In This Newsletter:
| Negotiations | MEC | Q & A |
| EAP and You | Pro Standards | Wings of Sobriety |
| Volunteers Wanted | AFA Omni Website |
Negotiation Update
Preparations for negotiations are ongoing. Thank you for participating in the contract survey. The results will be used when we write the opener, which will happen in April and May. We have tentative dates to exchange opening proposals with management in early June. Negotiations will take place in Tulsa.
As you probably know by now Anita Trump, our MEC VP and negotiating committee member, is leaving Omni. We thank her for all her hard work on behalf of the Omni Flight Attendants and will miss her enthusiasm and dedication. The vacancy she left on the negotiating committee will be filled by Debbie Parker. Debbie has been working with us as we prepare for negotiations and we won't miss a beat with her stepping into the role.
One of our goals during negotiations (in addition to lots of money and good scheduling rules!) is to keep our members informed. You will receive regular elines after each negotiating session which will detail the topics discussed at that session. You will know where we stand with each section. There will be periodic zoom meetings and facebook live meetings with the negotiating committee. These are our OUR negotiations and we will fight for a better contract TOGETHER!
Master Executive Council (MEC)
John and Debbie will be attending the AFA-CWA 49th Annual Board of Director's meeting from May 13-15, 2022. During the meeting, international committees are voted in, resolutions are passed and awards are presented.
Questions and Answers
Q. I got an email notice that I have a hearing. What do I do?
A. All members have a right to Union Representation, including those on probation. When you receive a hearing notice, it will be sent to you at your company email address and your Grievance Committee will receive the same notification. The hearing notification will state the policy that may have been broken and provide a date and time of the scheduled hearing. The hearing is when facts are gathered, and the company will ask questions pertaining to the event.
If you are sent a hearing notification you will be contacted by one of your Grievance Committee Members. Please respond to the Grievance Committee, whether you need them or not, to ensure timelines are followed. We strongly recommend having a Grievance Member on the call with you.
If you do not hear from a grievance representative, please reach out to your officers or the grievance committee at grievance@afaomni.org.
Q. When I flew to Europe from the USA, I was allowed to bring 2 carry-on bags. Now I am commercialing in Europe where the airline only allows 1 carry-on bag. I can't fit all the items from my second carry-on into my checked bag nor can I afford to pay the 2nd bag cost. What can I do?
A. Good news - the company will cover the cost of the second bag in this situation. According to Section6.3.E. Luggage for Commercial Travel
3. The number and weight of baggage for which the Company will be financially responsible for bag charges is the same for International and domestic travel. Luggage policies differ considerably for each international carrier. In situations where passengers are allowed a maximum of one (1) carry-on bag, the Company will cover the cost for the second checked bag.
The EAP and You
If there is something confidential you need to discuss, contact eap@afaomni.org. The EAP is bound by the same confidentiality laws as medical professionals, so rest assured your concerns will be safely guarded. We are here to support and fight for every Flight Attendant.
EAP Reps: Thea Kelm (IAD), Naitro Taylor (IAD), Derek Villagomez (DFW).
What is the Professional Standards Committee?
The Professional Standards Committees consists of peer volunteers who are trained to help resolve issues that occur within our groups. We are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via email, phone, and text. Our goal is to resolve problems and conflicts before they become disciplinary actions requiring involvement by the Chief Pilot or the Director of Inflight.
Professional Standards deals with issues that are considered professional and ethical in nature. Some examples include personality conflicts, cockpit management style, personal hygiene, behavioral problems, personal conduct and attitude, style of flying, failure to follow standard operating procedures, crew coordination and gender sensitivity.
Let’s work out our problems at the union level, not at the management level. Once management is involved, there is little our committees can do to help. The last thing any of us want – the company included – is a disciplinary hearing in Tulsa over something that could have been resolved by your union
Contact Thea Kelm at eap@afaomni.org or 1-800-424-2406. You can also view an earlier newsletter for more details about the Pro Standards Program. https://afanewsletters.org/view/?id=22901
"Wings of Sobriety"
Meetings are open to all Flight Attendants who are exploring their need for or seeking recovery from substance use disorders.
Meeting times are scheduled on Wednesday at 3:00 pm EST and Sunday at 5:00 pm EST.
Each meeting will last between forty-five (45) minutes to one (1) hour. The conference call in number is 1-855-544-2320.
Committee Volunteers Wanted
Have you thought about helping out your fellow Flight Attendants? Do you want to know the facts and educate your fellow crew members? Would you like the opportunity to improve your own skills? We have the ability to affect the change we want to see in our workplace by becoming involved in our Union, AFA-CWA. When we come together, we can accomplish so much!
EAP Committee: The EAP/Professional Standards Committee’s mission is to provide confidential resources to AFA union members and their families/partners to assist with personal and work-related concerns. Confidentiality is a must.
Grievance Committee: The Grievance Committee represents Flight Attendants in discipline and contract disputes. They will know the difference between what can be legally grieved under the contract and what may be a gripe or complaint. We are looking for a Grievance Committee Rep from each base and also need more assistance with this committee in general. Confidentiality is a must.
If you are interested in joining a committee, email secretary@afaomni.org now. Must be in good standing
AFA Omni Website - Updated
Our AFA Omni website has been updated and redesigned: https://afaomni.org/. It now requires a registration and login to view the newsletters and forum pages. This was done to allow privacy in our discussions and to ensure only Omni Air Flight Attendants and AFA International are involved. If you have topics you would like to discuss, you can add them to the forum. Be sure to read the terms and conditions of the site. Please allow up to 72 hours for approval of your registration. Your name will be compared to the seniority list. If your name doesn't match the list, it will be denied. If you have other ideas for our website, we'd love to hear them. Email secretary@afaomni.org. This site is a work in progress. Feel free to send photos of your crew, fun activities, places and adventures.
In Solidarity,
John Reise, MEC/LEC President president@afaomni.org
Anita Trump, MEC/LEC Vice-President vicepresident@afaomni.org
Debbie Parker, MEC/LEC Secretary-Treasurer secretary@afaomni.org