It’s been three months since the pre-merger Delta and Northwest flight attendants rejected AFA representation, and 27 months since representation could have first been resolved, yet AFA continues to levy its oppression and thuggery on all 20,000 flight attendants by continuing to hold us hostage in a sorry attempt to reverse their loss. Like a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum, AFA is being dragged kicking and screaming to its inevitable democratic rejection by the Delta flight attendants, yet it clings in vain to every curtain, every sofa leg; anything to slow the process.
Much like Pandora slamming the box shut on future hope and profit, by, through and because of AFA’s continued actions neither flight attendant group can move forward and reap the full benefits of the merger.
And while the AFA talking points of delusional, simple-minded and irrational arguments continue to deflect the union’s accountability and responsibility, it is nothing less than FACT that through their election protests to the NMB it is AFA and AFA alone that now blocks the raises we all so badly need.
The most tragic and disgusting result of AFA’s stubborn denial of reality faces us immediately on February 14 – the date the company begins to issue profit sharing checks to all employee groups. While pre-merger Northwest flight attendants will receive profit sharing checks, because of the AFA-negotiated contractual profit sharing formula we will receive substantially less than our Delta counterparts. Not only are PMNW flight attendants receiving a lower PERCENTAGE of profit sharing than PMDL flight attendants, but that percentage is based on LOWER ELIGIBLE EARNINGS, because the AFA-negotiated compensation package is inferior to the Delta pay scales.
It’s time for AFA to accept reality and the democratic process. It’s time for newly appointed AFA International President Veda Shook and her AFA executive management team to get out of our way, and allow us to move forward with improvements in pay, flexibility and quality of life. It’s time for a permanent AFA timeout. Because when you think about it, Veda Shook and her team aren’t just costing the PMNW flight attendants over $1,000 - $3,000 in lost profit sharing: they have already COST EVERY PMNW FLIGHT ATTENDANT OVER $30,000 IN REDUCED COMPENSATION by delaying this election for so long; something they didn’t do in the United-Continental merger.
That’s one hell of a tantrum.
Only Veda Shook – not Delta, and not the NMB – has the power to end this debacle immediately, and until that happens, we remain prisoners of AFA’s contractually inferior math.
Never one to miss an opportunity to stir up emotions, ousted AFA NWA MEC President Janette Rook either falsely or half-wittedly claimed recently that the company’s pending response to the union’s January 14, 2011 brief is unnecessarily delaying the NMB’s investigation and subsequent ruling on AFA’s original charges.
Janette fails to comprehend or recognize that even if Delta didn’t reply to AFA’s charges, the NMB would not have adequate time to complete its investigation prior to the February 14 profit sharing deadline. Additionally, while Janette seems to believe that AFA deserves carte blanche to reply to the company’s briefs (thus delaying the eventual outcome), that the company shouldn’t have the right to similar responses. That said, Janette all but ignores the reality of November 3rd – the date AFA lost the election and the date AFA should have shown grace and deference in its defeat. Of course Janette also perjured herself – twice – in the Declarations she filed in support of AFA’s bogus interference claims. And Janette also acted unclear about what her AFA salary was when she treated herself to thousands of dollars of unapproved bonus payments out of the members’ treasury. So, clearly she isn’t really a reliable source of truth or honor.
WELCOME TO AFA’S NEWEST HOSTAGES: the PMDL flight attendants
As AFA digs in its heels deeper in a pathetic attempt to avoid the unavoidable resolution to this election, it is not only the PMNW flight attendants who are being harmed, AFA’s newest victims are the PMDL flight attendants. Remember those laboratory conditions that Delta must maintain while the NMB considers AFA’s laughable accusations? Well, those laboratory conditions apply to the PMDL flight attendants as well, effectively preventing Delta from announcing any improvements to the Delta work rules. And if this exercise in futility drags on for years, Delta will be prevented from increasing pay and benefits for ANY of its flight attendants.
If AFA had held their election 27 months ago, like they SHOULD have, we could all be enjoying the same pay scale, flexibility, base transfers and working together. And AFA could have had two more bites at the apple in that time period and quite likely won more votes, because they would have shown that they were interested in doing the honorable thing that best served their members, rather than beating us down day after day, month after month.
Clearly, this ongoing AFA drama must end NOW. And today, only Veda Shook has the authority to withdraw AFA’s bogus interference charges, and allow us all to finally move forward.
Contact Veda Shook today and demand freedom from AFA oppression.
Sincerely,
Jose Arturo Ibarra
DEMAND ACTION NOW!
Here are two letters that are ready to go, or write your own. Simply print the one that expresses your thoughts, fold it in half, place a stamp and mail them to Veda Shook.
Please do not Mail one but mail one each day until February 10th so Veda Shook gets the message.
ASK ONE AND ALL TO DO THE SAME
ASK FRIENDS & RELATIVES TO WRITE A BRIEF NOTE OR POSTCARD.
MAKE THE INVESTMENT!
Letter One LINK: http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/2566024/honormyvote1-pdf-february-1-2011-5-10-pm-34k?da=y
Letter Two LINK: http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/2566025/honormyvote2-pdf-february-1-2011-5-10-pm-54k?da=y
ASK ONE AND ALL TO DO THE SAME.
If you are not able to open the files, here are the letters and the address to mail the letter.
Letter ONE:
Dear Veda Shook,
You have the power to honor our vote at Delta Airlines, and thereby preserve the democratic outcome of the recent representational election. I demand that you immediately retract AFA's bogus interference charges against Delta Airlines, thus allowing pay increases and other merger benefits to take effect immediately.
Please, show dignity and respect in defeat, and honor my vote today!
Sincerely,
Delta Airlines flight attendant
Letter TWO:
As a pre-merger Northwest Airlines flight attendant, AFA supporter and "Yes" voter, I urge you to immediately withdraw the interference charges filed with the NMB against Delta management, and bring an end to the ongoing election dispute NOW.
While I have vigorously supported AFA and unionism, your actions are now causing great damage, and blocking what is best for the pre-merger Northwest flight attendants: an immediate raise, and profit sharing equal to our pre-merger Delta flight attendant counterparts.
We all know that no one was “forced” into voting no and while this loss may have been embarrassing for AFA, it is time for you to accept reality and stop punishing the former Northwest flight attendants for your failures. Remove the interference charges today and let me receive the raise and other monetary/merger benefits I so badly need in order to continue my career as a flight attendant.
Thank you.
Delta Airlines Flight Attendant
ADRRESS TO MAIL:
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
c/o Veda Shook, President
501 3rd Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
