Resolution...

[jalbalpa]

Dear Fellow Flight Attendant:

Last week more than 100 flight attendants from Delta and Northwest met near Baltimore to discuss what we can do to make sure that flight attendants don’t get left behind as we all work to make the new Delta the premier airline in the world.

These flight attendants – from domiciles all across the country – raised a lot of important issues as we discussed our hopes and concerns about the future. We also looked at the results of a new survey of flight attendants throughout the Delta-Northwest network, which confirmed that all of us are concerned about how flight attendants are treated as this new company takes shape.

Obviously, we are all proud to work for the new Delta, a world-class airline that will be the largest in the world. Delta flight attendants deserve industry-leading standards for the work we do, just like Delta pilots now have with a new contract. Delta executives also have collected big bonuses.

Unfortunately, executives can currently change Delta flight attendants’ conditions of work at any time. Only a legally binding contract can guarantee our pay, benefits and work rules.

That’s why flight attendants at the Baltimore meeting passed the attached resolution, promising to work toward gaining Delta flight attendants an industry-leading contract.

In the weeks ahead, we will be talking with many of you, asking you what you think are the most important issues for flight attendants at the new Delta. Remember, with a group of over 20,000, the largest unit at Delta, we can have a powerful voice if we stand together.

Thank you for all that you do.

_______________________

Delta and Northwest Resolved for Industry-leading Contract
March 11, 2009

WHEREAS, nearly 100 members of the volunteer DAL/NWA AFA-CWA campaign attended a strategic meeting on March 10th, 2009 whereby the results of a recent poll of our flying partners was presented -- showing an
overwhelming level of support for the pursuit of an industry-leading contract at the newly merged premiere global airline, and

WHEREAS, a unanimous vote was conducted by the volunteer activists in attendance to pursue such a campaign for industry-leading pay, benefits, and working conditions at the new Delta,

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the DAL/NWA AFA National Steering Committee hereby declares our intent to build the kind of professional campaign it will take to obtain an industry leading contract, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that we will design a campaign which accomplishes the following objectives:

• Increase the involvement of thousands of flight attendants from the newly merged airline and prepare flight attendants for an upcoming vote for representation – including preparation for the inevitable multimillion
dollar anti-union tactics used by Delta’s anti-union law firm, and

• Survey flight attendants on priorities they desire in our goal for an industry-leading contract and provide accurate and thoughtful information to our flying partners, increasing our education of the following:

1. Our current ranking among U.S. legacy carriers as two of the lowest ‘flight attendant unit costs’.

2. Delta pilots just obtained an industry leading contract, which provided substantial pay raises, job security, and a secure future.

3. Delta executives have received “premier†compensation – and flight attendants deserve the same.

4. Because flight attendants are the most important component to the in-flight success of our airline, our compensation and benefits must be commensurate with building a ‘premier global airline’.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Delta and Northwest Flight Attendants are ready for the future, ready to move forward, and ready to secure a premier industry-leading contract by engaging all Northwest and Delta flight attendants in a mobilization effort to prepare for a representation election, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the DAL/NWA AFA National Steering Committee affirms to engage with each and every one of our flying partners to build a world-class mobilization campaign to bring an industryleading,
global-leading, contract at the new Delta Air Lines for all flight attendants, and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that should Delta and Northwest flight attendants stand behind this resolution and mobilize behind our contract campaign, we will be ready to move forward with a representation election in
the summer of 2009.

 

[dapoes]

So does this mean we are actually going to vote before the end of the decade? Hallelujah!

 

[Dignity]

it took decades to build the contract we lost..

while I firmly believe in the process to negotiate (going forward) promising an industry leading contract in these economic times is not realistic or something they can deliver at this time..(unless they plan on waiting 5 years depending on the economy)

in the real world..

what is more realistic is taking the best of both and hopefully combining into a TA with modest improvements in compensation, vacation and reserve reform..(maintaining Adays and refining)..

if the intent is to surpass all other airlines expect to wait a couple of years...they are planning capacity cuts and now they are talking industry leading contract..wont happen in the short term, but in the long term..possibly..

its a promise that cannot be delivered until the economy has stabilized for at least 2 to 3 years.



at least a timeframe for an election has been established..(that is a plus)

if there is to be representation eventually...

the priority in a TA is addressing reserve and scheduling issues..(that should be at the top of the list, maintaining Adays and refining) reserve has taken a backseat for way too long..

it is time to eliminate straight reserve..it is unfair to subject these NW Flight Attendants to lengthy periods that extend into years.. month after month... while DAL has successfully addressed reserve with their Flight Attendants with Adays..(allowing the opportunity to enjoy control of their work lives, as people have a life outside the airline too..)

Thank you Jalbalpa, that information shows we are at least a step into the right direction..

 

[Dignity]

So does this mean we are actually going to vote before the end of the decade? Hallelujah!

looks like it...I guess any news is well...news.

what is important is resolving these issues timely.. so the group focuses on coming together instead of not having an election or a seniority list finalized..

 

[Dignity]

what are the polls results? (regarding the numbers) how many out of the 20,000 plus Flight Attendants were polled?

other than that...its nice to see something happening.

an attempt to address seniority integration would probably be a wise move to show effectiveness.. if nothing else is planned to happen until the summer..

 

[LukeAisleWalker]

an attempt to address seniority integration would probably be a wise move to show effectiveness.. if nothing else is planned to happen until the summer..

Not sure what there is to address. AFA's Const/Bylaws state "Date Of Hire". So unless you're talking about getting into the weeds with people who started training on the same day from each respective airline, there's really nothing to address. If the union representational vote fails, then I'm sure what the Delta SIC came up with will be applied as it is, basically, date of hire.

 

[Dignity]

Not sure what there is to address. AFA's Const/Bylaws state "Date Of Hire". So unless you're talking about getting into the weeds with people who started training on the same day from each respective airline, there's really nothing to address. If the union representational vote fails, then I'm sure what the Delta SIC came up with will be applied as it is, basically, date of hire.

well its like this... since there is a DOH policy, and a DOH recommendation(the recommendation is pretty much how it probably will end up)

..today addressing would mean both groups actually meeting each other and resolving it once and for all.

my personal opinion is yes there is something to address, finalizing a list..(like the other employee groups have done)..