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MSP LEC 95 Hotline...
MSP HOTLINE MESSAGE FOR 08-14-2008
This is the Minneapolis Hotline Message for Thursday, August 14, 2008-Local Executive Council Vice President and member Willie Wilcox reporting.
Delta Airlines has just changed its Discipline Policy. Disciplinary issues such as complaint letters, verbal warnings, excessive sick use, etc., used to stay in an employees’ file for only two years. Now the policy reads that these items shall remain in an employees’ file for the remainder of their career. In the absence of a union and its contractual protections, Northwest flight attendants could find themselves subject to a similar policy if merged with Delta. Northwest flight attendants are urged to make an appointment with your manager to review your Inflight employment file. Any discipline or complaint letter older than two years must be removed per Section 21.C.5 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement unless there is a specific timeframe mentioned. If the Manager refuses to remove any document older than two years, please call the AFA LEC 95 office and we can assist you from that point forward. It should be noted that you should review your permanent or H.R. file as well. This file may be accessed by contacting Cindy Burr at cindy.burr@nwa.com or writing to Ms. Burr at Northwest Airlines Employee Records, A1410 2700 Lone Oak Parkway, Eagan, MN 55121. You may also go directly to Building A to request to see your file in person.
On August 18 to August 22, the campaign for voter registration will be held at the MSP in-flight office. Members of your union will be present on Monday and Wednesday from 0600 to 1400. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday we will be on site from 1030 to 1630. We will have voter registration cards available. In addition, we will provide resources to help members locate where to vote and where to send their request for an absentee ballot.
As you know, the Minnesota State Fair will be held from August 21 through September 1. The old Democratic-Farm Labor building was torn down earlier this year and replaced with a brand new facility. CWA will have a booth and we are looking for volunteers with the focus on educating union members and the public on issues relating to the Employee Free Choice Act and Health Care Reform.
Individuals willing to volunteer for either of the previously mentioned events may contact Camilla Wolkerstorfer at: camimbw@msn.com
MSP Flight Attendant Richard Moody is hosting a fundraiser for those families whose homes were destroyed and lives changed forever by the tornado in Hugo, Minnesota. The event will take place at Drink Uptown, at 1400 Lagoon Avenue, Minneapolis, MN on August 24 from 1600-1800. The admission of $25 will not only get you in the door of this unique rooftop lounge in the uptown area but also an American Apparel t-shirt. You may view/purchase the t-shirt online at www.iammoody.com or in the MSP Inflight check in area. Please join Richard and friends for a fun time and the opportunity to help rebuild Hugo.
The MSP membership meeting for August will be held on Monday, August 25, 2008 at the AFA offices in Bloomington from 1100 to 1300, in the third floor conference room.
There will be a table set-up in Inflight for the purpose of open enrollment from September 8 through September 15 and again from September 25 through October 2. This plan was developed through a joint effort of AFA and the National Group Protection (NGP). Coverage will include accident, critical illness and universal life insurance.
This concludes the hotline message for today. This message will be updated as new information becomes available.
As always, be prepared, stay informed and fly safe.
MSP HOTLINE MESSAGE FOR 07-10-2008
This is the Minneapolis Hotline Message for Thursday, July 10, 2008-Local Executive Council Vice President and member Willie Wilcox reporting.
The most common theme of member concerns currently revolves around the Special Leave Incentive Program (SLIP). MSP members have repeatedly questioned whether they will be eligible to collect unemployment benefits from the State of Minnesota. The company has stated it will not contest unemployment claims; ultimately, each state makes the final decision on granting unemployment insurance benefits. In fact, due to a state statute, flight attendants in Minnesota have been denied benefits during previous SLIP leaves. Any questions about unemployment insurance benefits should be directed to the appropriate state agency. Please make every effort to get all unemployment insurance questions answered before applying for a SLIP leave.
Please take special care to ensure that you do not have any company property in your possession when you leave the work place.
Members are reminded of the two Town Hall Meetings held on Tuesday, July 15 from 11:00 am-1:00pm and Thursday, July 24 from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm.
The meetings will be held in the third floor conference room near the AFA Offices at Two Appletree Square, Bloomington, MN 55425. The guest speaker will be Brian Moreau, Director Flight Attendant Crew Scheduling. All members are encouraged to bring their questions and concerns regarding the topics of SILO, PBS, Reserve and Ready Reserve.
This concludes the hotline message for today. This message will be updated as new information becomes available.
As always, be prepared, stay informed and fly safe.
MSP HOTLINE MESSAGE FOR 06-18-2008
This is the Minneapolis Hotline Message for Wednesday, June 18, 2008-Local Executive Council Vice President and member Willie Wilcox reporting.
- The following are some important dates to remember:
- June 20-21
MEC Meeting
- June 23-25
- CWA Convention
- July 3
- MSP Membership Meeting from 3:00 pm-5:00 pm
- July 8-10
- AFA-CWA Board of Directors Meeting
- July 15
- MSP Membership Town Hall Meeting from 11:00 am-1:00 pm
- July 24
MSP Membership Town Hall Meeting from 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
As a point of information, President Kathy Dunham will absent from the office during the days of the MEC Meeting, the CWA Convention and the Board of Directors meeting.
In addition, the topics to be discussed at the Town Hall Meetings will include SILO, PBS and Reserve Issues. Brian Moreau will attend to address membership questions and concerns.
This concludes the hotline message for today. This message will be updated as new information becomes available.
As always, be prepared, stay informed and fly safe.
MSP HOTLINE MESSAGE FOR 05-28-2008
This is the Minneapolis Hotline Message for Wednesday, May 28, 2008-Local Executive Council Vice President and member Willie Wilcox reporting.
The National Mediation Board (NMB) announced today that Delta Air Lines flight attendants have lost their vote to join the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA. With 5,306, or 40 percent, of eligible flight attendants voting, the NMB could not certify AFA-CWA as the flight attendants’ representative. While disappointing, today’s vote shows the makings of a silver lining for flight attendants in a Delta-Northwest merger. Combining the votes for AFA-CWA in this election with our numbers here at Northwest shows that we have the support to win a second election for the combined workforce if the merger occurs.
Many thanks go out to all members who answered our call to contact your state representatives, urging them to support H.R. 2744, the Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act. By a vote of 43 to 0, the Education and Labor Committee approved the first step in converting this bill into law. Our collective continued pressure on lawmakers may be necessary to achieve our goal of having the Family and Medical Leave Act apply to flight attendants and pilots as it does to other workers in our economy.
Our financial planning seminar on May 16, 2008 was a huge success! Members enjoyed the complimentary lunch provided by Sandvold and Associates while participating in the team’s presentation. Several of our members found direct value in the materials as they spoke to their consideration in taking the Early Out Severance Program. Since the seminar, we have had several requests to hold additional programs and Mr. Sandvold has agreed. Sandvold and Associates is knowledgeable in areas of Northwest Airlines insurance, benefit and retirement programs and currently serves over 400 Northwest employees. For further information, Sandvold and Associates may be reached at 866-856-5857.
The Next MSP flight attendant membership meeting is scheduled for June 10, 2008. The meeting will be held from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the third floor conference room located at 8011 34th Avenue South, Bloomington, MN.
This concludes the hotline message for today. This message will be updated as new information becomes available.
As always, be prepared, stay informed and fly safe.
MSP HOTLINE MESSAGE FOR 05-08-2008
This is the Minneapolis Hotline Message for Thursday, May 08, 2008-Local Executive Council Vice President and member Willie Wilcox reporting.
A request goes out to all MSP Flight Attendants to send a letter or phone each of our eight Minnesota State Representatives about cell phone usage during flights. Let them know that you are a constituent and that you are writing or calling to strongly urge them to co-sponsor H.R. 5788, the Halting Airplane Noise to Give Us Peace Act (HANG UP Act). Dear:
The Honorable Tim Walz
United States House of Representatives
1529 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2301 phone 202-225-2472
The Honorable John Kline
United States House of Representatives
1429 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2302 phone 202-225-2271
The Honorable Jim Ramstad
United States House of Representatives
103 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2303 phone 202-225-2871
The Honorable Betty McCollum
United States House of Representatives
1714 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2304 phone 202-225-6631
The Honorable Keith Ellison
United States House of Representatives
1130 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2305 phone 202-225-4755
The Honorable Michele Bachmann
United States House of Representatives
412 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2306 phone 202-225-2331
The Honorable Collin C. Peterson
United States House of Representatives
2211 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2307 phone 202-225-2165
The Honorable James L. Oberstar
United States House of Representatives
2365 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2308 phone 202-225-6211
A Q&A has been posted on ATLAS with regard to the Early Out Severance Program. In addition, a list of those Flight Attendants signed up for the EOSP will be posted on Friday and updated every Friday until the application deadline on May 21, 2008.
Your MSP Officers have organized a financial planning and retirement seminar designed to assist our local members structure a more secure financial future.
Terry Sandvold, CEO of Sandvold and Associates, has agreed to meet with our members to discuss financial options and retirement issues. The seminar is entitled: Are You Financially Prepared For Your Future? Terry can often be heard on the program “MONEY TALKS” on KOOL 108 (107.9 FM), Sundays, 7-8:00 AM and KTLK (100.3 FM), Saturdays, 2-3:00 PM. In addition, Terry has specialized in helping airline employees and has worked extensively with our fellow AMFA members. Please bring your questions and mark your calendars to hear Mr.Sandvold speak on Friday, May 16 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm in the third floor conference room located at 8011 34th Avenue South, Bloomington, MN.
Lunch will be provided to all attendees. Please contact Kathy Dunham at AFA at 952-241-4127 to RSVP.
This concludes the hotline message for today. This message will be updated as new information becomes available.
As always, be prepared, stay informed and fly safe.
MSP HOTLINE MESSAGE FOR 04-18-2008
This is the Minneapolis Hotline Message for Friday, April 18, 2008-Local Executive Council Vice President and member Willie Wilcox reporting.
MSP Flight Attendants who apply for and receive a French Visa will need to make a copy of the document and submit it to the In-flight office. Northwest will not know whether a flight attendant is in possession of a French Visa until a copy has been submitted.
A union does not represent Delta flight attendants. Delta flight attendants vote in the representation election to join AFA from April 23rd to May 28th. If Delta flight attendants are successful in their representation election, our contract may not be at risk and we may begin seeking improvements immediately in a combined contract. We encourage all Northwest flight attendants to support our colleagues at Delta in finally gaining a seat at the bargaining table and the protections of a negotiated contract.
The merger between Northwest Airlines and Delta Airlines has the potential of jeopardizing thousands of union members’ collective bargaining agreements. The merger could hurt the current NWA flight attendants, machinists, baggage handlers and other unions. There will be a meeting to show your support for these groups on Friday, April 25, 2008 at 1:00pm. Representative Joe Atkins in room 5 of the State Office Building will chair the meeting. The agenda will cover the impact of the Northwest Airlines/Delta Airlines merger on Minnesota.
LEC95 is aware that the recent merger announcement has generated many questions and concerns. Since the issue affects all flight attendants across the system, we are deferring to the MEC and MEC web site for all your up to date merger/acquisition questions and answers. Please feel free, however, to contact us directly with your questions so we may share them with the appropriate parties. We may be contacted at LEC95@nwaafa.org.
This concludes the hotline message for today. This message will be updated as new information becomes available.
As always, be prepared, stay informed and fly safe.
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