? And this same membership office determined the legitimacy of valid membership during the TA 3 count. Think that was honest and accurate?

AFA has claimed $30 million dollars in improvements between TA 1, TA 2 and the AFA negotiated TA 3. Where? Be it TA 1, TA 2 or TA 3; be it PFAA or AFA, when Judge Gropper said $195 million, it mean't $195 million. Shifting the numbers around is just that, shifting the numbers. Think the AFA rhetoric was honest?

10 months after the TA 3 ballot count, the NWA flight attendants are still waiting for their completed contract. While the negotiating team of Retrum, Offerly and Yung continue spending the money? And MEC President Griffith continues to allow changes and alterations to your TA 3 contract! Think that is honest?

In recent AFA Delta organizing materials, AFA takes credit for the flight attendant "exiting bankruptcy claim". AFA fails to mention that the bankruptcy claim was in a previous TA, negotiated with a previous union! Think that is honest?

In the most recent Delta/AFA Newsletter of March 31, 2008, Organizer Traci Kali authors an income comparison with "real live AFA represented" members containing 2007 W-2 Statements. "W-2's don't lie" she tells the Delta group. Well, I made no where near the $63,000 claimed by Kali. And the 2007 W-2 income would include the NWA bankruptcy exit claim (that fact is NOT mentioned by Kali), less than honest for the 92 hours claimed by Traci Kali. Check out Kali's work at http://deltaafa.org/aefiles/DeltaWklyNewsLtr25.pdf Think that is honest?

It is quite evident, that the lies and firestorm continues to rage at AFA.

All by the seat of their AFA pants..........

The deceptive lies, exaggerations and deceptions continue. You know the truth and should expect honesty and transparency, at the very least, from your AFA leaders!

Do you really want these dishonest and deceptive AFA folks representing your future? Are there not other more honest and accountable unions? Maybe holding the power in your hands, rather than Washington, keeps them honest?

Remember to hold AFA accountable for their lies and deceptive practices! Let your leaders know; you know and demand the truth. lecmec@nwaafa.org

UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE>>>>>>>>>>>>

LIES, LIES, LIES..........THE LIES CONTINUE FROM AFA

THE $64,000 QUESTION ???

Did you earn nearly $64,000 last year? AFA thinks you did.

The following e-mail correspondence discusses the concerns raised regarding the truthfulness of the recent Delta/AFA Newsletter of March 31, 2008 and newswriter Traci Kali.

Dear Michael,

My name is Mark Stell and I am one of the Co-Chairs for Communications for our Delta-AFA campaign. Our campaign received your email today and I have been asked to respond to it on behalf of Ms. Kali.

Firstly, let me assure you that our primary goals in communicating with our co-workers are to be honest, sincere and inspiring to our readers. Our communications team prides itself on our commitment to journalistic excellence at all times. Our campaign has never been solely about winning our representation election ... it has also been about building the future of our Delta-AFA structure. We are extremely proud of what we have accomplished over the last 18 months and we would never risk the hard work of all our activists by exploiting a mis-information campaign. In addition, Ms. Kali, a former writer for the Associated Press, is constantly checking and re-checking any fact or statement that could raise any ethics question. We are very lucky to have her working with us on our campaign.

I have attached the 12/27/07 – end of year paycheck stub – from a Northwest Airlines flight attendant. This is what we used, along with similar documentation submitted by other AFA represented flight attendants, to write our article. In the Northwest example, this FA’s salary was enhanced by a payment of a $15,000 post bankruptcy equity claim that Delta flight attendants did not receive. Further, this Northwest flight attendant also received a share of the savings Northwest Airlines realized from the cost reductions associated with their flight attendant early out program. In Delta’s current job reduction programs, Delta flight attendants have no similar opportunity to share in the cost savings our company expects to realize.

I realize you do not support the Association of Flight Attendants, Michael. At the same I time, I’m sure you realize any organization, whether it’s a homeowner’s association or the board of directors of a local church, needs the valued participation of its members in order to be effective. While AFA may not be perfect, the majority of my colleagues and I believe joining AFA offers us a greater opportunity to have a meaningful voice and role in our professional careers. Once we win our representational election we intend to negotiate our first contract in record time and to be a role model for labor relations for the entire airline industry.

Sincerely,

Mark Stell
Co-Chair of Communications
Delta-AFA Organizing Committee

Response regarding untruths and deceptive reporting

Dear Mr. Mark Stell,

Thank You for taking the time to respond to my recent e-mail. I appreciate your efforts. However, I along with hundreds of Northwest Airlines flight attendants, continue to discuss the disingenuous $63,000 earnings question, authored by Ms. Traci Kali, in a recent article.Despite the credentials of Ms. Kali, I continue to question the validity of many of her claims and the truth and accuracy of her reporting.

First, it is less than honest to just put out there, the number $63,000 without clarifying for the reader the truthfulness of such a statement. You did mention, in your e-mail, the resulting $63,000 "was enhanced" to include the bankruptcy claim AND the early out cost savings the Northwest Airlines flight attendants received ($15-$18,000). However, the story did not.

An unsuspecting reader of your article (Delta flight attendant) may not get a true and accurate picture of a "real live" Northwest flight attendant earnings. Do you not think that information should also be included?? Do you not want to give a "fair and honest" report to the Delta flight attendants? Is it not dishonest to omit such a caveat? So maybe, a more truthful and accurate earning report for a Northwest flight attendant would be at most, $45,000. That would be at the bottom of Ms. Kali's comparison (yep, right next to Delta!)

Honesty and truthfulness are not judged simply on the written word; rather ethical and truthful journalistic practices include not taking the liberty to omit facts. This factual omission may unjustly bias the reader or may indeed, alter the accuracy of the reporting !! As a former Associated Press writer, who "is constantly checking and re-checking any fact or statement that could raise any ethics questions" Ms. Traci Kali failed miserably in clearly and truthfully stating the "real live" Northwest flight attendant income.

Secondly, Ms. Kali's report states "19 years 92 hours". This figure implies that the Northwest flight attendant worked 92 hours a month to reach that $63,000 figure. But where, on the information you provided, is that "92 hour" information?? By failing to qualify her statements, Ms. Kali implies that a Northwest Airlines flight attendant in 2007 flew (92 hrs x 12 months) = 1,104 hours divided by $63,000 and earns over $60 per hour in earnings......simply, not the truth!!

Third, Ms. Kali clearly states "W-2" statements and "W-2s don't lie", the fundamental premise of her article NOT the paycheck stubs you forwarded to me. Is that not less than honest, if Ms. Kali used paycheck stubs instead of the stated W-2s? If I may explain. I have a domestic partner who receives medical/dental coverage and travels frequently on NWA. As a result, I am taxed for those benefits, which are added into each one my paychecks as additional income. Not a real reflection of my true earnings. In the attached paycheck stub, we have no evidence what is and is not included in the "year to date earnings". In your e-mail you state: "I have attached the 12/27/07-end of year paycheck stub-from a Northwest Airlines flight attendant. This is what we used, along with similar documentation submitted by other AFA represented flight attendants, to write our article."

So which is it?

The paycheck stub you claim or the copy of the W-2 Ms. Kali vehemently claimed did "not lie"? I would suspect your willingness to submit a copy of the paycheck stub validates your statement and once again calls into question the accuracy of Ms. Kali's reporting.

Mr. Stell, as the Co-Chair of Communications for the Delta AFA organizing campaign, I have identified several issues regarding your recent publication. I, along with hundreds of Northwest Airlines flight attendants, are once again disappointed in a communications team "that prides itself on our commitment to journalistic excellence at all times". In your e-mail you have stated "that our primary goals in communicating with our co-workers are to be honest, sincere and inspiring to our readers." Ms. Kali's recent article has certainly failed each of those goals.

On behalf of my dedicated and hard-working colleagues at Northwest Airlines; struggling to make their mortgage payments and put food on the table, I urge you and Ms. Traci Kali to offer a correction and clarification of your mis-information campaign. A true and accurate picture. I would expect no less from an organization "that prides itself on journalistic excellence" and an AFA organization that has unfairly misrepresented its Northwest Airlines Membership.

Unfortunately, another example: Why does AFA continue to have difficulty in "just telling the truth"? The members deserve better.

Regards,
Michael Lehr

Read the story, you be the judge!

http://deltaafa.org/aefiles/DeltaWklyNewsLtr25.pdf

Let Pat Friend and your LEC-MEC know you earned nothing like her over $100,000 salary. It is evident, AFA needs to be reminded how much you really earned last year under an AFA negotiated contract!!

pfriend@afanet.org

lecmec@nwaafa.org

Are AFA Clowns Masquerading in MSP Hotels??

2008-03-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

No Clowning! AFA Is Spending Your $$$$$$

Who is watching for signs of abuse and misuse?

We have continued to blog on the potential abuse of your dues and the massive overspending of many of the LEC budgets. As part of such potential mismanagement; it appears no oversight is implemented to prevent certain union officials from "deciding" to FPL (flight pay loss) their entire month!! YOU pay for their entire month and what are they doing for you during that full month of FPL?? Taking a full month of FPL for a smaller base is an expensive endeavor and costs YOU. This unaccounting of such a decision allows the local LEC rulers and fivedoms to make the decision and you pay! Yes, it has been happening.......Ask your LEC if they may reMEMber taking a full month of FPL?? And can they justify such expense??

With the Delta campaign underway, some union officials have been masquerading various FPL under different budgets (separate from their "local LEC" budget). This clown ruse is deceptive and remains unaccounted.....Remember Danny Campbell claiming that the organization of Delta flight attendants was funded by the CWA??? In a round about circus kind of way, YOU are one of the true sources of such funds and you have a right to know. How much is AFA indebted to CWA? How and when are they going to be able to "pay back" those funds?? [Could the "pay back" be when AFA "wins" the Delta vote and increases the CWA coffers by $6.5 million a year? Is this the true reason AFA continues to attempt to "pursuade" the Delta flight attendants with fear-mongering...... the MONEY?]

Let's take a closer look at the NWA-MEC Budget .....

The annual budget for the NWA-MEC is in excess of $600,000. (Excluding LEC or the national AFA-CWA budgets)

Office expenses-everything from administration, conference calls to internet costs average nearly $34,000 per month

All NWA-MEC Committee expenses from Air Safety to Mobilization budget over $18,000 per month.

MEC Monthly Totals Average $50,000 per month!

The largest and most consistent overage in the MEC budget each month is...........HOTELS. Is it any wonder the NWA-MEC exceeds the $2,000 per month budget for hotels when we consider those responsible for "indexing" our long over due contract are still at work after 8 months! And......these unelected union officials continue to use hotel rooms in MSP; including, Minneapolis resident Bruce Retrum! I guess he is just too tired to drive home each night after a hard day at work?? The clown show continues.... Ask Bruce bretrum@nwaafa.org

This AFA Circus must begin to be accountable to the membership, rather than increasing member's dues!!!

Let your MEC know you are outraged by their outrageous spending!! In the not too distant past, AFA found itself with no money in the coffers and merged with CWA for their very survival.....today the spending continues! Walking on a tightrope, for certain; a balancing the books act in multiple budgets to keep you from uncovering where your money is being spent!!!

MEC VP Albert Garcia Gets the Heck Out of Dodge.....

2008-03-13T21:54:00.000-07:00

NWA MEC Vice President RESIGNS.......

All Is Not OK, At The House of AFA Corral-

Northwest MEC Ruled by Gun Slinging Thug Mentality; Chaos Reigns as Village Sheriff is Out of Town.......

We mentioned last month, all was NOT well in the AFA House of Cards. We even suggested more resignations were expected.......but who would have expected the AFA Poster Boy and Vice President himself, Albert Garcia????

Guess, our evaluation of the serious issues facing the Northwest MEC have come to pass! It seems Albert threatened to resign earlier but was convinced to stay by MEC President Kevin Griffith......until another day. Well, that day has now arrived!! The House of Cards Built by AFA continues to collapse...........

Less than a month later, Albert Garcia seems to have had his fill of the childish antics of a few of the LEC officials and has determined that working within the AFA Structure is not possible for the majority of the Northwest Airlines LEC dictators! They and their gun slinging mentality, simply don't get it........the desperatos blame everyone but themselves!

Outsiders have been preaching for months that the few are ruining it for the majority and the House of AFA was beginning to crumble! Seems the previous petty in house fights between LEC and their members is just the beginning.....the upper levels of the MEC are starting to falter as well....

Classic case: Too Many Gun-Toting Cowboys and Not Enough Indians, in a town without a Sheriff. Seems that MEC President Kevin Griffith had been holding things together but due to family illness, his absence has permitted lawlessness to reign.

Many of the LEC common diatribes directed to dissenting voices: "my way or the highway" "just the way it is" or "pack your bags!" This behavior from your elected union officials toward one another......at a most critical time in our future! You deserve better. These lawless desperados have created havoc within the House of AFA.

Guess it was not all it was cracked up to be at AFA, "the flight attendant union"; we have seen and done better ourselves. When will AFA understand it is the undemocratic structure of decisionmaking that is the problem??

And as Albert Garcia packs his saddle bags and heads to Washington, maybe the LEC-MEC will get their sh#* together. Not likely, though. You heard it here First: Expect even more resignations to come!

In the mean time, there is a reward being offered by AFA for the return of AFA Poster Boy, Albert Garcia

Back in the Saddle Again: And the AFA Wild, Wild West Show Continues..........

I Think "Ima" Gonna Throw Up.....

2008-03-13T20:55:00.000-07:00

Get those air sickness bags ready.....

Another sad attempt by AFA to make you think they are finally doing something

Introducing the latest creative communication from the House of AFA!

IMA (Informed Member Advocate) How much of your dues has been spent on this mobilization effort?? Seems like the geniuses at AFA have spent countless hours and massive amounts of money in an attempt to lure your interest in the newly revealed membership engagement campaign. Another immature example of why this MEC is just not ready to lead you!

Have you heard the commentary? What is the point? Did I miss something??Dial 1-888-3NWA-AFA, Option #2 And Listen for yourself....

Clearly this was a last minute effort put together with little or no thought....And who in their right mind would create such and insulting and demeaning diatribe on the virtues of AFA? AFA and their media team are wondering why the "Ima" campaign received such a poor reaction from the flight attendants......Let me share with you why.

The flight attendants are an articulate and intelligent group of people who can think for themselves without the ill conceived dramatics of AFA and their "award winning" communications department spoon feeding their propaganda. We have a union that has failed to develop a strategy, failed to effectively communicate with its membership and continues spewing its hateful fear- mongering crusade and this is what we get???? A juvenile attempt at humor, at best.

Your future is in these folks hands..........The true meaning behind IMA........

Insulting Manipulative Antics

"Friend" & Company Eating You Out of House and Home.....

2008-03-03T14:39:00.000-08:00

And your price to sit at the AFA-CWA dinner table increases 10% , beginning June 1, 2008

That is no "Friend" of mine.

You continue to have to work 100 hours to make a living wage and your union makes their marriage to CWA official in October 2007, by agreeing to raise your dues over 10% to $43.00 per month. Where is the fairness? Where is a democratic membership vote? Reality: You must hold your LEC accountable. Ask how your LEC President voted. The only NWAAFA base to overwhelming vote "against" the dues increase.........San Francisco

The House of AFA continues to pride itself on it's bottom up power structure, insisting the power of the organization is in your hands. But the disgruntled AFA membership is discovering maybe within your hands but always just out of reach......If the power is from the bottom up,why then, is the sitting Queen reigning in a whopping salary of $108,000* piece of the pie per year while you continue to work under the AFA negotiated 40% paycuts?? Sounds like a "top-down" money structure at the least.

What good has AFA and the top hierarchy proven? Why do the LEC officials struggle and continue to fight to bring every dollar back to the LEC level to represent you; while the corrupt House of AFA continues to eat up your membership dollars??

Outrageous pay for a "Friend"ly token, with no power........What good is she, other than eating up your dues??? Why not eliminate her position and give raises to the LEC where all the "power" is located??

The corrupt and undemocratic AFA structure has been very methodical in their constitutional changes. Why do you suppose they have "scattered" election cycles on the LEC level?? This prevents any type of reform within AFA. By scattering the election cycles, AFA allows current fiefdoms to remain in power while preventing any drastic changes with alternate year elections. This also keeps the AFA organization from remaining accountable to the membership and prevents a democratic ticket from creating sweeping reforms, systemwide. This is exactly how money-mongering Patricia Friend has remained in power for years!

During the past couple of years, nearly bankrupt AFA found itself in a precarious situation and was forced to merge with another standing union to stay afloat. Despite being on the brink of bankruptcy, AFA continues today to gobble up the cash with the deep pockets of their merger partner CWA. Ask your AFA officials how much AFA owe the CWA union and when they expect this debt to be paid???

Who continues to feed this money grubbing machine?? YOU

Despite the semantics of some union officials that their FPL (flight pay loss) is being paid by CWA and NOT AFA......who do they think is CWA????? YOU and your dues! The last LM-2 filed with the Department of Labor was 2006 and AFA had coffers worth $2 and membership of zero.....Check it out for yourself at http://erds.dol-esa.gov/query/getOrgQry.do AFA, as a lone union, does not exist. AFA is CWA. CWA is AFA. SHAME on Danny Campbell for insisting that the generousity of CWA is funding his campaign at Delta; rather than acknowledging your hard working dues are contributing to his FPL. Your dues are helping pay these costs no matter how you divide the pie. Period.

$54, 544..... While you were working under a 40% pay cut, "part time" CWA employee Danny Campbell earned over $54,000 while on union leave at Northwest! A mobilization campaign appointee; someone you never even elected!! But Danny claims you did not pay his wages......Your dues go into the CWA coffers: let him know you are not stupid and what you think of his flippant and disingenuous response!

The rising costs of AFA-CWA dues, enables the outrageous fea$t to continue........

AFA House of Cards........Starting to Collapse

2008-02-28T11:33:00.000-08:00

Earlier we blogged about the unprecedented flurry of activity germinating from the corporate offices of the House of AFA. It seemed, as though, the Legal Department went into overdrive in a massive attempt to mitigate the possible hostilities from the membership; about AFA's lack of a strategy and lack of communication. AFA Officials cried foul; "Ignore" and "anti-union" in hopes of inciting the membership to disregard the blogs and statements of the few. However, the few felt compelled to get the facts and information out for you to decide for yourself...... Not only is the membership listening and discussing their concerns about AFA, but the officials of AFA have now been forced to deal with a more and more disillusioned membership. Thousands of NWA flight attendants have turned to the blogs for the information and knowledge AFA has failed to provide!! AFA response: a MASSIVE e-mail assault from AFA during the past 3 weeks; unheard of since AFA raided the Northwest property!!

The House of Cards Built by AFA

Are they telling you everything or just what they want you to hear??? Without a doubt, only the spoon-fed information they wish you to have..... Is their House of Cards slowly collapsing around them????

1. They don't want to talk about what Delta has in their "policy manual". They don't want you to know that Delta flight attendants have substantially what you have in your contract! Sure, some things in NWA contract are a little better and some in the Delta "policy manual" remain better but by and large, for a "non-union" property, Delta does pretty well. Are you now starting to wonder is my union worth $500 per year??? That is just the feeling of doubt they don't want you to have.

2. AFA does not want to discuss the campaign loss of Compass Airlines flight attendants. Why is this important?? PFAA had negotiated on behalf of the "newly created" Compass Airlines flight attendants. PFAA believed, as well as the NWA flight attendants, that the most junior NWA flight attendants may be forced into Compass. In order to protect those junior NWA flight attendants, PFAA negotiated the right to represent those flight attendants. When AFA raided the property, they "gave away" representing the Compass flight attendants and then turned around and lost the recent campaign to organize the Compass flight attendants!! Strategically, this may prove to be a major faux pas in the future; as "non-union" Compass flights possibly take more and more of the "union" NWA flying!!

3. AFA does not want to discuss the Delta campaign. After multiple losses at attempts to organize the Delta flight attendants, AFA is just not certain they can pull this off alone. AFA seems doubtful that the Delta flight attendants will fall victim to the AFA campaign of fear and rhetoric of uncertainty! Didn't work in the past and probably will not work today. Afterall, the AFA negotiated contracts are not much better (if at all) to what the Delta flight attendants work. Even what Pat Friend said, back in 1999, appears to be pretty accurate even today; "Delta has always kept its pay and benefits equal to or a little better than the union carriers." Suppose that is why AFA did not want you to have the Delta files?? And why they went into panic mode when we released them here? Not much of a reason to vote for AFA. What about SCOPE? Current events look like Delta CEO Richard "No Deal" Anderson keeps his word and is "watching" out for his employees and their desire to be fairly integrated into a seniority list; hence the more junior Delta pilots demand for ratio integration rather than more senior NWA pilot demand for date of hire!! Maybe AFA fears are unwarranted?? You decide.

4. AFA Officials are counting on YOU. If the Delta Campaign fails, AFA is counting on you to organize Delta in the event of a merger. They may not say it directly, but AFA implies that with our 8,000 union members (maybe, just maybe, we can convince 3,000 Delta (25%) ) and keep AFA on the property. What they won't talk about is many within their own NWA ranks who remain disillusioned with AFA and the BIGGER is not necessarily better theory! What about a third party union? or a more democratic union model? They will not talk about the multitude of possibilities in your hands.

5. AFA will not talk about political appointments and their good ol' boys politics. Wonder how some of the former union officials (whom you did not elect to AFA) are speaking for you?? Sort of AFA's way of paying back those who sought to raid PFAA, and bring AFA on property!! Retrum, Reilley, Campbell, Offerle, just off the top of my head. Speaking of Danny "lapdog" Campbell, check this out regarding his Delta campaign www.deltafa.org/afa_member_welcome_page.htm Does anyone doubt he is Pat Friend's new "best friend"?? Remember, it was not too long ago, that AFA failed to win a representational election on property between IBT and AFA. Remember the scare tactics? Remember the fear-mongering? It's not the time? Work with what we have? Records in a shoe box? No office? Corruption? Sound familiar? Both unions were cut of the same cloth.....what about a truly democratic union? One that listens to the membership? One who communicates freely and without fear. Does such a union exist? You decide.

6. AFA will not discuss your dues going up. The BOD meeting in October finalized the CWA deal and your dues go up June 1, 2008 by 10%. Heard anything from AFA on this, other than a subtle mention?? WHY??? They are fearful during this contentious time, that during your AFA negotiated pay cuts, their dues increase! Formerly, nearly bankrupt AFA, wishes to keep sucking up the CWA organizing funds and had no choice but to agree to the dues increase! To your detriment but you have a choice!

Yes, the House of Cards is beginning to collapse........

7. The newly appointed IMPACT chairs for AFA have both resigned. Just a short 5 days ago, via AFA e-News, Kevin Griffith unveiled the IMPACT committee. Are the petty politics once again ruining the strongest "union for flight ttendants by flight attendants"?? With the sudden departure of both Todd and Sean, Guess, all is not cozy in the House built by AFA. Maybe AFA will ask me now, if I would like to be SFO coordinator?? Seems I volunteered a month ago for the position and never received a phone call from Todd Hurlbut. Think AFA picks and chooses who they want? hehehehe Probably more resignations to come, stay tuned.

8. AFA will not communicate the truth about your MEC meetings. Did you know Guy Meek and Joan Prince Crandall spoke on the SCOPE issue last Friday? Any mention from your union officials?? Why the silence? Are they afraid of appearing incompetent regarding the SCOPE language? Who was at that meeting??? And who was absent??? These are IMPORTANT issues and you should know the truth.....

When you build a House of Cards, under a wobbly foundation; when the walls start collapsing, there is always SILENCE, PANIC .....and then a BIG.........

Keeping YOU, in the Dark....

2008-02-19T06:53:00.000-08:00

Have you noticed the flurry of communications from AFA, of late? It seems some union officials are irate that you now have the knowledge alongside the Delta "Policy Manual". Knowledge is power. And a power AFA does not want you to have!! Make up your own mind........In order to counteract any negative feelings or doubts you may have regarding the Delta Rules and Regulations, AFA Communications have gone on full alert. Have you ever received so much propaganda from AFA since coming on this property? No. Has AFA ever been willing to address your concerns? Never. Has AFA ever adequately communicated a strategy with you? No way. Well, now that YOU have the knowledge (Delta "Policy Manual") AFA is suddenly feeling the heat. They even created a merger question and answer e-mail!!! The heat is on........ and they are doing everything possible to interpret and influence your thought. But you decide! You have the information

Did you know your MEC was meeting in Minneapolis today? It appears part of keeping any membership informed is to publish an agenda and any possible action items which may take place that could potentially effect the everyday lives of the members. This MEC has once again failed to keep you, the member, informed. By neglect or potentially purposely failing to publish an agenda, AFA continues to operate their political games and back door schemes without full disclosure to it's members. That's it....keeping you in the dark!

AFA remains prideful of membership involvement and "volunteering" while secretly creating new positions within the union and naming a new "chair" of a committee, just about every month. At YOUR expense. Professing to be the all "inclusive" union, while quietly excluding others that may disagree with AFA practices. Rewarding political favors while shunning others who may have more experience or more fairly represent the best interest of the entire group. Let's take a closer look.....

It is no secret, after AFA raided the property, Danny Campbell and Mollie Reilley failed to be elected as MEC of NWA-AFA, both were quietly rewarded a postion at AFA. Both have spent nearly 9 months attempting to organize the Delta flight attendants, and finally collected enough cards to call for an election, just last week. Who is paying their salaries and expenses???? YOU These same two individuals, who you did not elect to an AFA position; you are paying for anyways. Sound like political favors?? or sorta like a cold.......you just can't seem to get rid of!

Does AFA think they are going to win this Delta organizing attempt?? No way and they published their own doubts, right here for all to see.......Refer to "Merger Q & A "(e-mail 19 Feb 2008 from AFA Communications) Response to Question 13 includes:

We should be just as focused, first on winning the Delta election and, if that doesn't work, then on winning when there's a representation vote for the combined workforce when the merger takes place."

If that doesn't work........Hmmm. Sounds pretty doubtful to me! How many attempts to organize Delta Airlines has AFA orchestrated? And how many of the previous attempts have failed? All of them. -Delta Airlines flight attendants do not want AFA! And they do not seem the least bit intimidated by the AFA fearmongering.....

Speaking of bad colds. For those who have been around for a while, does the name Bruce Retrum ring a bell??? For those who may not know, he was another power hungry former IBT (Teamsters) union official who often times was accused of not operating in the best interest of the NWA group. Leased Cadillacs and office furniture. Well,..... He's back!! Yes, YOU continue to pay his salary every month, as he completes the work on that contract promised to you more than 6 months ago!! Bruce, along with former IBT cohort Lovey "I Married Well" Offerle continue the work on the printed contract. This is starting to resemble a government contract......over budget with excruciating delays!! How much has this tragic contract ordeal cost this membership??? Speaking of which, have you asked your AFA NWA MEC Where is the contract??

And finally, with the recent merger events President Kevin Griffith has invited former union officials to a roundtable discussion on the merger possibilities. Let me tell you, it was not without fierce pressure and outrage that this event was even scheduled to occur. The SCOPE (by far, voted by the FA's in the contract survey as the most important issue) language protections that this group faces with a potential merger were to be discussed. However, due to internal bickering and politics certain individuals were not going to be invited.........including the one individual who has consistently, for over 30 years, fought for SCOPE protections in the flight attendant contracts. She has previously negotiated that language and probably understands it better than anyone. She and former PFAA President Guy Meek have been on the battleground for industry leading SCOPE language for years.

So, the challenge remains. In order for this union to remain transparent and visible for all to see, we must challenge our elected officials to stand up for the entire groups' best interest. In order for true democracy to take place within our union, we must fight for active inclusion for all and not allow the political squabbling to continue to erode the best interest of the collective group. We must begin to demand meeting agendas and hold all of our AFA leaders accountable. Only then can real democracy and not political favors contol our destiny.

UPDATE: AFA has now sent Danny Campbell back to AverageJoe Website to once again begin his propaganda postings; after a lengthy absence. And Mr. Campbell is now offering to send the Delta Policy Manual via e-mail.

WHY the change Danny? Did you not have the Delta policy manual long ago? like maybe last year! It wasn't good enough to give to the members back then, WHY now?

Little late ....AFA has already lost its credibility. This blog began posting the Delta information way back on February 5th. Did we reveal the secret, AFA wanted to withold from the membership???

Will the Real D.B Cooper, Please Stand Up???

2008-02-11T15:09:00.000-08:00

Isn't it strange, no matter how long ago you started your career, you always remember your first!! Your first working flight....Your first international destination...... Your first check-ride........ Your first time as lead. I remember, as though yesterday, my first international flight. It was back in the late 80's and I based in DTW, still on probation. I was assigned a flight to LAX. Overnite. And the following day, LAX-NRT. Yipee! Journey on to exotic Tokyo! WOW. How exciting. I was now able to enjoy what this job was all about.....the global travel. When I boarded the aircraft the next day in LAX, I was joined by a very senior SEA crew. These guys and gals could've been my grandparents! I'll never forget the "lead", his name was Ken Christensen and he reminded me of a quiet but friendly grandpa. I recall, his seniority number at that time was like, 57. Oh, the crew was great and they treated me well. They seemed to be invigorated by the excitement of the new kid on the block. My memories of that senior flight include Ken passing around a ground time sheet to be signed (at that time the sheet was signed by everyone, regardless of your base) and his signature appeared shaky and arthritic......Ken didn't say much, but silently visited every jumpseat and checked that we had each placed our flashlites in their holders and most of all, I remembered thinking how difficult this job must be for someone with a hearing aid in each ear! This young, twenty- something, could never imagine being here that long!Twenty years later, I still speak fondly of my first international flight with that SEA crew!! I would have never thought I'd still be here. I was in for quite a shock, when I recently read the New York Magazine article and the mysterious case of DB Cooper. Throughout the years, I had heard that it happened on a Northwest flight but NEVER had I heard what was now before me....

Thought you, too, might enjoy the story.

http://nymag.com/news/features/39593/

Who would have suspected, what has now been written about that kindly grandpa-like fellow, I met nearly 20 years ago. It is sad, now, to hear of the final years of Ken's life. But the memory and legacy of flying with Ken, forever remain. The folk hero status afforded the man that got away; The world will probably never know, for certain. Who would've suspected? Not I. Maybe just that; no one suspected, is why this remains an unsolved mystery.

Truth or Galley Gossip Years later, I recall discussing the topic with a former SEA flight attendant who knew some of the crew involved in the DB Cooper hijacking. She mentioned then that the "FBI thought it was an inside job. They used to call and harass the crew, even years later, on layovers and late at night with obscure questions about that day in 1971. One of the girls was so troubled by the incident she quit and joined the convent."

Have you heard this story? How about this one, some of the pursers smuggling gold into the country? Comment? Thoughts?

Hocus Pocus, Take A Look Into My Crystal Ball....

2008-02-09T10:57:00.000-08:00

NWA MEC President, Kevin Griffith, stated in his letter dated, 09 Feb 2008 at 12:12 am (really working late!)

"I do not have a crystal ball. I cannot predict what next week may bring about for certainty"

Well let us look into the crystal ball and what do we see..........

The AFA team has been very busy at work [note Griffiths e-mail time] the past few days, as they have e-mailed a carefully scripted communique just about every day. The long ago demand for information, strategy and effective communication seems to have finally reached AFA Central. The message is loud and clear, AFA was pressured to develop a more effective plan of action and quickly.

Hundreds of flight attendants filled with frustration, angst and anxiety have inquired and demanded answers from their union. As a result, a flurry of activity has originated from headquarters resulting in the single largest barrage of communication from AFA, ever (well, unless you count campaigning!) Thanks to each of you, some answers are forthcoming and a little light is beginning to shine through.

But why now? Many members have been asking lots of important questions of NWA AFA for quite sometime. What is our plan? Our strategy? Why are we not hearing anything? What happens if we merge? My concerns are not being addressed. These are just a few of those important questions asked and often with no response. With the recent media speculation increasing of a possible merger within weeks, AFA still had failed to deliver.

Suddenly, with the online downloading of the Delta "Policy Manual", the pressure increased tenfold. Now a group of rogue flight attendants were taking matters into their own hands to get the information out to the Northwest flight attendants. It suddenly could not be suppressed anymore and had to be addressed NOW. Knowledge is power.

Just a side note, AFA Central has been paying Danny Campbell, Mollie Reilley , et al to conduct a representation campaign at Delta. And during the past year, AFA has failed to acquire a copy of the Delta "Policy Manual" to use to find weaknesses, so they can convince the Delta flight attendants to join AFA ? Come on. If they did have a copy of the Delta "Policy Manual", one could imagine AFA Central had a dilemma: In the interest of the membership "do we suppress the information?" or "do we share the contents with other councils (even though it is better than their existing contract) and face anger." Sadly, we suspect the answer. Suppress.

It became evident, very quickly, AFA was suddenly forced to deal with the Delta "Policy Manual" going public and the resulting barrage of questions. Flight attendants were finally able to see for themselves what the Delta "Policy Manual" contained and some of what it contained was substantially better than their existing AFA negotiated contract. Now the possibility of a merger along with the wrath of the Northwest flight attendants wasn't good. Suddenly, a whole campaign for representation could be in jeopardy.

I have stated from the beginning, I am not anti-union. Let me say that again: I am NOT anti-union. However, I do demand accountability and believe every dues paying member is owed that. When a union consistently fails to deliver that accountability or answer membership's concerns or conducts their business with fear tactics or careless disregard, then it is even more important to voice concern.

As to what the future holds, Griffith is correct. That remains uncertain. However, one thing is certain, during all this aviation uncertainty; AFA Central must conduct a more strategic, knowledge-based, fear-free and truthful information campaign if they wish to continue to hold on to the endorsement of their membership and continue to bring new labor recruits onboard.

That's what appears in my crystal ball, anyway.

People Who Live In Glass Houses.......

2008-02-07T21:33:00.000-08:00

Should Change Their Clothes in the Basement!

With the release of the now infamous "Delta Files", it has appeared to have made Patricia Friend, International President of AFA-CWA a little bit angry. President Friend, who lives in that great big glass house in Washington DC, was not a little angry but a lot angry!

After the Delta information was downloaded here, I invited Ms. Friend to visit this blog "Delta Contract Now, On-Line"(Sent my e-mail at 10:20am PST). Within 18 minutes, Ms. Friend immediately went into overdrive and fired off an e-mail (Sent her e-mail 1:38pm EST) to her lowly minions in an attempt to uncover who is this flight attendant and he needs to correct the "misleading and deceptive communications". Delta does not have a contract. NWA MEC V-President Alberto Garcia was the first to respond to his mistress' demand, "Michael Lehr is a SFO flight attendant" he reported back.

Her Majesty Friend continued that she was all for dissent, free speech "or whatever you want to call it", however, she was not in favor of such "misleading and deceptive communications". Of course, I immediately had my sitemeter tracker turned on and had 5 or 6 "Cwa-Sectreas Washington, District of" computer visits on this site for anywhere from 4-29 minutes in length. Without a doubt, AFA-CWA was indeed downloading all the Delta files!! Why else would someone be on this small weblog for such a lengthy period?? I guess this site may have had something they wanted.

AFA Legal Counsel went to work right away. (See comment by "David" Feb 5, 2008 at 10:47 am PST on this site-exactly when a CWA Sectreas computer was tracked) I suspect, like others, this is none other than AFA Legal Counsel David Borer. It is quite apparent, the Delta information divulged on this weblog was incredibly important to AFA-CWA to warrant such immediate high-level attention!

AFA Legal worked all day reading the file then composing a "researched" Merger Q & A Part 1, communication which they released just after midnite that evening. You all have probably received a copy, so I will only post important highlights (If you would like a copy let me know and I will forward to you)

5 February 2008

The following questions
and answers regarding mergers have been researched by AFA-CWA attorneys. As
additional information is gathered, it will be reported in hotline messages, on
union bulletin boards and on Local and MEC Websites. Archived Q&As will be
listed on the "Email Communications" page of our website, nwaafa.org.

Gathered is correct. Gathered by AFA from this weblog!

GREAT RESEARCH, CHECK OUT ANSWER TO QUESTION 5........

Delta does not have it better overall than we do. In fact, many of DL's work
rules are much worse than ours. Things that we take for granted are unheard of
at Delta, like having access to the seniority list to guard against seniority
violations. And, things that we have fought for at Northwest are not part of the
"policy manual" at Delta- they have no 4:15 minimum duty day......

WRONG!

Compensation, Section 6, Page 67 It's called Duty Period Averaging and is actually 30 minutes greater than the current 4:15 minimum duty day at Northwest!!

So much for the research from AFA legal counsel!

Moral of the story: Before accusing others of "deceptive and misleading communications" Ms. Friend, maybe you should ensure your own laundry is clean and by the way, please be sure to change your clothes in the basement!

UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!

Just received the following e-mail, from Pat Friend, 8 February 2008, 3:58 CST
Ms. Friend agrees the information "researched" by AFA lawyers is erroneous. Bunch of geniuses in that office!

Mr. Lehr,You are absolutely correct that the statement concerning minimum duty
day is misleading. In fact the DL management policy manual as it applies to
flight attendants makes reference to a 4:45 average duty day. I have asked your
MEC Office in MSP to issue a correction.Pat Friend

For the Delta Files, please click on "Peek-A-Boo", in the blog archive to your right.

Favorite us and check back often, for more adventures............

A Union With A Poison Pen; SFO President Responds

2008-02-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

After an amazing 24 hours, I sit here bewildered! I guess certain union officials are angry at your right to know, the Delta terms and conditions. I share with you just one example of the type of e-mail I (a dues paying member) have received from elected officials. Makes you all warm and fuzzy, huh?

"Michael,Since you hate NWA and our union so much, do us all a favor and quit now and apply at Delta. You will lose all your seniority but obviously you don't care about that as that is what WILL happen without a Union. No union = No contract = No scope. Think about that and quit being a moron!We don't have time for stupidity and/or vindictiveness right now. Bob. Robert G. CannatelliPresident, LEC 92 BostonAFA-CWA"

On the other hand, I am forever indebted to my LEC President for defending my right to challenge and inform, she responds:

Micheal Lehr has never been anti-union.
He has always challenged the various unions we have had on the property to provide open and honest communications.
As union officials it is our obligation to allow Micheal the right to dissent without castigating him or labeling him as anti-anything, especially anti-membership.
He is frustrated with this MEC because he feels that we are re-active and not inclusive. He has very high expectations of our union and he feels that in various areas we have let him down.
He expects our unions to be inclusive and responsive. He feels that NWAAFA has been neither.

As for realizing that Delta does not have a "contract'...he gets it.
I have had a conversation or three with Michael and I will always support his right to question, to rail and to challenge me and the rest of us...that is one of the luxuries and privileges afforded a dues paying dues member and denied a flight attendant who has no representation.

In the future do not ever write me and essentially tell me to "handle" a flight attendant.

Please, never,ever again threaten or otherwise harrass one of the SFO (or any NWA) flight attendants by telling them that they should "quit and join Delta if they don't like it".
If that is the way that our MEC feels about those who they are elected to represent then they should resign.

Kate Day
AFA-CWA
Local 97/SFO

To get to the Delta Files, please click "Peek-A-Boo" blog to the right.

Peek-A-Boo....Copy of a Delta Contract, For You!

2008-02-04T20:44:00.000-08:00

This just in.......a secret source has secured for yours truly, the Delta Airlines flight attendant contract. Ever wanted to know the difference in pay? Did you know they get Training Pay? How about Short Crew/Understaffing Pay? Now is your chance. I will be publishing the pages, as they come available. Don't forget to tell your friends. If AFA doesn't want you to have the FACTS, the FACTS will be here for all the world to see! If I can figure out how to upload the damn thing......rats!

You asked for it, you got it! Unfortunately, I am unable to post .pdf files on my blog, so I had to create those pages, then add links for you to get to them. You will need adobe reader to read these. [Most computers have it, if not download for free at http://www.adobereader.com/] Once you click on these links, they will take you to blue colored pages where you'll once again have to click on the file name (which ends in .pdf). Have fun and share with friends!

"ISN'T IT ROMANTIC, I MEAN SEMANTIC" No sooner than I uploaded the Delta data, than the blog was visited by 5 CWA computers (Union officials. I invited them to visit, of course!) I was e-mailed comments by various AFA union representatives, basically saying Delta does not have a contract. I don't care what you call it; agreement, piece of paper, what ever. It clearly is much better than what AFA negotiated for our flight attendants. It seems AFA, does NOT want you to have this information, for what ever reason. No complaints from the rank and file membership. It's here and YOU decide!

UPDATE: Thanks for all the encouraging words! Between 10:30 and 1:30pm (3 hours after the Delta post) the blog had 464 hits today. Amazing! I guess this information was what the flight attendants were waiting for. I will try to answer every e-mail, as time allows. Pass the information on to your friends and keep checking back! Thanks, Michael

Here it is:

Delta Contract-Overview http://planeguy.undefined.googlepages.com/home
Delta Contract-Section 1 http://planeguy.undefined.googlepages.com/deltacontractlegalities
Delta Contract-Section 2 http://planeguy.undefined.googlepages.com/deltacontractreroute
Delta Contract-Section 3 http://planeguy.undefined.googlepages.com/deltacontractaccessdays
Delta Contract-Section 4
http://planeguy.undefined.googlepages.com/deltacontractcompensation
Delta Contract-Section 5 http://planeguy.undefined.googlepages.com/deltacontractbids
Delta Contract-Section 6 http://planeguy.undefined.googlepages.com/deltacontractschedulechange
Delta Contract-Revisions http://planeguy.undefined.googlepages.com/deltacontractrevisions

Violet Beaureguard and the Umpah Lumpahs

2008-02-04T13:38:00.000-08:00

Nothing is more refreshing, than to know, your airline just came out of bankruptcy and has decided to purchase new uniforms. Yipee! In my airlines case, not only a new uniform but a whole new airline!! (More on that another day) My colleagues and I had our benefits and pay slashed by 40%, a whopping amount for a $20,000/ year starting salary. No joke! Our unions begged and pleaded with the court declaring the airline was "overreaching". All on deaf ears and to no avail. Well, six months after emergence from bankruptcy and my airline now has the millions necessary to revamp and reclothe the entire cast and crew! I can't afford to pay for lunch but I will be smartly dressed in crisp new rags.......

It's time, they say: after 15 years in our dapper, blue herringbone, polyester blend. Hey, why don't you just keep us in this uniform another 15 years and give us some of our money back? Guess no one is listening.

I don't know who Miranda Moss is. As a matter of fact, I have never even heard of her. I guess I am not the fashionista, one may expect. This "fashionable and comfortable" new line is scheduled to roll out in the Fall of 2008 and was designed by Ms. Moss. Now I have nothing against Miranda Moss, but I swear ,she must of been watching "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" when she sketched these designs! Golly, the periwinkle blue and grey (Delta tried this combination just a short time ago and changed again! Hint) reminds me of Violet Beaureguard when she ate the candy and turned into a BIG, FLOATING BLUEBERRY with all the Umpah Lumpahs. Take a peek. See what you think. And close your eyes and imagine......walking down the concourse and you see hundreds of periwinkle blue sweaters rushing past, a mad rush of swarming blueberries! Please be kind and don't shout out "There go the Umpah Lumpahs!" Remember, our pay cuts are paying for these.