PHL - Council 70 - InfoRep News

4/11/2007

..from Janet Linton Council 70 Info-Rep 

Hello all PHL Based Flight Attendants!  I am Janet Linton and I would like to introduce myself as the Info Rep Chair for you - the PHL Based Flight Attendants.   I will communicate information to you regarding contract negotiations as quickly as I receive it from the MEC.  I wanted to give you a brief update on what is going on with negotiations.  Here is a recap.

January 2005, contract negotiations started, and by March 2007, only 6 sections have been settled - 35 Sections still open.  The company settles non-economic issues first.  Items settled include; uniforms, moving expenses/voluntary furlough/reduction in personnel, training, grievance/system board of adjustment, and safety and health, Lodo.   Items settled do not mean they are written in stone.  All active flight attendants will have the opportunity to vote on the Tentative Agreement once a Tentative Agreement is negotiated.  The MEC does not make the complete content of these sections available in the event they have to go back to open a section for further negotiating leverage.  So, the contents of all the sections won't be fully available until an entire T/A is reached and the MEC votes to either send the T/A to the membership or back to the committee for further negotiation.  The info rep team will be meeting with the MEC and Local councils to get the specific information to give to you. 

Who is the Negotiating Team?  According to the AFA By-Laws, both the West and the East negotiating team consist of the MEC President, one additional member, and a staff negotiator. The East team is MEC President, Mike Flores, Carol Austin and the staff negotiator, Clair Burt. Ms. Burt is the Manager of Collective Bargaining for the Association of Flight Attendants.

When can we expect a T/A?  The company is dragging their feet.  The negotiating committee has only settled 6 out of 35 sections since January 2005.  You can see how long it has taken to settle these 6 items - over a year, and we still have over 35 sections open.  Yet, once we operate under one certificate, it will cost the company money everyday to operate under two contracts. 

AFA wants the 'Best of Both' Contracts. Our negotiating team has our best interest at hand.  Remember, Mike and Carol are Flight Attendants too!  Our team wants the best for us and then some!  Prior to a ratification vote, the negotiating team will print a guide to contract negotiations for the members review and conduct roadshows.  That, plus speaking to the info reps will guide you into an informed decision, and an informed vote.

Until then, sign up for e-line if you have not already.  Print out current e-lines for your reference.  There are 4700 active East Flight Attendants; only 3000 are signed up for e-line.  Spread the word; get info first on the e-line! You can sign up using the following link:

http://www.unionvoice.org/e_line_afa_usairways/join.tcl

Fly Safe,

Janet Linton
Info Rep Chair
Council #70
JLinton@afausairways.org

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

LOCAL COUNCIL CONTACT NUMBERS

Giovanna Franchi, EAP/Professional Standards - Chair
gfranchi@afausairways.org
267-250-3977