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AFA/CWA MERGER
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Dear Council 41 Members,
I recently returned from the 30th Annual AFA Board of Directors meeting in Boston. The AFA Board of Directors (BOD) is comprised of all the LEC Presidents (67). The BOD approved the draft merger between AFA and the Communication Workers of America. We also approved that you will have the final vote on the merger.
Through a two-thirds Roll Call vote of 22,710 FOR and 10,323 AGAINST the BOD, representing the 33,033 active AFA members decided the following:
"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that this 30th AFA Board of Directors approves and endorses the draft merger between AFA and CWA, and that in order for all members of the union to have a voice in this historic decision, the Board of Directors commands a ballot on the proposed merger be expeditiously circulated to all active members of the union, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that said ballot shall state the question to the members asking them to vote "FOR" or "AGAINST" the proposed merger, with the majority of votes determining the binding path our union shall follow until the members determine otherwise, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that this 30th AFA Board of Directors, as the directly elected representatives to the members, recommend a vote "FOR" this merger of two great unions, so AFA can continue to represent the interests of Flight Attendants from a position of strength, not just for today, but for years to come."
I fell this is the best decision our union has ever made. It is time we become one of the big players in the fight against a management that continues to erode our profession. Keep in mind that Dave Siegel said that being a flight attendant should not be a profession. If you have read the news reports from the Company we may be in for a bumpy ride.
I know what is near and dear to the flight attendants and that is your union dues.
With the CWA merger your dues will remain at $39.00 per month for at least the next 4
years.
Also at the meeting the BOD approved a contingency budget in case the merger failed. Each year during the meeting the BOD approves a budget.
This year the contingency budget included a $6.00 dues increase. Unfortunately this is the cost of doing business. Your union dues have not increased in over 10 years. The cost of doing business has increased while our revenue has decreased. For too long AFA has allowed management to control our revenue by hiring and furloughing. This has got to stop and it will, if we merge with CWA. Please do not take this as a threat, that is the last thing I want to do to you. We receive enough threats from management. The Union could not continue under a status quo budget and resources when management continually builds it resources to try and defeat us. Even with a $6.00 dues increase the budget was cut even further by $1.6 million. We can not continue that downward spiral. We must move forward and merging is the answer.
The BOD actually approved 2 budgets during the meeting one with the dues increase and one if we do merge with CWA. In the "CWA" budget we are projecting a $3 million deficit that CWA agreed to fund. If the merger passes we will be fully funded with
no dues increase.
This is not a threat as some may perceive it, it is a fact. Imagine if we did not tell you about the increase as some members of the BOD wanted. We are giving you all the facts.
I have written to you several times over the past few months regarding this merger. I am and have been in full support of this move. We can only gain from being a larger union. You will be receiving your ballot package with more information about CWA in the next few days. Please read it carefully and cast your ballot.
If you have any questions please write or call. Alin, Katie and I recommend that you vote for the CWA merger.
In Solidarity,
Bob Kenia
LEC President
Council 41
BALLOTING OPENS NOVEMBER 6, 2003
BALLOTING CLOSES DECEMBER 1, 2003 at NOON
This newsletter was sent via e-mail and placed in all flight attendant mailboxes.
Sign up HERE
or www.afausairways.org
and Click on the Washington page.
Bob Kenia, LEC President
703-690-6859 office
703-690-9350 Fax
bkenia@afasuairways.org
Alin Boswell, LEC VP
703-212-8090 office
703-212-8089 fax
alin@afausairways.org
Katie Whitney, LEC Secretary
703-719-6940 office
703-719-6935 fax
kwhitney@afausiarways.org
COUNCIL 41
Association of Flight Attendants, AFL-CIO
Committee List
GRIEVANCE
Bob Kenia - Alin Boswell
EAP (PRIVATE, CONFIDENTIAL NUMBERS)
Annette Hill & Kathy Vieweg
703-212-0580 540-687-3737
ahill@afausairways.org
kvieweg@afausairways.org
SAFETY
Christine Stout Denise Beaudoin
703-262-0905
dbeaudoin@afausairways.org
PLEASE LEAVE ALL SAFETY WRITE-UPS IN CHRISTINE'S MAILBOX
LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS
Alin Boswell Lori Vitto
202-297-3610
lvitto@afausairways.org
CREW ACCOMMODATIONS
Rick Poloway Please place all Hotel write-up in Rick's
rpoloway@afausairways.org
202-364-9943
UNIFORM
Scott Haskell
shaskell@afausairways.org
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