In this edition:

·         AFA Pressures Congress

·         Trip Trade Functionality

·         911 10 Year Commemoration

·         Cleveland  Update

·         Contact Us

AFA Puts Pressure On Lawmakers Over FAA Shutdown

In coordination with AFA, the Communication Workers of America (CWA), launched a campaign on Tuesday to pressure lawmakers to take action on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) funding when Congress returns to session from recess. 

During this month long campaign AFA and CWA are handing out leaflets in some of our busiest airports urging passengers to tell members of Congress that passing a long-term FAA funding bill is critical.  The current short-term fix that ended the FAA partial shutdown at the beginning of the month, which put hundreds of airport projects on hold and more than 140,000 people on furlough, is due to expires on September 16 this year.  All though Flight Attendants were not directly affected by last month’s partial shutdown, we rely and depend on these airports in order to continue our day-to-day jobs; and we have an important stake in the passage of a bill that does not include stripping away Union rights.

Mutual Trip Trade Functionality Changes

On Thursday August 10th, the company implemented a new Mutual Trip Trade Bulletin Board which modified the trip trading process as a result of the new Letter of Agreement number 37 contained in the current IAM negotiated contract. We have had many questions and concerns from our members related to the functionality changes, which require mutual trip trade approvals between Flight Attendants and we are fully aware that the changes may be actually limiting schedule flexibility, rather improving it.  

Unfortunately, AFA was not involved in discussions which took place with regard to the IAM's intentions surrounding the establishment of this new process. Further, We reached out to a former IAM representative who has not become involved. Regardless, we share your concerns that any new functionality could limit options and decrease scheduling flexibility involved in mutual trading of your trips. We have been in constant contact with management since Thursday, urging them to work with us as a group to resolve these issues.

Management reports that their IT Department has now fixed many of the problems you had initially encountered with the system which will once again allow prearranged trades, position trades and multiple pairing trades without having to advertise them.             

Please continue to assist us in this process by continuing to call in any problems you encounter as a result of this change to 281-553-1682 and by contacting your local representatives. We want to identify any additional appropriate solutions that we can discuss with management to further refine this process.  Mutual trip Trading Instructions are posted on our website under the Current Contract link.

September 11^th 10 Year Remembrance

On this tenth anniversary of September 11^th, we will pay tribute and honor to all our fallen Flight Attendant heroes while we remember all those who perished on that day. This year we will provide listings of some memorials, events and tributes in various locations via our website.  If you have any information you wish to include please contact your Local Council as soon as the information is known.  September 11th is a uniquely personal experience for each of us. As we approach this somber ten-year anniversary we intend to do so honoring the fallen using our traditional approach as well as commemorating this remembrance with dignity and respect. Our website will be updated this coming week with details and additional information on how each of us can remember September 11th collectively.

Cleveland Local Council 63 Update.

During the past two weeks Cleveland Council #63 has been moving forward in securing office space.  Within the next week; the union office will be relocating to the Reserve Network Building, 22021 Brookpark Road, Fairview Park, Ohio 44126. Once the office is established we will be posting the office hours and an office phone number. 

Local committees are being organized.  It is not too late for anyone still interested to sign up.  Please see one of the officers if you wish to get involved.

Last week the officers and four committee members attended Grievance Training in Newark.   Leigh Wiley, a member of the Grievance Committee attended the training.  Leigh as well as Shawn Smith, Grievance Committee Chairperson are both available to discuss any problems or concerns.   Members of the Reserve Committee are being cross trained in grievance procedures.  Three members of the Reserve Committee attended the grievance training.  Any reserve who has questions or problems can now talk to Tarnisha Thompson, Reserve Committee Chairperson,  Kathlene Verib or Samantha Kantzios .  Tarnisha may be reached via e-mail at tthompson@calafa.org    . 

Several people have expressed concerns over the fact that their union dues were not withheld from their August 15, 2011 pay.  We have been told that if you have completed the dues check off form for monthly withholding purposes, dues will be deducted starting on September 15, 2011.  If you have any additional questions, see one of the officers or you may go to the website www.afanet.org/dues  where you can have your questions answered. 

Local election dates have been set for both the nominations and elections for the local officers.  Nomination forms will be mailed on August 26, 2011; the response back must be postmarked no later than September 26, 2011.  The count will be completed by September 26, 2011.  The election forms will be mailed on October 11, 2011; the polls open October 18, 2011; the polls close and the results count will be complete on November 10, 2011.  For more information on the election process go to http://www.afanet.org/elections , select election schedule.  Please note that there are different schedules for each local council or base posted on the website. 

The interim officers are now available via 1-855-422-5232, prompt #2, or by direct numbers.  Martina Magpoc, President at 216-280-1887; Mary Lou Euse, Vice President at 216-816-8941 or Shawn Smith at 216-816-8997. 

You can now get the union contract and AFA Constitution & Bylaws as well as the latest updates, news and information on line by going to our website.

Contact Us

 Our Toll Free number to contact a union representative 24 hours per day, 7 days per week is 1-855-4CAL-AFA OR 1-855-422-5232.   Visit our website at:  Calafa.org