Remember in school when you had to write "What I did on my summer vacation?" Well, this post is kinda like that, but it is titled "Why I Want A Union Again." Does the title explain that I am PMNWA? Yup! The following thoughts have nothing to do with trying to convince or coerce folks who want things to remain on track. Enjoy:
1) I was paid more at NWA...based on my limit of 82 hours a month. I would be happy to produce a pay slip, and show you exactly how that could be....but I am legally bound not to do so (long story). Sure, I can, apparently, work 120 hours a month to make more money, but "working less than my neighbors" used to be considered one of the advantages of being a flight attendant.
2) I worked less days to achieve 82 hours. Our domestic trips were more valuable.
3) Our health insurance was negotiated by professional union lawyers, and it was way (WAY) cheaper than our current insurance.
4) Our union benefits were so strong, they continue to benefit us: The PMDFA's, having no contract, have lost a significant part of their pension, while the NWA crowd keeps their full pension, and is currently accruing a Delta pension, too. Also, our prescription benefits are extremely different from PMD employees. Also, the union preserved SCOPE clauses that would prevent any loss of seniority if NWA was to be absorbed by another company. Pilots shared the same clauses. This is precisely why we had a fair merging of seniority. What would happen if Delta merged with another airline? Now we would all go to the bottom of the list. And that is final.
5) We were not part of a family...at NWA we worked for a corporation. We had way more input into our corporation due to contract voting and considerations. We don't understand the "family affair"....and the PMD crowd doesn't understand our belief that we worked for a corporation. Period. The other curious offshoot is the whole pilot thing. When we first heard that the Delta FA's enjoy being trickled down upon by pilot contracts, then we were baffled. At NWA there was no crosstalk with pilot work rules or pay. As a matter of fact, pilots were generally highly-skilled professional co-workers. Period. There is some bizarre pilot worship going on at Delta that did not exist at NWA. Why does anyone hope for scraps from a unionized work force....and why does anyone believe they are better/superior to us? This thought process did not exist at my old job.
6) PMNWFAs were not made fun of by pilots. Sorry, you guys, the current crop of pilots both love, and make fun of us. They love us because many of their raises and increased hour rates come directly from the FA's having no say in anything....legally-speaking.
7) I can see from my post, that I am straying into sarcasm. And that is not what I am here for. This whole pro/con thing is a cultural difference. Sure, there are old Delta folks who want a union, and there are old NW folks who don't want one....but those are deviations of the norm. We are all used to what we are used to. Still, if we are the most profitable airline in the USA, then don't dislike me because I strive for the highest FA pay. Guess what? We ain't even close. And those insurance rates are sickening for any company with a profit margin like Deltas. And why, oh why, are we saddled with Sedgewick. The pilots don't have that problem. Ever wonder why?
