Tuesday, July 06, 2010

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We have a commitment to our customers to deliver a safe, clean, on-time experience" ~ CEO Richard Anderson

» DELTA AFA ELECTION 2010

Holiday fireworks have mostly subsided, but jubilant Flight Attendants are still celebrating system wide, following AFA's July 1 announcement that we are one giant step closer to our much anticipated representational election. Last week's filing for Single Transportation System status (STS) kick starts the process, and the NMB will take it from here. Pending further legal action by Delta's ATA-fronted lawsuit challenging the more democratic voting rules that went into effect July 1, we expect the NMB to establish STS designation in next few weeks. Following this determination, they will extend a 14 day window for other unions to enter the election arena by presenting authorization cards from at least 35% of the entire flight attendant group. The NMB determines the official election timeline, which will follow that 14 day period. Stay tuned for updates.

» CABIN FEVER: FEELIN' HOT HOT HOT!!!

"[Your memo] talks about financial gain with smarter APU usage, and warns of the pitfalls of "complacency" eroding the work of the initiative.  As flight attendants who experience the often sweltering onboard heat during boarding and taxiing along with our customers, we hope that supplemental air conditioning by way of the APU is not labeled as complacent."

~ MEC Vice President Daniel Grey to Gary Thompson and Sandy Gordon, regarding "Project APU - Smart Use" efficiency initiative

You think the missing coffee pots and melted ice have got your blood boiling? Think again. It might just be the missing APU. Well, maybe it's not missing like the caddy clips, seconds trays and styros, but if your aircraft's Auxiliary Power Unit is turned off to cut gate-side cabin cooling costs, it might as well be missing, right? When you're gasping for air in a sweltering cabin with gasper valves blowing full hot, well, so much for that cool corporate image Delta spends to much cash to project.

A spike in fuel prices sparked Delta's recent "Project APU - Smart Use," a fuel efficiency initiative aimed at controlling costs by reducing "inappropriately utilized APU power." Sweating the spike in heated complaint letters is one thing; sweating profusely in a closed cabin, quite another. It's not just uncomfortable for passengers and crew. It can become life-threateningly dangerous, as well. Iced tea and lemonade at Inflight won't cut it, when your red tie already bled pink on your shirt. As the largest nonmilitary fuel consumer in the world, we recognize Delta must do its part to conserve fuel and cut costs for collective success. But no one wants to sweat the small stuff so literally. How about you? Are you feeling the heat or cool as a cucumber? Tell us HERE.  Remember, if you don't report it, it didn't happen. READ MORE HERE >>

Triviality Break: When you learn a new word, repeat it in a sentence and it's yours forever. A recent IFS Update used the word "Portal" 41 times. The following day, 33 times.

» REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, REBUT

"trash is a nightmare, forget about going green" "not one glove on entire aircraft for pickup" "why so many little bottles of water? besides being environmentally unfriendly, they take up too much space" "plastic bags with handles that hold two cups" "no gloves for picking up trash"

The company just announced a public recycling program at Detroit Metro Airport, in cooperation with Wayne County Airport Authority. According a July 2 company memo, both WCAA and Delta have long been industry leaders in recycling. It claims to have launched the industry's first comprehensive in-flight domestic recycling program three years ago. Delta customers, employees, and business partners have collected more than 1.6 million pounds of newspapers and magazines, 1.3 million pounds of aluminum cans, and 348,000 pounds of plastics since the inception of a comprehensive inflight recycling program already in place. More than 36,000 lbs. of paper are recycled from DTW Airport Authority offices each year.

"no trash cart" "no recycle bags, but then again who can recycle without gloves?" "no gloves like usual" "we promote recycling, yet these [small water] bottles are very wasteful" "carts were so full of superfluous stuff [that] take up LOTS of space that we did not have room for garbage" "did not receive gloves for pickup" "what happened to our recycle bags?"

We are pleased to acknowledge this laudable endeavor and look forward to having the necessary onboard tools-gloves, hand sanitizer, trash and recycling bags, green product packaging-as well as consistent galley space and time to participate more fully in this worthy goal. Historically, NWA Flight Attendants have jumped into recycling projects with both gloves, understanding our sticky efforts would benefit Beacon Foundation recipients.

What's the Scoop? - I was really surprised (and excited) to read that Delta said they won't appeal the court decision on our union election being held under the new majority rules yes/no ballot. It's great to hear, but I don't totally follow. They told us our election will be held under the new rules and they're ready to move on. After all these months of fighting against a union, are they actually supporting us now?

Let's Dish - Remember the saying, "Speak out of both sides of your mouth to cover all bases"? Now that the tide appears to have turned in the courts, it serves the company's public relations image to appear magnanimous, suddenly promoting the "opportunity" for all employees to vote. Delta is switching to Plan B, where they must ostensibly support our democratic vote, or risk appearing too Grinch-like. They have long enjoyed saying they respect your choice, while simultaneously doing all they can to squash it. Don't forget, in previous elections, Delta ran a campaign of voter suppression by encouraging employees to ignore the election, tear up their ballot and not vote.

First, they tell us it's not their lawsuit, but the ATA's. Go figure. As the only legacy carrier to sign onto their third-party lobby group lawsuit, everyone knows Delta is driving the bus, fully supporting the ATA lawsuit. After the judge's ruling, Delta pretends to distance itself from the ATA, and says they won't appeal. But if the lawsuit isn't Delta's in the first place, how could they be the ones to appeal? Still, they repeat their support of the ATA, and any appeal ATA makes going forward. Confused yet? Over the past week, Delta has repeatedly stated that the election will take place using the new rules.  As far as this dish goes, that's the scoop that matters!

» HELP PROTECT AIRLINE JOBS FROM INTERNATIONAL JOINT VENTURES

Write Your Legislators Today!

As U.S. and foreign airlines increasingly partner up to provide international service, U.S. jobs become ripe for outsourcing. When airlines jointly offer service on a route, they can choose to use the cheapest workforce or hire new, non-union workers to staff it.  To help solve this problem, U.S. airlines must be required to participate in at least some of the flight operations in joint ventures.  Tell your Representative that U.S. aviation jobs must be better protected from these types of international joint ventures. (ID = Employee Number or AFA Member ID).  The job you save may be your own.

» IN THE NEWS

Alitalia Will Join Air France-KLM, Delta Venture, Bloomberg Businessweek, July 05, 2010

"Alitalia SpA, a member of the SkyTeam alliance run by Air France-KLM Group and Delta Air Lines Inc., will join a broader venture with those airlines that lets it share revenue and costs across the Atlantic. READ MORE HERE >>

Winging It: Airlines complain about government interference, The Philadelphia Enquirer, July 5, 2010

"Complaining about the government has always been a popular American sport. This year, the voices of protest seem to be louder than ever, including those of some of the people who run airlines. READ MORE HERE >>

» BRING A COLLEAGUE. GET MOTIVATED. GET INVOLVED.

The NWA AFA MEC Calendar of Events is found on the front page of www.nwaafa.org.  Delta Flight Attendants are often invited to local union meetings throughout the country as well, and there are also information sessions and gatherings planned and posted at Delta AFA.

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» DON'T FORGET TO WEAR YOUR UNION PIN - AT WORK & TO TRAINING!

Show your support for collective bargaining by wearing your union pin to work and all company events.  Together, we are AFA.  Click HERE or visit www.afanet.org for information about AFA-CWA union structure and the history of the AFA-CWA.  Dues & Member Information can be viewed HERE.

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» EXTRA!! EXTRA!! READ ALL ABOUT IT-FIRST!!

Do you like to be the first to hear the scoop, or prefer it filtered through eight layers of rumor mill before it reaches your ears? Flight attendants are arguably the world's most quick-paced and mobile workforce. As information about our campaign for representation develops at an equally fast pace, you can keep up with breaking news by using our new Delta AFA text messaging service.

Get involved.  Stay informed.  Be the first to know with Delta AFA text messaging.

Sign up to receive Delta AFA text message alerts by clicking HERE or text "goafa" to 69866.