Ufau - United Flight Attendant Union

[North by Northwest]

Folks...the majority of us at NWA could not be more thrilled with our new and INDEPENDANT UNION- PFAA-Professional Flight Attendants Association. First off, ALL of our money stays HOME! Our Union is focused on our specific needs at Northwest. There is a vast difference in being a part of a union where one is bearing the brunt of the financial burden, and getting very little for it. Just because your group is the largest financial donor does not mean your money will be spent on YOUR NEEDS. More than likely. it will flow to the "International". For us...it was a long time coming...after 30 years of having our Union in bed with Mang. Quite simply...the time had come. It is a great feeling. Best of luck to all of you.

 

[jimntx]

Don't assume that having an independent union will be then end of your troubles or that the independent union will not "be in bed with management" as stated above.

Ask some people at AA what they think of the AApfa--the official name is APFA--but I add the double caps A because our union is very much in bed with management. Well, to be exact, our current officers are in bed with management. And the worst one of the bunch got re-elected by raising the bogus issue of the seniority of the former TWA flight attendants--an issue that will be settled by the courts, not by the union.

Also, if you go independent and your new Constitution, By-laws, contract, whatever, has provisions which violate AFL-CIO standards--such as AApfa stapling the TWA flight attendants to the bottom of the AA seniority list--then no AFL-CIO affiliated union can support you in the event you call a strike.

I was told that the AFA seniority clause addressing mergers and purchases is the AFL-CIO standard.

During the voting on the concessions at AA, the company AND the union put out the story that if the concessions were not approved and the company had to file for bankruptcy, as many as 2,500 flight attendants (over 10% of the active f/a's at that time) would have to be furloughed immediately. Well, on 15April03, the AApfa board of directors approved the concessions package without a vote of the membership--even though the package had changed since the vote. On 01May03, the company sent out 5100 WARN letters resulting in over 3,000 of us being furloughed 01JUL03. So much for the honesty and effectiveness of independent unions.

Bitter, party of one, you're table's ready. 😛

 

[mmahpeel]

UFAU is a huge disappointment. A good looking website, but the constitution and bylaws are very troubling.

-The huge overrides that the officers would be paid. Talk about creating union bosses.

-Things such as requiring flight attendants to directly maintain address information with the union- this is something that currently is done by the Company. Why remove the onus from the Company?

And for all the bitching and moaning (myself included) about dues money going to organize Delta, that is nothing compared to the $3-4 dollars a month of my dues money that would go directly to McCormick. Dues money to support a for-profit organization?

The best thing about UFAU will be the pressure on AFA to stay in touch with the members and be accountable. AFA and Pat Friend better make this CWA affiliation deliver for us.

 

[FA Mikey]

Also, if you go independent and your new Constitution, By-laws, contract, whatever, has provisions which violate AFL-CIO standards--such as AApfa stapling the TWA flight attendants to the bottom of the AA seniority list--then no AFL-CIO affiliated union can support you in the event you call a strike.

I was told that the AFA seniority clause addressing mergers and purchases is the AFL-CIO standard.

First there is always the threat of AFL-CIO unions not supporting your strike. Lets face it, if it was a situation like it was for AAers the last time, they will be there. Simply if it suit's there needs they will be there mind, body and spirit. They cannot afford to continuing downward spiral of any unionized workers. Member or not it will reflect bad on them, and there membership drives. Its similar to the situations unions face daily, representing the screw up loser everyone dislikes and would not lose a second of sleep if they were gone. But if for no other reason than to prevent a president from being formed. We represent and win there case. Preventing the situation later being used against an honest hard working employee later. Also it wasn't AFL-CIO support that won the strike against AA. It was a membership standing together.

The clause is not AFL-CIO standard. I have an aunt who's grocery store was purchased and her and her fellow AFL-CIO represented union members were stapled under the employee's at the combined operation.

My question is this. Is United or any company be bound by the simple by-laws of a union. If the corporation decided to staple or offer a percentage. What forces them to abide by this union clause? It was never negotiated, agreed to or signed by the company. Is it simply window dressing? We will ask for this full merge, but if they the company doesn't want to, well too bad so sad. We tried. Why didn't AFA put it into each airline contract they negotiated?

 

[UFAU_FlyBoy]

I believe that the contract gives the union control over the seniority list, or at least changes to it.

What AFL-CIO union has ever, or would ever, go out on strike for us?

If you don't like the officer compensation or anything to do with MAG, then GOOD NEWS! The UFAU Constitution is the first that is under the CONTROL OF THE MEMBERSHIP! Now, with UFAU, you finally have the power to actually change these things! The Constitution is actually very well thought out. MAG is only contracted for the first six months, then - guess what again - it's UP TO THE MEMBERSHIP whether or not to keep them. Yes, we will pay them good money for helping us go independent. I for one am more than happy to do it; it sure beats giving 76% of our dues to other unions who haven't helped us get a good contract or enforce it. I also like knowing that the remainder of our dues will not go away to never-never-land. I'm excited that they'll stay right here to pay for a professionall union office and support staff that works for US and not Pat Friend. And I'll sure be glad that none of my dedicated fling partners will have to volunteer to run the union thaey've already paid someone else to run!

 

[UFAU_FlyBoy]

Oh, I missed some stuff.

I sure hope you have more concrete hopes for Pat than "pressure to stay in touch...and be accountable" and "make this CWA affiliation deliver." I don't know about you, but I've never been able to get that cAFArrot in front of us, so I'm getting a new stick. The time to get in touch, be accountable, and make an unauthorized merger deliver is kind of behind us. Many times over.

Good point about the contact information thing. I'm going to bring it to the attention of the powers that be. That's probably one of the things that will be tweaked by the membership in the first Contitutional revision. Somehow, though, that doesn't really seem to rise to the level of "a huge disappointment" or "troubling," now does it?

And I hate to tell you this, but AFA spends beaucoup dollars hiring for-profit companies. I know you're used to volunteering to get anything done at AFA, but those who provide real-world services are not. Did you really read the Constitution? Did you really think that hiring the best consulting firm in the business was a bad use of your future dues dollars? Would you really rather continue the volunteer-negotiated contract and volunteer-represented grievance procedures we have today than pay $3-4 of the first six months of your lower dues to MAG?

 

[Fly]

If I never have to hear: " Take the trip and write it up", I'll be satisfied. That alone would make me a "YES" vote

 

[alfie]

mmahpeel said about UFAU (among other things):

The huge overrides that the officers would be paid. Talk about creating union bosses

:huh:
You are obviously coming up with your own calculations as to what the UFAU officers will be making when UFAU takes over.
As a matter of fact, there are figures that will be published soon that demonstrate that approximately 85 AFA 'leaders' currently are each making MORE than what the UFAU Pres, VP and Sec will each make. Your mis-calculation is probably coming from trying to use the 'additional over-ride' figure. That figure is not supposed to be a percentage of the UFAU officer overall pay.
Stay tuned...all that info will be coming out soon.
UFAU will continue to allow AFA/CWA to hang itself with incorrect information and misleading descriptions. AFA has nothing else to offer, so they will try every negative means at their disposal.

 

[Fly]

I find it humorous that the AFA is charging that the UFAU is not about flight attendants but rather a group run by lawyers. According to the latest public data available to us on the LM-2 reports (filed June 2003), 9 attorneys were on AFA MEC's payroll. Not too shabby.

Please note the following when speaking with our fellow flight attendants:

David Borer, Legal Counsel, $184,895
Mark Bigelow, Attorney $124,643
Ed Gilmartin, Attorney $122,990
Stephan Brown, Attorney $121,615
Ben Elliot, Attorney $104,429
Kimberly Chaput, Attorney $ 94,141
Richard Wrede, Attorney $ 87,224
Josie Bautista, Attorney $ 76,208
Michael Hickey, Attorney $ 71,464

The total compensation for all 9 AFA attorneys is $987,609. In our estimation, they might be talking about their own organizational structure when they refer to being "run by corporate lawyers", not UFAU.

By the way, this does not include their health and/or 401k benefits

 

[Fly]

This should really speed up the change!


UFAU Secures Right to Solicit and Distribute in Crew Lounges!

It is affirmed: As we contended, UFAU does have the right to distribute leaflets, share information, and collect signed authorization cards from flight attendants in domicile crew lounges!

In letters from WHQ Labor Relations, the Company outlined the specific guidelines according to which all parties in this representational dispute must abide. Letters containing this information were sent to UFAU, AFA-UAL MEC, and company managers. Please review UAL Series 15-1.12.2 for more information.

In addition to outlining the associated policies, the letters addresses our contentions that UFAU must be treated fairly and no differently than AFA (except for AFA’s routine union business) in terms of rules, equal access, etc…

• We can solicit/distribute UFAU literature and collect signature cards in crew lounges, cafeterias, and parking lots, 30 minutes before or after duty time, or during rest breaks (off the aircraft).

• We can advertise UFAU material and information on any Company bulletin board that is dedicated to general employee information-sharing , such as boards that have business cards, advertise rentals, etc…

• UFAU is prohibited from posting organizing or campaign-related material on AFA/CWA bulletin boards.

• Use of company mailboxes or e-note system is not allowed. However, if AFA/CWA uses either for anything other than routine union business, the Company will be required to give UFAU similar access.

NOTE: Should you witness any AFA/CWA activity that does not conform to normal union business practices, please notify UFAU immediately by filing a UFAU “Incident Reportâ€. Under the law, UFAU must be given equal time and access for any violations by AFA/CWA! This would include any mailbox stuffing by AFA reps for AFA campaigning (or anti-UFAU material), the posting of any anti-UFAU material on any company-provided AFA bulletin board, AFA use of company e-mail to circulate unapproved AFA (or anti-UFAU) information, etc…

 

[Fly]

and over at the AFA, they are doing the usual. Desperate...they send this in a newsletter today.

MERGER POLICY-- An agenda item will be submitted to the August MEC meeting to review the AFA merger policy.

 

[mmahpeel]

You are obviously coming up with your own calculations as to what the UFAU officers will be making when UFAU takes over.

Well, the UFAU Constitution and Bylaws spells out the pay and override pretty clearly.

 

[mmahpeel]

The total compensation for all 9 AFA attorneys is $987,609.

But aren't these lawyers on the AFA payroll the ones who represent Flight Attendants in grievances such as termination and try and get jobs back?

 

[mmahpeel]

If you don't like the officer compensation or anything to do with MAG, then GOOD NEWS! The UFAU Constitution is the first that is under the CONTROL OF THE MEMBERSHIP! Now, with UFAU, you finally have the power to actually change these things! The Constitution is actually very well thought out.

I'm glad it can be changed as it doesn't even contemplate basic contract administration i.e. the work of certain committees to administer portions of the agreement. This will need to be changed or UFAU will flounder and be run over by the Company.

By the way, before you characterize me as a rabid AFA supporter, I am certainly no admirer of Pat Friend and voted against the CWA merge. I am, however, keenly aware of how management works at this airline and am very concerned there is a certain naivete about a new union "just coming in and getting management to change."

 

[Fly]

ummm, it's not management we're trying to change dear. 😉