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

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....

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???

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....

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.......

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

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!

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

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.